UA Chemical Hygiene Evaluation Of Site Indicates Minimal Environmental Impact Of Long-Ago Buried Chemicals

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas has determined that chemicals thought to have been buried in the 1960s on University property along Arkansas Highway 112 north of Fayetteville have had minimal impact on the environment.

As part of an ongoing chemical hygiene program, the University of Arkansas initiated a voluntary assessment of the Highway 112 site earlier this year to determine the identity and evaluate the status of chemical-filled containers that were reportedly buried on University property in the late 1960s.

"This is good news," said Miriam Lonon, manager of the UA office of environmental health and safety. "However, we want to resolve the situation once and for all. Our next step is to work with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to develop a plan of action. We expect to take whatever steps appropriate to remediate the site."

The site covers about half an acre of land in the southwestern corner of a 100-acre tract owned by the University. Two signs marked "Chemicals buried here: No digging" are the only physical indicators of the buried chemicals. An eight-foot high chain-link fence controls access to the site.

After receiving approval from the ADEQ to begin testing, the University took action to locate the specific areas where vessels containing chemicals might be buried. The University contracted the United States Geological Survey and the Springdale-based company of consulting engineers Grubbs, Hoskyn, Barton & Wyatt, Inc. to perform the assessment of the site using non-intrusive surface geophysical methods - a magnetometer survey, an electromagnetic conductivity survey and resistivity profiling.

The surveyors located four areas thought to be trenches in which chemical containers were presumed to be buried. These areas were subjected to further investigation. Bore holes were drilled and soil and water samples were taken from the areas of concern. The samples were analyzed for more than 150 organic compounds, including many pesticides and, additionally, for 13 different metal pollutants. The data indicate that low levels of volatile organic compounds have leaked into the soil and groundwater immediately adjacent to the trenches. Contaminant levels detected do not indicate an immediate health concern. The University’s investigation of this site will continue.

"This site looks good and we feel confident that even based on the worst-case exposure scenario, that the environmental impact of this location is minimal and chemicals released to the environment likely pose no threat to human health," Lonon said. "We will be working with the appropriate agencies as we move forward with remediation of this site."

The soil samples were taken from bore holes of approximately 15 feet in-depth, and a groundwater sample was taken from a 39-foot deep bore hole. In addition, water samples were taken from two residential wells that are located within 250 feet of the site.

The sample screening shows the following:

• Low levels of organic compounds appear to have leaked into the soil and/or groundwater immediately adjacent to trenches.
• Certain metals were detected in all soil samples immediately adjacent to the trenches but in levels that did not exceed what the Environmental Protection Agency considers background for this region.
• Certain metals (copper, lead and zinc) were detected in one residential well, but the levels were consistent with the amounts of those metals often found in residential water supplies from metal pipes.
• There were no pesticides or other organic contaminants detected in either residential well.

Although the investigation identified chemicals that appear to have leaked into the environment in small quantities, the identity of chemicals that have remained contained within the trenches is largely unknown.

The first two phases of the investigation, the surveys and the sampling and analysis, totaled approximately $68,000, and were paid from University funds.

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