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EPA Seeking Permission To Look Into ‘Vapor Intrusion’ Issue in Bellaire

Officials with the Ohio and U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies still are in the process of getting permission from residents to test their properties for possible vapor intrusions, said Rob Sproul, deputy health commissioner at the Belmont County Health Department.

Sproul said Thursday officials still are not done collecting permission slips from residents in the area possibly impacted. The agencies are conducting groundwater and air testing in the village related to a chemical used at a former dry cleaner in Bellaire.

The area of concern is between 32nd and 36th streets and Noble and Guernsey streets. Officials have said the village’s drinking water is OK and safe to use.

“They did go back to resample some places they did before, such as the school and the industrial arts building,” Sproul said, referring to Bellaire High School. “Before it tested below detection limits … below health levels. … They retested to see if there was a difference between winter and summer. … For the rest of the homes, they are still working on dates to come and do the actual testing. They’re hoping to have dates soon. They wanted to do it before summer was out.”

Sproul said he helped EPA officials go door-to-door to talk to residents about the testing and get permission forms signed by them.

“Some were receptive and some said they wanted to see how their neighbors’ tests were — but that’s your neighbor’s home. … The testing is free,” he added.

Sproul believes forms to sign up for the testing still are available at the village municipal building on Belmont Street.

According to EPA, “The study will determine whether vapors from a volatile organic compound, or VOC, in the groundwater called tetrachloroethylene, or PCE, is entering homes and other buildings at levels that may cause health concerns.”

The purpose of the testing is to discover how many structures have been impacted and to what degree. Much like radon, the chemical PCE is colorless and odorless.

The chemical was discovered when the village was in the process of drilling a new well for additional drinking water capacity. Trace amounts of the chemical were discovered during testing, and the Ohio EPA said the village could not use that new well. Ohio EPA traced the chemical back to one source — a former dry cleaner on Guernsey Street. After additional testing at the building, vapors were discovered inside. The occupant at the time, the United Mine Workers of America, decided to move out; the building now sits empty.

Investigators are not sure how the chemicals got into the groundwater. Sproul said previously that it could have been from spills over the years at the cleaning business, or the business may have been dumping it down drains. The cleaner has been closed for more than 20 years. He noted Bellaire’s other existing wells are fine and the village is also receiving water from the county make up for not being able to use the contaminated well.

If a home or business does test positive for the vapors, the solution is similar to the ventilation system installed to get rid of radon. Officials said there may be funding available to help people pay for the mitigation measure.

EPA refers to the area in question as the “Bellaire Wellfield Site.”

“The site consists of a mix of commercial, single-family, multi-family residences, churches as well as two schools and local government offices. The village is located on a section of the Ohio River Valley that has seen much industrial and commercial activity over the past two centuries,” according to the EPA.

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