PCBs Found in Dredge Samples From Former Exide Site

The presence of PCBs in the stockpiled dredge spoils has triggered a mandatory review by CTDEEP and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the framework of the Toxic Substances and Control Act. The CTDEEP and EPA will review the new sampling data and will require additional authorizations prior to transporting the material for final disposal at a certified landfill facility.

The Exide Corporation is currently waiting on a formal response from the regulatory agencies so it can continue to proceed with the removal of the dredge sediments. There is no risk to the public presented at this time due to the discovery of PCBs within the existing dredge sediments. Site controls that have been implemented since the start of the project are very conservative in nature and would abate any potential impact to human health or the environment caused by the presence of PCBs or any other in-organic materials (i.e. Lead, Chromium) present in the riverbed sediments.

The CTDEEP and EPA will be issuing a decision regarding the regulatory steps required to move forward to ensure that the removal of the dredge materials are consistent with all the required Federal and State regulations and that the community’s health is protected.

In order to address any concerns the public may have regarding the detection of PCBs in the dredge materials, the Town of Fairfield is issuing the following response to clarify any questions that have been or may be asked by the community.

PCBs FACT SHEET:

1. What are PCBs? 
PCBs are mixtures of synthetic organic chemicals that were widely used as dielectric and coolant fluids in electrical apparatus, cutting fluids for machining operations, carbonless copy paper and in heat transfer fluids from approximately 1929 until 1979. The U.S. banned PCB manufacturing, processing, distribution, and use in 1979 based upon their environmental toxicity and their ability to readily bio-accumulate in the environment. The U.S. was responsible for approximately half of the world’s production of PCBs and imported approximately 50% of the remainder produced by other countries (minus exports). There are no natural sources of PCBs. Although their current commercial use is restricted in the U.S., they continue to be a common environmental contaminant because they are extremely stable and do not readily attenuate in the environment.

2. How do PCBs enter the environment? 
Prior to the regulation of PCBs under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in 1976, PCBs were released (both accidentally and intentionally) into the atmosphere, water, and land through sewers, smokestacks, storm water runoff, spills, and direct application to the environment (for example, to reduce dust emissions and to extend the life of some agricultural pesticide formulations). Large volumes of PCBs have been introduced to the environment through the burning of PCB-containing products, vaporization from PCB-containing coatings and materials, releases into sewers and streams, improper disposal of PCB-containing equipment in non-secure landfill sites and municipal disposal facilities, and by other routes (such as ocean dumping).

Based on the current regulation of PCBs, the current primary “new” sources of PCB contamination are limited to outdated or illegal landfills and scrap yards and leaks or explosions of electrical equipment and other equipment (such as locomotive transformers) that may still contain PCBs.

3. Where did the PCBs come from and is there an ongoing discharge to the Mill River? 
This is undetermined. Since PCBs are so widely found in the environment based on their historical industrial applications, it is impossible to know where the exact source of the PCBs originated at this time. It is highly unlikely that there is an ongoing discharge of PCBs to the river since the materials have not been used in new industrial applications since 1979 and all industrial discharges to the river were discontinued in the 1980s.