NCD980602163_19820908_Warren County PCB Landfill_SERB C_Questions and Answers on PCB-OCR

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JAMES B . HUNT. JR.
GOVERNOR
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
325 NORTH SALISBURY STREET
SARAH T . MORROW. M.D .. M.P.H. RALEIGH 27611
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
ON PCB
SECRETARY
TELEPHONE
919/733-4534
1. A lot has been said about the PCB problem in North Carolina; what are
characteristics of PCBs and why are they a problem?
PCBs or polychlorinated biphenyls have been in regular use in a variety
of products for nearly 50 years and are especially valued in industry because
of their insulating properties and the fact that they are virtually indestructable.
Because this chemical has been so widely used it is found in low levels almost
everywhere in the environment including in over 90 percent of the U.S. population.
Because they are so long lasting in the environment, (it is estimated that it may
take 500 years or more for PCBs to break down) PCBs can accumlate in the food chain
and hence build up in the bodies of human beings at the top of the food chain.
To prevent this effect, it is necessary to prevent the release of PCBs into the
environment.
2. Aren't PCBs toxic?
Yes, especially in acute exposures, but in the case of this North Carolina
roadside spill acute exposure is not as great a danger as the release and buildup
in the environment over a long period of time. The most common use is for PCBs
to be mixed in oil for use in electric transformers. In this usage the mix is
usually about 30 to 70 percent PCB. It is thought that the illegal dumping in
1978 involved material in about this concentration.
3. How much contamination is there?
Since the PCB oil was spilled over such a long route (210 miles), a very large
volume of soil will have to be picked up to assure that the PCBs are cleaned up.
This of course will further reduce the concentration. In the estimated 50,000
tons of soil to go into the landfill, only a small fraction of 1 percent is
actually PCBs.
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4. What happens to PCBs in the environment?
PCBs are relatively insoluble in water and tend to atitach to soil particles. I For this reason they are sometimes found in clay sediment and could be expected to
stay in a landfill that was properly designated.
5. What are the alternatives for disposal?
Depending on the concentration and form PCBs can be tireated, incinerated or
landfilled. Since the chemical attaches to soil, the contaminated soil must be
handled and that limits the treatment possibilities. Incineration for a large
volume of soil is simply not practical because dirt wil~ not burn. For PCBs to
break down, a very high temperature is required (over 2900 F) so burning is not
a workable technique for 40,000 cubic yards of soil.
PCBs mixed with oil in certain concentrations can be chemically treated, but
the process does not work on contaminated soil,
Biological treatment has also been considered, but it is an unproven technology
that requires very carefully controlled conditions. It is not practical to experiment
with a 210 mile spill area.
Disposal in a well designed landfill is the only proven technology with any hope
of success. The landfill has many safety features including art ificial and natural
liners, leacheat collection systems and monitoring devices. Given the care that
went into the design and construction of this facility, it seems extremely unlikely
that any contaminated soil will leave the site.
6. Why is the landfill located in Warren County?
Originally over 100 possible locations were screened, and t he best 11 were tested
for soils, hydrology and other factors. The list was narrowed down further by a
strict evaluation of technical factors and the Warren Cqunty site emerged in every
analysis as the best overall choice.
7. Is there any truth to the rumor that other hazardous materials and landfills will
be located in Warren County?
Absolutely not. The 140 acre site purchased by the State cannot be expanded.
Twenty acres will be used for the landfill, monitoring wells, access roads, e tc;
the remaining 120 acres has already been deeded back to Warren County to serve as
a buffer and provide assurance that the site wouldn'·t be expanded. Only soil
contaminated in the 1978 roadside dumping will be placed in the landfill.
8. Where can I get questions answered about this project?
Call Careline at 1-800-662-7030.