AGRICULTURAL SAMPLING SHOWS LOW-LEVEL FINDINGS AS AGENCIES CONTINUE PARKERSBURG FIRE CLEANUP
Charleston, W.Va. —The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) continues to coordinate with Peoples Cartage and other state and federal agencies as cleanup and remediation continue at the Camden Avenue site. WVDEP has issued an enforcement order requiring Peoples Cartage to develop and implement plans for site cleanup, characterization, and waste disposal; maintain stormwater controls to prevent runoff from affecting nearby waters; and conduct ongoing sampling. Both WVDEP and Peoples Cartage are analyzing samples for more than 90 parameters commonly evaluated following structure fires and associated with building materials, plastics, resins, and combustion. Results received to date have not identified concentrations warranting additional response or protective measures beyond the ongoing cleanup, monitoring, and remediation.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) also collected approximately 200 water and soil samples from agricultural and residential properties where sampling was requested. Those samples were analyzed by U.S. EPA Region 3's Mobile Lab for parameters commonly associated with combustion, smoke, ash, and fire debris and by the WVDA for heavy metals. None of the compounds analyzed were detected in the residential water samples reported to date, while low concentrations of some compounds were detected in soil samples. These compounds can come from many combustion sources, including wood burning, vehicle emissions, wildfires, and other fires. The results were evaluated against applicable state “de minimus” screening levels. While some were above state levels, samples did not exceed federal action levels. No additional response or protective measures are required at this time.
WVDA also collected samples of produce, vegetation, and honey and partnered with a third-party laboratory to test for semi-volatile compounds. Residual concentrations of some contaminants were detected in certain samples, but at levels well below those considered a health concern.
Among the compounds evaluated were polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can be produced when materials such as wood, fuel, plastics and other organic matter are burned. Because PAHs can result from a variety of combustion sources, they are routinely evaluated following fires. More information is available in the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Fact Sheet.
Water and soil sample results and other sampling and resource information can be found at: https://agriculture.wv.gov/parkersburg-fire-agricultural-sampling-information/.
For additional questions or concerns about agricultural sampling, contact the WVDA at 304-558-3200.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials who sits on the Board of Public Works.
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