DB ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING PO BOX815 BRA TTLEBORO, VT 05302-0815

December 19,2008 Project: 1138 Document: SiteEvaluationLt1208

Town Bam Committee c/o Select board PO Box 12 Townshend, VT 05353

RE: Site Evaluation and Recommendations of Petroleum Impacted Soil at Town Garage, Route 35, Townshend, VT

Dear Select board:

On December 16, 2008, DB Environmental Consulting (DBEC) performed a site visit at the above referenced property (the Site). DBEC personnel performed a site visit to gain additional information in response to a December 10, 2008 letter request by Gerold Noyes of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC). The site visit specifically was performed to address the need for additional test pits, an evaluation of the present water supply well and Mill Brook and the present operation and vehicle maintenance practices of the facility (see attached photographs). Additionally, the site visit \-vas performed to confirm information presented in an Environmental Compliance Services, Inc. (ECS) Preliminary Assessment Report (PAR) dated October 6, 2008.

In the ECS PAR it was written, "preliminary assessment of subsurface conditions in the vicinity of a former aboveground storage tank (AST)" with contamination noted "in all eight test pits at a depth of one to two feet below grade." According to Kurt Bostrom the Highway Foreman and other present and former highway garage personnel no AST was known to have been located at the site in the area depicted on the ECS Site Sketch and referred to in the ECS PAR. A former UST was reported by the VTDEC and the highway garage personnel to have been located in this area.

Based on the normal installation of underground storage tanks (1 foot bgs) the contamination noted in the ECS PAR would have had to originate from piping or a dispenser to have been related to the UST removed in this area. Given the widespread nature of the impacted soil it could be concluded that it would not have been from an isolated pipe release but a significant surface release. The surface release would then have had to been covered with clean fill.

On December 16, 2008, the Mill Brook embankment was inspected for staining, odors, or sheen in the water, no impact was observed. The embankment (approximately 6 feet below ground surface (bgs» was noted to be constructed of concrete, large boulders, plastic wrapped soil, wood, with some minor vegetation. DBEC personnel measured a distance of 30 feet from the apparent location of test pit TP-6 (noted in the ECS PAR) to the Mill Brook.

DBEC personnel measured a distance of 20 feet between MW-l/ TP-1 and the drainage swale located along the southerly property Iine. The depth of the drainage swale is approximately 4 feet bgs of the site. No staining, odors, or sheen was noted along the bank or in the water located in the drainage swale. The former Janos Optical facility (Janos Property) is presently vacant and reported to be in foreclosure. Based on the observed 6 sewer manhole covers located immediately to the south of the drainage swale it would appear that septic waste from that facility is disposed of in this area (assumed downgradient MW-1 /TP-I).

The present water supply well is located to the northeast comer of the site building. Based on the water pump it is assumed to be a shallow well possibly utilizing the aquifer connected to the Mill Brook. The water is only used for washing and not consumed as bottled water is supplied to the employees. The site has an incinerating toilet that is not supplied with water. There is no known septic system, floor drains, or

DB ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING SITE EVALUATION REPORT BRATTLEBORO,VT TOWNSHEND TOWN GARAGE, TOWNSHEND, VT December 19. 2008 Page 2

subsurface discharge locations on site. There is one vertical 4 inch diameter slotted PVC pipe installed within a galvanized culvert located near the aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) along the northerly property line. This pipe could be assumed to have been installed within the tank grave of the two fom1er underground storage tanks (USTs) located in this area.

Presently repairs to town equipment are performed in the garage or to the exterior of the building depending on the size of the equipment that is being worked on. All waste fluids from maintenance are drummed up for pickup and no discharge of liquid from routine maintenance is performed at the site.

Based on the inspection of the embankment of the Mill River and drainage swale along the southerly property line it would appear no impact has occurred in the assumed downgradient direction. The steepness of the Mill River embankment, type of material used for fill, general characteristics of the Mill Brook, distance to the Mill Brook from TP-6, and present drainage patterns of the site, installation of test pits between TP-6 and the Mill Brook and between TP-l/ MW-I and the drainage swale would not be recommended at this time. The likely hood of significant impact to the downgradient Janos Property from the Townshend Town Garage release is diminished by the shallow nature of the repOlied contamination on-site, the depth of the intercepting drainage swale (preferential pathway), and previous and present usage (sewage disposal) of the land immediately south of the drainage swale.

It is assumed that significant site work will take place in the area of the noted contamination that would yield more significant site data as to the historical nature of the release. Therefore DBEC concurs with the VTDEC (Item 4) of the letter dated December 10,2008, and recommends a soil management plan to incorporate prior notification to an environmental consultant of planned excavation in this area. The environmental consultant should be involved with pre-site meetings to facilitate contaminated soil management and make construction personnel aware of potential exposure risks.

DBEC recommends forwarding this report to the attention of Gerold Noyes at the VTDEC. Additionally the town should submit a letter indicating a request to place a deed restriction for the property to allow for a site management activities completion (SMAC) designation. The letter should address the commitment of the Town of Townshend of proper management practices for the handling of regulated waste and future soil management practices for the construction of the proposed facility. The letter should indicate the environmental consultant who will be contracted with and the proposed time frame of the project to allow for easier tracking of site progress by the VTDEC.

If there are any questions regarding this letter report, please contact me at (802) 258-0350.

Sincerely,

David Balk, P.G., R.S.

DB Environmental Consultin/! Brattleboro, VT

N

Flow Direction ~ __--r-­j----::,4 Mill Brook ~__------­

Grader

~ 3°b\1)' TP-6D

Water Supply Well r 70'

MW-l/ TP-1 20''-+

f----=S-=;alt Storage

Townshend Town Garage

L-- -----'-_-----'<II--'-_ 50' -------.[J¥ [ ....... 100' -.~ [

SIOUg'M" 17­Aboveground Storage Tanks

Approximate area of septic system for former Janos Optica

Transfer Station and Recycling area

Sand storage area

Gravel Drive

Route 35 (Grafton Road)

Townshend Town Garage Site Sketch Route 35 (1102 Grafton Road) Not to Scale

Townshend, VT 05353

 

1) View to the west from Route 35 of Townshend Town Garage.  Note back of truck to right of photo. 

 

2) View of former Janos Optical facility to right with Townshend Town Garage property line between truck and greenhouse. 

 

3) View of south end of site building with monitoring well MW‐1/TP‐1 located to right. 

 

 

4) View of monitoring well MW‐1/ TP‐1 near York rake with property line/ drainage swale to right. 

 

5) View of MW‐1/ TP‐1 with drainage swale to right at base of slope.  Mill Brook is located in background.  Grader storage shed is approximately 20 feet from Mill Brook and 15 feet from property line/drainage swale. 

 

6) View northerly along Mill Brook with grader storage shed to left and main building in background. 

 

7) Water supply well is located next to steps at northeast corner of building. 

 

8) Aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) located northwest of site building with slotted pipe in foreground.