EPA to Begin Air Sampling at the Capital City Plume Site in Montgomery, AL

Release date: 08/12/2011
Contact Information: James Pinkney, 404-562-9183, pinkney.james@epa.gov

(Atlanta, Ga. – August 12, 2011) As a part of the remedial investigation for the Capital City Plume site, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will begin collecting air samples during the week of August 15, 2011. Samples will be collected at various locations, including the former Montgomery Advertiser building located at 101 South Lawrence Street to determine if perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) vapors are present.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and EPA will also sample other indoor and outdoor locations nearby. EPA will establish a permanent, long-term soil-gas sampling network in areas where vapors are detected. A permanent sampling network is necessary to observe how changes in environmental parameters affect PCE and TCE vapors. The sampling locations are in the area of Dexter and Washington Avenue.

The air samples are being collected to determine whether hazardous vapors are being released from the ground into buildings. When PCE and TCE are spilled on the ground, they can soak into ground water. Vapor intrusion occurs when PCE and TCE vapors from the ground water rise through the soil and seep through cracks in basements and building foundations.

For more information about the site, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region4/waste/npl/nplal/caplumal.htm