Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) met with families in Asheville, N.C., to offer temporary relocation after finding elevated levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) at three residences adjacent to the former CTS of Asheville, Inc. Superfund site.
All three families have agreed to temporarily relocate and EPA is working closely with them.
On June 2, CTS Corporation's contractor submitted preliminary analytical data from air sampling conducted on properties neighboring the eastern boundary of the former CTS of Asheville plant property. EPA was notified on June 4 that the data had been validated. Sampling was conducted April 21-24 with EPA oversight, and included ambient (outdoor), crawl space and indoor areas.
Sampling results indicated that concentrations of TCE exceeded EPA's residential air screening level for TCE and the regional recommended chemical/site specific removal management level (RML). Screening levels are values used by EPA to help determine if a contaminant should be considered for further evaluation. RMLs are values used by EPA to help determine if a removal action may be needed.
In order to provide timely notification and protect the health of those impacted by the findings, EPA is offering temporary relocation to affected families. The relocation is necessary protect the health of the residents while response actions are evaluated and implemented to reduce TCE levels in ambient and indoor air at the affected residential properties.
The temporary relocation will extend until after actions are completed to reduce TCE concentrations in indoor air to below the chemical/site-specific RML and additional sampling data verifies the results.
