10-5-21, NSG Wells Request, CARD Resolution

Update October 10, 2021

CARD Passes Resolution Supporting Near-Surface Shallow Groundwater (NSG) Permanent Wells to Monitor the Gelman 1,4-Dioxane Plume on the Ann Arbor West Side

At the October meeting of Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) the resolution shown just below was Unanimously Adopted. This Resolution was written by both CARD and ACWG members.

We hope that our government agencies will heed this request and act on it with due haste to protect the residents of Ann Arbor and potentially Scio Township.

10/5/21 Resolution that the Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) Request Near-Surface Shallow Groundwater Permanent Wells to Monitor the Gelman 1,4-Dioxane Plume on the Ann Arbor West Side and Potentially Scio Township.

WHEREAS, 1.4-dioxane from the Gelman Sciences site contaminated and persists in groundwater that continues to migrate into urbanized areas,

WHEREAS, 1.4-dioxane-contaminated groundwater continues to flow unremediated in near-surface shallow aquifers towards the Huron River,

WHEREAS, Decreasing topographic elevation along the eastward migration path allows the plume to approach the land surface,

WHEREAS, Sampling from two temporary shallow groundwater wells in 2016 already showed 1,4-dioxane at 1.9-3.3 ppb in near-surface shallow groundwater less than 10 feet deep just downgradient from Slauson Middle School,

WHEREAS, A Monitoring shallow well just over one half mile upgradient from West Park is now 340 ppb at an elevation similar to West Park and Slauson Middle School,

WHEREAS, The Rockworks interactive map sponsored by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) confirms the near-surface shallow groundwater 1,4-dioxane contamination and shows areas lacking sufficient sampling,

WHEREAS, cited a threat to public health, safety, or welfare of citizens and the environment from 1,4-dioxane detected in near-surface shallow groundwater in the Ann Arbor area in close proximity to residential homes as the rationale for a stricter residential drinking water cleanup criterion and establishment of a new residential vapor intrusion screening criterion for 1,4-dioxane in the Emergency Rule dated October 27, 2016,

WHEREAS, Samples from the Allen Drain and storm water pipes have shown 49 ppb in the West Park area, 11 ppb in the Slauson Middle School area, and 28 ppb on Chapin St. near 8th Street, with levels trending upward,

WHEREAS, EGLE has acknowledged that Dr. Robert Bailey's (Environmental Chemist and CARD member) analysis showing 100 ppb may be a valid screening level for dioxane volatilizing with water vapor from near-surface shallow groundwater into homes, with certain assumptions,

WHEREAS, Ann Arbor’s west side has very shallow groundwater and groundwater seeps in some areas and many homes with wet or damp basements for long periods of time, and may experience liquid intrusion,

WHEREAS, Scio Township has shallow groundwater in some locations that could be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane now or in the near future,

WHEREAS, We still do not have permanent wells to monitor this clear and present danger from near-surface shallow groundwater contamination, as previously requested by CARD in 2016 and in later years,

RESOLVED, CARD strongly requests permanent near-surface shallow groundwater wells on the west side of Ann Arbor and potentially in Scio Township,

RESOLVED, CARD strongly urges our local government officials to support this Resolution,

RESOLVED, CARD requests permanent near-surface shallow groundwater monitoring wells on Ann Arbor west side across from Arborview Blvd and north side of Miller Ave, along 7th St to W Huron St., and along 8th St. to W Liberty St. installed in the next three months before hard winter weather returns. The CARD Group needs to be consulted on the placement of these well locations.

Sponsored by Vince Caruso, Rita Loch Caruso, and Roger Rayle