Elevated Concentrations of PFCs Found in Former Coakley Landfill

CONCORD, NH — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) have received preliminary results for non-residential groundwater monitoring well samples collected beyond the footprint of the former Coakley Landfill in North Hampton and Greenland, and the results show "elevated concentrations" of perfluorochemicals (PFCs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), according to a press statement. After eight monitoring wells near the landfill were found to have concentrations above New Hampshire's standard of 70 parts-per-trillion (ppt), the Coakley Landfill Group (a group of potentially responsible parties) collected and analyzed water samples from an additional 20 monitoring wells adjacent to the landfill under the supervision of the U.S. EPA. The preliminary sampling results, which are still under third party review for quality assurance, showed that the groundwater samples contained combined PFOA and PFOS concentrations ranging from less than 1 ppt to 1133 ppt, with 9 of the 20 wells sampled showing combined PFOA/PFOS concentrations above the AGQS of 70 ppt, according to James Martin, the public information officer for the NHDES.

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"This data is being reviewed by EPA and NHDES in relation to previous data collected from monitoring wells closer to the landfill and data from sampling of area residential wells," Martin noted. "The preliminary data suggest a similar pattern of contaminant migration as has been seen for other site-related contaminants. However, further evaluation of the data is necessary before conclusions can be drawn and next steps defined. No private well water sources sampled to date have exceeded the AGQS for PFOA/PFOS."

The former Coakley Landfill, a federal Superfund site, received municipal and industrial wastes from 1972 to 1982. From 1982 to 1985, when land-filling activities terminated, the site received incinerator residue from the Portsmouth Refuse-to-Energy Facility at the Pease Air Force Base, according to officials. The landfill was capped in 1998 to help prevent further migration of groundwater contamination. Groundwater contamination at the site is managed within a Groundwater Management Zone (GMZ) under the provisions of a Groundwater Management Permit issued by NHDES. The Permit requires regular monitoring of water quality issues within the GMZ, which include the presence of other contaminants of concern including arsenic, manganese and 1,4-dioxane. Remedy protectiveness of human health and the environment at the site are reviewed by the U.S. EPA and NHDES every five years. The next Five Year-Review is scheduled to be finalized in September 2016.