LGRC PCB UPDATE - May 15, 2009

New evidence of PCB's has been identified in LGRC Low-Rise and Tower A. Donald Robinson, Director of Environmental Health & Safety issued the following bulletin:

DATE: May 15, 2009

TO: GRC Occupants and other interested parties

FROM: Donald Robinson, Ph.D., Environmental Health and Safety

RE: Message Regarding Finding Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Window Glazing Material in LGRC Low-Rise and Tower A.

Recent site assessment testing conducted in LGRC has identified the presence of PCBs in window glazing material in the low-rise, the connecting walkway and in Tower A. The levels of PCBs found in this material exceed the US EPA limit and will require that we implement certain remediation measures. We have determined, however, based on test data, that it remains safe to work in the buildings while we take action to develop an EPA-required remediation plan.

The building occupants are our primary concern, and we are taking a number of precautionary steps to protect your health and safety. We plan to initiate new indoor air tests to monitor the situation, and, as an interim measure, surface cleaning of window glazing and frames will be undertaken to contain the PCBs while a permanent solution is developed. As a precaution, we ask that occupants and maintainers refrain from coming in direct contact with the windows and window frames. An open meeting for building occupants and union representatives with campus officials and environmental experts will be held soon to share information and address questions.

To date the PCB remediation work has focused on the exterior caulking and soil remediation associated with the façade repair and waterproofing project on the outside of the building. Fortunately, as part of the this work, Environmental Health and Engineering from Newton, Mass., conducted extensive indoor air monitoring and interior dust sampling. All of the PCB indoor air monitoring and testing conducted to date has verified that we have achieved compliance with all applicable environmental and health related standards.

Therefore, although we are now dealing with a previously unknown source of PCBs, the extensive amount of indoor monitoring already completed provides the needed assurance that no one is being exposed to elevated levels of PCBs. Even so, we are immediately undertaking a remediation planning process and working with EPA to make sure that there is no potential for a health hazard or environmental contamination. We have made initial notification to the EPA region I office, and we have retained the services of Woodard and Curran Inc., www.woodardcurran.com, a highly regarded environmental firm with expertise in PCB management to guide us in this process.

We have asked Woodard and Curran to implement a comprehensive indoor air monitoring program to ensure that we continue to maintain compliance with all required safe levels. All results from any monitoring will be posted on the EH&S web site. We also expect that some additional interior cleaning around the windows will be conducted in the near future in advance of the more comprehensive, but yet undetermined remediation protocols.

The 10-page, May 14, 2009, technical memorandum provided by Woodard and Curran describing the situation in more detail as well as the test data results can be found at:

http://www.ehs.umass.edu/PCB-information.htm

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation, and acknowledge that abating PCB contaminated building materials has been and continues to be a daunting task. This has caused significant inconvenience but it is important that we continue to work together in providing a safe environment for our campus community.

Update on Friday, May 22, 2009 at 12:06PM by Jim Plaza

From "In the Loop" - University Reassures LGRC Occupants

http://www.umass.edu/loop/talkingpoints/articles/88757.php

Lederle GRC - PCB Remediation

A little over two years ago the University's Environmental Health & Safety Department began investigation into PCB contamination, as part of the LGRC facade repair and waterproofing project. The University and EH&S contracted with an industrial hygiene company (Environmental Health and Engineering) to monitor the remediation work and ensure compliance with EPA regulations.

Ongoing construction projects

The Dubois Library has been undergoing renovation work on the lower level since the start of 2009. The project will last two years according to a library press release, but when finished, will  improve the air quality, along with substantially increasing the learning commons area. This is great news for the students and staff!  

Temperature Guidelines

Though the vestiges of winter are still around, spring will soon be here, and with it warmer temperatures. The change over from winter heating to spring/summer cooling is not always easy to handle in many of our buildings. Usually physical plant personnel make the needed adjustments relatively quickly. Still there are times when conditions become uncomfortable if not outright oppressive.

There is no specific high temperature limit cited in our contract (see Article 25, section 18), but reporting the measured temperature and humidity to one's supervisor and requesting that he/she pursue resolution is the first step. The contract does provide for an alternative work location if the employee's current worksite climate can not be improved. The Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety provides guidelines for Indoor Air Quality.