The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a hearing July 11 on the interim cleanup steps it has taken to deal with 12 private wells contaminated with poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), above the Health Advisory Limit combined concentration for Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at the Ridge Run site in East and West Rockhill townships in Bucks County.. (PA Bulletin page 3365)

In August of 2016, the North Penn Water Authority conducted sampling for PFAS in two public water supply wells in East Rockhill Township in accordance with the Federal Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule .

Analysis of these samples detected combined concentrations of PFOS and PFOA of 117 ng/L and 70 ng/L, both at or above the HAL. Approximately 156 homes have been sampled by the Department in the subsequent investigation of the surrounding area.

Twelve properties have been impacted above the HAL.

No source area has yet been identified. The Department is continuing to sample homes affected by the contamination to monitor concentrations at the Site.

In addition to the 12 properties impacted above the HAL, two other properties with concentrations above 40 ng/L have continued to be monitored for seasonal fluctuations.

The Department has also been providing bottled water to impacted homes. The owners of two of the affected homes have installed their own carbon filtration units, which have been effective at reducing the levels of contamination below the HAL.

To address the release or substantial threat of release of contaminants at the Site, and corresponding threats to human health and the environment, the Department proposes an interim response action at the Site.

The Department also proposes the installation of whole house carbon filtration units on affected private residential water supplies with concentrations exceeding the HAL.

The Administrative Record of the agency’s response is available for review at DEP’s Southeast Regional Office, 2 East Main Street in Norristown from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Additional copies of the Administrative Record are available for review at the East Rockhill Township Office, 1622 Ridge Road, Perkasie, PA 18944, the West Rockhill Township Office, 1028 Ridge Road, Sellersville, PA.

The Administrative Record is also available online.

The hearing will be held at the West Rockhill Township Building, 1028 Ridge Road, Sellersville starting at 6:30 p.m.  Persons wishing to present comments may pre-register with Virginia Cain, DEP, at 484-250-5808.

The deadline for all public comments is August 31.  Comments should be sent to Lena Harper at the Department of Environmental Protection, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, PA 19401, by email to: lharper@pa.gov..

For all the details, please read the entire PA Bulletin notice (PA Bulletin page 3365).

For more information on PFOA and PFOS contamination and other sites under investigation, visit DEP’s PFOA and PFOS: What Are They webpage.

For more information on the HSCA program, including the location of sites around the state, visit DEP’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program webpage.

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