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Five-Year Review Report Fibers Public Supply Wells Site

Guayama, Puerto Rico

Prepared by:

United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 2

New York, New York

September 2009

Executive Summary

This is the second Five-Year Review for the Fibers Public Supply Wells Superfund Site (Site) located in the Guayama, Puerto Rico. The remedy for the Site includes extraction and treatment of contaminated groundwater. Because the remedial action for groundwater requires more than five years to complete, this Five-Year Review is being conducted as a matter of EPA policy. The triggering action for this policy review was the completion of the first Five-Year Review for the Site on September 29,2004.

The remedy at the Site currently protects human health and the environment because community drinking water is provided by a public water supply that meets appropriate Federal and State drinking water standards and there is no exposure to contaminated groundwater at the Site. In addition, the existing pump and treat remedy continues to remove contamination from the groundwater. However, in order for the remedy to be protective in the long-term, a groundwater pump and treat optimization study should be conducted to at the Site to ensure long-term protectiveness.

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SITE IDENTIFICATION I Wells Su erfund Site

Lead a enc : ~ EPA D State Author name: Adalberto Bos ue Author title: Remedial Project Author affiliation: EPA Mana er Review eriod: 2004-10-01 to 2009-09-30 Date s of site ins ection: Janua 29, 2009 Type of review:

~ Post-SARA D Pre-SARA D NPL-Removal only D Non-NPL Remedial Action Site D NPL StatefTribe-lead D Re ional Discretion D Statuto Polic

Review number: D 1 (first) ~ 2 (second) D 3 (third) D Other (specify) 4

Triggering action: D Actual RA Onsite Construction at au DActual RA Start at OU# # D Construction Completion ~Previous Five-Year Review Report D Other s eci Tri erin action date from WasteLAN : 2004-09-30 Due date (five years after triggering action date): 2009-09-30 Does the report include recommendation(s) and follow-up action(s)?

Dyes ~no Is human exposure under control? ~ yes D no Is contaminated groundwater under control? ~ yes 0 no 0 not yet determined Is the remedy protective of the environment? ~ yes D no D not yet determined

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Five-Year Review Summary Form

Issues, Recommendations, and Follow-Up Actions

The selected remedy is fully implemented. It includes ongoing operation, maintenance and monitoring activities as part of the selected remedy. As anticipated by the decision documents, these activities are subject to routine modification and adjustment. Recommendations for the Site include initiating a groundwater pump and treat optimization study and identifying alternatives for disposal or use of treated groundwater.

Protectiveness Statement


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I Introduction.............................................. 1 II Site Chronology 1 III Background 1 IV Remedial Actions 3 V Progress Since Last Five-Year Review 6 VI Five-Year Review Process 6 VII Remedy AssessmenL.... . 10 VIII Recommendations and Follow-Up Actions 11 IX Protectiveness Statement 12 X Next Review.......... . 12

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1 - Chronology of Site Events 13 Table 2 - Documents, Data, and Information Reviewed in Completing 15 Table 3 - Tetrachloroethene Trends (ppb) 17 Table 4 - Haloether 508 Trends 19 Table 5 -Isofiurane Trends 20 Table 6 - Acronyms Used in this Document 22

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Introduction

This Five-Year Review was conducted in accordance with the Comprehensive Five-Year Review Guidance, OSWER Directive 9355.7-03B-P (June 2001). The purpose of a FiveYear Review is to evaluate the implementation and performance of a remedy in order to determine if the remedy functions as intended by the site decision documents and protects human health and the environment. This document will become part of the Site file.

This is the second Five-Year Review for the Fibers Public Supply Wells Superfund Site located in Guayama, Puerto Rico. Previous five-year review was completed in 2004. Because the groundwater remedial action, upon completion, will not leave hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants on site above levels that allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure, but requires five years or more to complete, this five-year review is conducted as a matter of policy. In accordance with the Section 1.3.3 of the FiveYear Review Guidance, a subsequent Five-Year Review is triggered by the signature date of the previous Five-Year Review. The trigger for this Five-Year Review is the date of the previous Five-Year Review, on September 30,2004.

II Site Chronology

Table 1 (attached) summarizes the Site-related events from discovery of contamination through the previous Five-Year Review for the Site.

III Background

Physical Characteristics

The Fibers Site is located approximately one mile southwest of Guayama in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Site is situated along Highway 3 approximately two miles north of the Caribbean Sea. The total area of the Site encompasses about 540 acres including a former fiber manufacturing plant, the Baxter facility, sugar cane fields, and five public water supply wells owned by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA). Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company currently operates a pharmaceutical packaging plant in the former fibers manufacturing plant.

Land and Resource Use

Agricultural, industrial, and institutional facilities immediately surround the Site. An electrical substation, a government correctional facility, and a refinery operates in the vicinity of the Site. Residential development is limited in the area. The land use of the Fibers Site and the surrounding areas is not anticipated to change in the future.

Fibers International Corporation (FIC) began the manufacturing of nylon fibers at the Site in 1966. In February 1976, Chevron Chemical Company of Puerto Rico (CCIPR) acquired

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the lease for the fibers manufacturing facility. CCIPR expanded the manufacturing operations at the facility to include production of polypropylene fibers. In October 1980, CCIPR discontinued manufacturing at the Site. Ayerst-Wyeth Phanmaceuticals, Inc. (AWPI a subsidiary of AHP, now called Wyeth) acquired the lease of the manufacturing plant in 1984. Wyeth continues to operate a pharmaceutical packaging plant at the fonmer fibers manufacturing plant site.

In the early 1980s, Anaquest Caribe and Smith Kline Beecham (SKB) constructed manufacturing facilities adjacent to the Site. Anaquest Caribe (now Baxter Caribe) is a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant making anesthetic products for human consumption. SKB (now API Industries) operates a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. Both the Baxter Caribe and API Industries plants continue to operate.

History of Contamination

PRASA installed five public water supply wells south of P.R. Route NO.3 in 1966. Due to taste and odor complaints the water was tested by PRASA, the United States Geological Service (USGS) and USEPA at various times and found to contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including tetrachloroethene (PCE). By 1983, four of the five PRASA wells were removed from service. The Site was proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983 and finalized on the list in September 1984.

In December 1985, Phillips Petroleum Company (Phillips, now Conoco Phillips) and Chevron Chemical Company (Chevron, now ChevronTexaco) entered into an AOC with the USEPA. Phillips and Chevron agreed to conduct a RIIFS to address groundwater impacts. The RI was completed in October 1990.

Wyeth entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with USEPA in September 1986 to investigate the SDA. As a result of a preliminary soil investigation, Wyeth entered into a new AOC with the USEPA in September 1989 to further investigate soil contamination. Results ot the soil investigation were included in the Modified RI Report dated June 1990.

In October 1990, Anaquest Caribe, Inc. (currently BaxterCaribe, Inc.) informed the USEPA that haloether compounds were detected in SKB wells located approximately 3,000 feet downgradient of the Anaquest facilities. Anaquest manufactured the haloether products Isoflurane and Enflurane at their facility. A report detailing the nature and extent of haloether impacts was completed by March 1992. Haloethers comprise anesthetics and intermediate compounds used in the manufacture of anesthetics. The source of haloethers was attributed to three sumps near the Baxter Caribe, Inc. wastewater treatment system.

AWPI plant operators discovered a sheen in a stormwater runoff canal along the southern edge of the property in November 1990. After further investigation, a pinhole leak was located in one of the underground kerosene supply lines adjacent to the main manufacturing building. The leak in the supply line was a result of corrosion. As a result,

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AWPI installed an above ground kerosene supply and return line system and abandoned the old service lines in place. AWPI personnel also began free product recovery from an earthen floored manhole and recovered approximately 150 gallons of kerosene (ES, 1991).

Basis for Taking Action

The Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment results indicated that ingestion of groundwater posed an unacceptable cancer risk and/or noncarcinogenic health hazard for future Site residents and future Site workers/employees. Actual or threatened releases of hazardous substances from this Site, if not addressed by the selected remedy or one of the other active measures considered, may have presented a current or potential threat to public health, welfare or the environment.

IV Remedial Actions

Remedial Action Objectives

The objective of the selected remedial action is to effectively remediate impacted groundwater and return groundwater for beneficial use within a reasonable time frame. The objective of the soils remedy was to prevent exposure of contaminated surface soils through ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact in the soil disposal area (SDA).

Record of Decision.

On September 30, 1991, EPA issued a ROD. The selected remedy in the ROD includes:

Soil remedy

• air monitoring for dust control and worker health and safety;

• excavating soil and debris in the SDA:

• segregating soil and debris into stockpiles for asbestos containing material and non ACM material;

• transporting and disposing ACM at an authorized off site landfill;

• post excavation sampling; and restoration of the SDA.

Groundwater remedy

pumping groundwater from recovery wells;

• treatment of groundwater by air stripping and particulate/sediment filtration;

• discharge of treated groundwater to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority

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(PREPAj irrigation canal or other beneficial use;

• long term groundwater monitoring;

• chloride monitoring to evaluate potential salt water intrusion; and

• treatment system monitoring program of influent and effluent

Remedy Implementation for the SDA

The remedial action for the SDA was implemented in November and December 1993. ACM was found to be very distinguishable from other material and the material excavated from the SDA could be sorted into ACM and non-ACM. Of the sixty post-excavation samples, ACM was detected in five samples; three from the pit near the northeast corner of the SDA and two from the southwest of the center of the SDA. Six inches of additional material was removed from the pit area. Additional samples were taken and an additional 6 inches of soil was removed from around the one sample having ACM. Subsequent. sampling did not detect and ACM in the pit area.

ACM was detected in two post-excavation samples in southwest of the center of the SDA and additional sampling was done. Following sampling six inches of material was removed from the areas where ACM was detected. After removal no further ACM was detected.

Approximately 7,950 tons of ACM and 2,300 tons of non ACM debris were transported to and disposed of at the SFI Landfill in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The Soils Disposal Area Remedial Action Report was submitted in March 1994.

Groundwater Remedy Implementation

The Final Design Report was submitted and approved by the USEPA in 1995. The Groundwater Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) was submitted to the USEPA in January 1996. The original SAMP was also included in the RAWP. The USEPA approved the RAWP in September 1996. Construction of the groundwater remediation system began in March 1997 and included the following:

• installing four new recovery wells (RW 1 through RW 4) south of Highway 3 for groundwater extraction and conveyance;

• converting monitoring wells MW 3-20, MW 13-20, and MW 4-90 to one regional recovery well and two source control wells to pump and convey extracted groundwater from the Baxter facility;

• construction of an air stripper; and

• installation of discharge piping to the Chevron Phillips Puerto Rico CORE (CORE) facility for beneficial reuse of treated groundwater.

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Due to complications regarding disposal of treated effluent to the canal, treated groundwater is discharged to the CORE facility located to the southeast of the Site. Treated groundwater is piped to the facility and combined with water from CORE groundwater wells for use in the cooling towers and boilers. After beneficial use, remaining effluent is subsequently treated in a biological and aeration system and discharged under the CORE facility NPDES permit. CORE began decommissioning the plant in September 2008 and the dismantlement is expected to be completed at the end of September 2011. The future land use of the CORE plant has not been decided and the alternatives for future reuse and/or disposal of treated water from the Fibers groundwater treatment system will be evaluated. The Fibers Group will work with-EPA to identify the best use of the treated water.

After a suspected release of acetone at the Baxter Caribe facility in 1998, elevated concentrations of acetone were detected in three monitoring wells at the Site. Due to the detection of acetone in several monitoring wells, an Acetone Bioremediation System was installed to treat extracted groundwater at the Baxter Caribe facility. The Revised Remedial Action Plan for Baxter Caribe was submitted to the USEPA in December 1998. The Acetone Bioremediation System included groundwater extraction from two pumping wells and groundwater treatment in an air stripper, fixed film bioreactor, and diffused aerator tank. The Acetone Bioremediation System treated both haloether and acetone groundwater impacts. Baxter Caribe received approval from the USEPA on August 12, 2002 to shut down the bioremediation system and shut down the treatment facility on August 26, 2002.

Operation and Maintenance

SDA remedy

No operation and maintenance activities are required for the SDA area.

Groundwater Treatment System

Operations of the groundwater pump and treat system initially commenced in May 1999. Groundwater is extracted from four wells (RW 1, RW 2, RW 3 and RW 4) at a combined rate of approximately 450 gpm. The groundwater is treated by air stripping and conveyed to the adjacent CORE facility for reuse. During the operation of the Baxter Acetone Bioremediation System, groundwater was pumped from four recovery wells instead of the five recovery wells specified in the ROD. After the shutdown of the Baxter bioremediation system, a new extraction well was installed in June 2003 in the area of highest haloether concentrations, in the vicinity of monitoring well PCMW 5 located downgradient of the former Baxter bioremediation system. The location of this well will be more effective in capturing haloethers in groundwater than the former recovery wells used with the Baxter system, MW 10-90 and MW 17-90. The extracted groundwater from the new recovery well was conveyed to the Fibers Site groundwater treatment system.

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After shutdown on the bioremediation system, the groundwater is currently extracted from five wells (RW-1, RW-2, RW-3, RW-4, and RW-5) at a ccmbined rate of approximately 400 to 450 gpm. The groundwater is treated by air stripping and conveyed to the adjacent Chevron Phillips CORE facility for reuse.

In compliance with ROD requirements, a long term groundwater monitoring program and a remediation system monitoring program have been implemented for the groundwater remedy at the Fibers Site. Groundwater and system monitoring programs are implemented in accordance with the Revised Sampling, Analysis and Monitoring Plan (SAMP) approved on February 3, 2003.

The groundwater monitoring program consists of water level elevation monitoring, sample collection and chemical analyses of samples. Water level elevation data is used to confirm the extent of the capture zones associated with the Fibers Site extraction wells. Additionally, analytical data forVOCs and haloethers are used to evaluate the performance of the system and the progress of the selected remedial action.

V Progress Since Last Five-Year Review

The first Five-Year Review Report, completed in September 2004, found that the remedy was in place and was protective of human health and the environment.

Since the last five year review, ongoing remedial operations, maintenance and monitoring activities have been continued at the Site. The following activities have been conducted in response to recommendations from the last five year review:

A new recovery well (RW-5), one observation well (OW-1), and two monitoring wells (MW1 and MW-2) were installed in June and July 2003 and RW-5 began pumping in December 2004. RW-5 was installed in the area of highest haloether concentrations to increase recovery. As a result of adding RW-5 to the groundwater remedy, the influent concentrations have increased but remain close to the Ground Water Cleanup Criteria (GWCC)

The Fibers Group and CORE conducted maintenance of the original four recovery wells during 2007 and 2008. Activities included cleaning screens, redeveloping the wells, and replacing drop pipes and pumps as needed. These activities were conducted to improve capture of groundwater from these wells and conduct preventative maintenance.

VI Five-Year Review Process

Administrative Components

The Five-Year Review team consisted of Adalberto Bosque, Remedial Project Manager (RPM), Lourdes Rodriguez, Legal Counsel, GrantAnderson, Hydrologist, Melvin Hauptman and Charles Nace, Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessor.

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Community Involvement

The EPA Community Involvement Coordinator (CIC) for the Site is Brenda Reyes in San Juan, PR. Public notices were published in the Primera Hora Newspaper and the Puerto Rico Daily Sun on May 20, 2009 notifying the community of this Five-Year Review. EPA did not receive any comment on this review process. Once the Five-Year Review has been completed, the document will be made available in the local Site repositories.

Document Review

The documents, data, and information that were reviewed in completing the Five-Year Review are listed in Table 2 (attached).

Data Review

Pursuant to the ROD and as otherwise approved by EPA, the necessary O&M activities currently include:

• Operation, maintenance, and monitoring of the groundwater extraction and treatment system;

• Discharge of the treated water to a nearby industry; and • Monitoring of the groundwater to detect changes in the plume.

O&M of the Groundwater Extraction System

The necessary O&M activities for the treatment system currently include:

• Continued operation, maintenance, and monitoring of the groundwater extraction and treatment system;

• Continued discharge of the treated water to the nearby Industry.

These O&M activities are currently being performed by the PRPs, with EPA oversight. Recent Site visits indicate that such activities are being conducted in accordance with the approved plans, specifications and protocols.

The groundwater monitoring program for the Site consists of collecting water level measurements and groundwater samples for chemical analysis semi-annually from select monitoring wells and recovery wells. Groundwater samples are collected from a subset of monitoring wells and analyzed for select COCs to evaluate the performance of the remedial system. The remediation system performance monitoring program consists of collecting monthly influent and effluent samples for VOCs.

Tables 3 through 5 present a summary of the groundwater monitoring program and the locations of monitoring wells and recovery wells sampled as part of the monitoring

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program. Daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance and monitoring activities are also performed on the treatment system.

The groundwater remediation system has extracted and treated approximately 2 billion gallons of water from May 1999 through December 2008. As a result of adding RW-5 to the groundwater remedy, the influent concentrations have increased but remain close to the GWCC. Monthly effluent sample concentrations remain nondetectable.

Chlorinated VOC impacts are generally limited to PCE. PCE concentrations are highest in wells PCMW-2, MW-15-90, RW-5, and RW-1. During the second semi-annual groundwater sampling event of200B, PCE was detected above GWCC in seven monitoring wells and three remedial extraction wells. Concentrations of PCE ranged from non-detect to 14.7J ~g/L PCMW-2. (Note: validation qualifier J means that the compound was positively identified; however, the associated numerical value is an estimated concentration only.) Concentrations of PCE detected at the site are generally within 1-2 times the GWCC. Most of the plume concentrations are less than 10 ~g/L with only a few wells eXhibiting slightly higher concentrations. As shown in Table 3, concentrations of PCE have been detected above the GWCC in 28 wells since 2001. Additionally, concentrations of PCE in OW-1 slightly exceed the GWCC during two sampling events in 2007, with concentrations of 8.02 ~g/L and 5.67 ~g/L. However, the most recent sampling data from this observation well are below the GWCC. The Fibers Group is exploring alternatives to improve the capture of the groundwater extraction system.

TCE and vinyl chloride (degradation products of PCE) have also been detected at concentrations above their respective GWCC. Detected concentrations ofTCE have been less than one order of magnitude greater than the GWCC. TCE has been detected at concentrations above the GWCC in 3 (PCMW-1, PCMW-2, and MW-15-90) of the 58 monitoring wells sampled since May 1996. During the second semi-annual groundwater monitoring sampling event for 2008, TCE was not detected in any monitoring wells at a concentration greater than the GWCC of 5 ~g/L. Vinyl chloride was detected in one well (AWPI-MW-1) during four sampling events in 1998, 2004 and 2005 at concentrations slightly greater than the GWCC, but less than 5 ~g/L. Vinyl chloride has not been detected greater than the GWCC since 2005, and no other chlorinated organics have been detected greater than the GWCC since 2004.

Haloether Isoflurane and Haloether 508 have been detected most frequently and at the highest concentrations at the Site. Other haloethers detected above 50 ~g/L include Haloether 229, Haloether 406, Enflurane, and Halomar. These other haloethers have been only been sporadically detected in a few wells near the source area.

The greatest concentrations of haloethers continue to be observed in the area around AN1, PCMW-5, and FMW-5-90; however, concentrations of haloethers in the vicinity of the source area have generally decreased with time. During the second semi-annual groundwater sampling event of 2008, concentrations of haloether 508 and isoflurane range from ND to 235D ~g/L (FMW-5-90) and ND to 148J ~g/L (MW-6-90), respectively. (Note: "D" means that the concentration is based on a diluted sample analysis).

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No groundwater samples collected from the monitoring and production wells sampled during the past eight semi-annual sampling events indicate concentrations of acetone greater than 50 ~g/L in groundwater. Detected concentrations of acetone in most samples were near the analytical detection limit and often B-qualified due to apparent laboratory introduced contamination.

As proposed in the First Semiannual Groundwater Monitoring Report for 2005 (submitted in July 2005), three wells (FMW-6-90, SKF-722, and CORE PROD 5) are sampled bi

. annually to evaluate the potential for salt water intrusion due to the remediation. If salt water intrusion is observed, the frequency of sampling may be increased as needed. Review of historic chloride concentrations in groundwater indicates that the concentration of chloride increases to the south toward the Caribbean Sea but does not exceed 250 mg/L. Historical chloride concentrations across the Site have remained generally stable with time. Based on the observed concentrations of chloride and absence of increasing concentration trends salt water intrusion does not appear to be occurring at the site under the current pumping conditions.

Downgradient wells FMW-2, FMW-1-90 and Well FMW-3-90 show an upward trend in PCE concentrations from 1999 to 2008 and PCE was reported above the GWCC in OW-1 during sampling conducted in 2007; all results since that time are below the GWCC. The groundwater plume can be considered under control since the downgradient sentinel wells have recently reported site-related contaminants below MCLs. However, results reported over the past five years support initiating a groundwater pump and treat optimization study, including an evaluation of the pumping rates and extraction necessary to maximize system performance and achieve the remedial action objective of groundwater restoration.

Site tnspection

A Site inspection was conducted on January 29, 2009 by Adalberto Bosque, Remedial Project Manager. Based upon the inspection and review of the Progress Reports the treatment system is functioning as designed. However, as stated above, an evaluation of the need for additional wells and changes in the pumping rate will need tQ be conducted in order to optimize the treatment system operation.

No interviews were conducted for this review.

Institutional Controls

There were no institutional controls selected in either of the RODs. At the time the RODs were issued, as well as currently, there are Commonwealth rules and regulations requiring governmental approval prior to the installation of wells. Consequently, there does not appear to be a risk that potable water wells would be installed during the period of remediation. Institutional Controls are not required to ensure remedy protectiveness. The contaminated groundwater plume has been identified and delineated. Water is provided to the local residents by the public water supply from wells located outside of the

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contaminated area. The Commonwealth requirements concerning installation of wells remain in effect. The goal of the groundwater remediation is to meet federal drinking water standards and EPA believes it eventualiy will. There remains no need to inciude institutional controls as a component of the remedy at this Site since the potential for exposure does not exist and is being controlled through the Commonweaith requirements.

VII Remedy Assessment

Question A: Is the remedy functioning as intended by the decision documents?

The primary objectives of the 1991 ROD are to effectively remediate impacted groundwater and return groundwater to beneficial use with a reasonable time frame. A review of the monitoring data indicates that the pump and treat system is continuing to remove contamination from the groundwater. However, as previously stated, certain downgradient wells indicate an upward trend in PCE concentrations from 1999 to 2008, and PCE was reported above the GWCC in OW-1 during sampling conducted in 2007. Although the remedy continues to remove contamination from the groundwater, there are optimization activities to enhance the current extraction well network that EPA and the PRPs will review and evaluate. Restoration of the aquifer is stili anticipated with the current remedy.

Human exposure to the contaminated groundwater at the Site is prevented by the availability of potable water supplied by the PRASA distribution system. In addition, current Commonwealth rules and regulations require specific approvals before wells are installed or used for drinking water purposes.

Question B. Are the exposure assumptions, toxicity data, cleanup levels, and remedial action objectives used at the time of the remedy still valid?

The property is zoned industrial and there have been no changes in the physical conditions at the Site that would affect the protectiveness of the remedy.

Are the exposure assumptions and toxicity data used at the time of the remedy selection still valid?

a. Groundwater: Groundwater use at the Site is not expected to change during the next five years. The land use considerations and potential exposure pathways considered in the baseline human health risk assessment are still valid. The federal MCls identified in the 1991 ROD remain protective. Therefore, the remedy remains protective for this exposure pathway.

b. Vapor Intrusion. Given that there are no buildings currently over the contaminated groundwater plume, the vapor intrusion pathway is not complete. This pathway should be evaluated during the next five year review to ensure that conditions, such as the construction of new buildings, have not changed.

• Are the Cleanup Values Selected in the ROD Still Valid?

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The selected cleanup values selected in the 1991 ROD were the federal MCls for drinkin9 water established under the Safe Drinking Water Act, for drinking water sources and these values remain valid. It should be noted that Administrative Order 10 issued by the PR government and used to set a cleanup level for VOCs without respective MCls was revoked. However, given that cleanup goals are memorialized in the ROD, the issue surrounding the revocation of the Administrative Order Number 10 does not affect the cleanup goals identified in the ROD and therefore all of the cleanup goals identified in the ROD remain valid. A new Order (2009-546-09) issued by the PR Department of Health on June 26, 2009 calls for a maximum level of 50 ppb for non-regulated organic contaminants and a maximum concentration for the combination of non-regulated and regulated organic contaminants of 100 ppb. These values are consistent with the cleanup levels in AO 10.

Question C. Has any other information come to Iightthat could call into question the protectiveness of the remedy?

There is no information that calls into question the protectiveness of the selected remedies.

VIII Recommendations and Follow-Up Actions

The selected remedy is fully implemented. It includes ongoing operation, maintenance and monitoring activities as part of the selected remedy. The future land use of the CORE plant has not been decided and the alternatives for future reuse and/or disposal of treated water from the Fibers groundwater treatment system will be evaluated. The Fibers Group will work with USEPA to identify the best use of the treated water. Additionally, an evaluation of the need for additional wells and change in pumping rate will need to be conducted to increase hydraulic containment in order to optimize the treatment system operations.

Recommendationsl Follow-up Actions

Party Responsible

Oversight Agency

Milestone Date

Follow-up Actions: Affects

Protectiveness (YIN}

Evaluation of the pumping rate and number of extraction wells to optimize the treatment system ooerations

Current 1 Future

PRP EPA 09130111 N N

Identification of alternate disposalluse of the treated water

PRP EPA 06130111 N N

As anticipated by the decision documents, these activities are subject to routine

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modification and adjustment. EPA will continue to oversee that the PRPs are continuing O&M of the groundwater treatment systems.

IX Protectiveness Statement


X Next Review

The next Five-Year Review for the Site will be completed by March 2014, five years from the date of this review.

Walter E. Mugdan, Direct r Emergency and Remedial Response Division

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Table 1 - Chronology of Site Events

Date

1966

Nov. 1966

1969 1976

Feb. 1976

uly 1978

Oct. 1980 une 1982

Activity

Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) installed 5 wells south of P.R. Route No.3 to provide drinking water to local residents. Fibers International Company (FIC) began manufacturing nylon fibers at the Site. FIC lined wastewater settling lagoons to reduce seepage. Local residents complained of taste and odor problems with drinking water supplied by PRASA wells; PRASA well No.3 removed from service. Chevron Chemical Company (CCCPR) acquired the lease for the property and began manufacturing polypropylene fibers. CCCPR installed a wastewater treatment system on-site fa process and sanitary wastewater generated at the plant. CCCPR ceased manufacturing operations at the facility. USGS completed a public supply well survey and sampled PRASA wells.

an. to Feb. sampled PRASA wells; PRASA well Nos. 2, 4, and 5 removed 1983 from service due to detections of volatile organic compounds

(VOCs). 1984 Ayerst-Wyeth Pharmaceutical, Inc. (AWPI) obtained the lease fa

the plant. Sept. 1, 1984 Site listed on the National Priorities List (NPL). 1985 AWPI began pharmaceutical operations at the Site. May to JuneAWPI excavated portions of the wastewater lagoons and 1985

Dec. 1985

Sept. 1986

Sept. 1989

Oct. 1990

Nov. 1990 pril 1991

enlarged the stormwater retention pond. The wastewater lagoon liner contained asbestos fibers. The sludge and liner material was excavated and deposited at the Soil Disposal Area (SDA). Phillips Petroleum Company (Phillips) and Chevron Chemical Company (Chevron) entered into an AOC to complete a Remediallnvestigation/Feasibility Study. American Home Products Corporation (AHP), parent company a AWPI entered into an AOC to conduct monitoring, testing, and analysis at the SDA to determine the nature and extent of any impacts. AHP entered into a new AGe to conduct monitoring, testing, and analysis at the SDA to determine the nature and extent of any impacts. Remedial Investigation Report for Fibers Public Supply Wells Site submitted to . Modified Remedial Investigation (RI) Report submitted to EPA. Feasibility Study (FS) Report for Fibers Site submitted to EPA.

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Sept. 1991 EPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Fibers Site. ~an. 1992 Preliminary Report on Results of a Groundwater Sampling

Program on Anaquest Caribe, Inc. completed. Ioct. 1992 EPA entered into a Consent Decree with AHP, Chevron, Phillips,

and Ohmeda Caribe, Inc. (Anaquest). May 1993 Groundwater sampling event conducted as a part of Fiber

Superfund Benchmark Study. Nov. to Dec. Remedial action for the SDA implemented. 1993 March 1994 Soil Disposal Area Remedial Action Report

Sept. 1995 EPA and PREQB approved a Groundwater Remedial Design Report submitted by the Fibers PRPs.

an. 1996 Groundwater Remedial Action Work Plan submitted to the EPA. March 1997 Construction of the Fibers Groundwater Remediation System

began. Oct. to Nov.Acetone and Haloether Study completed at Ohmeda facility to 1997 characterize the extent of the compounds in groundwater and

soil. April 1998 Remedial Action Plan submitted to EPA on behalf of Baxte

Caribe, Inc. Dec. 1998 Revised Remedial Action Plan for Baxter Caribe, Inc. submitted

to EPA. ~an. 1999 Remedial Action Plan for Baxter Caribe, Inc. approved by the

EPA. May 1999 Fibers Groundwater Remediation System initial system

operations began. May 1999 Final start-up of the Fibers Groundwater Remediation System. Sept. 1999 Preliminary Closed-Out Report ~ugust 2002 Baxter Bioremediation System shut down following EP~

approval. Feb. 2003 Revised Sampling, Analysis, and Monitoring Plan (SAMP)

approved for the Fibers Site. ~ept. 2004 First Five Year Review

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