During this decade, remediation began of arsenic contamination in Spring Valley (northwest Washington, DC) by excavation. Up to 2 feet of soil was removed from residential and university properties including a child development school area where ever arsenic contamination was above 20 PPM. Excavation seemed to be the only technology used.
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The area was designated as the Spring Valley Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) and consisted of approximately 661 acres in the northwest section of Washington, DC. During the World War I era, the site was known as the American University Experiment Station (AUES), and was used by the U.S. government for research and testing of chemical agents, equipment and munitions. Currently, the Spring Valley neighborhood encompasses approximately 1,200 private homes, including several embassies and foreign properties, as well as the American University and Wesley Seminary. American University also ran a child development center on its campus. The initial investigation began in 1993.
The Army Corps of Engineers conducted the remediation under the guidance of the EPA and DC Health.
The protective cleanup goal of 20 PPM was agreed upon by the Army Corps of Engineers, the EPA and D.C. Health, and approved by both the Mayor’s Scientific Advisory Panel and the Spring Valley Restoration Advisory Board (RAB). The RAB is comprised of area residents and representatives from each of the three partnering agencies. This cleanup goal was established based on achieving a level determined to be very protective against long-term cancer and other non-cancer risks for both children and adults. This cleanup goal also considered the natural background levels found in the soils within the Washington, D.C. area.
To visit the web site, click here [3]. This site has a considerable amount of information including maps, newsletters, government agency advisories and meeting notes.
Within this web site there is a "Residents' Guide for Spring Valley Soil Removal". Click here [4] to download the guide. This guide has a section concerning the soil removal within the root zone of established trees.
