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WQARF | ECP 38th & IS - History

ECP 38th Street and Indian School Road | WQARF Site

Site History

Revised On: Feb. 16, 2024 - 1:23 p.m.

2020: ADEQ installed three groundwater monitoring wells and groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

2019: ADEQ conducted groundwater monitoring in response to site stakeholder concern that the site was closed prematurely. Analytical results from sampled groundwater indicated that tetrachloroethene (PCE) concentrations had returned to levels exceeding the Arizona Water Quality Standard (AWQS) of 5 μg/L. ADEQ reopened the site for continued environmental investigation and remediation and installed four groundwater monitoring wells.

2018: In-site chemical oxidation (ISCO) injections initiated in the previous year were completed in February. ADEQ conducted a series of groundwater monitoring events to collect data regarding the efficacy of the ISCO injections. Analytical results from groundwater sampled during the events indicated that concentrations of PCE were below the AWQS of 5 μg/L and ADEQ issued a Feasibility Study Report recommending site closure. A public notice informing the site’s stakeholders and community that the site had been removed from the WQARF registry was issued in June.

2017: ADEQ installed a groundwater monitoring well and groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site. Additionally, a series of ISCO injections were conducted at the site from October through the end of the year.

2016: ADEQ installed a groundwater monitoring well and groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

2015: ADEQ issued the site Remedial Investigation Report, the Remedial Objectives Report and groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site. Additionally, the analytical results of soil vapor samples collected from borings around the former The Cleaners facility were compared to an attenuated industrial air screening level. The analytical results were found to be less than the attenuated screening level, indicating that PCE vapor intrusion did not currently pose an excess health risk at the former facility.

2014: ADEQ installed six groundwater monitoring wells and groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

2013: ADEQ installed two groundwater monitoring wells and groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

2009 – 2012: No work was performed by ADEQ at the site.

2008: ADEQ installed a groundwater monitoring well and groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

2007: ADEQ sent out public notices per A.R.S. §49-287.03, initiating the remedial investigation for the site. Additionally, groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

2004 – 2006: Groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

2003: ADEQ removed the soil vapor extraction (SVE) system located at the former The Cleaners facility and groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

2002: Groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

1998: The site was placed on the WQARF Registry with an Eligibility and Evaluation  score of 20 out of a possible 120 and groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

1997: ADEQ collected several groundwater samples from two borings located within the vicinity of the former The Cleaners and Rose Formal Wear facilities. Analytical results from the groundwater samples indicated PCE ranging in the tens of μg/L in one of the two borings. Additionally, groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

1996: ADEQ conducted a soil and soil vapor investigation at the former The Cleaners facility to evaluate the effectiveness of SVE performed in 1995. Analyses of soil samples collected during the investigation indicated detectable concentrations of PCE, but at levels below regulatory standards. Analyses of soil vapor samples collected during the investigation indicated concentrations of PCE ranging in the hundreds of μg/L, two orders of magnitude less than concentrations detected prior to SVE. Based on these results, ADEQ concluded that the SVE system had successfully reduced the PCE concentration in soil vapor and that soil was not the primary source of PCE in groundwater. Additionally, groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

1995: The Cleaners facility ceased operations and ADEQ installed an SVE system at the facility. The SVE system operated periodically through July and August and underwent a rebound test in August. The SVE system was offline by the end of August, but remained onsite at the facility. The system removed a calculated 7.7 pounds of volatile organic compounds during its operational period.

1994: ADEQ installed a dual-nested groundwater monitoring well and groundwater monitoring was conducted at the site.

1992: A series of soil borings were installed near The Cleaners and Rose Formal Wear facilities. Analyses of soil samples collected from the borings indicated detectable concentrations of PCE, but at levels below regulatory standards.  Four groundwater monitoring wells were installed to assess the impact of PCE on groundwater in the vicinity of the facilities. Analytical results of groundwater samples collected from the closest monitoring well downgradient of The Cleaners indicated an exceedance of the AWQS for PCE, with detected concentrations ranging in the tens of thousands of μg/L.  Analytical results of groundwater samples collected from the closest monitoring well downgradient of Rose Formal Wear indicated an exceedance of the AWQS for PCE, with detected concentrations ranging in the hundreds of μg/L.

1989: The East Central Phoenix (ECP) study area investigation began after discovery of PCE in soil vapor near the Norgetown Laundry Dry Cleaning Center/The Cleaners of Phoenix, Inc. (The Cleaners) and Rose Formal Wear/Park Avenue Cleaners (Rose Formal Wear) facilities in the 3700 block of East Indian School Road. Concentrations of PCE in the soil vapor ranged in the tens of thousands of μg/L. The ECP study area, which the site is a part of, was bounded by Camelback Road to the north, McDowell Road to the south, 50th Street to the east and 20th Street to the west.