Remediation of PCB- containing Building Materials in Student Housing

PCBs in Building Materials: Opportunities and Strategies Areas of Concern –Building Focus: Windows, Expansion Joints, Masonry –Other Campus High Occupancy Areas Strategy –Proactive Response to an Accidental Discovery –Boundary: Repair vs. Renovation, Demolition –Community Education and Involvement Throughout –Multi-Media Panel: Medical, EHS, Risk Assessment –Design the Plan, Revise in Response to Occupants –Where there’s PCB, there’s probably…asbestos

PCB Use – Traditional Sources Dielectric fluids: transformers and capacitors Other electrical equipment including voltage regulators, switches, reclosers, bushings, and electromagnets Hydraulic oils – elevators, etc. Light ballasts Cable insulation Analytical standards for laboratories

PCBs in Building Components Caulking Elevators/ Hydraulic Oils Sealants in heating systems Thermal insulation material including fiberglass, felt, foam, and cork Oil-Based Paint

Popular press picks up on the PCB issue in primary/secondary schools

Harvard University Study Used Soil Samples to Implicate Caulking as PCB Source

Building Photo, Schematic of Planned Remediation Work

Site Conditions Action levels: –10 ppm for high-occupancy, 1 ppm for soil Contaminated Caulking – ~ 200,000 ppm Contaminated Building Materials ~ 400 ppm 5-2,300 ppm Soils –2 ppm

Pilot Test Activities –Caulking Removal –First Row of Bricks Removed –Chemical Washing of Concrete Surfaces –Encapsulation of Select Concrete Surfaces Prior EPA Approval required Technically feasible, but disruptive to occupants

Revised Approach Any Plan Revisions Require EPA Approval Less material removal and with hand tools only –Caulking removal –Chemical washing of horizontal surfaces only –Encapsulate all adjacent building surfaces

Continued O&M Long-Term Monitoring and Maintenance –Semi-Annual Visual Inspections –Annual Sampling Long-Term Maintenance Material Characterization –Requirement upon Demolition Deed Restriction

Lessons Learned Technical Points Length of EPA Review Process Value of Expert Risk Assessor Contractor Knowledge – Still New Ground Communications Points Building Occupants’ Savvy and Initiative Value of In-House Occupational Health Physician Value of “Town-Hall” Meetings w/ Residents Websites are sprouting around this issue

Residence Website… …and the Residents’ Blog