Our "good neighbor", IBM, was caught by the EPA for contaminating the water in Manassas Virginia. The chemicals were the same (PCE, TCE, DCE) as we have found in our wells. The test well & recovery methods are the same. The difference is we are being treated by EPA as second rate citizens! In the Washington surburb, IBM had to pay for the entire cleanup while in East Fishkill they continue to pollute both the water and the air with total contempt and denial! In 1981 IBM was identified as the source of ground water contamination in this area. They had a spill of 150,000 gallons of the cleaning soultion Tetrachloroethene (PCE) near their water source (Well #2 - 424' deep) As a result they dug new wells for themselves while New York State Department of Health (DOH) ,Department of Environmental Control (DEC), and Dutchess County Department of Health looked the other way. The "problem" was so well covered up that families moving into the area after 1981 were not made aware of the potential danger by the Real Estate agents selling the homes. This is a violation of the New York State Real Estate law of full disclosure. No one in our state government has offered a law requiring test of drinking water for these known cancer causing chemicals.

U.S. EPA Region 3 - Waste and Chemicals Management Division - IBM 

High Priority Facilities || Virginia || Home
High Priority Site for Corrective Action
Last Updated: May 12, 2000 
IBM 
MANASSAS, VIRGINIA 
ID# VAD064872575

Current Progress at the Site:

A program has been implemented to remediate and monitor a plume of 
perchloroethylene (PCE) in the groundwater extending from the facility in 
Manassas, Virginia three miles to a public supply well in Prince William 
County. The remediation program includes groundwater pump and treat, 
groundwater monitoring, and soil vapor extraction. 
The groundwater pump and treat portion of the remediation program was 
initiated in 1985 and now consists of three pumping wells, one public supply 
well, and an additional pilot pumping well. Extracted groundwater is 
treated with two stage carbon adsorption systems. Spent carbon is recovered 
at an offsite facility. As of December 1998, the groundwater pump and treat 
has removed a total of 880 gallons (11,848 pounds) of PCE from the 
groundwater. 
The soil vapor extraction system was initially tested in 1988 and is 
comprised of five extraction wells and seven air inlet wells. The system 
removes PCE from the vadose zone near one of the pumping wells. As of 
December 1998, the vapor extraction system has removed a total of 1,629 
gallons (21,992 pounds) of PCE from the environment. 
Groundwater data from monitoring wells has been collected since the late 
1980's. The monitoring includes analyses to confirm that the volatile 
organic compounds (VOCs) in the plume are being contained and that progress 
towards the cleanup goals is being achieved. The current monitoring 
program requires monthly groundwater level measurements from 82 monitoring 
wells, monthly analysis of VOC concentrations in groundwater from the five 
pumping wells (4 monitoring wells and 1 public water supply well), and 
quarterly or annual analyses of groundwater from 25 monitoring wells, 5 
public water supply wells, and 7 private water supply wells. Evaluation of 
groundwater level and groundwater quality data collected thus far 
demonstrates that the pumping wells have contained the VOC plume. 

Next Steps: 

IBM continues to implement the full remediation program including 
groundwater pump and treat, soil vapor extraction system, and groundwater 
monitoring. 
Although a five year assessment report is not required until April 2001, IBM 
submitted three workplans in 1999, in response to EPA’s request. 
1. Vapor Extraction System Shutdown Investigation Workplan 
This workplan was requested because IBM has observed diminished removal of 
PCE through the system and is considering eliminating the system. EPA 
requested, and IBM submitted a plan, to determine whether shut down of the 
vapor extraction system (VES) will impact groundwater contamination or air 
quality and whether continued mass removal by the VES is insignificant 
relative to IBM’s ability to meet the remediation goals. In December of 
1999, EPA provided comments on this workplan to IBM. IBM submitted a 
revised Workplan in April, 2000. EPA is reviewing IBM’s submittal.
2. Groundwater Plume Characterization Workplan 
While previously uncontaminated wells are routinely monitored to ensure 
that the contaminated groundwater plume is contained, IBM has not 
monitored the perimeter of the plume since 1992. EPA requested IBM to 
assess the plume size to complete a review of the remediation program. 
Since EPA made this request, and IBM submitted a Workplan, EPA has focused 
its resources on addressing risks and has deferred this portion of IBM’s 
assessment.
3. Corrective Measures Review Workplan 
EPA requested this workplan because IBM has determined that the current 
remedy is not substantially reducing the concentration of contaminants in 
the groundwater at one localized area, and also, in the next several 
years, Prince William County plans to discontinue pumping the principle 
well which has drawn the contaminant plume three miles from its source. 
Since EPA made this request, and IBM submitted a Workplan, EPA has focused 
its resources on addressing risks and has deferred this portion of IBM’s 
assessment.
Site Description: 
In 1969, IBM began operating a 600-acre facility located in north central 
Virginia, approximately 25 miles southwest of Washington, DC. The principal 
activities at the Facility were semiconductor design and the manufacturing 
and development of electronic defense systems. Although IBM continues to 
retain the responsibility for RCRA corrective measures implementation at the 
Manassas facility, the facility now contains portions owned and operated by 
other businesses, including the Lockheed Martin Corporation and Dominion 
Semiconductor. 
Through investigations implemented by IBM from 1978 through the 
early-1980's, IBM identified the presence of elevated volatile organic 
compounds in onsite soils and groundwater. As a result of the initial 
investigations, IBM removed one 10,000-gallon waste solvent tank and two 
20,000-gallon waste acid tanks, closed two underground tanks and associated 
appurtenances, removed 1227 tons of contaminated soil which were disposed in 
an EPA-approved hazardous waste landfill, treated soil to raise the pH in 
contaminated soils and immobilize fluoride, and installed 49 onsite wells 
and 45 offsite wells to monitor groundwater. Subsequently, IBM provided 
city (Manassas) water hookups to five (5) residences, assisted the Prince 
William County Service Authority in installing and monitoring a groundwater 
treatment system for its public supply well, implemented a groundwater pump 
and treat system, and implemented a pilot soil vapor extraction system. 
On March 1, 1989, EPA and IBM entered into a Consent Order requiring IBM to 
complete its onsite and offsite investigation of the nature and extent of 
the contamination and conduct a study to evaluate various cleanup 
alternatives. The requirements of the order were satisfied with EPA’s 
approval of the CMS Report on March 8, 1990. The final remedy selected by 
EPA on July 25, 1990 provided for the addition of one offsite pumping well 
to the existing groundwater pump and treat system and continued the pilot 
soil vapor extraction system. Cleanup goals were established for the 
pumping wells based on Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and 10-6 cancer 
risk-based levels. MCLs are federally enforceable drinking water standards 
developed under the Safe Drinking Water Act which are published at 40 C.F.R. 
Part 141, Subpart B. The 10-6 cancer risk-based level represents the 
concentration of a carcinogen such that a person of average weight drinking 
two (2) liters/day of water containing 0.67 micrograms/liter of the 
contaminant would have no more than a one (1) in one (1) million chance of 
developing cancer from drinking the water during a 70 year lifespan. EPA 
acknowledged that it may be technically impossible to achieve these cleanup 
goals and provided that IBM may petition for alternative goals in the future 
(as long as drinking water from the Prince William County Well and possibly 
from the new offsite well was treated to levels no less stringent than an 
MCL). On February 11, 1991, EPA and IBM entered into a second Consent Order 
requiring IBM to implement the selected remedy. As a result of local 
approval requirements, the new offsite pumping well did not begin operating 
until August, 1997. 
Clean-up Indicators 
Under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), EPA has set 
national goals to 
address high priority RCRA corrective action facilities by the year 2005. 
EPA is evaluating two key indicators for each facility: Current Human 
Exposures Under Control and Migration of Contaminated Groundwater Under 
Control. The IBM Manasassas Facility is one of EPA Region III's high 
priority facilities and falls under this initiative. EPA's current 
evaluation of Environmental Indicators for the IBM Manassas Facility is as 
follows: 
Human Exposures Controlled Determination: Human Exposures are controlled 
at this time. 
Release to Groundwater Controlled Determination: Groundwater is controlled 
at this time. 
Threats and Contaminants: 
The principle contaminants in soil and/or groundwater associated with 
releases from IBM’s operation of the plant and breakdown products from the 
releases are perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and 1,2-trans 
dichloroethylene (trans 1,2-DCE). The compound 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1 
TCA) is also in onsite and offsite groundwater and possibly originated from 
an offsite source. These chemicals are all in a class of chemicals called 
“volatile organic compounds” or VOCs. The MCL identified in the final 
remedy is 5 ppb for PCE, 5 ppb for TCE, 70 ppb for trans 1,2-DCE, and 200 
ppb for 1,1,1 TCA. The 10-6 cancer risk-based level in drinking water that 
is identified in the final remedy is 0.67 parts per billion (ppb) for PCE 
and 3 ppb for TCE. The compounds trans 1,2-DCE and 1,1,1 TCA are toxic to 
the body but do not induce cancer. 
Community Interaction: 
EPA solicited public comments on the preliminary identification of the final 
selected remedy for 30 or more days during March and April of 1990. Two 
comments were received. IBM opposed the requirement to meet a cleanup goal 
for 1,1,1 TCA because it is not believed that IBM is the source of the 1,1,1 
TCA in the groundwater. EPA retained the cleanup goal for 1,1,1 TCA because 
IBM’s recovery wells had caused the compound to migrate onto IBM’s property. 
A citizen concerned with property values, environmental effects, and public 
safety opposed the selected location for the additional offsite well. IBM 
resolved this issue by working with the residents to design and develop a 
housing for the well pump and treatment system which met their approval. 

More Information:

For more information about this project, please contact: 
Information Repositories 
The following information repository contains documents related to the 
investigation and cleanup of the IBM Manassas Facility: 
Location: U.S. EPA Region III, RCRA Administrative Record (3WC23) 
Address: 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2029 
Phone Number: (215) 814-3430 or (800) 352-1973 extension 43430 
RCRA Project Manager: Diane Schott (3WC23) 
Phone Number: (215) 814-3430 or (800) 352-1973 ex. 43430 
Facsimile: (215) 814-3113 
Electronic Mail: schott.diane@epa.gov 
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