Maryland Square Site

Tetrachloroethylene [PCE] was released from the former Al Phillips Cleaners in the Maryland Square Shopping Center at 3661 S. Maryland Parkway.

The history of site discovery, investigation and cleanup is provided in the Background Document for the Maryland Square PCE site. The NDEP has prepared a Proposed Plan that describes the remedy proposed for cleanup of contaminated groundwater at the Maryland Square PCE Site.

• Proposed Plan for Cleanup of Groundwater
• Background Document - 2014 Background Document - 2016
• FAQs - 2014 FAQs - 2016
• Fact Sheet - 2016
• NDEP Interim-Action Level
• Sampling Equipment & Chemical Checklist
• Home Mitigation ISSD System
• A Citizen's Guide to Vapor Intrusion Mitigation (EPA, 2012)
• Cleanup Technologies
• Indoor Air Quality
• About Units of Measure
• Record of Decision (2015)
• Corrective Action Report for Source Area Soil (2012)

Progress on Cleanup, 2011 - 2014

Removal of PCE-contaminated soil at the former Maryland Square Shopping Center —Excavation of source area soil began on August 23, 2011 and was completed on September 19, 2011. Soil samples were collected from the sidewalls and floor of the excavation to confirm the removal of PCE-contaminated soil. Based on these confirmation samples, additional excavation was required on the northern side of the excavation.

The floor of the excavation was treated with an oxidant prior to backfill. The oxidant (potassium permanganate, KMnO4) was applied to further degrade the PCE in groundwater and soil beneath the water table. The excavation was backfilled with clean soil that had been excavated onsite to attain a safe grade on the sidewalls of the pit, as well as clean soil imported from offsite. Backfilling and grading of the site were completed in late October, 2011.

Figures:

• Maryland Square PCE Plume Map
• History of Monitoring Well Installation (2001-2012)
• Posters from Community Meeting (October 26, 2011)
• Vapor Intrusion Process
• Slides from Community Meeting to Present the Proposed Plan for Cleanup of Groundwater (November 19, 2014)

A Multi-Component Remedy for Cleanup of Groundwater

Logistical and technical issues led to preference of a remedy that combines hydraulic containment in one area of the site and treatment in another area. To reduce the amount of PCE-contaminated groundwater entering beneath the residential neighborhood east of the Boulevard Mall, groundwater extraction and above-ground treatment (known as “pump and treat”) is proposed for use on the east side of the mall. Extraction of groundwater upgradient of the neighborhood would provide hydraulic containment of the PCE plume.

Extraction wells are used in other areas of the Las Vegas Valley to draw down groundwater or dewater sites where underground parking garages and other subsurface structures are built. Extraction wells installed in the eastern parking lot of Boulevard Mall, just upgradient of the neighborhood, would capture contaminated groundwater before it migrates beneath the neighborhood. The current plan is to treat the extracted groundwater to remove the PCE, then re-inject it downgradient of the extraction wells.

The other component of the proposed remedy would be located just downgradient of the former dry cleaner, near S. Maryland Pkwy, in the western parking lot of the mall. This area is proposed to host remedies that physically remove or destroy PCE. Such remedies include air sparging (AS), which is typically combined with vapor extraction (VE) to capture fugitive vapors, and chemical oxidation. These remedies have less control over contaminant migration than groundwater extraction and therefore were judged as “not ideal” to implement adjacent to the residential neighborhood.

Details of remedy design and function will be presented in the Remedial Design documents. Preparation of these documents follows selection of the remedy and documentation of the selected remedy in the ROD.

Cleanup of Groundwater: Timeline for Remedy Design and Implementation

The current schedule is that at least some components of the remedy will be in place by the end of 2015. All components of the remedy should be in place and operating by the end of 2016.