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West Central Phoenix — West Grand Avenue | Site History

2016: Groundwater sampling was conducted in January and April. No contaminants were detected at concentrations greater than the AWQS. ADEQ completed the PRAP and the ROD. Groundwater monitor wells were abandoned according to Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) regulations.

2015: Groundwater sampling was conducted in April. No contaminants were detected at concentrations greater than the AWQS.

2014: Groundwater sampling was conducted in December. No contaminants were detected in the groundwater sample.

2012  2013: The FS report was completed in June 2013. Groundwater sampling was conducted in Oct. 2012 and Jan. 2013. No contaminants were detected at concentrations greater than the Arizona Aquifer Water Quality Standards (AWQS).

2008: Because of a decline in groundwater levels, the WGA wells went dry so a new groundwater monitor well, WCP-235, was installed at the site. To date, testing in the WGA area indicates no exposure to the contamination. Sampling shows that the contaminated soils are remediated. Notices have been sent out to all known residences within the WGA area for the testing of possible domestic wells for contamination.  The area is served by the City of Phoenix municipal water system or other regulated systems.

2004: In February, ADEQ issued the draft remedial investigation (RI) report for the site for public comment to meet the requirements established under A.R.S. §49-287.03 and Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R18-16-406. No comments were received during the 30-day comment period. The report was accepted as the final RI report. ADEQ received a request from Layke in April to permanently shutdown the SVE system. ADEQ granted the request in a letter dated April 21st.

1967  2002: The Layke facility is located near 33rd Avenue and Osborn Road. Layke began operations at the facility in 1967.  Operations included the manufacturing of various metal parts.  Trichloroethene (TCE) was the primary solvent used for parts cleaning/degreasing and a vapor degreaser had been used at the facility from 1969 to approximately 1989. Used chemicals were stored in 55-gallon drums in the waste storage area or in an underground storage tank (UST) prior to disposal. At various times, it appears that the UST overflowed, causing the waste inside the tank to leak out.  The UST was removed in Oct. 1990.

The Arizona Department of Health Services, Salt River Project, and the City of Phoenix (COP) confirmed the presence of VOCs in the groundwater with sampling in 1983, 1985, and 1986. Groundwater from COP wells #70 and #71 contained the highest concentrations of TCE and, therefore, were immediately shut down. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were first detected in groundwater in the WCP area in July 1982. COP detected TCE in four municipal public supply wells, COP wells #70, #71, #151, and #152. Wells #151 and #152 were monitored for VOC concentrations from 1982 until 1989. In 1987 the WCP area was designated a WQARF priority list site. As a result of sampling conducted during Feb. of 1989, COP elected to take both wells #151 and #152 off-line on March 7, 1989. Field investigation activities at the site were conducted between 1989 and 2002. The investigation indicated that the source of soil and groundwater contamination at the site is the Layke Incorporated (Layke) facility.

Between 1990 and 1997, an early response action was conducted by Layke, Inc., the current operator at the Layke Facility. In 1990, Layke excavated a waste oil UST that was contaminated with TCE. Soil samples were collected. After the tank was excavated a soil vapor extraction (SVE) system was installed and operated from 1995 to 1997.  In 1997, ADEQ established the WQARF Registry which replaced the priority list. The site was placed on the WQARF Registry in April 1998 with a score of 17 out of a possible 120. The site score was re-evaluated in 2000 with a revised score of 22.

Layke operated a SVE system from March 1995 through June 1998 to remediate the contamination beneath the UST. Between 2001 and 2002, soil samples were collected by ADEQ in the area of the UST to determine the effectiveness of the SVE system in cleaning up the soils. The soil data indicated that the contamination had been effectively remediated by the SVE system.  Based on this information, ADEQ granted a No Further Action request in December 2002, pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) §49-287.01.