3M has completed a preliminary investigation of a historical disposal site in Trinity, Alabama, and has submitted its report to Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) for review.

DECATUR, Ala. – November 18, 2019 – 3M has completed a preliminary investigation of a historical disposal site located at 7644 County Road 222 in Trinity, Alabama, and has submitted its report to Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) for review. This site was owned by individuals involved in the waste-hauling business in the 1970s and 1980s. 3M is actively investigating the site and others for the presence of PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyls).

The preliminary investigation included a geophysical survey to determine the extent of the disposal area, a well survey of residential properties within in a one-mile radius of the site, and surface water, sediment, soil and groundwater sampling.

The results show the following:

The disposal area is confined to less than one acre in the northern portion of the 11-acre property.

The adjacent residential properties are served by City water.

Shallow groundwater (which is not used as a source of drinking water) flows away from the adjacent residential properties.

PFAS concentrations in groundwater were confined to the northern portions of the site and all are below the calculated U.S. EPA Risk Screening Level (RSL), with the exception of one detection in shallow groundwater, which is not a source of drinking water. The highest PFAS concentrations detected in surface soil and sediment samples fall three times below the calculated RSL for residential soil.

Pending ADEM’s approval, 3M recommends in the preliminary report that groundwater monitoring continue on a quarterly basis with a reassessment after one year, and that test pits be excavated to confirm the results of the geophysical survey. 3M will continue to work with ADEM to evaluate the results of the investigation and ensure appropriate action is taken.

As announced in July, 3M continues to investigate certain closed waste disposal sites in Morgan and Lawrence Counties for the presence of PFAS, including at Brookhaven, Deer Springs, Old Moulton Road/Mud Tavern and the Johnson disposal site. 3M will be submitting a Preliminary Investigation Work Plan to ADEM for each landfill. Preliminary investigation activities at the Johnson landfill are currently ongoing.

“We are committed to working with ADEM and the City of Decatur to make sure that all of these properties, which were closed decades ago, are rigorously sampled and tested,” said Michelle Howell, plant manager, 3M Decatur. “It’s important that, if necessary, the water and waste be treated according to 21st century waste management standards, and we intend to do just that.”