March 26, 2001
Bay Area Air Quality Management District
Attn: Peter Hess 939 Ellis Street San Francisco, CA 94109
Re: Chromium in Air at Fourth & Harrison Street
Dear Mr. Hess:
In 1997 the city contracted Accurex Environmental conducted a two day ambient air study at the Fourth & Harrison Street park site. The Accurex study found some undifferentiated chromium in one of the two days of air sampling. The consultant believed the most likely source was either mineral chromium kicked up from the soil or airborne chromium from industry to the west.
In the interim period, the city of Berkeley has found that the groundwater Cr6 plume from WRE ColorTech at 1225 Sixth Street has reached west beyond the park. This has raised a new concern by a member of the public who believes that the chromium may be Cr6 and it may be coming from WRE ColorTech. Staff reviewed the Acurex document and on both days of testing, the air was "normal" or from the west, while the facility in question was east of the park.
At this point, we want to take extra steps to make sure if WRE CotorTech has produced airborne Cr6 over the past few years. Does the BAAQMD have analyses for the airborne emissions? If not, can you obtain such data from the facility?
Nabil Al-Hadithy Supervisor, Toxics Management Division
Attachment: Pages from 1997 Accurex Report
Cc Lisa Caronna, Director of Parks and Waterfront
Wendy Cosin, Acting Director Planning Department (w/o attachments)
L A Wood, Berkeley
**********
To: Community Environmental Advisory Commission
As requested by Commissioner Wood, we recently contacted BAAQMD on airborne Cr6 from WREColorTech and possible impacts at Harrison Street. Their response shows unlikely impacts to the fields.
Please note that the last BAAQMD tests were from May 1993 when the facility was much busier than at present. The facility has since lost the California Lotto contract and there are concerns that it will file for bankruptcy soon. Please also note that the air monitoring data taken was on the facility itself and Harrison St fields is mostly upwind by about 300 feet or more so dilution will take place. Having said all this, and having again shown the lack of evidence for any Cr6 impacts to the fields, staff is prepared to take additional ambient air Cr6 sampling and use very low detection levels to categorically evaluate this concern.
From: Ken Kunaniec Engineering Manager, BAAQMD
To: Nabil Al-Hadithy Supervisor, Toxics Management Division
Per our phone conversation of4/4/01, the following information is provided.
The most recent source test data from Western Roto Engravers (WRE ColorTech) is from May, 1993. The test demonstrated emissions less than even the current standard of 0.005 mg/amp-hr. The Permit condition (ID # 16358) required tests every 2 years, until two consecutive tests demonstrate compliance with our Rule (at the time, the standard was 0.03 mg/amp-hr). The May, 1993 test was the second such demonstration. The test results showed 0.003 mg/amp-hr.
Data Bank shows one Violation Notice issued to this facility since January 1, 1998. It was a recordkeeping issue, not an emission-related violation. I researched the Pacific Steel Casting and Berkeley Forge & Tool tests our Agency have conducted since 1982 and none of the results indicate any chrome emissions. We have measured some manganese (2,000 ppm) and zinc (3,670 ppm) coming from the Electric Arc Furnace at Pacific steel casting. This source is, however, controlled by a baghouse.
Ken Kunaniec Engineering Manager, BAAQMD
