HRS DOCUMENTATION RECORD REVIEW COVER SHEET 

Name of Site: Hemphill Road TCE 

NC0 002 374 445 

Contact Persons:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4: 

Jennifer Wendell, 

NPL Coordinator (404) 562-8799 

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources: 

Site Investigation: Melanie Bartlett (919) 707-8373 

Documentation Record: 

Melanie Bartlett (919) 707-8373 

Pathways, Components, or Threats Not Evaluated:

The surface water migration, soil exposure, and air migration pathways were not scored in this 

Hazard Ranking System (HRS) documentation record because the ground water migration 

pathway is sufficient to qualify the site for National Priorities List (NPL). These pathways are of 

concern to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and may be considered during a 

future evaluation. 
1

HRS DOCUMENTATION RECORD 

Name of Site: Hemphill Road TCE 

EPA Region: 4 

Date Prepared: May 2013 

Street Address of Site*: Hemphill Road 

City, County, State, and ZIP: Gastonia, Gaston County, NC, 28056 

General Location in the State: South Central North Carolina 

Topographic Map: Gastonia, NC 

Latitude: 35.197933°N Longitude: -81.189852°W 

The site reference point for the Hemphill Road TCE site is the approximate center of Hemphill 

Road where it crosses the unnamed tributary, which is within the plume defined in Figure 3 (Ref. 

3; Figs. 1, 3, 4). 

* The street address, coordinates, and contaminant locations presented in this HRS 

documentation record identify the general area the site is located. They represent one or more 

locations EPA considers to be part of the site based on the screening information EPA used to 

evaluate the site for NPL listing. EPA lists national priorities among the known “releases or 

threatened releases” of hazardous substances; thus, the focus is on the release, not precisely 

delineated boundaries. A site is defined as where a hazardous substance has been “deposited, 

stored, disposed, or placed, or has otherwise come to be located.” Generally, HRS scoring and 

the subsequent listing of a release merely represent the initial determination that a certain area 

may need to be addressed under CERCLA. Accordingly, EPA contemplates that the preliminary 

description of facility boundaries at the time of scoring will be refined as more information is 

developed as to where the contamination has come to be located. 

Scores

Ground Water Pathway 100.00

Surface Water Pathway Not Scored 

Soil Exposure Pathway Not Scored 

Air Pathway Not Scored 

HRS SITE SCORE 50.00
2

WORKSHEET FOR SITE SCORE

S S2

1. Ground Water Migration Pathway Score 100.00 10,000

2a. Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration --

Drinking Water Threat Not Scored 

Food Chain Threat Not Scored 

Environmental Threat Not Scored 

Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration Component 

(subject to maximum value of 100, Ref. 1, section 4.1.5) 

 

3. Soil Exposure Pathway Score Not Scored 

4. Air Migration Pathway Score Not Scored 

5. Total of Sgw

2

 + Ssw

2

 + Ss

2

 + Sa

2

 = 10,000 

6. HRS Site Score: Value on line 5. divided by four, 

then take the square root 50.00 
3

TABLE 3-1 --GROUND WATER MIGRATION PATHWAY SCORESHEET

Factor categories and factors Maximum Value Value Assigned 

Aquifer Evaluated: Saprolite/bedrock 

Likelihood of Release to an Aquifer: 

1. Observed Release 550 550

2. Potential to Release:

2a. Containment 10 0

2b. Net Precipitation 10 0

2c. Depth to Aquifer 5 1

2d. Travel Time 35 1

2e. Potential to Release [lines 2a(2b + 2c + 2d)] 500 0

3. Likelihood of Release (higher of lines 1 and 2e) 550 550

Waste Characteristics:

4. Toxicity/Mobility (a) 1000

5. Hazardous Waste Quantity (a) 100

6. Waste Characteristics 100 18

Targets:

7. Nearest Well (b) 50

8. Population:

8a. Level I Concentrations (b) 1481.3

8b. Level II Concentrations (b) 5

8c. Potential Contamination (b) 0

8d. Population (lines 8a + 8b + 8c) (b) 1486.3

9. Resources 5 0

10. Wellhead Protection Area 20 0

11. Targets (lines 7 + 8d + 9 + 10) (b) 1536.3

Ground Water Migration Score for an Aquifer: c 12. Aquifer Score [(lines 3 x 6 x 11)/82,5000] 100 100.00

Ground Water Migration Pathway Score: c 13. Pathway Score (Sgw), (highest value from line 12 for all aquifers evaluated) 100 100.00

a Maximum value applies to waste characteristics category b

 Maximum value not applicable 

c

 Do not round to nearest integer 
D

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Source: Road Centerlines, Gaston County; County Boundary, NC DOT; Site Boundary, NC Div of Waste Management; Water Sources and 
..•.....r?:~~'Y:.················"·_..... 

8 · N ........................-· 


GT-003-GW 

s 

R705\0 

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Site Map • 

North Carolina 

GT 

R70511 

O /S~~;OOS-GW

~ R705\2 - 12-GW , . Department ol Environment, Health, 

and Natural Resources . 

•lvlslon of Environmental Management 

Groundwater Section 


Pollution lncldenl #3858 GT-011-GW
 GT-006-GW S Gaston County - Gibson Residence GT-009-GW s GT-206-GW R7057 June 1994 0 A70515

R705t• 

GT-008-GWO R705t3 

SGT-010-GW 

Legend R705tS Graphic Seale 1• = 125' 

..

S 

. 

· OEM Monitor 

M11t 

Well 

v Well 

~ destroyed 


0 Well no longer visible 


••Building O Well dry during March 2012 ESI Sampling 
 . Event-No Sample Collected 


Note: Basr: Map derived from tnlorgrd U.S.G.S. 7 111 min 


quadrangle map ofGastonlo Sowlt. WtllloC4lioJU havr: beer: verifisd (PSB). 


Nole: Building locatioltS and dimtnsloltS are only approxiniQtt. 


TBM elevation asswned as 760/1 abovt MSL atmonitor 


wr:ll casing extension on well R7059. 

Figure 2: Monitoring Wells and GIT Production Well 
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Crowder Creek

Inset A

Inset B

Source: Gaston County, Parcels; Well Sample Locations, NC Division of Waste Management

HEMPHILL ROAD TCE SITE

HALF-MILE GROUNDWATER USE

3. Sample Locations

NC0 002 374 445

Gastonia, NC

Gaston

SMM

Fig:

Site:

City

County:

Date:

Drawn By:

1 inch = 800 feet

0.2 0.1 0 0.2

Miles

North American Datum 1983

North Carolina State Plane (3200)

Contour Interval 4 Feet

2

02/27/2013

1/2 Mile

!( Detection - Level I (TCE)

!( Detection - Level II (w/TCE)

!( No Detection of TCE

Site/Extent of Plume

<-- Bkgd
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GT-005-GW

GT-012-GW

GT-003-GW

GT-002-GW

GT-001-GW

GT-013-PW

Bkgd

GT-085-PW

GT-084-PW

GT-083-PW

GT-082-PW

GT-081-PW

GT-080-PW

GT-079-PW

GT-077-PW

GT-076-PW

GT-075-PW

GT-074-PW

GT-071-PWGT-072-PW GT-073-PW

GT-309-PW

GT-304-PW

GT-068-PW/

GT-268-PW

GT-267-PW

GT-067-PW

GT-066-PW

GT-065-PW

GT-064-PW

GT-052-PW

GT-051-PW GT-050-PW

GT-048-PWGT-049-PW

GT-047-PW

GT-046-PW

GT-045-PW

GT-044-PW

GT-043-PW

GT-042-PW

Bkgd

GT-307-PW

GT-010-GW

Bkgd

GT-003-PW

Bkgd (1999)

Kensington Estates

closed 1999

Kensington Estates

closed 1999

Source: Gaston County, Parcels; Well Sample Locations, NC Division of Waste Management

(A) HEMPHILL ROAD TCE SITE

HALF-MILE GROUNDWATER USE

3-A. Sample Locations

NC0 002 374 445

Gastonia, NC

Gaston

SMM

Fig:

Site:

City

County:

Date:

Drawn By:

1 inch = 450 feet

0.1 0.05 0 0.1

Miles

North American Datum 1983

North Carolina State Plane (3200)

Contour Interval 4 Feet

2

02/27/2013

1/2 Mile

!? Detection - Level I (TCE)

!? Detection - Level II (w/TCE)

!? No Detection of TCE
!?

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GT-018-PW

GT-017-PW

GT-016-PW/

GT-216-PW

GT-105-PW

GT-104-PW

GT-103-PW

<-- RP-018-GW

Bkgd

RP-002-GW

RP-001-GW

GT-102-PW

GT-101-PW

GT-100-PW

GT-099-PW

GT-098-PW

GT-097-PW

GT-096-PW GT-095-PW

GT-094-PW

GT-093-PW GT-092-PW

GT-091-PW

GT-090-PW

GT-089-PW GT-087-PW/

GT-088-PW

GT-086-PW

GT-063-PW

GT-062-PW

GT-061-PW

GT-060-PW

GT-059-PW

GT-259-PW GT-106-PW

GT-058-PW

GT-056-PW GT-057-PW

GT-055-PW

GT-054-PW

GT-053-PW

GT-041-PW

GT-040-PW

GT-038-PWGT-039-PW

GT-037-PW

GT-036-PW

GT-035-PW

GT-034-PW

GT-301-PW

Bkgd

GT-031-PW GT-032-PW

Source: Gaston County, Parcels; Well Sample Locations, NC Division of Waste Management; Contour, NC DOT (Derived from 2007 LIDAR)

(B) HEMPHILL ROAD TCE SITE

HALF-MILE GROUNDWATER USE

3-B. Sample Locations

NC0 002 374 445

Gastonia, NC

Gaston

SMM

Fig:

Site:

City

County:

Date:

Drawn By:

1 inch = 450 feet

0.1 0.05 0 0.1

Miles

North American Datum 1983

North Carolina State Plane (3200)

Contour Interval 4 Feet

2

02/27/2013

1/2 Mile

!? Detection - Level I (TCE)

!? Detection - Level II (w/TCE)

!? No Detection of TCE
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Hemphill Rd

Little Mountain Rd

Forbes Rd

Benfield Rd

Robinson Rd

700

900

800

800

800

700

800

800

740

760

720

780

680

820

840

860

660

880

640

760

680

760

740

780

740

720

740

740

720

680

760

720

680

760

760

760

760

740

780

740

760

760

760

Amy Acres

Covington Estates

Kensington Estates

Wesley Acres

Beverly Acres

Source: Gaston County, Parcels; Well Sample Locations, NC Division of Waste Management; Contour, NC DOT (Derived from 2007 LIDAR)

HEMPHILL ROAD TCE SITE

HALF-MILE GROUNDWATER USE

MARCH 2012 SAMPLING RESULTS

4. Groundwater Use

NC0 002 374 445

Gastonia, NC

Gaston

SMM

Fig:

Site:

City

County:

Date:

Drawn By:

1 inch = 800 feet

0.2 0.1 0 0.2

Miles

North American Datum 1983

North Carolina State Plane (3200)

Contour Interval 4 Feet

2

02/07/2013

!( No Detection of TCE

!( Detection - Level I (TCE)

!( Detection - Level II (w/TCE)

D Site

GIT Facility

Community Well

Private Well

Decommissioned

after 1999

TCE Detection

Decommissioned

after 1999

TCE Detection

1/2 Mile

Falls Dump

March 2012 Drinking Water Sampling

Results
10

HEMPHILL ROAD TCE 

GASTONIA, GASTON COUNTY, NC 

LIST OF REFERENCES 

1. US Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA); Hazard Ranking System, Final Rule, 

55 FR 51532, 1990 and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 

Liability Act (42 U. S. C. 9601). 1 page. Excerpt. A complete copy of this reference is 

available at: http://epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/index.htm#HRS Rule .

2. U.S. EPA; Superfund Chemical Data Matrix (SCDM). January 2004, Revised TCE page 

dated March 31, 2012. 4 pages. Excerpt. A complete copy of SCDM is available at: 

http://epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/hrsres/tools/scdm.htm. 

3. iTouchMap.com. Latitude and Longitude of a Point, iTouchMap.com. September 25, 

2012. 1 page. http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html. 

4. Bartlett, Melanie and Jim Bateson, NC Superfund Section, North Carolina Department of 

Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR). Expanded Site Inspection, Hemphill 

Road TCE, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# NC0 002 374 445. September 27, 

2012. 290 pages. 

5. Bartlett, Melanie and Jim Bateson, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Quality Assurance 

Project Plan, Gastonia Industrial Truck Site, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# 

NC0 002 374 445. March 19, 2012. 29 pages. 

6. Bartlett, Melanie, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Memo to File: ESI Sampling 

Event Trip Report, Gastonia Industrial Truck Site, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA 

ID# NC0 002 374 445. April 2, 2012. 34 pages. 

7. Stanley, Jeanette and Jim Bateson, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Quality Assurance 

Project Plan, Rhone-Poulenc Rhodia, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# NCD 986 

182 582. July 22, 2011. 17 pages. 

 

8. NCDENR. Site Inspection Field Notes, Rhone-Poulenc Rhodia, Gastonia, Gaston 

County, NC. EPA ID# NCD 986 182 582. June 1, 2011 and July 26, 2011. 11 pages. 

9. Trapp, Kristin, U.S. EPA. Memo to Carolyn Callihan, Subject: FINAL Analytical 

Report, Project: 11-0578, Rhone-Poulenc Rhodia with associated Chain-of-Custodies. 

August 11, 2011. 103 pages. 

10. NCDENR. Field Notes, Hemphill Road TCE, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# 

NC0 002 374 445. August 22-23, 2012. 5 pages. 
11

HEMPHILL ROAD TCE 

GASTONIA, GASTON COUNTY, NC 

LIST OF REFERENCES 

11. Trapp, Kristin, U.S. EPA. Memo to Carolyn Callihan, Subject: FINAL Analytical Report, 

Project: 12-0610, Hemphill Road TCE. August 30, 2012. 48 pages. 

12. NCDENR. Chain of Custody Record, Project Number: 12-0610. August 23, 2012. 1 

page. 

13. Bartlett, Melanie, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Amended Quality Assurance Project 

Plan, Hemphill Road TCE, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# NC0 002 374 445. 

August 7, 2012. 29 pages. 

14. Parker, Stuart F., NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Combined Preliminary 

Assessment/Site Inspection, report, Gastonia Industrial Truck Site, Gastonia, Gaston 

County, NC. EPA ID# NC0 002 374 445. October 1999. 286 pages. 

15. NCDENR. SI Field Notes, Gastonia Industrial Truck Site, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. 

EPA ID# NC0 002 374 445. May 18, 1999 and June 14-15, 1999. 28 pages. 

16. Boyles, P. Sean, NC Groundwater Section, North Carolina Department of Environment, 

Health, and Natural Resources (NCDEHNR). Report of Investigation, Groundwater 

Pollution Incident #3858, Gibson Residence, Gaston County, NC. June 1994. 246 pages. 

17. NCDENR. NC Public Water Supply Community Well Records. October 3, 2012. 28 

pages. https://www.pwss.enr.state.nc.us/NCDWW2/

18. Bartlett, Melanie, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Memo to File, Subject: Kensington 

Estates Wells, Hemphill Road TCE, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# NC0 002 

374 445. October 3, 2012. 1 page. 

19. Parker, Stuart F., NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Memorandum to File: Community 

Well Contamination, Kensington Estates Subdivision, June 9, 1999. 2 pages. 

20. Bartlett, Melanie, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Memo to file: Census Data [2010], 

Hemphill Road TCE, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# NC0 002 374 445. July 

24, 2012. 3 pages. 

21. Bartlett, Melanie, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Memo to file: Wesley Acres Wells, 

Hemphill Road TCE, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# NC0 002 374 445. 

September 20, 2012. 2 pages. 

22. Stanley, Jeanette, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Memo to File, Subject: RhonePoulenc Rhodia, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# NCD 986 182 582. February 

28, 2012. 3 pages. 
12

HEMPHILL ROAD TCE 

GASTONIA, GASTON COUNTY, NC 

LIST OF REFERENCES 

23. U.S. EPA. Superfund Site Information. Site Name: Hemphill Road TCE. Accessed on 

October 16, 2012. 1 page. 

http://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0406819 

24. DeRosa, Pat, NC Superfund Section, NCDEHNR. Memo to File: Gibson Residence Site, 

Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. July 28, 1994. 2 pages. 

25. DeRoller, Christine, NC Division of Environmental Management. Memo to Pat DeRosa, 

NC Superfund Section, Re: Gibson Residence/Gastonia Industrial Trucking, Gaston 

County, North Carolina. July 29, 1994. 2 pages. 

26. Gaughan, Perry, U.S. EPA Emergency Response and Removal Branch (ERRB), Summary 

of site field activities. October 30, 2009. 39 pages. 

27. Heath, Ralph C., U.S. Geological Survey. Basic Elements of Ground-Water Hydrology 

With Reference to Conditions in North Carolina, U.S. Department of the Interior, OpenFile Report 80-44. 1980. 11 pages. Excerpt. A complete copy of this reference is 

available at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1980/0044/report.pdf. 

28. Goldsmith, Richard; Milton, Daniel J.; Horton, J. Wright Jr., Geologic Map of the 

Charlotte 1° x 2° Quadrangle, North Carolina and South Carolina, Map I-1251-E, 

Miscellaneous Investigation Series, US Geological Survey, 1988. 9 pages. Available 

online at http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_9068.htm.

29. NC Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, Geological Survey, 

Geologic Map of North Carolina, 1985. 3 pages. Available online at 

http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/maps/GeologicMaps/500k_1985_Geo_Map.html.

30. US Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Soil Survey of Gaston County, 

North Carolina, May 1989. 6 pages. Excerpt. Available online at 

http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/Manuscripts/NC071/0/Gaston.pdf.

31. Geo-Solutions, Inc., Raleigh, NC. Letter reports to the NC Division of Environmental 

Management (NCDEM) Mooresville Office, RE: Gastonia Industrial Truck, Inc.: 

- Soil Contamination Assessment Workplan, recipient Benda Smith, Regional Supervisor, 

January 14, 1993. 

- Soil Contamination Assessment, recipient Christine DeRoller, Hydrogeologist, March 

26, 1993.

25 pages total.

32. Corriher, Thomas W., Gaston County Environment Health. Pollution Incident Report, 

Incident # 3858, Gibson Well, 4901 Hemphill Road, Gastonia. December 14, 1988. 4 

pages. 
13

HEMPHILL ROAD TCE 

GASTONIA, GASTON COUNTY, NC 

LIST OF REFERENCES 

33. NCDEHNR, Mooresville Regional Office, Division of Environmental Management, 

Certified letters to Larry Trantham, Gastonia Industrial Truck, Inc. 

 - Notice of Violation, Gastonia Industrial Truck/Gibson Residence, Incident #3858, 

November 16, 1992. 

 - Notice of Violation, Oil Pollution and Hazardous Substances Control Act, Gastonia 

Industrial Truck, November 16, 1992. 

 - Notice of Violation, Gastonia Industrial Truck GW Incident No. 3858, November 16, 

1992.

- Notice of Requirement, Gastonia Industrial Truck/Gibson Residence, Incident No. 3858, 

May 19, 1993. 

- Groundwater Contamination, Gastonia Industrial Truck GW Incident No. 3858, July 13, 

1993.

13 pages total. 

34. The Gaston Gazette, Online News: 

- "Contaminated Water Plaguing Neighborhood", June 21, 1999. 

- "Kensington Estate Residents Seek Counsel over Water", June 23, 1999. 

- "Kensington Closer to New Water Source", July 29, 1999. 

6 pages total.

35. Heller, Matt, NC Division of Water Quality – Mooresville Regional Office, NCDENR. 

Response to electronic mail query. Undated. 2 pages. 

36. Parker, Stuart F., NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Memo to File: Telecommunications 

from Curtis Hopper, Gaston County Environmental Health, Gastonia Industrial Truck – 

Re-Assessment, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. February 9, 2000. 1 page. 

37. Gaston County Environmental Health, Letter to Kensington Place Subdivision [a.k.a. 

Kensington Estates], RE: Well Site Approval, November 22, 1996. 3 pages. 

38. Parker, Stuart F., and LaMontagne, Dan, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Site ReAssessment, Gastonia Industrial Truck Site, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# NC0 

002 374 445. March 2001. 43 pages. 

39. Parker, Stuart F., North Carolina Superfund Section Letter to Matt Heller, NCDENR 

Mooresville Regional Office, and James Thompson, Gaston County Environmental 

Health. April 30, 2001. 3 pages. 
14

HEMPHILL ROAD TCE 

GASTONIA, GASTON COUNTY, NC 

LIST OF REFERENCES 

40. Adams, George, NCDENR Mooresville Regional Office. E-communications: 

- Wesley Acres PWS Details/NC – Removal Request – Gastonia Industrial Truck Site, 

July 17, 2009. 

- Wesley Acres PWS Details, July 16, 2009. 

- Gaston County PWS Referral, August 14, 2009. 

- Gastonia Industrial Truck NC0002374445, September 1, 2009. 

- Wesley Acres PWS Details/NC – Removal Request – Gastonia Industrial Truck Site, 

October 16, 2009. 

7 pages total.

41. Bateson, James, Site Evaluation and Removal Branch Head, NC Superfund Section, 

NCDENR. Removal Request, Gastonia Industrial Truck Site, transmittal to USEPA 

Emergency Response and Removal Branch (ERRB). July 13, 2009. 1 page. 

42. Reference No. Reserved. 

43. U.S. EPA. POLREP #1, Gastonia Industrial Trucking, Gastonia, NC. November 4, 2009. 

1 page. http://www.epaosc.org/site/polrep_profile.aspx?site_id=5546&counter=12017 

44. Parker, Stuart F. and Bateson, James, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Site ReAssessment Report, Gastonia Industrial Truck Site, Gastonia, Gaston County, North 

Carolina, NC0 002 374 445. January 23, 2012. 24 pages. 

45. Bartlett, Melanie, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Memo to File: Off-site 

Reconnaissance/Well Survey, Gastonia Industrial Truck Site, Gastonia, Gaston County, 

NC, NC0 002 374 445. February 6, 2012. 5 pages. 

46. U.S. EPA Region 4 SESD. Field Branches Quality System and Technical Procedure for 

Groundwater Sampling, Number SESDPROC-301-R1. Effective Date: October 28, 2011. 

32 pages. http://www.epa.gov/region4/sesd/fbqstp/Groundwater-Sampling.pdf

47. North Carolina Administrative Code, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 

Division of Water Quality, Title 15A Subchapter 2L, Classifications and Water Quality 

Standards Applicable to the Groundwaters of North Carolina. January 1, 2010. Excerpt. 

25 pages. 

48. Stanley, Jeanette and Jim Bateson, NC Superfund Section. Site Inspection, RhonePoulenc Rhodia, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# NCD 986 182 582. September 

20, 2012. 285 pages. 

49. Bateson, Jim, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. E-communication, Subject: Preliminary 

SI Sample Results – Gastonia Industrial Truck. May 4, 2012. 2 pages. 
15

HEMPHILL ROAD TCE 

GASTONIA, GASTON COUNTY, NC 

LIST OF REFERENCES 

50. Bradley, Benjamin L. and Gregory B. Kuntz, Schnabel Engineering. Remedial 

Investigation – Sampling and Analysis of Surface Water and Sediments, Groundwater 

Monitoring, and Soil Characterization Borings, Falls Dump, NONCD0000808, 2731 

Forbes Road, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. July 9, 2012; Revised August 15, 2012. 296 

pages. 

51. Parker, Stuart F., NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Combined PA/SI Sampling, 

Gastonia Industrial Truck Site, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC. EPA ID# NC0 002 374 

445. May 25, 1999. 9 pages. 

52. Rhame, Kenneth, U.S. EPA. E-communication, Subject: Gastonia Industrial Site 

[regarding bottled water delivery and water filter testing and sampling]. May 7, 2012. 2 

pages. 

53. Bartlett, Melanie, NC Superfund Section, NCDENR. Memo to File: Wellhead Protection 

Areas, Hemphill Road TCE, Gastonia, Gaston County, NC, NC0 002 374 445. January 

22, 2013. 3 pages. http://www.ncwater.org/pws/swap/pages/whp.htm 

54. U.S. Census Bureau. DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000; Census 

2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data. Gaston County, North Carolina. 3 pages. 

http://www.census.gov//census2000/states/nc.html; accessed February 14, 2013. 
16

1.0 General Site Description 

 The Hemphill Road TCE site is located along Hemphill Road and the surrounding area, 

southeast of Gastonia, NC (Figs. 1-4). Geographic coordinates for the site are 35.197933° north 

latitude and -81.189852° west longitude. The site coordinates assigned are within the ground 

water plume at the approximate center of Hemphill Road itself where it crosses the unnamed 

tributary (Ref. 3; Figs. 1, 3, 4). The site consists of a contaminated ground water plume with no 

identified source (Ref. 4, p. 4). The EPA identification number as recorded in the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System (CERCLIS) database 

is NC0002374445 (Ref. 23). The approximate extent of the ground water plume is defined by 

permanent monitoring wells (R70s7, R70s9, R70s10), Wesley Acres Well #1, the former 

Kensington Estates Well #1, two private wells located at the end of Benfield Road, and one 

private well located on Hemphill Road (Ref. 4, pp. 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 85; Ref. 9, pp. 10, 11; Ref. 

11, pp. 10, 16, 31; Figs. 2-4). 

Ground water contamination in the area is thought to be the result, at least in part, of 

historical activities that allegedly involved dumping and burning of drums on parcels currently 

owned by Gastonia Industrial Truck (GIT), Inc. (Ref. 24, p. 2; Ref. 25, p. 2). Definitive attribution 

of the TCE plume at this site to one or more specific sources will not be possible without a ground 

water investigation of a scale and scope similar to that employed during a Remedial Investigation. 

To date, no actual source has been identified through sampling; no actual TCE release has been 

identified in various investigations through the expanded site investigation (ESI; Ref. 24). 

Previous Investigations

 The table below lists some of the previous sampling investigations at the Hemphill Road 

TCE site, including the hazardous substances detected in the samples collected. A detailed 

history of these investigations is described in Section 3.1.1 of this HRS documentation record. 
17

Summary of Previous Investigations

Agency Investigation Date Samples 

Collected

Hazardous Substances 

Detected References

GCEHS/

NCDEHNR- DEM

Ground water 

sampling 1988-1993 Ground water

Trichloroethene

Tetrachloroethene

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene

Ref. 14, pp. 

130-255

NCDEHNRDEM

Waste water 

sampling at GIT 

waste oil UST/oilwater separator

April 1989 Waste water

trans-1,2-

Dichloroethene

Toluene

Ethyl benzene

Total xylenes

Ref. 14, pp. 

274-283

NCDEHNR- DEM

Soil sampling at 

GIT waste oil 

above-ground 

storage tank

September 

1992 Soil Tetrachloroethene Ref. 14, pp. 269-270

Private 

Contractor 

for GIT, Inc.

Soil contamination 

assessment

February

1993 Soil Oil & Grease

Ref. 31, pp. 

18, 20, 24, 

25

NCDEHNR

Groundwater 

Pollution Incident 

#3858

November 

1993 thru 

March 1994

Soil and 

ground water Trichloroethene Ref. 16, pp. 89-238

NCDENR- DWM cPA/SI June 1999

Ground 

water, soils, 

and sediment

Trichloroethene

Tetrachloroethene

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene

Benzene

Ref. 14, pp. 

45-109

NCDENRDWQGround water 

sampling July 1999 Ground water Trichloroethene Ref. 14, p. 110-127

EPA Emergency 

Response July 2009 Ground water Trichloroethene Ref. 26, pp. 13-39

NCDENRDWM SI July 2011 Ground 

water Trichloroethene Ref. 9, pp. 3, 4, 8-13, 101

NCDENRDWM ESI March 2012

Ground 

water and 

surface water 

sampling

Trichloroethene

Tetrachloroethene

cis-1,2-Dichloroethene

Ref. 4, pp. 

48-290

NCDENRDWM

Quarterly filter 

sampling/ESI 

follow-up 

sampling

August 

2012

Ground 

water Trichloroethene

Ref. 11, pp. 

3-48; Ref. 

12; Ref. 13

GCEHS – Gaston County Environmental Health Services 

NCDEHNR – North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources 

DEM – Division of Environmental Management 

GIT – Gastonia Industrial Truck, Inc. 

DWM – Division of Waste Management 

DWQ – Division of Water Quality 

EPA – Environmental Protection Agency 

UST – Underground Storage Tank 

cPA/SI – Combined Preliminary Assessment/Site Inspection 

SI – Site Inspection 

ESI – Expanded Site Inspection 
18

2.2 SOURCE DESCRIPTION 

2.2.1 Source Identification 

Number of the Source: 1 

Name and description of the source: Contaminated Ground Water Plume with no identified 

source. 

Location of the source, with reference to a map of the site: 

The contaminated ground water plume extends north and west from the GIT facility properties as 

far south as Wesley Acres well #1 and as far southwest as private wells at the end of Benfield 

Road and north at private wells along Hemphill Road (Figs. 2-4). 

2.2.2 Hazardous Substances Associated with the Source 

During the NCDEHNR June 1999 Gastonia Industrial Truck facility combined Preliminary 

Assessment/Site Inspection (cPA/SI) sampling event, ground water samples were collected from 

the Kensington Estates community drinking water wells, several private drinking water wells, and 

two permanent monitoring wells (Ref. 14, pp. 45-109). During a NCDENR sampling event at a 

nearby, possible site Rhone-Poulenc Rhodia (EPA ID# NCD986182582) near 297 Telegraph 

Road (more than 1 mile west/northwest of the Hemphill Road TCE site reference point and 

unrelated to the Hemphill Road TCE site) in July 2011, two private drinking water wells within 

one-half mile west/southwest of the Hemphill Road plume’s reference (latitude/longitude) point 

were sampled (Ref. 9, pp. 3, 4, 8-13, 101). During the NCDENR March 2012 Gastonia Industrial 

Truck facilty ESI sampling event, samples were collected from seven community drinking water 

wells, several private drinking water wells, and nine permanent monitoring wells (Ref. 4, pp. 48, 

71-93, 278). During the NCDENR August 2012 sampling event, samples were collected from six 

private drinking water wells (Ref. 11, pp. 3-48; Ref. 12; Ref. 13). The table below presents the 

ground water wells and hazardous substances associated with Source No. 1, a contaminated 

ground water plume with no identified source. 

For more detailed analytical results documenting the ground water plume, see Section 3.1.1 and 

Figure 3 of this HRS documentation record. Only the most recent sample results for each affected 

well is included in these results to be most reflective of current conditions. For wells where 

duplicate samples were collected, lower levels are presented in this HRS documentation record. 

The hazardous substance TCE is the prominent contaminant of concern and is sufficient to 

support site listing; therefore, only TCE data are scored in this HRS documentation record. 
19

Ground Water Wells and Associated Hazardous Substances

Well ID Sample ID Hazardous 

Substances Well Type References

Kensington Estates 

Wells #1 & #2 GT-015-PW TCE Community Ref. 14, pp. 86, 96, 99; Ref. 51, p. 6

R70s8 GT-001-GW TCE Monitoring Ref. 4, pp. 48, 77, 278; Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24

R70s12 GT-002-GW TCE Monitoring Ref. 4, pp. 48, 75, 278; Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24

R70s10 GT-003-GW TCE Monitoring Ref. 4, pp. 48, 79, 278; Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24

R70s9 GT-005-GW TCE Monitoring Ref. 4, pp. 48, 73, 278; Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24

R70s7 GT-206-GW TCE Monitoring Ref. 4, pp. 48, 85, 278; Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24

GIT Production Well GT-012-GW TCE Supply Ref. 4, pp. 48, 71, 278; Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24

Wesley Acres Well #1 GT-216-PW TCE Community Ref. 4, pp. 48, 101, 290; Ref. 5, pp. 20, 25

GT-068-PW TCE Private Ref. 4, pp. 49, 199, 285; Ref. 5, p. 21

GT-304-PW TCE Private Ref. 11, p. 31; Ref. 12, p. 1; Ref. 13, p. 2

GT-307-PW TCE Private Ref. 11, p. 10; Ref. 12, p. 1; Ref. 13, p. 2

GT-309-PW TCE Private Ref. 11, p. 16; Ref. 12, p. 1; Ref. 13, p. 2

RP-001-GW TCE Private Ref. 9, pp. 3, 10, 101; Ref. 7, p. 15

RP-002-GW TCE Private Ref. 9, pp. 3, 13, 101; Ref. 7, p. 15

 TCE – Trichloroethene (trichloroethylene) 

2.2.3 Hazardous Substances Available to a Pathway 

Samples collected from Source No. 1 contain TCE. Source No. 1 consists of a contaminated 

ground water plume with no identified source underlying the area of Hemphill Road, Gastonia, 

North Carolina (Ref. 4, pp. 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 85; Ref. 9, pp. 10, 13; Ref. 11, pp. 10, 16, 31; Ref. 

14, p. 99; Figs. 2-4). Analytical results for ground water samples collected from permanent 

monitoring wells, private drinking water wells, and community drinking water wells indicate that 

a release of hazardous substances has occurred to the ground water migration pathway as 

documented in Section 3.1.1 of this HRS documentation record. Therefore, a containment factor 

value of 10, as noted in the table below, was assigned for the ground water migration pathway 

(Ref. 1, Section 3.1.2.1, Table 3-2). 

Containment Factors for Source No. 1

Containment Description Containment 

Factor Value References

Gas release to air NS NA

Particulate release to air NS NA

Release to ground water: evidence of 

migration 10

Ref. 1, Section 3.1.2.1, Table 3-2; 

See also Section 3.1.1 of this HRS 

documentation record.

Release via overland migration and/or flood NS

 NS – Not scored 

 NA – Not applicable
20

2.4.2.1 Hazardous Waste Quantity 

2.4.2.1.1 Hazardous Constituent Quantity 

The hazardous constituent quantity for Source No. 1 could not be adequately determined 

according to the HRS requirements; that is, the total mass of all Comprehensive Environmental 

Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) hazardous substances in the source is not 

known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1). There are 

insufficient historical and current data available to adequately calculate the total mass of all 

CERCLA hazardous substances in the source and the associated releases from the source. 

Therefore, there is insufficient information to evaluate the associated releases from the source to 

calculate the hazardous constituent quantity for Source No. 1 with reasonable confidence. 

2.4.2.1.2 Hazardous Wastestream Quantity 

 

The hazardous wastestream quantity for Source No. 1 could not be adequately determined 

according to the HRS requirements; that is, the total mass of all CERCLA hazardous wastestream 

substances in the source is not known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence (Ref. 

1, Section 2.4.2.1.2). There are insufficient historical and current data available to adequately 

calculate the total mass of all CERCLA hazardous wastestream substances in the source and the 

associated releases from the source. Therefore, there is insufficient information to evaluate the 

associated releases from the source to calculate the hazardous constituent quantity for Source No. 

1 with reasonable confidence. 

2.4.2.1.3 Volume 

 

Based on sampling data, a contaminated ground water plume with no identified source underlies 

the Hemphill Road area of Gastonia, North Carolina. The vertical and horizontal extents of 

ground water contamination have not been identified. Therefore, for Source No. 1, a value of 

greater than zero has been assigned for the source hazardous waste quantity (HWQ) value for 

volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.3). 

2.4.2.1.4 Area 

 

The area HWQ factor is not evaluated for source type “other” (Ref. 1, 2.4.2.1.4, Table 2-5). 

2.4.2.1.5 Source Hazardous Waste Quantity 

Value = >0

(Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.5) 
21

SITE SUMMARY OF SOURCE DESCRIPTIONS 

Summary of Source Description

Source 

No.

Source 

Hazardous 

Waste 

Quantity 

Value

Source 

Hazardous 

Constituent

Quantity 

Complete? 

(Yes/No)

Containment Factor Value by Pathway

Ground 

Water 

(Ref. 1, 

Table 3-2)

Surface Water 

Overland/Flood 

(Ref. 1, Table 

4-2)

Air

Gas (Ref. 

1, Table 6-

3)

Particulate 

(Ref. 1, 

Table 6-9)

1 >0 No 10 NS NS NS

> - Greater than 

NS – Not scored 

Sum of Source Hazardous Waste Quantity Values = >0 
22

3.0 GROUND WATER MIGRATION PATHWAY 

3.0.1 Hydrogeologic Conditions 

Gaston County is located within the Piedmont Plateau physiographic province of NC, lying 

intermediate between the Coastal Plain physiographic province to the east and the Mountain 

physiographic province to the west. The piedmont topography consists primarily of well-rounded 

hills and northeast-southwest trending ridges, with a few more prominent hills referred to as 

mountains (Ref. 27, pp. 5, 6). Ground surface elevations within a 4-mile radius of the site range 

from 600 feet above mean sea level (MSL) on Crowders Creek, southwest of the site, to 1120 feet 

above MSL on Jackson Knob, 1.3 miles NE of the site (Fig. 1). 

Bedrock in central Gaston County is geologically mapped as part of the Kings Mountain 

lithotectonic belt, formed primarily during the late Proterozoic Era. The area is underlain by 

biotite granite of High Shoals Pluton, a mass of igneous rock which intruded the surrounding 

metamorphic rock formations during the Pennsylvanian Period of the Paleozoic Era (Ref. 28, pp. 

2, 3, 7-9; Ref. 29, pp. 1-3). 

Bedrock near the land surface weathers to saprolite, an unconsolidated granular material 

containing ground water in pore spaces. The saprolite layer is hydraulically connected to faults 

and fractures within the underlying competent bedrock. Locations of steeply-inclined bedrock 

fractures often correspond with valleys and other eroded topographic lows (Ref. 27, pp. 7, 8). 

Bedrock fractures and the saprolite layer conduct ground water from inter-stream areas to 

topographic drainage areas, where it discharges to the surface via springs and stream beds. This 

one unconfined, interconnected saprolite/bedrock aquifer constitutes the primary ground water 

supply in the Piedmont (Ref. 27, pp. 8-10).

Soil in the area is mapped as Cecil Sandy Clay Loam, 2-8 percent slope, with 8-15 percent slope 

occurring near surface drainage. This soil type typically consists of a 6-inch surface layer of 

yellowish-red sandy clay loam, with subsurface soil consisting of red clay and red clay loam to 58 

inches depth. Underlying this layer is the loamy saprolite described above to a depth of 80 inches 

or greater. The soil type reportedly has characteristic water-table and bedrock depths greater than 

6 feet (Ref. 30, pp. 3, 5, 6). Hydraulic conductivity of sandy clay soils in the area is estimated to 

be 10-6 cm/sec (Ref. 1, Section 3.1.2.3, Table 3-6). 

3.0.2 Site-Specific Hydrogeology 

During a soil contamination assessment in early 1993 at the GIT facility by Geo-Solutions, Inc., 

dense saprolite was encountered at a depth of 3 feet (Ref. 31, p. 8). Between November 1993 and 

March 1994, soil borings during permanent ground water well installation by NCDEM on the GIT 

facility property and a nearby residential property encountered saprolite overlying weathered 

granite, with occasional veins of quartz (Ref. 16, pp. 28-51).

During a 1994 soil and ground water investigation at and near the GIT facility, NCDEM 

measured ground water depths in each of the 13 monitoring wells installed on the GIT facility 

properties and a nearby residential property. Ground water depths below land surface ranged 
23

from 14.76 feet in R70s5 to 36.40 feet in R70s9. The mean ground water depth measured was 

29.07 feet (Ref. 16, pp. 25, 26, 240-246; Figure 2). Boring logs and ground water measurements 

indicate that ground water exists in bedrock under unconfined (water-table) conditions, under a 

northwestward hydraulic gradient (Ref. 16, pp. 14, 28-51, 240-246). 

During the March 2012 ESI sampling event, NC Superfund Section personnel measured ground 

water depths in each of the remaining 11 monitoring wells installed on the GIT property. Ground 

water depths (measured from the top of the metal casings) ranged from 22.0 feet at sample 

location GT-001-GW (R70s8), located along the westernmost edge of the GIT parcels, to 41.7 

feet at sample location GT-010-GW (R70s16), located along the southeast border of the GIT 

parcels. One monitoring well, sample location GT-008-GW (R70s13), was completely dry. The 

water level (39.8 feet) in a second monitoring well, sample location GT-009-GW (R70s14), was 

below the level of the passive diffusion sampling device, and no sample was obtained (Ref. 6, pp. 

26, 27). 

Aquifer/Stratum 1 

Aquifer/Stratum Name: Saprolite/Bedrock 

Type of Aquifer: Non-Karst 

Description: In the area of the site, bedrock near the land surface weathers to saprolite, an 

unconsolidated granular material containing ground water in pore spaces (Ref. 27, pp. 7-8). The 

saprolite layer generally is hydraulically connected via faults and fractures within the underlying 

competent bedrock. Ground water in the area originates when precipitation infiltrates the ground 

surface to the underlying water table. This recharge occurs primarily in inter-stream areas. 

Bedrock fractures and the saprolite layer conduct ground water from inter-stream areas to 

topographic drainage areas, where it discharges to the surface via springs and stream beds (Ref. 

27, pp. 7-8). This unconfined saprolite/bedrock aquifer constitutes the primary ground water 

supply in the area of the site (Ref. 27, pp. 7-10; Ref. 16, pp. 28-51). 
24

3.1 LIKELIHOOD OF RELEASE 

3.1.1 Observed Release 

Aquifer being evaluated: 1 (Saprolite-Bedrock aquifer) 

Chemical Analysis: 

Since 1988, TCE has been documented in ground water in the area of Hemphill Road, Gastonia 

(Ref. 4, Appendix A; Ref. 14, pp. 18, Appendix A, Appendix B; Ref. 16, Attachment D). Source 

No. 1 consists of a contaminated ground water plume with no identified source underlying the 

area of Hemphill Road, Gastonia, North Carolina (Ref. 4, pp. 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 85; Ref. 9, pp. 

10, 13; Ref. 11, pp. 10, 16, 31; Ref. 14, p. 99; Figs. 2-4). 

Background and contaminated samples listed in the tables below were collected between June 

1999 and August 2012. During the NCDEHNR June 1999 Gastonia Industrial Truck Site cPA/SI 

sampling event, ground water samples were collected from the Kensington Estates community 

drinking water wells, several private drinking water wells, and two permanent monitoring wells 

(Ref. 51, pp. 5, 6, 8). During the NCDENR July 2011 Rhone-Poulenc Rhodia (EPA ID#

NCD986182582) SI sampling event, two private drinking water wells within one-half mile 

west/southwest of the Hemphill Road plume’s reference (latitude/longitude) point were sampled 

(Ref. 7, pp. 12, 15). During the NCDENR March 2012 Gastonia Industrial Truck Site ESI 

sampling event, samples were collected from seven community drinking water wells, seventy-six 

private drinking water wells, and nine permanent monitoring wells (Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24). During 

the NCDENR August 2012 sampling event, samples were collected from six private drinking 

water wells (Ref. 13, pp. 2, 3). 

The analytical method for volatile organic analysis varied between sampling events, including an 

unspecified Contract Laboratory Program (CLP) organic purge and trap gas chromatograph/mass 

spectrometer (P&T GC/MS) method, CLP organic method SOM01.2, and EPA Method 8260C. 

However, within a given sampling event, both background and contaminated samples were 

analyzed using the same method (Ref. 4, pp. 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 85, 89, 93, 101, 145, 199; Ref. 9, 

pp. 10, 13, 55; Ref. 11, pp. 10, 16, 22, 31; Ref. 14, pp. 77, 86, 96, 97). Only the most recent 

sample results for each affected well are included in these results. For wells where duplicate 

samples were collected, the lower levels are presented in this HRS documentation record. 

Background Concentrations

Sample ID Date Time Total 

Depth (ft) Well Type References

GT-003-

PW 6/14/99 19:00 unknown Private Ref. 15, p. 11; Ref. 51, pp. 5, 8

GT-010-

GW 3/28/12 10:25 48 Monitoring Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24; Ref. 6, p. 28; Ref. 16, p. 26; Fig. 2

GT-013-

PW 3/27/12 12:02 510 Community Ref. 6, p. 18; Ref. 17, p. 5; Figs. 3, 4
25

Sample ID Date Time Total 

Depth (ft) Well Type References

GT-042-

PW 3/26/12 17:34 95 Private Ref. 5, pp. 21, 27; Ref. 6, pp. 16, 

32; Figs. 3, 4

GT-301-

PW 8/22/12 11:30 170 Private Ref. 6, p. 33; Ref. 10, p. 1; Ref. 13, 

pp. 2, 3; Figs. 3, 4

RP-018-

GW 7/26/11 14:22 305 Private Ref. 7, pp. 13, 15; Ref. 8, pp. 4, 5

Hazardous Substances in background samples: 

Sample ID

TCE

(ppb or 

ug/l)

MDL (ppb)/

MRL (ug/l) Reference

GT-003-PW 0.50U 0.50 Ref. 14, pp. 77, 96, 97

GT-010-GW 0.50U 0.50 Ref. 4, pp. 48, 89, 278

GT-013-PW 0.050U 0.050 Ref. 4, pp. 48, 93, 280

GT-042-PW 0.050U 0.050 Ref. 4, pp. 49, 145, 282

GT-301-PW 0.50U 0.50 Ref. 11, pp. 3, 22; Ref. 12

RP-018-GW 0.015U 0.015 Ref. 9, pp. 3, 55, 102

Ppb = parts per billion 

ug = 10-6 grams 

U = The analyte was not detected at or above the reporting limit (Ref. 4, p. 51; Ref. 9, p. 4; Ref. 11, 

p. 4). The compound was analyzed for but not detected. The value reported is the MDL (Ref. 14, p. 

97)

MDL = Minimum Detection Limit (Ref. 14, p. 97) 

MRL = Minimum Reporting Limit: Analyte concentration that corresponds to the lowest 

demonstrated level of acceptable quantitation. The MRL is sample-specific and accounts for 

preparation weights and volumes, dilutions, and moisture content of soil/sediments (Ref. 4, p. 51; 

Ref. 9, p. 4; Ref. 11, p. 4).

Contaminated Samples-Ground water

Sample ID Date Time Total 

Depth (ft) Well Type References

GT-015-PW 6/15/99 11:24 300/366 Community Ref. 15, p. 16; Ref. 18; Ref. 

51, p. 6; Figs. 3, 4

GT-001-GW 3/28/12 10:18 33 Monitoring Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24; Ref. 6, p. 

27; Ref. 16, p. 25; Fig. 2

GT-002-GW 3/28/12 10:13 39 Monitoring Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24; Ref. 6, p. 

27; Ref. 16, p. 26; Fig. 2

GT-003-GW 3/28/12 8:40 43 Monitoring Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24; Ref. 6, p. 

26; Ref. 16, p. 25; Fig. 2

GT-005-GW 3/28/12 9:30 55 Monitoring Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24; Ref. 6, p. 

28; Ref. 16, p. 25; Fig. 2
26

Sample ID Date Time Total 

Depth (ft) Well Type References

GT-206-GW 3/28/12 9:47 48 Monitoring Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24; Ref. 6, p. 

28; Ref. 16, p. 25; Fig. 2

GT-012-GW 3/28/12 9:27 160 Supply Ref. 5, pp. 20, 24; Ref. 6, p. 6; 

Ref. 16, p. 6; Fig. 2

GT-216-PW 3/27/12 13:18 488 Community Ref. 5, pp. 20, 25; Ref. 6, p. 

19; Ref. 17, p. 25; Figs. 3, 4

GT-068-PW 3/28/12 11:10 250-300 Private Ref. 5, pp. 21, 28; Ref. 6, pp. 

7, 33; Figs. 3, 4

GT-304-PW 8/22/12 14:45 unknown Private Ref. 6, p. 32; Ref. 10, p. 3; 

Ref. 13, pp. 2, 3; Figs. 3, 4

GT-307-PW 8/23/12 11:57 80-90 Private

Ref. 6, p. 33; Ref. 10, p. 5; 

Ref. 16, p. 7; Ref. 13, pp. 2, 3; 

Figs. 3, 4

GT-309-PW 8/22/12 14:12 80-90 Private

Ref. 6, p. 33; Ref. 10, pp. 2, 3; 

Ref. 16, p. 7; Ref. 13, pp. 2, 3; 

Figs. 3, 4

RP-001-GW 7/26/11 11:27 unknown Private Ref. 8, pp. 8, 11; Ref. 7, pp.

12, 15; Figs. 3, 4

RP-002-GW 7/26/11 11:00 444 Private Ref. 8, pp. 8, 11; Ref. 7, pp.

12, 15; Figs. 3, 4

Contaminated Samples–Ground water

Hazardous substances found in ground water release samples 

Sample ID

TCE

(ppb or 

ug/l)

MDL (ppb)/

MRL (ug/l) Reference

GT-015-PW 11.5 0.5 Ref. 14, pp. 86, 96, 99

GT-001-GW 5.8 0.50 Ref. 4, pp. 48, 77, 278

GT-002-GW 130 5.0 Ref. 4, pp. 48, 75, 278

GT-003-GW 47 2.0 Ref. 4, pp. 48, 79, 278

GT-005-GW 210 10 Ref. 4, pp. 48, 73, 278

GT-206-GW 180 10 Ref. 4, pp. 48, 85, 278

GT-012-GW 160 8.0 Ref. 4, pp. 48, 71, 278

GT-216-PW 3.6 0.50 Ref. 4, pp. 48, 101, 290

GT-068-PW 0.12 0.05 Ref. 4, pp. 49, 199, 285

GT-304-PW 12 0.50 Ref. 11, p. 31; Ref. 12, p. 1

GT-307-PW 120 1.0 Ref. 11, p. 10; Ref. 12, p. 1

GT-309-PW 110 1.0 Ref. 11, p. 16; Ref. 12, p. 1

RP-001-PW 0.10 0.015 Ref. 9, pp. 3, 10, 101
27

Sample ID

TCE

(ppb or 

ug/l)

MDL (ppb)/

MRL (ug/l) Reference

RP-002-PW 1.1 0.015 Ref. 9, pp. 3, 13, 101

ppb = parts per billion 

ug = 10-6 grams 

MDL = Minimum Detection Limit (Ref. 14, p. 99) 

MRL = Minimum Reporting Limit: Analyte concentration that corresponds to the lowest 

demonstrated level of acceptable quantitation. The MRL is sample-specific and accounts for 

preparation weights and volumes, dilutions, and moisture content of soil/sediments (Ref. 4, p. 51; 

Ref. 9, p. 4; Ref. 11, p. 4).
28

Attribution

Investigation of the ground water contamination began in September 1988, when sampling by the 

Gaston County Environmental Health Services (GCEHS) detected trichloroethene (TCE) 

exceeding drinking water standards in a private drinking water well located along Hemphill Road 

(Ref. 14, pp. 136, 138). Re-sampling in November 1988 confirmed TCE contamination in the 

well (Ref. 14, p. 133). The county filed a Pollution Incident Report with the NC Division of 

Environmental Management (NCDEM) (Ref. 32, pp. 1-4). Subsequently, in January 1989, 

sampling by the county health department detected high TCE concentrations in a second private 

drinking water well located along Hemphill Road and in the GIT facility’s supply well (Ref. 14, 

pp. 156, 158; Figs. 3, 4). 

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, sampling by GCEHS and the NC Division of 

Environmental Management (NCDEM) detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at 

additional domestic wells (Ref. 14, pp. 171-178, 188, 190, 204, 205, 241-248). A domestic dug 

well along Hemphill Road (700 feet north of GIT) contained TCE and tetrachloroethene (PCE) 

(Ref. 14, p. 170, 171). A well along Hemphill Road (0.25 mile north of GIT) contained PCE and 

1,1-dichloroethane (1,1-DCA) (Ref. 14, pp. 173-174; Figs. 3, 4). 

In February 1989, a private contractor collected a wastewater sample from the GIT facility. 

Sample analysis detected toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, phenol, phthalates, and possible fuel-oil 

residue, but no chlorinated solvents (Ref. 14, pp. 280-283). In April 1989, NCDEM collected a 

water sample from the GIT facility’s underground storage tank (UST)/oil-water separator. This 

sample contained toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and trans-1,2-dichloroethene, but no other 

chlorinated solvents (Ref. 14, pp. 274-278). In September 1992, NCDEM conducted soil 

sampling at the GIT forklift repair facility. Sampling detected 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 

tetrachloroethene, and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in soil adjacent to a waste-petroleum 

aboveground storage tank (AST) (Ref. 14, pp. 265, 268-270). 

In November 1992, NCDEM sent the GIT facility three Notices of Violation (NOVs) based on 

the presence of chlorinated solvents in the ground water and in the waste oil AST soil (Ref. 33, 

pp. 1-8). In May 1993, NCDEM notified the GIT facility that the company would be required to 

supply the two residences across from the facility along Hemphill Road with potable water (Ref. 

33, p 10). In response to the NOVs, GIT hired a contractor to conduct a soil investigation (Ref. 

33, p. 13). Sampling revealed primarily petroleum contamination, affecting approximately 88 

cubic yards of surface soil. Subsurface soil sampling detected no TCE or other volatile organic 

compounds (Ref. 31, pp. 9, 24, 25). By July 1993, NCDEM’s attention had turned from the 

forklift repair facility to the alleged 1950s drum recycling area as a potential source for TCE 

ground water contamination (Ref. 33, pp. 11, 12). 

Between October 1993 and March 1994, NCDEM completed thirteen borings and installed 

thirteen monitoring wells, ranging in depth from 28 to 55 feet, into saprolite/shallow bedrock. 

Four of the monitoring wells were located within the undeveloped southeast land parcel owned by 

GIT, and two monitoring wells were installed along the southeast border of that property. Six 

monitoring wells were located on the northwest parcel owned by the GIT facility and one 

monitoring well was installed at the front yard of a nearby residence, across Hemphill Road from 

the GIT facility (Ref. 16, pp. 11-14, 25-87; Fig. 2 of this HRS documentation record). Ground 
29

water sampling and elevation data indicated that TCE ground water contamination was 

concentrated beneath the southeast parcel owned by GIT, but extended northwest beneath the 

adjacent forklift repair facility toward and across Hemphill Road (Ref. 16, pp. 12, 14, 20, 21, 23, 

25, 26). 

During well installation, NCDEM performed headspace screening of soil cuttings from the 

advancing monitoring-well boreholes, in order to delineate possible subsurface soil 

contamination. Headspace screening for volatile organic compounds was reportedly performed 

using either a flame ionization or a photoionization meter. When a headspace reading exceeded 

one meter unit, NCDEM submitted a sample of soil from the corresponding split spoon sampler to 

the State Laboratory of Public Health, to be analyzed for volatile organic compounds (Ref. 16, p. 

8). Only one soil boring, collected from sample location R70s15, showed any detectible levels of 

TCE (Ref. 16, pp. 16-18; Fig. 2). Levels detected in soils at this location were 6.60 microgram 

per kilogram (ug/kg, 18-20 ft deep), 2.00 ug/kg (33-38 ft deep) and 2.00 ug/kg (38-43 ft deep) 

(Ref. 16, pp. 11-14, 17, 94, 171-176). 

Around June-July 1994, local residents reported that one of the parcels owned by GIT was used 

during the 1950s for storage and disposal of industrial waste materials. During the early 1950s, 

500-lb. bales of waste cardboard from local cotton mills reportedly were stored on the property. 

An estimated 1 million pounds of this material accumulated, but was then destroyed by fire (Ref. 

25, p. 1). During the 1950s, a former owner allegedly used the southeastern parcel to also recycle 

several thousand chemical drums. Local residents and the former owner’s son reported that the 

former owner dumped drum residues onto the ground surface, then rinsed and burned the drums 

and sold the scrap metal (Ref. 24, p. 2; Ref. 25, p. 2). This allegation, however, could not be 

verified by manifests or sampling. 

In May 1999, NC Superfund Section personnel reviewed sample analytical reports on the 

Kensington Estates community wells, on file at the NC Public Water Supply Section. At the time 

of file review, Kensington Estates included approximately 38 occupied homes. The results 

indicated TCE contamination in both of the Kensington Estates community wells, ranging above 

10 ug/l and exceeding federal benchmarks and state ground water standards (Ref. 19, p. 1). 

In June 1999, EPA and NC Superfund Section personnel conducted a combined Preliminary 

Assessment/Site Inspection (cPA/SI) sampling event to evaluate the exposure hazard to the 

Kensington Estates residential subdivision, under construction across Hemphill Road from GIT 

(Ref. 14, pp. 2-4; Ref. 15, pp. 1-28). The two Kensington Estates community drinking-water 

wells were operating within 1000 feet west-southwest from GIT (Figs. 3 and 4 of this HRS 

documentation record). 

During the June 1999 cPA/SI sampling event, the NC Superfund Section collected a total of 

eleven ground water wells (Ref. 14, pp. 2-4, 14, 26, 27). This included two of the permanent 

monitoring wells installed on the GIT facility properties: R70s7, the most heavily contaminated 

monitoring well on the GIT facility properties (GT-002-MW), and R70s16, a background sample 

(GT-001-MW); the GIT supply well (GIT-014-PW); six private drinking water supply wells 

along Hemphill Road and nearby Todd Reece Lane (GT-003-PW through GT-012-PW); and 

point-of-entry for the two Kensington Estates’ community wells (GT-015-PW). In addition, four 

soil/sediment samples were collected along the overland flow pathway for the GIT facility parcels 
30

and an intermittent stream in the area (GT-016-SS thru GT-018-SS, GT-019-SD) (Ref. 14, pp. 14, 

26, 27). All cPA/SI samples were submitted to the NC State Laboratory of Public Health. 

Samples were analyzed for volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, pesticides and PCBs, 

and for the eight inorganics regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 

(RCRA) and zinc (Ref. 14, pp. 45-109). 

Samples collected for this June 1999 cPA/SI confirmed the presence of organic contamination 

beneath the GIT properties and in wells to the west and southwest (Ref. 14, pp. 2-4). The sample 

from monitoring well R70s7 (GT-002-MW) contained 1255.1 ug/l TCE, 3.6 ug/l PCE, 0.9 ug/l 

cis-1,2-DCE and 1.3 ug/l benzene (Ref. 14, pp. 21, 97, 98). The GIT supply well sample (GT014-PW) contained an estimated 418 ug/l TCE plus 0.7 ug/l PCE, 0.009 mg/l lead, and 0.57 mg/l 

zinc (Ref. 14, pp. 21, 55, 99, 100). No contaminants were detected in the monitoring or 

residential wells located south and east of the GIT properties (GT-001-MW, GT-003-PW, GT004-PW, GT-012-PW) (Figure 4 of this HRS documentation record; Ref. 14, pp. 21, 97-100). 

However, the pre-filtration SI sample collected at the private residential well (GT-005-PW) 

contained 153.1 ug/l of TCE (Ref. 14, pp. 21, 97). The Kensington Estates community well 

system (GT-015-PW) contained 11.5 ug/l of TCE and 0.766 mg/l of zinc at the point-of-entry to 

the community's water lines (Ref. 14, pp. 21, 56, 99). 

NC Superfund Section personnel reported the Kensington Estates ground water contamination to 

the Gaston County Health Department and to the NC Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ; 

formerly NCDEM) Mooresville Regional Office (MRO). The County and NCDWQ MRO shut 

down both Kensington Estates community wells, provided a temporary alternative drinking-water 

supply to the residents, and subsequently connected the subdivision to one of two existing 

community wells at the neighboring Amy Acres subdivision (Ref. 19, p. 2; Ref. 34, pp. 1-3; Ref. 

36, p. 1). 

In July 1999, sampling by the NCDWQ detected TCE breakthrough at the domestic well carbon 

filtration units at two residential wells on Hemphill Road. The pre-and post-filtration samples 

collected from one well on Hemphill Road by NCDWQ reportedly contained 110 ug/l TCE and 

150 ug/l TCE, respectively, indicating failure of the filter system (Ref. 14, pp. 113-118). The 

NCDWQ's pre- and post-filtration samples from the other well on Hemphill Road contained TCE 

concentrations of 190 ug/l and 200 ug/l, respectively, indicating failure of that system as well 

(Ref. 14, pp. 122-127). 

Based on the number of residents affected by ground water contamination, the 1999 cPA/SI 

Report recommended further remedial action under CERCLA (Ref. 14, p. 4). However, in March 

2001, the NC Superfund Section completed a Site Reassessment Report (SRR) which reversed 

this recommendation (Ref. 38, p. 10). The reversal was made for several reasons. No drums, 

highly-contaminated soil, or other remediable source media had been identified on the GIT 

facility properties. In addition, connection of Kensington Estates to the Amy Acres community 

well system, and maintenance of the carbon units at the two residential wells on Hemphill Road 

were addressing the existing human exposures identified in the cPA/SI report (Ref. 38, pp. 10, 

31). 

In April 2001, the NC Superfund Section sent a letter to the NCDWQ, MRO and GCEHS. The 

letter recommended that Amy Acres (and Kensington Estates) subdivision be connected to 
31

Gastonia municipal water lines, or alternatively, Amy Acres community well system be sampled 

quarterly or semi-annually for TCE. Also, it was recommended that the two affected residential 

wells on Hemphill Road be connected to Amy Acres via Kensington Estates, and the domestic 

well contamination and water usage at an additional residential well along Hemphill Road be 

further evaluated (Ref. 39, pp. 1-3).

Between July and September 2009, the NC Inactive Hazardous Sites Branch (IHSB), MRO 

notified the NC Superfund Section that TCE contamination existed in additional community wells 

in the Hemphill Road area. TCE reportedly existed in the two community wells supplying the 

Wesley Acres subdivision, located directly across Forbes Road, south of Kensington Estates. In 

2008, TCE had also appeared in the two community wells supplying the Cedar Grove 

subdivision, located approximately 1.5 mile southeast of GIT. The NC IHSB, MRO reported that 

TCE concentrations in the affected wells had been increasing, approaching the 5.0 ug/l federal 

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) (Refs. 2, pp. 4; Ref. 40, pp. 2-4, 6, 7; Figs. 3, 4). 

On July 14, 2009, the NC Superfund Section transmitted a Removal Request to U.S. EPA Region 

4 Emergency Response and Removal Branch (ERRB), incorporating the above information (Ref. 

41, p. 1). The EPA assigned an On Scene Coordinator (OSC) who visited the area in late July 

2009. A contractor for the OSC sampled the GIT facility production well, two of the permanent 

monitoring wells, and three domestic wells along Hemphill Road (Ref. 26, p. 2; Ref. 43, p. 1). 

The monitoring wells at the GIT forklift repair shop indicated TCE levels at 30 ug/l and 120 ug/l 

in the monitoring wells and 180 ug/l in the GIT supply well (Ref. 26, pp. 5, 33, 36, 39). Pre-filter 

samples in wells located at two of the residences showed levels of TCE at 180 ug/l (average, 

duplicates of 170 and 190 ug/l) and 140 ug/l, respectively (Ref. 34, pp. 5, 21, 24, 30). Post-filter 

samples in wells located at the same two residences showed levels of TCE at 220 ug/l and 170 

ug/l, respectively (Ref. 26, pp. 5, 18, 21). EPA assisted with filter replacement at the residences 

(Ref. 43, p. 1). 

In July 2011, the NC Superfund Section conducted an SI sampling event at the Rhone-Poulenc 

Rhodia (EPA ID# NCD 986 182 582) facility. Sampling included sixteen private wells and one 

transient non-community drinking water well (Ref. 7, pp. 13, 14; Ref. 8, pp. 1-5; 8-10; Ref. 22, 

pp. 2-3). All environmental samples for the SI were conducted by NC Superfund Section staff 

according to section SOPs and U.S. EPA Region IV “Field Branches Quality System and 

Technical Procedures” (Ref. 7, pp. 8, 9). The specific ground water sampling procedure followed 

is included as Reference 46. Samples were submitted to a Contract Laboratory Program (CLP) 

lab. Samples from the SI sampling event were analyzed for volatile organics only (Ref. 9, pp. 1, 

3).

Two of the wells sampled during July 2011 at the nearby Rhone-Poulenc Rhodia facility SI 

sampling event (RP-001-GW and RP-002-PW) are located approximately 1⁄2 mile west/southwest 

of the Hemphill Road plume’s reference (latitude/longitude) point (Figure 3 and Figure 3-B of 

this HRS documentation record). Both wells showed detectible levels of TCE present (Ref. 9, pp. 

3, 10, 13, 101). Due to the distance from Rhone-Poulenc Rhodia (greater than 1⁄2 mile southeast) 

and the presence of Crowders Creek between the two private wells and the Rhone-Poulenc 

Rhodia facility, TCE present in these two wells is possibly an extension of the Hemphill Road 

TCE contaminated ground water plume (Ref. 48, pp. 41, 42, 78).
32

In January 2012, the NC Superfund completed a second SRR which recommended the Hemphill 

Road TCE site for further remedial action under CERCLA. This recommendation was based on 

the presence of TCE contamination in additional community wells, including Wesley Acres, 

located across Forbes Road from Amy Acres. Also, contaminant breakthrough had occurred at 

the carbon filter units installed at the two residential wells along Hemphill Road, and additional 

private wells near the site were showing low-level chlorinated volatile organic compounds 

(VOCs) or were at risk of contamination (Ref. 44, pp. 1, 11, 12, 17, 18, 23, 24).

In February 2012, the NC Superfund Section conducted a well survey in the areas within 

approximately 1⁄2 mile of the GIT property. In addition to seven community wells, approximately 

150 homes served by private drinking water wells were identified within this 1⁄2 mile radius (Ref. 

45, p. 1).

In March 2012, NC Superfund Section personnel conducted an ESI sampling event at the 

Hemphill Road TCE site. During the ESI sampling event, a total of nine monitoring wells, one 

production well, seven community wells, seventy-six private wells, and five surface water 

locations were sampled (Ref. 5, pp. 20, 21; Ref. 6, pp. 1-29). All environmental samples for the 

ESI were conducted by NC Superfund Section staff according to section SOPs and U.S. EPA 

Region IV “Field Branches Quality System and Technical Procedures” (Ref. 5, pp. 16). The 

specific ground water sampling procedure followed is included as Reference 46. Samples were 

submitted to a Contract Laboratory Program (CLP) laboratory (Ref. 4, pp. 278-290). Samples 

from the ESI sampling event were analyzed for volatile organics only (Ref. 4, pp. 45, 48, 49, 50).

Analytical results from the permanent monitoring well and the GIT production well indicated 

elevated levels (greater than three times background) of TCE in five of the nine monitoring wells 

and the production well. Concentrations ranged from 5.8 ug/l at sample GT-001-GW to 210 at 

sample GT-005-GW (Ref. 4, pp. 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 85, 278). TCE detections in all five of these 

monitoring wells and the production well exceeded the NC ground water standard (3 ug/l), the 

federal MCL (MCL, 5.0 ug/l), and the federal cancer risk benchmark (1.0 ug/l) (Ref. 2, p. 4; Ref. 

47, pp. 17, 20; Fig. 2).

Of the seven community wells sampled during the March 2012 ESI sampling event, one of these 

community wells, Wesley Acres #1 (GT-016/216-PW), also showed elevated levels of both TCE 

(3.9/3.6 ug/l) and cis-1,2-DCE (0.10/0.10 ug/l) (Ref. 4, pp. 48, 99, 101, 290). The levels of TCE 

do exceed both a federal cancer risk benchmark of 1.0 ug/l and the NC ground water standard of 3 

ug/l in Wesley Acres #1 (GT-016/216-PW) (Ref. 2, p. 4; Ref. 47, pp. 17, 20). 

Multiple private wells show elevated levels of TCE, PCE, and/or cis-1,2-DCE. Of these wells 

with detections, two of the wells along Hemphill Road (GT-069/269-PW; GT-070-PW pre-filter, 

and GT-170-PW post-filter) show elevated levels of TCE (5.1/4.9, 100, and 41 ug/l, respectively) 

Ref. 4, pp. 48, 50, 67, 69, 203, 205). Three out of four of these TCE values exceed the federal 

MCL of 5.0 ug/l (Ref. 2, p. 4). All four values exceed a federal health-based benchmark of 1.0 

ug/l and the North Carolina ground water standard of 3 ug/l (Refs. 2, p. 4; Ref. 47, pp. 17, 20). 

TCE detected in two wells (GT-099- and GT-102-PW) does not appear to be associated with the 

site due to the distance of these two wells from the plume and due to the pattern of intervening 

multiple clean wells (Figure 3; Figure 3-B; Fig. 4). 
33

Surface water samples were collected from five locations along the unnamed tributary during the 

March 2012 ESI sampling event both upstream and downstream of Hemphill Road. Elevated 

levels of TCE were detected in three downstream surface water samples (GT-021-SW, GT-022-

SW, and GT-023-SW). GIT-022-SW and GIT-023-SW also showed elevated levels of cis-1,2-

dichloroethene (cis-1,2-DCE), a degradation product of TCE. GT-023-SW, which is located near 

the northwest corner of the GIT parcels where Hemphill Road crosses the tributary, presented the 

highest levels of TCE (17 ug/l) and cis-1,2-DCE (2.6 ug/l) (Ref. 4, pp. 17, 33, 108-121, 279). 

In May 2012, the NC Superfund Section notified U.S. EPA Region 4 ERRB of the preliminary 

sampling results from the March 2012 ESI sampling event. Based on these results, U.S. EPA 

Region 4 ERRB serviced existing filter systems on two residential wells located along Hemphill 

Road. In addition, a new filter system was added to an additional drinking water well located 

along Hemphill Road (Ref. 49, p. 1; Ref. 52, pp. 1, 2).

In May 2012, Falls Dump (NC ID# NONCD0000808, adjacent to Kensington Estates) was 

evaluated under the NC IHSB, Pre-Regulatory Landfill Program. Samples included five soil 

borings, five temporary wells, three surface water and five sediment samples (Ref. 50, pp. 4, 5, 6). 

Only two sample locations (SW-1 and SW-3) showed any detectible quantities of chlorinated 

solvents (Ref. 50, pp. 4, 5, 8-11). TCE was detected only in surface water along the unnamed 

tributary at levels of 6.6 and 1.2 ug/l, respectively (Ref. 50, pp. 10, 14, 16, 68, 78, 82, 98). 

In August 2012, NC Superfund Section personnel conducted follow-up sampling at the Hemphill 

Road TCE site. Samples included ground water from six private drinking water wells, including 

pre- and post-filter samples from three wells along Hemphill Road (Ref. 10, pp. 1-5; Ref. 13, pp. 

1, 2). Pre-filter samples at all three wells showed elevated levels of TCE (12, 120, and 110 ug/l, 

respectively) (Ref. 11, pp. 10, 16, 31; Ref. 12, p. 1). The level in all three wells pre-filter 

exceeded the federal MCL of 5.0 ug/l (Ref. 2, p. 4). Post-filter samples showed results of nondetect, indicating the filters are working (Ref. 10, pp. 2, 3, 5; Ref. 11, pp. 3, 13, 19, 37; Ref. 12, p. 

1; Ref. 13, pp. 2, 3).

In conclusion, the TCE contamination in this area of Gastonia, North Carolina, has been 

determined to be a ground water plume with no identified source. No specific sources or TCE 

releases have been adequately identified to date. 

Hazardous Substances in the Release

TCE 

Ground Water Observed Release Factor Value: 550

3.1.2 Potential to Release 

Potential to release was not evaluated for the Saprolite-Bedrock aquifer because an observed 

release has been documented (see Section 3.1.1 of this HRS documentation record). 
34

WASTE CHARACTERISTICS 

3.2.1 Toxicity/Mobility 

The toxicity and mobility factor values for the hazardous substances detected in the source 

samples with containment factor values of greater than 0 are summarized in the table below. The 

combined toxicity and mobility factor values are assigned in accordance with Reference 1, 

Section 3.2.1. Hazardous substances detected in the observed release to ground water are 

assigned a mobility factor value of 1 (Ref. 1, Section 3.2.1.2). 

Hazardous

Substance

Source

No.

Toxicity

Factor Value

Mobility

Factor Value

Toxicity/

Mobility Reference

TCE 1 1000 1 1000 Ref. 2, p. 4

 TCE – trichloroethene (trichloroethylene) 

3.2.2 Hazardous Waste Quantity 

Source 

Number

Source Hazardous

Waste Quantity

Value ( Section 2.4.2.1.5)

Is source hazardous

Constituent quantity data 

complete? (yes/no)

1 >0 No

The hazardous constituent quantity for Source No. 1 is not adequately determined. For a 

migration pathway, if the hazardous constituent quantity is not adequately determined for one or 

more source, assign a factor value as follows: If any target for that migration pathway is subject to 

Level I or Level II concentrations, assign either the value from HRS Table 2-6 or a value or 100, 

whichever is greater (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.2). Since targets for the ground water migration 

pathway are subject to Level I and Level II concentrations (see Section 3.3.2.2. and 3.3.2.3. of 

this HRS documentation record), the hazardous waste quantity factor value assigned is 100. 

3.2.3 Waste Characteristics Factor Category Value 

Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value: 100 

Toxicity/Mobility Factor Value: 1,000 

HWQFV x TMFV: 100 x 1,000 = 100,000

Waste Characteristics Factor Value (Ref. 1, Table 2-7): 18 
35

3.3 Targets 

Two community wells serving Kensington Estates were taken offline in 1999 due to TCE 

contamination (Ref. 14, pp. 86, 96, 99), which exceeded the MCL of 5.0 ug/l (Ref. 2, p. 4), and 

connected to the nearby Amy Acres community water system (Ref. 19, p. 2; Ref. 34, pp. 1-3; Ref. 

35, p. 1; Ref. 36). Wesley Acres Well #1 has been impacted by TCE (Ref. 4, pp. 48, 101, 290) 

and continues to be in use (Ref. 17, pp. 22, 24, 25). The levels detected have not exceeded the 

MCL; however, the levels do exceed the Cancer Risk Screening Concentration of 1.0 ug/l (Ref. 2, 

p. 4). 

Private wells at three houses along Hemphill Road have TCE contamination (Ref. 11, pp. 10, 16, 

31; Ref. 12, p. 1) which exceeds the MCL (Ref. 2, p. 4). The well at one house on Benfield Road 

has TCE contamination (Ref. 9, pp. 3, 13, 101) that does not exceed the MCL but does exceed the 

Cancer Risk Screening Concentration (Ref. 2, p. 4). Wells at a second house along Benfield Road 

and an additional house on Hemphill Road each have an observed release of TCE (Ref. 4, pp. 49, 

199, 285; Ref. 9, pp. 3, 10, 101), although the levels do not exceed either the MCL or the Cancer 

Risk Screening Concentration (Ref. 2, p. 4). 

Several community and private wells are located within a 4-mile radius of the site (Figure 1); 

however, potential contamination was not scored in this HRS documentation record. 

3.3.1 Nearest Well 

Because actual contamination at Level I concentrations has been documented, a nearest well 

factor value of 50 is assigned (Ref. 1, Section 3.3.1, Table 3-11). 

See Section 3.3.2.2 of this HRS documentation record for all ground water wells evaluated at 

Level I concentrations. 

3.3.2 Population 

At the time when the two Kensington Estates community wells were taken offline due to TCE 

contamination (Ref. 14, pp. 86, 96, 99; Ref. 19, p. 2; Ref. 34, pp. 1-3; Ref. 35, p. 1; Ref. 36), there 

were approximately 38 homes occupied and served by the two wells (Ref. 19, p. 1). Based on the 

2000 census average for Gaston County of 2.53 persons per household, this gives a total 

population of approximately 96.14 people for Kensington Estates impacted at well closure in 

1999 (Ref. 54, p. 2).

Wesley Acres community water system serves a total of 168 people (Ref. 17, p. 22). Wesley 

Acres is a blended system, consisting of only two wells, with no surface water intakes or 

purchased water (Ref. 17, p. 22; Ref. 21, p. 1). Based on actual usage, Wesley Acres Well #1 

provides an average of 24.4% of the water used in the Wesley Acres community water system 

(Ref. 21, pp. 1, 2). Therefore, a population of 40.99 people is assigned to Wesley Acres Well #1. 

Populations for the individual private wells were provided by the residents of the homes for which 

the wells serve (Ref. 6, p. 33; Ref. 22, p. 2). 
36

Level of Contamination 

3.3.2.2 Level I Concentrations 

Level I Well Population Reference

GT-015-PW

(Kensington Estates 

Wells #1 & #2)

96.14 Ref. 19, p. 1; Ref. 20, pp. 1, 2

GT-216-PW

(Wesley Acres Well 

#1)

40.99 Ref. 17, p. 22; Ref. 21, pp. 1, 2

GT-304-PW 3 Ref. 6, p. 33

GT-307-PW 2 Ref. 6, p. 33

GT-309-PW 4 Ref. 6, p. 33

RP-002-PW 2 Ref. 22, p. 2

96.14 + 40.99 + 3 + 2 + 4 + 2 = 148.13 

148.13 * 10 = 1481.3 (Ref. 1, Section 3.3.2.2) 

Level I Concentration Factor Value: 1481.3 

3.3.2.3 Level II Concentrations 

Level II Well Population Reference

GT-068-PW 3 Ref. 6, p. 33

RP-001-PW 2 Ref. 22, p. 2

Level II Concentration Factor Value: 5 

3.3.2.4 Potential Contamination 

Not Scored–While several other private and community wells are located within a 4 mile radius 

of the site (Figs. 1, 3, 4), they have not been impacted and do not contribute significantly to the 

site score. 

3.3.3 Resources 

No target well is documented to be used for any purposes identified in Ref. 1, Section 3.3.3. 

3.3.4 Wellhead Protection Area 

The ground water plume is not located within a Wellhead Protection Area (Ref. 53, p. 1). No 

designated Wellhead Protection Area is located within 4 miles of the plume (Ref. 53, p. 1; Figure 

1).