ADEQ: Whirlpool pollution plume may be larger

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality has called into question a claim made by Whirlpool in their 2012/2013 Groundwater Monitoring Report, dated June 24 of this year.

In the report, Whirlpool had made claims that the plume of cancer-causing trichloroethylene (TCE) that had leaked from its now-shuttered facility in south Fort Smith was either stable or shrinking.

"Overall the on-site TCE concentrations are stable to decreasing, as discussed above," the report to the ADEQ read.

On-site, as defined by Whirlpool's environmental consultants, referrs to areas "within Ingersoll Avenue and south past the main manufacturing building on the Whirlpool site. …The general boundary of the plume on-site has not changed significantly since the 2011/2012 annual report."

But a letter dated yesterday from ADEQ to Whirlpool directly challenged the claim.

"The southern boundary wells of the on-site plume located some distance from the property boundary, exhibit increasing TCE concentrations which is an indication so the continued expansion of the southern plume," the letter read.

The agency has asked that in "the upcoming reports, please include discussion pertaining to the monitoring wells in the southern segment of the plume."

The latest exchange between Whirlpool and ADEQ follows a July 16 submission by Whirlpool of its final remedy work plan, which has not yet been approved by ADEQ. If approved, a public comment period would likely begin later this month that would allow for public input on the final Whirlpool cleanup.