AN estimated 10,100 tons of polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soil have so far been treated by the Environmental Chemical Corp., the firm contracted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the multi-million project.
Frank Ono, on-island representative of Army Corps, yesterday said this was already 50 percent of the total 20,000 tons of PCB-tainted soil currently stockpiled in several soil-holding cells within the Tanapag soil treatment site.
The Army Corps expects to complete the treatment process between July and August.
The soil is treated using the indirect thermal desorption system which works by heating the contaminated soil. This separates the PCBs from the soil.
The treated soil is then tested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to determine whether it meets the cleanup level of below 1 part per million of PCB.
The soil at five of the 12 holding cells had already been treated.
This treated soil used to be stockpiled at cells #12, 2, 10, 3 and 4.
