Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 Kimberly Bose, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20426 Re: Atlantic Coast Pipeline CP15-554-000, CP15-554-001, CP15-555-000 Comments on Tox Strategies August 27, 2020 Pipe Coating Study September 18, 2020 Secretary Bose: Please find my review of the Tox Strategies Pipe Chalking Impact Assessment, Revision 1 dated August 27, 2020, which was submitted by Dominion Energy Transmission Inc. to FERC on August 31, 2020. The report states that the fusion bonded epoxy coating used on the Atlantic Coast Pipeline is not a threat to the public health, or the environment. This same coating is used on the Mountain Valley Pipeline, and other pipelines across our country. I find that the report uses questionable methodology and unfounded assumptions, thereby producing unreliable conclusions. The report does not resolve the potential negative impacts to the public health and the environment from this coating, including degradation of the coating from inappropriate storage in the sun for over 4 years. These potential negative impacts remain unresolved. Since this report was commissioned by Dominion Energy Transmission, Inc. I believe there is an inherent conflict of interest in its preparation. The report should be reviewed and evaluated for methodology and reliability by a truly independent agency, organization, or person with expertise in these matters. FERC should publicly comment, and require action to protect the public health and the environment until such time that an independent expert analysis confirms that there are no negative impacts to the public health or Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 the environment from the coating, if that is what independent expert analysis concludes. My comments are generally in a format listing statements in the report followed by a critique, comment, or question pertaining to that statement in bold. 1 Introduction and Update Chalking is caused by a reaction between the FBE coating constituents and ultraviolet (UV) light (i.e., sunlight), resulting in a layer of chalky substance adhering to the pipe surface. The chalky material can disadhere from the pipe surface. Per coating manufacturer 3M in a Technical Brief, UV Protection of Coated Pipe…”Thickness loss is caused by alternate chalking and removal of this loose surface material by wind, rain, tidal splash, or blowing particulate.” This (chalky) layer is thousandths of an inch in thickness. Nevertheless, due to the large size of the pipes this is a large volume of chalky material. Per the above mentioned 3M Technical Brief a yearly loss of 0.375 mil to 1.5 mils can occur. The pipes at this storage yard and others have been left exposed to the sun for over 4 years at this time. Therefore, these pipes could have lost more than 6 mils of coating at this time. Six mils(or 6/1000 of an inch) of chalky coating on the top half of a typical 42 inch by 40 foot pipe equates to 95 cubic inches of chalky coating. Given the very large number of pipes on this, and other sites, this is a large amount of potentially polluting material that is being removed from these pipes. No impact on human health or the environment. This report fails to prove that there are no impacts due to questionable methodology and assumptions. Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 The study was conducted at the Morgantown, WV pipe storage yard, but the results should be the same as the other pipe storage yards. The Morgantown site is unique from the other ACP pipe storage yards. I have been advised that the Morgantown site was previously used for two fracking pads and a RCRA site. Background soils and dust at this site are likely already be contaminated. Other sites in Virginia and North Carolina are warmer and receive more UV from sunlight. Per the 3M technical brief quoted above warmer temperatures and increased UV would tend to degrade the coating quicker. Other sites may have areas of human habitation closer to the pipe storage location, especially the Culpeper storage site, which has a residential housing development nearby. Background soil samples were taken upwind of the pipe storage site. The stated upwind location from where soil samples were taken to the northwest of the pipe stockpile contradicts information presented in the AERMOD study. The AERMOD study indicates that the highest levels of degraded coating would be blown in the approximate area of the background soil samples. This indicates that the background soil sample site is a downwind location. This invalidates the background soil sample results, since that soil may have been contaminated by blowing coating degradation material. See figures 5 and 6 AERMOD results, and compare to figure 3. The background soil sampling location may also have been previously contaminated by prior industrial activities on this site, including those mentioned above. It is likely that the background sampling location has been affected by human activity. Additionally the aerial photograph shows the background soil sampling as cleared land, with what appear to be tracks through it, and therefore affected by human activity in the near past. 2 Identification of Chemicals of Potential Concern Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 Silicon was identified as a chemical of potential concern (COPC) per Section 2.3 Silica is listed as a COPC in Section 2.5. Silicon is not included. Neither silica nor silicon was sampled in the wipe samples or soil samples as specifically requested in Enclosure A of David Swearingen’s letter to Matthew Bley of June 30, 2020. Epoxy Resin - Amine Condensate was not considered as a COPC. The following sources indicate that cured epoxy resins, like the cured coating on the ACP pipes, is likely not toxic. However, UV degraded epoxy resin, as found on the ACP pipes should not be considered cured. The degraded coating is in fine particulate matter form, and is no longer encapsulated in the remaining intact coating. Based on this information, I believe that epoxy Resin - Amine Condensate should have been studied as a COPC. From British Journal of Industrial Medicine, Bourne, Milner, and Alberman 8/18/58…There is no doubt that epoxy resins/amine curing systems can now be considered as toxic. Amines are more chemically reactive than epoxy resins and are capable of producing considerable pathological disturbance although the resins are less likely to do so. From Wikipedia…The primary risk associated with epoxy use is often related to the hardener component and not to the epoxy resin itself. Amine hardeners in particular are generally corrosive, but may also be classed as toxic or carcinogenic/mutagenic. Aromatic amines present a particular health hazard (most are known or suspected carcinogens), but their use is now restricted to specific industrial applications, and safer aliphatic or cycloaliphatic amines are commonly employed. From Nils Malmgren AB Safety…When working with epoxy and Hardener Most uncured epoxies and curing agents are toxic or harmful to aquatic organisms and may cause long term adverse effects in the aquatic environment. Therefore, it is important to Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 remember not to throw uncured residues in household rubbish. Uncured residue shall be submitted as hazardous waste at the nearest waste facility. Cured epoxy is to be regarded as harmless. 3M’s material declaration for its product states: In the case of chalking, the resulting molecules will be aldehydes (which react with water to make carboxylic acids), amides (which further degrade into amines and carboxylic acids), various aromatics similar in structure to either xylene, substituted phenols, bisphenol A, aniline, methylated anilines and water. This quote excludes the 3M statement in same document that “a few of the photo-degradation products will be toxic to aquatic life.” 3 Sampling and Analysis Records indicate that the pipes sampled have been exposed to direct sunlight since at least September 2017. Pipes were first delivered to ACP storage yards in June of 2016, and they were stored in the sun at the Dura Bond plant prior to that. The pipes have been exposed to sunlight for well over 4 years at this time. Figure 1 - On site soil sampling locations are shown at the end of the pipe rows Soil contaminant concentrations would be lower at the end of the pipe rows than at the center of pipe rows, and therefore these are unrepresentative sampling locations. The soil samples should have been taken under the pipe in the center of the rows. Furthermore, based on the position of the pipe stacks and the sediment trap shown in Figure 3, runoff from the pipe rows would bypass most of the soil sampling locations. Figure 2 - Typical sampling location Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 This does not show wipe sample from pipe at top of stack as stated. The pipe is resting on or near the ground. The top of a pipe at the top of the stack is where the most UV damage and chalking occurs. If this pipe was moved off the top of the stack it may have been rotated, and the area wiped may have been at the bottom of the pipe. There is no verification that the wipe samples were taken from the top portion of a pipe at the top of the stack. The soil sample location shown in this figure is not under a stack of pipes. It is next to a single pipe, and is not representative of the soil under the middle of a stack of pipes. Figure 3 - Sampling locations during July 17, 2020 event The same soil sampling locations as in the 2019 sampling are again at end of pipe rows, in unrepresentative locations, rather than the middle of the pipe rows. The background soils sampling locations are located in an area that has previously been disturbed, with visible disturbed ground and tracking. Contradictory to the report, this area has been previously affected by man’s activities. Please note that there is another unidentified pipe storage yard to the east of this storage yard that is shown on aerial photographs. It is unclear if these are ACP pipes, or pipes from another project. It is also unclear how this unidentified pipe yard would potentially contribute to pollution in this area. In the July 17, 2020 soil sampling, different techniques were used at the off site and on site sampling locations. At the off site sampling locations no photoionization detector (PID) was used, and samples were taken from 2 inches to 6 inches below the surface. At the on site sampling location a PID test was conducted showing no response above 0.0 ppm, and soil samples were taken from 6 inches to 12 inches below the surface. Scientific justification for the disparate techniques needs to be made. Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 An accurate comparison of findings may not be obtainable under this methodology. Pollutant levels may be highest closer to the soil surface. Results of the wipe sample blanks from 2019 appear to have been contaminated by dust at the site. This contaminated dust indicates that the entire site or other parts of the site may be contaminated. Background soil sample locations may be contaminated as well. Further investigation is warranted given this finding. 4 Sampling Results Wipe and soil samples did not test for silica or silicon Both silica and silicon are listed as COPC’s. Scientific justification for not sampling for silica and silicon is warranted. The results in Table 2, Table 3, and Table 4 show that no bisphenol A, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, MIBK, VOCs, or any of the SVOCs identified as potential COPCs associated with FBE were detected in any of the wipe or soil samples. These chemicals are not present in the chalky residue on the pipes nor are they present in soils beneath the stored pipes. These chemicals may have been present in the samples in levels below the sampling limit of detection. As previously stated, the on site soil samples were not collected from soil beneath the pipes. They were collected from soil next to the ends of the pipe stacks, and therefore are not an accurate sample of soil below the pipe stacks. Table 2 shows low limit of detection for VOC’s and SVOC’s as 5 ug/sample, except for m,p-Xylenes with a low limit of detection as 10ug/sample. I believe that lower limits of detection are available, and if so, why were they not used? Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 Tables 3, 4, and 6 show variable detection limits for the same substance sampled. Scientific justification for the different detection levels is warranted. Wipe sample results are presented by the laboratory as micrograms (μg) per sample. For each wipe sample, a 10-centimeter (cm) x 10-cm square area (100 cm2) was marked on the side of the pipe. The area inside the marked square was wiped carefully with a single wipe. This represents a single wipe sample. Therefore, the μg/sample is equivalent to units of μg/ 100 cm2; the units of μg/cm2 used in the impact assessment (see Section 5.1) were calculated by dividing the μg/sample results by 100. In order for this conversion to be accurate each square centimeter in the wipe area would have to be wiped, and this would be difficult to achieve, especially in the corners of the wipe area. 5 Impact Assessment In addition to the COPCs, arsenic, barium, and lead were detected in wipe samples. These metals may be related to dust on the pipes rather than FBE chalky residue as these elements were not detected by the elemental analysis of FBE chalky residue. This uncertainty needs to be resolved through further testing. Such high concentrations are not expected to result from the dispersion of pipe chalky residue into the environment because it is well-adhered to the pipe surface. As previously stated, the chalky material can disadhere from the pipe. Per coating manufacturer 3M in a Technical Brief, UV Protection of Coated Pipe…”Thickness loss is caused by alternate chalking and removal of this loose surface material by wind, rain, tidal splash, or blowing particulate.” Measurements have shown that FBE coating exposed to sunlight will experience only 1 to 2 mils (1 mil = 0.001 inch) of loss due to ultraviolet Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 light degradation14, which indicates that the total quantity of dust available to be released to air from exposed coated pipes is extremely limited. Footnote 14 International Pipeline Conference – Volume 2. ASME 2000. IPC2000-181. Cetiner, M. et al. 2000. UV Degradation of Fusion Bonded Epoxy Coating in Stockpiled Pipes. 2000 The Cetiner study cited as footnote 14 specifically states “Approximately 1.0-2.0 mils loss in coating thickness and a visible reduction in gloss were observed at the 12 o'clock position after 16-21 months exposure.” The above statement in the Tox Strategies Report again misstates the findings in the Cetiner Report, as did the Tox Strategies report of August 23, 2019, which was previously submitted to FERC. As I commented in my rebuttal to the characterization of the Cetiner study in the August 23, 2019 Tox Strategies Report comparing coating loss from UV degradation in the Cetiner study to the ACP pipes, a comparison is not possible given the greatly different climatic conditions in the pipe storage locations. The pipes in the Cetiner study were stored near the US/Canadien border The Cetiner study was conducted in a cold dry climate in Grovedale, northern Alberta, Canada, and North Dakota, where degradation would be slower, compared to the hotter, more humid, and wetter conditions found in the mid Atlantic and Southeast U.S. ACP pipe storage locations, where degradation would be faster. Grovedale, Alberta has an average annual temperature of 36.2 with 18.5 inches of precipitation per year. Plymouth, North Carolina has an average annual temperature of 62.0 with 52 inches of rain per year. The ACP pipes have been exposed to UV degradation for over 4 years at this time, not 16-21 months, and they have been exposed to a much hotter, much more humid, and much wetter climate than the pipes in the Cetiner study. Therefore it is possible that the coating has degraded at a faster rate than did the coating in the Cetiner study. Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 As previously stated, due to the large size of the pipes, a large volume of chalky material may have already been released. Per the above mentioned 3M Technical Brief a yearly loss of 0.375 mil to 1.5 mils can occur. The pipes at this storage yard and others have been left exposed to the sun for over 4 years at this time. Therefore, these pipes could have lost more than 6 mils of coating at this time. Six mils(or 6/1000 of an inch) of chalky coating on the top half of a typical 42 inch by 40 foot pipe equates to 95 cubic inches of chalky coating. Given the very large number of pipes on this, and other sites, this is a substantial amount of potentially polluting material that is being removed from these pipes. During a Site visit by ToxStrategies (William Rish) on July 17, 2020, it was observed that chalky residue can only be separated from the pipe surface by aggressive wiping. The need for “aggressive scrubbing” with felt to obtain a sample of residue was also observed by KTA-Tator during the elemental analysis sampling.15 This observation indicates a low physical potential for atmospheric releases from sloughing of FBE chalky residue. In addition, rainfall will remove loose residue, and it rains 40 percent of the days of the year in Morgantown, WV. Residue would need to be replenished after a rainfall to be available for atmospheric release. These observations do not agree with 3M’s Technical Brief, UV Protection of Coated Pipe…”Thickness loss is caused by alternate chalking and removal of this loose surface material by wind, rain, tidal splash, or blowing particulate.” Further, If aggressive scrubbing or wiping is needed to remove chalky residue how is it possible to get a valid wipe sample, much less in all 100 square centimeters of the sample square, and particularly in the corners of that square? The 8/27/20 report indicates that an elemental analysis indicates chalky residue has an average silicon content of 52.8% by weight, and an average combined silicon and oxygen content of 90% by weight/Why wasn’t this reported in the 2019 study? Appendix 4 was not included in information submitted to FERC docket in the 8/23/19 report. Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 An air dispersion screening model recommended by US EPA (AERMOD17) was used with 5 years of local meteorological data to predict silica particulate concentrations in air potentially emitted from the Site. Footnote 17 states BEEST Suite v12.00 (Providence Engineering and Environmental Group, LLC Copyright 2019) which is based on (AERMOD 19191, AERMET 19191, AERMINUTE 15272, AERMAP 18081, AERSURFACE 13016, ISC3 02035, BPIPRM 04274, ISC-PRIME 04269) The model used may not be an AERMOD model, but rather, based on an AERMOD model. Scientific justification for the use of this model should be presented. The meteorological model used should be the most accurate model available for this study. The method by which the 5 years of meteorological data was used in the modeling should be presented as well. The following worst case assumptions were used: 2. Pipe degradation and the formation of residue available for atmospheric release occurs at a constant daily rate, i.e., depletion of loose source material by precipitation wash off or atmospheric release is assumed to be replenished at a rate that maintains a constant atmospheric emission rate. Based on Morgantown climate data, it rains 40 percent of the days per year, thus air emissions are assumed to occur on 60 percent of the days. These are not worse case assumptions. They are invalid assumptions. Atmospheric release at a constant daily rate is unrealistic. Varying atmospheric conditions, like wind, and blowing particulate matter will create varying release rates. During periods of heavy wind, and especially with wind blown particulate matter, emission rates would be substantially higher than the average emission rate. Additionally, the degraded coating that is emitted during high wind events would Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 travel much further than during average wind speeds Air emissions can occur on a day with rain or other precipitation. In fact, air emissions will likely be higher and travel further as a rainstorm approaches due to increased wind, and blowing particulate matter. Attachment C AERMOD Model Parameterization Emission Rate - OTHER, 0.062 g/s What does “other” mean, and how was 0.062 g/s determined? Scientific justification for the stated emission rate is warranted. Note that measurements of particle sizes performed during the elemental analysis of chalky residual material showed an average particle size of 3.5μ for samples taken from the Morgantown site and an average of 5.2μ for samples from all pipe yard sites (Plymouth, NC; Fuquay-Varina, NC; Clarksville, VA; Morgantown, WV).18 Thus, the PM2.5 particulate criterion is not appropriate for comparison purposes (i.e., too low), although the predicted maximum annual average concentration is below this criterion. Particulate size from elemental analysis cannot be compared to particulate size from wind removal. These are two distinctly different physical coating removal processes. The AERMOD worst case assumptions do not specify particulate size, although the study states that the PM 2.5 particulate criterion is not appropriate for comparison purposes. The PM 2.5 size should be used as a worse case scenario, because the PM 2.5 size is most damaging to human health. All ACP pipe yards were not mentioned. Culpeper, VA and Bealeton, VA were left out. Table 8 compares predicted AERMOD silica concentrations to US EPA PM2.5 and PM10 long term particulate matter exposure for the general public. Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 These comparisons are not valid. Silica inhalation is much more dangerous than inhalation of most other substances, and silica is a carcinogen by inhalation. An inhaled particle of silica at 2.5 is much more dangerous than a general particle at 2.5. Table 8 shows an OSHA 8 hour PEL level of 50 ug/cubic meter and compares it to modeled maximum 8 hour average of 23.6 ug/cubic meter. This comparison is not valid. OSHA limits are set for worker exposure on the job, which is 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, for about 240 days per year, which equals 1,920 hours exposure per year. A residential exposure rate would be much lower, based on full time occupancy or 8,760 hours per year. Additionally, the OSHA level does not take into account vulnerable populations, including the young, the aged, and those with existing compromising health issues. This would further further lower than residential exposure rate. Due to the danger from breathing silica, and the fact that the EPA level does not take into account vulnerable populations, some states have substantially lower standards than the EPA regional screening level. These include: - Texas 2 PM - Vermont 0.12 PM 10 - New York 0.06 PM 10. At this time, and for the foreseeable future, persons living and working near these pipe storage yards are at grave risk for Covid-19, as are all of us. Any health impairment from breathing air borne silica and other pollutants from a pipe storage yard makes them more vulnerable to death, permanent disability, hospitalization, or severe illness should they contract Covid-19. 6 Findings These findings are not reliable due to the questionable methodology and assumptions, previously stated, that were used in this study. Below is information from two scientific sources regarding health Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 impacts from breathing silica dust. From Public Lab Silica dust less than 10 μm is light enough and has enough surface area to stay airborne long enough to travel beyond occupational zones. A fraction of these smaller dust particles are also the most damaging to the lungs. Silica dust less than 5 μm in diameter is respirable, meaning it can travel into the bronchial region and deposit in the gas-exchange zone of the lungs. There, they can cause scarring, swelling, and the growth of fibroids in alveoli, the deepest parts of the lungs. The concentration of particulate matter that is cause for concern in non-occupational exposure is much lower than in occupational exposure. A person is at work typically only one-third of the day, and usually spends more hours at home than work, including sleep. Also, the exposed population in a non-occupational setting includes more vulnerable people, such as children and the elderly, than the workforce (which is often estimated as healthy young-adult and middle-aged men in exposure risk studies). Children breathe more deeply than adults, and their smaller body mass means that their relative exposure to pollutants is much higher. For all of these reasons, non-occupational exposure limits are set lower than occupational exposure limits to protect human health. For respirable crystalline silica, the difference between the two types of exposure limits can be orders of magnitude, as OSHA’s occupational exposure guidelines are to avoid exposures above 10 milligrams per cubic meter, while Vermont’s non-occupational exposure guideline is 0.12 micrograms per cubic meter. The nonprofit organization Environmental Working Group wrote an expository piece on ambient airborne silica, in which they urged more states to adopt respirable silica regulations and make the standards no higher than 0.3 μm/m3 in order to protect vulnerable populations. Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 From Environmental Working Group September 25, 2014 Danger In The Air: Health Concerns For Silica In Outdoor Air Silica-related lung disease is incurable and can be fatal, killing hundreds of workers in the U.S. each year. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has estimated that at least 2.2 million workers in the mining and construction industries are exposed to inhalable silica each year. However, the Institute noted, “There are no surveillance data in the U.S. that permit us to estimate accurately the number of individuals with silicosis. The true extent of the problem is probably greater than indicated by available data” (Weissman and Schulte 2011). In addition to the severe damage silica dust does to the lungs and respiratory system, studies of miners have linked it to diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma and kidney damage (Makol 2011; Parks 1999). Exposure to high levels has also been linked to heart problems, since the heart must work harder when pulmonary tissues are injured. There is no federal standard for ambient air exposure to silica outside the workplace. Based on occupational data, the EPA came up with a health-protective benchmark for crystalline silica in PM10 particles of 3 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) (Gift 1997; US EPA 1996). Crucially, however, EPA’s benchmark did not consider the risks of exposure to vulnerable populations such as children or people with respiratory disease. EWG calculates that a truly health-based value for silica exposure in outdoor air should be no higher than 0.3 µg/m3, and it may need to be lower. To date only Vermont and New York have met this threshold. Both states have, in fact, set even more stringent silica exposure guidelines of 0.12 µg/m3 and 0.06 µg/m3, respectively. In setting those limits for silica in ambient air, New York and Vermont used a different method than California or Texas. Both started from occupational Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 exposure limits and applied an adjustment factor of 100 (10 x 10). This combined factor of 100 takes into account the inherent toxicity of silica and the variable vulnerabilities of the population. One study of a sand and gravel facility in California found that at 750 meters (almost half a mile) downwind, the furthest point monitored, the level of silica in the air was twice as high as at an upwind site (Shiraki 2002). The silica content in particulate matter samples decreased from 33 percent at the plant itself to 10 percent at 750 meters away (Shiraki 2002). This findings indicate that silica dust is very dangerous, and that federal and many state regulatory guidelines are not strong enough to protect everyone, including vulnerable populations. They also indicate that fine particulate silica dust can travel long distances through the air. I hereby call on FERC to require an independent expert review of the Tox Strategies Report of August 27, 2020. I also call on FERC to publicly comment on the potential public health and environmental impacts of the coating used on the pipes for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. I also call on FERC to order necessary actions to protect the public health and the environment from the coating, until such time that reliable independent expert analysis indicates that there are no public health or environmental threats, if that is what independent expert analysis concludes. William F. Limpert wflimpert@gmail.com 4102B Garfield Road Smithsburg, MD 21783 301-416-0571 Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 cc David Swearingen, FERC Anthony Rana, FERC Julia Yuan, FERC Filed Date: 09/18/2020 Document Accession #: 20200918-5099 Filed Date: 09/18/2020 Document Content(s) Critique of Second Dominion Pipeline Coating Report.PDF...................1