FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 2, 2014
NEW LAB RESULTS FROM COLLIER-HOGAN WELL CONTINUE TO SHOW NO EVIDENCE OF CONTAMINATION
~Results from private lab show no impact to groundwater~
TALLAHASSEE – A second set of water quality test results have found that groundwater in Collier County has not been impacted by activities at the Collier-Hogan well.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) received results today from the first of two private labs. DEP’s lab, along with two private labs, are analyzing samples taken last week for approximately 170 constituents, including chemicals injected into the Collier-Hogan well during the workover procedure.
“Today’s results further confirm that contamination in the area is highly unlikely,” said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “Additional testing is ongoing and DEP remains committed to ensuring the protection of Collier County residents and the environment through continued groundwater monitoring and maintaining our inspection presence at the site.”
The private laboratory analyzed samples taken from eight different wells for sulfide, which is naturally occurring and frequently found in groundwater. Sulfide was only detected in one sample and was at a level that does not pose a threat to human health.
To date, samples have been analyzed for 143 constituents and no groundwater contamination has been detected. The report on the remaining approximately 30 constituents is expected later this week.
The samples were taken from six aquifer monitoring wells installed last week, as well as two pre-existing water production wells used for on-site operations at the Collier-Hogan site. Of the six wells installed for water quality sampling, four were at the Collier-Hogan well site, one was at the Permit 86 site, which is a former oil well drill site, and one was installed one-half mile north of the Collier-Hogan well to establish background groundwater conditions. The geology of the region, with groundwater being very close to the surface, makes the shallow depths of these wells the location most likely to be the first impacted by activities at the site, and therefore yield the most accurate results at this point in the process.
DEP lab results, together with the results from the two private labs, will provide data that will allow the department to conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine whether the workover performed by Dan A. Hughes was designed and carried out in a way to ensure groundwater standards were not violated. A report of DEP’s analysis is expected by December 1, 2014.
Today’s lab results can be found HERE.
| 
