Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Test: Stump dump air is ‘unhealthy’
EPA continues monitoring, will share results with state
BELLA VISTA — The Arkansas Department of Health said Wednesday preliminary results of monitoring near a stump dump fire show air quality in the “unhealthy” category, according to a news release.
The testing, called particulate matter monitoring, measures the amount of solid and liquid droplets found in the air such as ash, dust, and smoke. The amount of particulate matter in the air provides a snapshot of local air quality and how air quality may affect health, an Arkansas Department of Health news release stated.
Everyone within a halfmile radius of the 8000 block of Trafalgar Road should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors, the release stated.
Mayor Peter Christie didn’t return a phone call seeking comment early Wednesday evening.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency did more testing in an area along Trafalgar Road on Monday. The underground fire is on a site where the Bella Vista Property Owners Association operated a stump dump for about 13 years. Fire Department personnel have said the fire may be burning more than 50 or 60 feet underground.
The EPA continued air monitoring near Trafalgar Road fire this week. Once data is collected and validated, the EPA will share the information with the Arkansas Department of Health, according to the release.
Residents are also tracking air quality near Trafalgar Road using a system called PurpleAir. The health
department said in the release resident-collected data can help support the EPA findings.
Fire Chief Steve Sims previously said firefighters were initially dispatched to the area July 29, where they spotted smoke and what appeared to be the remains of a brush fire. The property is owned by Brown’s Tree Care.
There were no controlled burns listed in the dispatch log, he said, and the property owner denies burning brush.
The EPA collected 24-hour air samples from five locations around the tree care property Oct. 1 and Nov. 10. The agency tested for hundreds of chemicals associated with landfill fires potentially containing construction debris, household waste or tires. None of the air samples showed elevated concentrations of chemicals of concern in the community, an EPA news release stated.
The EPA also collected samples from a location on the tree care property and found a low level of benzene Nov. 10, according to the EPA release. The American Cancer Society says benzene is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor and it evaporates quickly when exposed to air. The chemical is a natural part of crude oil and gasoline, as well as detergents, drugs and pesticides.
Stuart Spencer, associate director of the office of air quality at the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, told residents at Dec. 1 meeting the presence of benzene suggests there’s trash in the former dump and not just yard waste.
The EPA agreed to provide scientific expertise to assist the state Department of Environmental Quality in determining which benzene-sensing technology is available if needed, the EPA release stated.
Curtis and Tiffany Macomber, who live near the dump site, sued Brown’s Tree Care and John Does 1-3 in connection with the fire. The lawsuit was filed in Benton County Circuit Court. It claims continued smoke from the site has created a hazardous situation for the Macombers and their children. The case is assigned to Benton County Circuit Judge Xollie Duncan. Brown Tree Service hasn’t filed a response to the lawsuit.