vxEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Region 5
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
EPA905-R-94-014
May 1994
Superfund: Progress at
National Priorities List Sites
Indiana 1994 Update
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May 1994
NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST SITES:
INDIANA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5, Library (PL-12J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF SUPERFUND
WASTE MANAGMENT DIVISION
REGION 5
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
A Brief Overview of Superfund
Streamlining Superfund: The Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model
How Superfund Works
rv}THE VOLUME
''1 How to use the State Book
A SUMMARY OF THE STATE PROGRAM
THE NPL FACT SHEETS
THE GLOSSARY
Terms used in the NPL Book
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INTRODUCTION
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SUPERFUND
During the second half of the Twentieth
Century, the environmental conse-
quences of more than 100 years of industrial-
ization in the United States became increas-
ingly clear. Authors such as Rachel Carson
wrote passionately about the often-hidden en-
vironmental effects of our modern society's
widespread use of chemicals and other haz-
ardous materials. Their audience was small at
first, but gradually their message spread.
Growing concern turned to action. a.s peopie
learned more about the environment and be-
gan to act on their knowledge
The 1970s saw environmental issues burst
onto the national scene and take hold in the
national consciousness. The first Earth Day
was observed in 1970, the year that the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was
founded. By the end of the 1970s, Love Canal
in New York and the Valley of the Drums in
Kentucky had entered the popular lexicon as
synonyms for pollution and environmental
degradation.
Superfund Is Established
The industrialization that gave Americans the
world's highest standard of living also created
problems that only a national program could
address. By 1980, the U.S. Congress had
passed numerous environmental laws, imple-
mented by the EPA, but many serious hazard-
ous waste problems were slipping through the
cracks.
Responding to growing concern about public
health and environmental threats from uncon-
trolled releases of hazardous materials, the
U.S. Congress passed the Comprehensive En-
vironmental Response, Compensation, and
Lability Act (CERCLA). Popularly known as
Superfund, CERCLA had one seemingly
simple job—to uncover and clean up hazard-
ous materials spills and contaminated sites.
A Big Job
Few in Congress, the EPA. the environmen-
tal community, or the general public knew in
19X0 just how big the nation's hazardous ma-
terials problem is. Almost everyone thought
that Superfund would be a short-lived pro-
gram requiring relatively few resources to
clean up at most a few hundred sites. They
were quite mistaken.
As the EPA set to work finding sites and
gauging their potential to harm people and
the environment, the number of sites grew.
Each discovery seemed to lead to another.
and today almost 36,000 hazardous waste
sites have been investigated as potential haz-
ardous waste sites. They are catalogued in
the EPA's computerized database, CERCLIS
(for the Comprehensive Environmental Re-
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INTRODUCTION
sponse, Compensation, and Liability
Information System).
The damage to public health and the
environment that each site in
CERCLIS might cause is evaluated;
many sites have been referred to
State and local governments for
cleanup. The EPA lists the
nation's most serious hazardous
waste sites on the National
Priorities List, or NPL. (These
Superfund sites are eligible for
federally-funded cleanup, but
whenever possible the EPA makes
polluters pay for the contamination
they helped create.) The NPL now
numbers 1,275 sites, with 50 to 100
added each year. By the end of the
century, the NPL may reach as many
as 2000 sites.
Superfund faces some of the most
complex pollution problems ever
encountered by an environmental
program. Improperly stored or
disposed chemicals and the soil
they contaminate are one concern.
More difficult to correct are the
wetlands and bays, and the
groundwater, lakes, and rivers
often used for drinking water that
are contaminated by chemicals
spreading through the soil or
mixing with storm water runoff.
Toxic vapors contaminate the air at
some sites, threatening the health
of people living and working near
by.
Superfund aims to control immediate
public health and environmental
threats by tackling the worst
problems at the worst sites first.
Wherever possible, Superfund
officials use innovative treatment
techniques many developed or
refined by the EPA to correct
hazardous materials problems once
and for all. Many of the treatment
techniques they use did not exist
when the program was created.
The EPA Administrator had
challenged Superfund to complete
construction necessary for cleanup
work at 200 NPL sites by the end of
the 1992 federal fiscal year. By
September 30, 1992, the end of
fiscal year 1992, construction had
been completed at a total of 149
NPL sites. By September 30, 1993,
the end of fiscal year 1993,
construction had been completed at
217 sites, well in excess of the
Administrator's target of 200. The
Superfund program now projects
completing construction at over 650
sites by the year 2000.
Quick Cleanup at NON-NPL Sites
Long-standing hazardous waste sites
are not Superfund's only concern.
The EPA also responds to hazardous
spillsand other emergencies,
hauling away chemicals for proper
treatment or disposal. Superfund
teams perform"or supervise
responses at rail and motor vehicle
accidents, fires, and other
emergencies involving hazardous
substances. They also evacuate
people living and working near by,
if necessary, and provide clean
drinking water to people whose own
water is contaminated. Removal
crews also post warning signs and
take other precautions to keep
people and animals away from
hazardous substances.
Quick Cleanups, or Removals are not
limited to emergencies. When
cleanup crews at contaminated sites
find hazardous substances that
immediately threaten people or the
environment, they act right away to
reduce the threat or to remove the
chemicals outright. As the EPA
implements the Superfund
Accelerated Cleanup Model (SACM),
more and more sites will undergo
quick cleanups, and many of these
will be cleaned up completely -
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INTRODUCTION
without ever being included on the
NPL. (See "Streamlining Superfund
Accelerated Cleanup Model."")
Some of Superfund's most
significant gains in public health
and environmental protection have
been won by the removal program.
As of October 1, 1993, the
Emergency Response Program in
Region V has lost approximately 500
removal completions since Superfund
was established.
Public Participation
Superfund is unique among federal
programs in its commitment to
citizen participation. Although
the EPA is responsible for
determining how dangerous a site is
and how best to clean it up, the
Agency relies on citizen input as
it makes these decisions.
Probably, the most important
component of any NPL site is public
participation. Community
Involvement has played a
significant role in the development
of cleanup activities at a site.
Although most proposals for cleanup
activities are brought forth by the
agency, it is usually the citizen's
input that gives the "stamp of
approval" on the cleanup plan.
Residents also comment on EPA
cleanup plans by stating their
concerns and preferences at public
meetings and other forums and in
formal written comments to Agency
proposals. The EPA takes and
concerns seriously, and has
modified many proposals in response
to local concerns. For ultimately,
it is the community and its
citizens that will live with the
results of the EPA's decisions and
actions; it is only fair that
citizens participate in the
process.
A Commitment to Communication
The Superfund program is very
serious about public outreach and
communication. Community relations
coordinators are assigned to each
NPL site to help the public
understand the potential hazards
present, as well as, the cleanup
alternatives. Local information
repositories, such as libraries or
other public buildings, have been
established near each NPL site to
ensure that the public has an
opportunity to review all relevant
information and the proposed
cleanup plans. The individual
State volumes contain summary fact
sheets on NPL sites in each State
and territory. Together, the fact
sheets provide a concise report on
site conditions and the progress
made toward site cleanups as of May
1994. The EPA revises these
volumes periodically to provide and
up-to-date record of program
activities. A glossary of terms
relating to hazardous waste
management and Superfund site
cleanup is provided at the back of
this book.
Superfund is, of course, a public
program, and as such it belongs to
everyone of us.
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INTRODUCTION
STREAMLINING SUPERFUND: THE SUPERFUND
ACCELERATED CLEANUP MODEL
Historically, critics and
supporters alike have measured
Superfund's progress by the number
of hazardous waste sites deleted
from the NPL. Although easy enough
to tally, this approach does not
recognize the breadth of risk
reduction attained by Superfund.
First, it doesn't account for the
early remedial actions conducted at
the nations worst hazardous waste
sites, which occurs well before
site deletion. Second, it ignores
the significant contribution to
reducing risks to human health and
the environment by the Removal
Program.
In renewing Superfund's commitment
to quick and early response
actions, EPA has undertaken an
initiative to streamline the
Superfund program. The Superfund
Accelerated Cleanup Model (SACM)
emphasizes the conduct of early
actions, such as drum removal and
source control, while long-term
actions, such as groundwater
contamination are appropriately
studied. In addition, SACM
.envisions an integrated site
assessment process whereby the
different Superfund assessments are
integrated into a single process.
Integrated assessments will reduce
the time and resources required to
evaluate a site and assess its
threats to human health and the
environment. This way, immediate
public health and environmental
threats will be addressed while
long-term cleanups are being
planned.
Emergencies such as train
derailments and motor vehicle
accidents will continue to be
handled expeditiously. Teams of
highly trained technicians will
swing into action right away,
coordinating the cleanup and
removal of hazardous substances to
ensure public safety as quickly as
possible.
BREAKING WITH TRADITION
The traditional Superfund process
begins with a lengthy phase of
study and site assessment, but SACM
will save time by combing separate,
yet similar, activities.
Each EPA Region will form a
Regional Decision Team (RDT)
composed of program managers from
the Removal and Remedial program,
the Office of Regional Counsel,
Office of Public Affairs,
Environmental Science Division, and
the States. The RDT will be
responsible for making decisions on
sites based on recommendations by
Site Assessment Teams (SATs). The
SATs are comprised of an RPM, OSC,
SAM, staff attorney, State
representative, and community
relations coordinator. Other
experts such as ecologist and
toxicologists are brought in on the
SATs on an as needed basis. SATs
develop site specific strategies
potentially utilizing Removal (i.e.
early action) and/or Remedial (i.e.
long-term action) statutory
authorities.
In many instances, SATs will
recommend to the RDT the initiation
of a -study for a long-term action
while work begins on an early
action to eliminate an immediate
threat to public health and the
environment.
Early Actions include taking
precautions to keep contaminants
from moving off the site and
restricting access to the site.
Early Actions can eliminate most,
if r.ct all, risk associated with a
Superfund site. Consequently,
early public involvement is
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INTRODUCTION
BREAKING WITH TRADITION
cont'
participation during the site
assessment process and Early
Actions.
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS
While Early Actions can correct
many hazardous waste problems and
provide the bulk of public health
and environmental protection some
contamination will take longer to
correct. Cleanups of mining sites,
wetlands, estuaries, and projects
involving incineration of
contaminants or restoration of
ground water can take far longer
than the three to five years
envisioned for Early Actions.
Under the SACM paradigm, the
conduct of the long-term cleanup
action will be similar to the
present process.
Also under SACM, the EPA will
continue its pursuit of potentially
responsible parties who may have
caused or contributed to site
contamination. Expedited
jsnforcement and procedures for
negotiating potentially responsible
party settlements will secure their
participation. Superfund personnel
will continue to oversee clean-up
work performed by potentially
responsible parties.
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INTRODUCTION
HOW SUPERFUND WORKS
Each Superfund site presents a different
set of complex problems. The same haz-
ardous materials and chemicals often con-
taminate many sites, but the details of each
site are different Almost always, soil is con-
taminated with one or more chemicals. Their
vapors may taint the air over and around the
site. Contaminants may travel through the soil
and reach underground aquifers which may be
used for drinking water, or they may spread
over the site to contaminate streams, ponds,
and wetlands. The contaminating chemicals
may interact with each other, presenting even
more complicated cleanup problems.
Superfund's cleanup process is arduous and
exacting. It requires the best efforts of hun-
dreds of experts in science and engineering,
public health, administration and manage-
ment, law, and many other fields.
The average NPL site takes from seven to ten
years to work its way through the system,
from discovery to the start of long-term
cleanup. Actual cleanup work can take years,
decades if contaminated groundwater must
be treated. Of course, imminent threats to
public health or the environment are cor-
rected right away.
The diagram to the right presents a simplified
view of the cleanup process. The major steps
in the Superfund process are:
• Site discovery and investigation to iden-
tify contaminants and determine whether
emergency action is required;
• Emergency site work such as removing
contaminants for proper treatment or dis-
posal, and securing the site to keep people
and animals away, if warranted by condi-
tions at the site;
• Site evaluation to determine how people
living and working nearby, and the envi-
ronment, may be exposed to site contami-
nants;
• Detailed studies to determine whether con-
ditions are serious enough to add the site to
the National Priorities List of sites eligible
for federally funded cleanup under Super-
fund;
> Selection, design, and implementation of a
cleanup plan, after a thorough review of
the most effective cleanup options, given
site conditions, contaminants present, and
their potential threat to public health or the
environment
• Follow-up to ensure that the cleanup work
done at the site continues to be effective
over the long term.
The Superfund Process
From the earliest stages, EPA investigators
work hard to identify those responsible for the
contamination. As their responsibility is es-
tablished, the EPA negotiates with these "re-
sponsible parties" to pay for cleaning up the
problem they helped create. This "enforce-
ment first" policy saves-Superfund Trust Fund
monies for use in cleanups where the respon-
sible parties cannot be identified, or where
they are unable to fund cleanup work.
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THE VOLUME
How to Use the State Book
The sue fact sheets presented in this book
are comprehensive summaries that cover
a broad range of information. The fact sheets
describe hazardous waste sites on the NPL and
their locations, as weil as the conditions
leading to their listing ("Site Description").
The summaries list the types of contaminants
that have been discovered and related threats
to public and ecological health ('Threats and
Contaminants'"). "Cleanup Approach" pres-
ents an overview of the cleanup acuvities
completed, underway, or planned. The tact
sheets conclude with a brier synopsis of how
much progress has been made in protecting
public health and the environment The
summaries also pinpoint other actions, such as
legal efforts to involve polluters responsible
for site contamination and community con-
. cerns.
The fact sheets arc arranged in alphabetical
order by site name. Because site cleanup is a
dynamic and gradual process, all site informa-
tion is accurate as of the date shown on the
bottom of each page. Progress always is being
made at NPL .sites, and the EPA periodically
will update the sue fact sheets to reflect recent
actions and will publish updated State vol-
umes. The following two pages show a ge-
neric fact sheet and briefly describe the infor-
mation under each section.
How Can You Use
This State Book?
You can use this book to keep informed about
the sites that concern you. particularly ones
close to home. The EPA is committed to
involving the public in the decision making
process associated with hazardous waste
cleanup. The Agency solicits input from area
residents in communities affected by Super-
fund sites. Citizens are likely to be affected
not only by hazardous site conditions, but also
by the remedies mat combat them. Site clean-
ups take many forms and can affect communi-
ties in different ways. Local traffic may be
rerouted, residents may be relocated, tempo-
rary water supplies may be necessary.
Definitive information on a site can help
citizens sift through alternatives and make
decisions. To make good choices, you must
know what the threats are and how the EPA
intends to clean up the site. You must under-
stand the cleanup alternatives being proposed
for site cleanup and how residents may be
affected by each one. You also need to have
some idea of how your community intends to
use the site in the future, and you need to know
what the community can realistically expect
once the cleanup is complete.
The EPA wants to develop cleanup methods
mat meet community needs, but the Agency
only can take local concerns into account if it
understands what they are. Information must
travel both ways in order for cleanups to be
effective and satisfactory. Please take this
opportunity to learn more, become involved.
and assure that hazardous waste cleanup at
"your" site considers your community's
concerns.
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THE VOLUME
NPL L3T1NG HISTORY
Provides the dares when the
site was Proposed, made Final.
and Deleted tmm the NPL.
SITE RESPONSIBILITY
Identities Hie Federal. State.
and/or porenrially responsible
panics taKing responsimlity
tor cleanup actions at die site.
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROGRESS
Summarizes rhe actions to
reduce inc threats to nearby
residents and the surrounding
environment and the progress
towards cleaning up the sue.
SITE NAME
STATE
£PAlO» A8COOOOOOO
EPA REGION XX
COUNTY NAME
LOCATION
Threats and Contaminants
Response Action Status
Environmental Progress
Site Repository
BBSBl SI
SITE REPOSITORY
Lists the location or the primary site repository. The site
repository may include community relations plans, public
meeting announcements and minutes, tact sheets, press
releases, and other site-related documents.
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THE VOLUME
SITE DESCRIPTION
This section describes the location and history of the site. It includes descrip-
tions of the most recent activities and past actions at the site that have con-
tributed to the contamination. Population estimates, land usages, and nearby
resources give readers background on the local setting surrounding the site.
THREATS AND CONTAMINANTS
The major chemical categories of site contamination are noted, as well as
which environmental resources are affected. Icons representing each of the
affected resources (may include air. groundwater. surface water, soil, and
contamination to environmentally sensitive areas) ore included in the margins
of this section. Potential threats to residents and the surrounding environ-
ments arising rrom the site contamination also are described.
CLEANUP APPROACH
This section contains a brief overview of how the site is being cleaned up.
RESPONSE ACTION STATUS
Specific actions that have been accomplished or will be undertaken to clean
up the site arc described here. Cleanup activities at NPL sites are divided
into separate phases, depending on the complexity and required actions at the
site. Two major types of cleanup activities often arc described: initial.
immediate, or emergency actions to quickly remove or reduce imminent
threats to the community and surrounding areas: and long-term remedial
phases directed at final cleanup at the site. Each stage of the cleanup strategy
is presented in this section of the summary. Icons representing the stage of
the cleanup process (initial actions, site investigations. EPA selection of the
cleanup remedy, engineering design phase, cleanup activities underway, and
completed cleanup) are located in the margin next to each activity descrip-
tion.
SITE FACTS
Additional information on activities and events at the site are included in this
section. Often details on legal or administrative actions taken by the EPA to
achieve site cleanup or other facts pertaining to community involvement with
the site cleanup process are reported here.
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A SUMMARY OF THE STATE PROGRAM
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SUPERFUND ACTIVITIES IN INDIANA
The State of Indiana is located within EPA Region 5, which includes the six
midwestern States. The State covers 36,185 square miles. According to the
1990 Census, Indiana experienced a 1 percent increase in
population between 1980 and 1990, and is ranked fourteenth in
U.S. population with approximately 5,544,000 residents.
The Indiana Hazardous Waste Act of 1980, the Environmental
Management Act and the Hazardous Waste Land Disposal Tax Act of
1981 combine to authorize site cleanup activities in the State
of Indiana. The statutes grant the State the authority to
compel polluters who are liable for site contamination to
conduct or pay for cleanup activities, regardless of fault or
the amount of contributing pollution. The State also has the
authority to issue orders for information and site access, collect civil
and criminal penalties and damages, and recover costs for State action.
Under the Indiana Responsible Transfer Law, andy environmental risks posed
at a property must be disclosed prior to real estate transfer. In addition
to the 10 percent contribution from the State required by the Federal
Superfund program, the Hazardous Substances Response Trust Fund may be used
for investigations, study and design activities, emergency actions and
removals, long-term cleanup actions, operation and maintenance activities,
actions at non-petroleum Leaking Underground Storage Tank sites, and pre-
authorized mixed funding claims. A 1991 amendment authorized use of the
Fund to address sites contaminated with petroleum. The State public
participation policy is to provide a 30-day comment period prior to final
cleanup decisions. In practice, public meetings are held several times
during the site investigation, followed by availability sessions in the
affected communities. Currently, 32 sits in the State of Indiana have been
listed as final on the NPL; three sites have been deleted.
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
implements the Superfund Program in the State of Indiana
Facts about the 36 NPL sites in Indiana
Immediate Actions (such as removing hazardous substances or restricting
site access) were performed at 25 sites.
Eleven sites endanger sensitive environments.
Thirty-two sites are located near residential areas.
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INDIANA
i ==i
The potentially Responsible Party Pays...
In the State of Indiana, potentially responsible parties are paying for or
conducting cleanup activities at 26 sites.
For Further Information on NPL Sites and Hazardous Waste
Programs in the State of Illinois Please Contact:
* EPA Region 5 Office of
Public Affairs
* National Response Center
* Department of
Environmental Management
Office of Environmental
Response, Project
Management Branch
* EPA Region 5 Waste
Management Division
* EPA Superfund Hotline
For information concerning
community involvement
To report a hazardous
waste emergency
For information about the
State's responsibility in
the Superfund Program
For information about the
Regional Superfund Program
For information about the
Federal Superfund Program
(312) 353-2072
(800) 424-8802
(217) 782-6760
(312) 353-9419
(800) 424-9068
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AMERICAN
CHEMICAL
SERVICE, INC
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND016360265
EPA REGION 5
Lake County
Griffith
Site Description
American Chemical Service (ACS), Inc. recycled chemicals on 21 acres along South Colfax
Avenue in Griffith from 1958 until 1975, when it voluntarily stopped using two disposal areas
on site and covered them. The site contains an estimated 35,000 buried drums, pigment and
resin sludges, including PCBs and VOCs. The site operated until 1990 as a hazardous waste
recycler with interim status under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
The site previously contained three different operations: the American Chemical Service,
Kapica Drum, and the Griffith Sanitary Landfill. ACS began operation in 1955 as a solvent
recovery firm and later began a chemical manufacturing operation. From 1955 until at least
1975, ACS disposed of a variety of hazardous wastes produced during company operations in
an area known as the off-site containment area on the property. ACS also disposed of
numerous drums and stillbottoms in portions of the currently operating facility. Some waste
was accepted from outside sources for incineration in an on-site incinerator, and the ash was
disposed of on ACS property. In 1972, the Indiana State Board of Health (ISBH) responded
to residents' complaints and inspected the ACS facility. From 1972 to 1973, ISBH attempted
to achieve improved waste handling, spill prevention measures, and site maintenance. In 1974
and 1975, ISBH also responded to reports that ACS was discharging chemicals to the sanitary
sewer and dumping chemicals on site. Approximately 10,000 people live within 3 miles of the
site, the closest being less than 1/4 mile away. Located in the immediate vicinity of the site
are a few residences, railroad tracks, drainage ditches, and marshy areas. More than 2,000
private wells are in use in the area of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/08/83
Final Date: 09/21/84
May 1994
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Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including benzene, toluene, chloroethane, xylene, vinyl chloride, the creosote
pentachlorophenol (PCP), and phthalates. The shallow aquifer contains the highest
amounts of organic contaminants. Soils are heavily contaminated with numerous
substances including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, semi-
volatiles, coal tar constituents, VOCs, and some pesticides. Evidence suggests that
the heavily contaminated shallow aquifer discharges to the wetlands and surface
water, posing the potential for adverse effects. Past discharges by ACS had
affected a major portion of the site's wetlands. Exposure to contaminants by
accidently ingesting groundwater and surface water; coming in direct contact with
groundwater, surface water, soil, or sediments; or inhaling airborne VOCs could be
potential health threats.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In the early 1980s, ACS installed a clay wall to block the
perceived flow direction of the groundwater and to control the environmental
degradation due to surface water and leachate runoff. Initial cleanup efforts
concentrated on identifying, staging, and segregating drums from construction debris in the
building. Drums were labeled, sampled, overpacked, and staged in a nearby vacant building.
Twenty-four-hour security was maintained throughout the removal. Construction debris was
decontaminated and disposed. The remaining building brick was scrubbed with a high pressure
wash. All rinsate and decontamination water was collected and removed for treatment and
disposal. Drums were grouped into three separate waste streams based on pH levels. All
three waste streams were accepted at a facility for treatment and disposal. A total of 277
drums of waste and 23,154 gallons of water were shipped off site for treatment and disposal.
Entire Site: The site investigations have now been completed and on September
30, 1992, the EPA selected a remedy to clean up the site which includes:
pumping and treating contaminated groundwater; excavation and incineration of
contaminated soil and drums of hazardous waste; vapor extraction of contaminants in site
soils; evaluation, monitoring and, if necessary, restoration of wetlands; site fencing and
implementation of deed and access restrictions; and long term monitoring of the site. It is
anticipated that the design of technical aspects of the cleanup will begin in 1994.
May 1994 AMERICAN CHEMICAL SERVICE, INC.
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Environmental Progress
The site investigation and assessment of the cleanup options has been completed. The EPA
has selected a cleanup remedy and is negotiating with the potentially responsible parties to
fund the remaining site activities.
Site Repository
Griffith Public Library, 940 North Broad Street, Griffith, IN 46319
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SERVICE, INC.
May 1994
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BENNETT STd
QUARRY
INDIANA
EPAID# IND006418651
EPA REGION 5
Monroe County
Bloomington
Site Description
The Bennett Stone Quarry site consists of approximately 4 acres and is located approximately
2 1/2 miles northwest of Bloomington. This limestone quarry was used as a dump for old
electrical parts for approximately 20 years, before it was discovered by the Monroe County
Health Department (MCHD) in 1983. The MCHD subsequently defined an area of several
acres that had been used for dumping electrical parts, including a large number of capacitors
contaminated with poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Labels found on the capacitors during
the MCHD investigation linked contamination to the Westinghouse Corporation. Soil samples
from the site indicated PCB concentrations as high as 380,000 ppm. EPA removed surface
capacitors from the site, installed a clay cap, security fencing and warning signs in 1983.
Sediments from Stouts Creek, adjacent to the site, were hydro-vacuumed in 1987. Five other
PCB-contaminated sites are located in the Bloomington area, three of which are listed as
separate sites on the NPL: Neal's Landfill, Neal's Dump, and Lemon Lane Landfill. Anderson
Road, an authorized landfill, and Winston-Thomas Treatment Plant, an inactive City-owned
wastewater treatment plant, are the other sites. The majority of the residents living near
Bennett Stone Quarry and the adjoining property depend on private wells for their water
supply. The land along Stout Creek is used for quarry operations and some farming. Beef
cattle are raised on property adjacent to Stouts Creek. The quarries adjacent to the site once
were frequented by local residents and campers for recreational activities.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/08/83
Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
On-site groundwater, soils, sediments, and surface water were contaminated with
PCBs. Off-site sediments located in Stout Creek also were contaminated with
PCBs. Smaller amounts of PCBs were found in the waters of Stout Creek. Area
residents could have been exposed to contaminants through direct contact with
PCB-laden oil in the ponds and on-site PCB-contaminated soil. The primary risk
currently posed by the site is through contamination of groundwater, used by some
nearby residents as a source of drinking water.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: emergency actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: The EPA undertook an emergency cleanup in 1983 that
included: removing and disposing of capacitors on the surface and contaminated
soils; conducting an aerial photographic survey, a geophysical study, and soil
sampling; placing an impervious cover over the site to prevent runoff of contaminants; and
constructing security fencing around the site. In 1987, contaminated sediments were
excavated from Stout Creek.
Entire Site: Activities conducted to address contamination at the site included:
excavating all refuse plus a 2-foot buffer zone around the known refuse;
incinerating excavated materials in an approved facility; hydro-vacuuming
contaminated sediments from the on-site ponds and Stout Creek and storing them off site
until incineration and disposal can be conducted; and regrading, covering, and revegetating
the area of the site. Groundwater and surface water monitoring will be continued to ensure
that water quality standards are maintained.
Site Facts: In 1985, the Westinghouse Corporation and the EPA signed a Consent Decree,
under which Westinghouse agreed to perform the site cleanup. Currently, the parties to the
Consent Decree are exploring alternative remedies to incineration.
Environmental Progress
The excavation, removal, or incineration of hazardous materials and contaminated creek
sediments, installation of a security fence, and other cleanup activities have reduced the
potential for exposure to contamination at the Bennett Stone Quarry site. Continuing
groundwater and surface water monitoring will provide protection to nearby residents and the
environment.
Site Repository
May 1994 BENNETT STONE QUARRY
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Site Repository
Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47491
BENNETT STONE QUARRY
May 1994
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CARTER LEE
LUMBER COMPA
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND01639589^5
EPA REGION 5
Marion County
Indianapolis
Site Description
Carter Lee Lumber Company has been selling lumber products at this 2-acre site since 1873.
In 1971, Carter Lee bought land behind its original property from the Cleveland, Cincinnati,
Chicago, and St. Louis Railway Corporation. Liquid wastes from tank trucks and railroad cars
reportedly were dumped onto the ground and into a trench on the property. The EPA
sampled the soil in 1985 and found it to be contaminated with heavy metals and polynuclear
aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs). The trench has been filled with clay and the property has
been fenced, with access limited to employees of the lumber company. Approximately 710,000
people obtain drinking water from municipal wells within 3 miles of the site. These wells are
supplied by surface water. The closest private drinking water well is upgradient from the
property and approximately 3,500 feet away. The property is in the flood plain of the White
River, which is located 1,500 feet from the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Soil is contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and
copper; as well as cyanide and various volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Presently, there is little threat to human health or the environment. The site is
fenced; however, employees of the lumber company are coming into contact with
contaminated soil, as well as cleanup workers who dig or uncover the
contamination in the trench.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: An investigation is underway at the Carter Lee Lumber Company
site to delineate the nature and extent of contamination in all media. The EPA
will identify and evaluate potential routes of contaminant migration, assess risk
posed by the site, and collect data to identify and evaluate remedial alternatives. The
investigation is planned for completion in early 1995.
Environmental Progress
The site has been fenced to limit access and the trenches have been filled to reduce the
potential for exposure to contaminated soil at the Carter Lee Lumber Company site. The
EPA has assessed conditions at the site and determined that no immediate actions are
required while studies are taking place and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Hawthorn Community Center, 2440 W. Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46222
May 1994
CARTER LEE LUMBER COMPANY
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COLUMBUEF0LD
MUNICIPA
LANDFILL
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980607626
EPA REGION 5
Bartholomew County
Columbus
Other Names:
City Dump #1
Site Description
The City of Columbus operated the 12-acre Columbus Old Municipal Landfill #1 site without
a permit from 1938 until 1966. The landfill reportedly accepted municipal and industrial
wastes including solvents, acids, bases, paints, and heavy metals. The landfill is unlined, but
the top is covered with a layer of sand, clay, and gravel where grass has grown. Wastes were
deposited on the surface of the landfill, and the site forms a low barrier between the
farmlands that surround it and the East Fork of the White River. Geologic conditions at the
site make it easy for the groundwater to interact with and contaminate the surface waters in
the area. The closest residence to the site is less than 1/2 mile away. Approximately 33,000
people live within a 3-mile radius of the site. There are private wells within 1/2 mile of the
site, and public wells for water supply are within 3 miles.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/18/85
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
Contamination found on site includes acids, bases, and organic solvents. Possible
health threats to people include drinking or coming in direct contact with
contaminated groundwater, or accidentally ingesting contaminated soil.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties began an investigation in 1987 to
determine the nature and extent of contamination at the site. The remedy was
selected in early 1992. Based on the investigation, it was concluded that no
further action was needed at the site. However, due to the possibility of a public road being
constructed on the site, a contingency remedy also was selected. If a road is built, institutional
controls will be implemented, including fencing, capping and monitoring.
Site Facts: In 1987, a Consent Order was signed between the EPA, the Indiana Department
of Environmental Management, and three parties potentially responsible for the site
contamination. Under the agreement, the parties agreed to study the site to determine the
nature and extent of contamination at the landfill. In March 1992, based on the results of the
investigation, a limited action alternative was selected by the EPA. Groundwater monitoring
will continue at the site.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Columbus Old Municipal Landfill
site while studies are taking place and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Bartholomew County Public Library, Columbus, IN 46901
May 1994
COLUMBUS OLD MUNICIPAL LANDFILL #1
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CONRAIL RAIL YA
(ELKHART)
INDIANA
EPA ID#IND000715490
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
Elkhart County
Elkhart
Other Names:
County Road 1
The Conrail Rail Yard (Elkhart) began operations in 1956 as part of the New York Central
Railroad and continued operations as a subsidiary of the Perm Central Transportation
Company until 1976. From 1962 to 1968, numerous citizen complaints regarding oil discharges
from the rail yard to the nearby St. Joseph River were filed with State and local authorities.
In 1976, Conrail took over the rail yard's functions. From 1976 to 1986, the rail yard
experienced spills and releases of oil, diesel fuel, hydrochloric acid, caustic soda, and various
petroleum-related substances. Also, track-cleaning fluids and engine degreasers were used and
disposed of at the site. The site contains several ponds used to stabilize waste and separate
oils and a disposal area, now covered, where rail yard wastes were discarded. In 1986, the
EPA discovered volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the groundwater near the site.
Approximately 41,000 people live in Elkhart; the entire population obtains its drinking water
from groundwater. The Elkhart Water Works serves approximately 41,000 persons living
northeast of the site. The remaining population obtains drinking water from private
residential wells, including people living immediately north and west of the site, many of
which have contaminated wells.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soil at the site contain VOCs. People have been exposed to
contaminated groundwater via their private wells. Filter systems have been
installed in homes with confirmed VOC contamination to eliminate the immediate
health threats. People could be exposed to hazardous substances from the site by
accidentally coming into direct contact with or ingesting contaminated soil.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the entire site and cleanup of the source area of the
contamination.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The EPA began a program to sample the groundwater off
site in 1986. The EPA sampled 88 residential wells and detected various VOCs.
The EPA provided bottled water to residents whose wells were affected. Also, the
EPA installed 76 activated carbon filter units in residences. As part of the immediate action,
the EPA also removed 28 drums containing waste paint from the nearby Martin property in
1987.
Entire Site: The EPA started an investigation of the nature and extent of
contamination at the site in 1988. This study resulted in an Agency decision in
1991 to connect four affected residential areas to the City of Elkhart municipal
water supply system, conduct groundwater monitoring, and install a groundwater extraction,
treatment and disposal system. Design of the cleanup remedies began late in 1992. The
design is scheduled to be finalized in Spring 1994.
Source Area: In 1991, the EPA began further investigation of the source area of
the contamination. The study and a final Record of Decision are scheduled to be
completed in Summer 1994.
Environmental Progress
The immediate actions of providing bottled water, installing carbon filter units, and removing
drums have reduced the potential for exposure to contaminated drinking water and continue
to protect residents near the Conrail Rail Yard (Elkhart) site while cleanup actions are being
planned and investigations are ongoing.
Site Repository
Elkhart Public Library, 300 South 2nd Street, Elkhart, IN 46516
May 1994 CONRAIL RAIL YARD (ELKHART)
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CONTINENTAL
CORPORATION
INDIANA
EPAID# IND001213503
EPA REGION 5
Howard County
Kokomo
Site Description
The Continental Steel Corporation Site is a state-lead, for the remedial work, site funded by
the Superfund program. The site was operated by Continental Steel and its predecessors from
approximately 1914 to 1986, when operations ceased following a filing for bankruptcy by the
company. The plant produced nails, wire, and wire fence from scrap steel at this plant in
Kokomo, Indiana. The site includes the main plant (about 68 acres), a lagoon area (about 53
acres), and a quarry area (about 20 acres) at the present time, and it could be expanded in
the future as additional areas that were used in the operations are investigated. Investigations
of two adjacent creeks has been included in the studies. Currently, the remedial investigation
of the site has been broken up into six operable units: groundwater; lagoon area; Kokomo
and Wildcat Creeks; Maryland Avenue Quarry; main plant; and slag materials. Contamination
due to the presence of various volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
and several metals, including lead, has been found on and near the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
I
The groundwater and surface water contain VOCs and heavy metals including
chromium, cadmium, iron, and manganese. Liquids in the quarry pond and lagoon
contain VOCs and heavy metals including copper, zinc, and mercury. Sludges and
creek sediments contain heavy metals including cadmium, chromium, iron, and
manganese; VOCs; and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Soils are contaminated
with heavy metals, PCBs, phenols, phthalates, and VOCs. PCBs were found in fish
caught in Kokomo and Wildcat Creeks. People could be exposed to contaminants
by coming into direct contact with or accidentally ingesting contaminated
groundwater, soil, sludge, surface water, liquids, or sediments. In addition, eating
contaminated fish from the creeks could pose a health hazard.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In October 1989, the Indiana Department of Environmental
Management (IDEM) began removing and disposing of pickle liquor from the
lagoon area. From 1990 through 1993 U.S. EPA carried out several removal
actions in the quarry and main plant areas. At the Maryland Avenue Quarry, surface drums
and approximately 1100 drums that were in the pond have been removed. In the main plant,
drums and contaminated soils have been addressed and capacitor and transformer oils have
been removed.
Entire Site: The State has taken the lead in conducting a remedial investigation
and a feasibility study for the remediation of the site using Superfund money.
These actions are presently on-going.
Site Facts: Continental Steel Corporation filed for bankruptcy in 1985 and ceased
operations at the site in 1986.
Environmental Progress
The removal of drums and contaminated soil has reduced the potential for exposure to
contaminated materials at the Continental Steel Corporation site while studies are taking
place and final cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, 220 West Union Street, Kokomo, IN 46901
May 1994 CONTINENTAL STEEL CORPORATION
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DOUGLAS
ROAD/UNIRO
LANDFILL
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980607881
EPA REGION 5
St. Joseph County
Mishawaka
Site Description
The 19-acre Douglas Road/Uniroyal, Inc. Landfill site is owned by Uniroyal, Inc. and was
operated between 1954 and 1979. From 1954 to 1971, solvents, fly ash, paper, wood stock,
rubber, and plastic wrap were disposed of at the unlined landfill. After operations ceased, the
landfill was covered with topsoil and seeded. According to the company, some 6,000 barrels of
waste were disposed of at the landfill. The South Bend Water Department operates seven
wells within 3 miles of the site that serve approximately 120,000 people. Approximately 2,100
people live within a one mile radius of the site. Juday Creek is located approximately 2,000
feet from the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/10/86
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with hydrocarbons. Potential health risks include
touching or accidentally ingesting the contaminated groundwater. The site is
secured, reducing the potential for direct access.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
May 1994
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Response Action Status
Entire Site: Uniroyal, Inc. has initiated an investigation to determine the type and
extent of contamination at the landfill and to identify cleanup remedies. The work
was being conducted under the monitoring of the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management (IDEM) until Uniroyal, Inc. filed for bankruptcy in 1992. Field
work by the EPA began in April, 1994 and the FS will be completed in mid to late 1995.
Site Facts: In 1989, the IDEM signed a Consent Order under which Uniroyal, Inc. initiated
an investigation to determine the type and extent of contamination at the site.
In 1992, Uniroyal Inc. filed for bankruptcy and informed the EPA and the IDEM that they
could no longer conduct site investigation activities. The EPA is taking over these activities.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Douglas Road/Uniroyal, Inc.
Landfill while studies take place and cleanup activities are planned.
Site Repository
Mishawaka-Penn Public Library, 209 Lincoln Way East, Mishawaka, IN 46544
St. Joseph County Health Department, County-City Building, 9th Floor,
South Bend, IN 46601
May 1994
DOUGLAS ROAD/UNIROYAL, INC. LANDFILL
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ENVIROCHEM
CORPORATION
INDIANA
EPAID#IND08425£95t
EPA REGION 5
Boone County
10 miles northwest of Indianapolis
Site Description
The 6 1/2-acre Envirochem Corporation site is an inactive facility that processed and
reclaimed solvents from 1977 until 1982, when the State closed the site. Wastes such as
resins, paint sludges, waste oils, and flammable solvents were received in drums and bulk
tankers and were stored on site in drums and storage tanks. On-site accumulation and
unauthorized discharge of contaminated stormwater, poor management of drum inventory,
unapproved burning of chlorinated hydrocarbons and other solvents, and several spills
brought the State and the EPA to investigate the site. The State prohibited further shipment
of waste to the site; however, over 20,000 drums and 400,000 gallons of waste remained on
site. Additionally, contaminated underground and aboveground storage tanks and wastewater
in holding ponds were present. This material was removed in a removal action 1983-84.
Approximately 50 people live within 1 mile of the site. The City of Indianapolis uses the
Eagle Creek Reservoir as its drinking water supply. A rainstorm caused a waste pond to
overflow into an unnamed ditch on site and then to Finley Creek. In 1985, the State noted
that runoff from the site enters the Eagle Creek Reservoir.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
ZE
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy
metals including barium, lead, and nickel. Sediments contain lead. VOCs,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phenols, and phthalates are contaminating the
soils. Surface water contains VOCs. People could be exposed to contaminants by
coming into direct contact with or accidentally ingesting contaminated
groundwater, soil, surface water, or sediments.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1983 and 1984, the EPA and a group of parties
potentially responsible for site contamination performed immediate actions that
included removing and treating waste from on-site storage tanks, removing and
treating 5,650 cubic yards of contaminated soils, and fencing the site. Actions also were taken
to prevent contaminated water from overflowing into surface waters off site. Bulk tanks and
treating water from cooling ponds were removed, in addition to 3,085 drums and 167,000
gallons of liquid waste. The EPA also removed two underground storage tanks, cleaned and
disposed of bulk storage tanks and miscellaneous piping, and placed a clay cap on the surface
of the site. The holding pond was drained and capped, and the water in the pond was sent off
site to an approved facility for treatment. Tanks on site were sampled, and the contents were
tested for compatibility. Tanks with compatible contents were combined and then dried and
cleaned. Sludge from the tanks was put into drums for off-site removal and treatment. Other
underground tanks and pipes were located and recovered. The tanks containing PCBs were
cleaned and rinsed. The transformer was drained and rinsed with fuel oil. The entire site was
then capped and seeded, and drainages were set up to control the water that runs onto the
site when it rains. In 1985, the EPA installed a sump to collect contaminated groundwater.
Entire Site: In 1987, the EPA completed a study of options for addressing
contamination at the site and selected the following cleanup measures: installing a
permanent cap over the site to prevent contaminants in the soil from moving off
site, and installing a system to pump and treat contaminated groundwater. In 1991, the EPA
amended the selected remedy to include soil vapor extraction, rather than groundwater
collection and treatment. This new remedy is expected to reduce the time required
significantly to clean up the site. The site preparation and materials phase of the final cleanup
has been designed and constructed; construction was essentially completed November 30,
1993. The final phase of the cleanup is currently in the design stage.
Site Facts: A Consent Decree was negotiated between the EPA, the State of Indiana, and
254 potentially responsible parties, which included the establishment of a fund to finance the
removal work that the EPA began in 1983. The parties also agreed to perform final cleanup
work at the site. Based on a demonstration pilot study, the potentially responsible parties
entered into a 1991 Consent Decree to use vapor extraction technology to clean up the site.
May 1994 ENVIROCHEM CORPORATION
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Environmental Progress
The removal of tanks, drums, liquid wastes, and contaminated soil, the securing of the site,
and the additional immediate actions described above have reduced the potential for
exposure to hazardous substances at the Envirochem Corporation site while final cleanup
activities are taking place.
Site Repository
Hussey Memorial Library, 225 West Hawthorne, Zionsville, IN 46077
ENVIROCHEM CORPORATION
May 1994
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FISHER-CALO
INDIANA
EPAID# IND0743158961
EPA REGION 5
LaPorte County
1 1/2 miles northeast
of Kingsbury Heights
Other Names:
Fisher-Calo Chemical and Solvents
Site Description
The 250-acre Fisher-Calo site consists of two separate tracts: a 10-acre portion of the site
known as the "One Line Facility" and a 240-acre portion of the site known as the "Two Line
Facility." The site is a former industrial chemical processing and distribution facility. The
facility is located in an area that previously housed the Kingsbury Ordnance Plant, a U.S.
military installation used to manufacture weapons. In the early 1960s, the ordnance plant was
closed, and the land was purchased by a private developer who subdivided the property to
form an industrial park. Sodium hypochlorite was produced and sulfur dioxide, chloride,
ammonia, and various solvents were packaged at the site. For several years, a solvent
reclamation facility that recovered paint and metal cleaning solvents for resale operated at
the site. Cyanide, acids, and metal plating wastes were also accepted from other industries,
stored in metal drums, and stockpiled on the site or dumped on the ground. In 1978, a fire
broke out at the site's solvent reclamation facility, destroying several bulk storage tanks,
trucks, and drums of chemical wastes and solvents. Later that year, buried drums were
discovered on the property. In 1979 and 1980, drums containing chemicals and sludges were
removed from the site. Waste materials, mostly stillbottoms, are stored in drums, tanks, and
containers at the site. Some of the drums are reportedly leaking. The site is fenced, but only
the main gate is guarded. Approximately 3,700 people live within 4 miles of the site. The
nearest public water supply well is 1/2 mile from the site, and the closest residence using
groundwater as a water source is 1 1/2 miles from the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
On-site groundwater and soils are contaminated with volatile organic compounds
(VOCs). On-site soils also contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and
semi-volatiles. The greatest health risk to people is through drinking contaminated
groundwater or touching contaminated soils.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1989, the parties potentially responsible for site
contamination, under EPA monitoring, fenced the site and staged and removed
empty drums. The potentially responsible parties are sampling and disposing of
the drums, tanks, and containers of hazardous waste and the visibly contaminated soil. These
activities are nearly completed.
Entire Site: The EPA conducted an investigation into the nature and extent of
contamination at the site. The remedy selected in 1990 includes several
components. Soil contaminated with PCBs and semi-volatiles will be treated by
excavation and thermal treatment; soil flushing or soil vapor extraction will treat any
VOC-contaminated soils remaining after excavation. Groundwater extraction wells will be
installed from which the groundwater will be pumped and treated with air stripping; treated
groundwater will be reinjected into the aquifer. Asbestos will be assessed and limited asbestos
removal or repair of existing structures is planned. A new water supply will be installed. Soil
gas testing, and installation and upgrading of security fences around the site are also planned.
The design of the selected technologies is underway.
Site Facts: Fisher-Calo entered into a Consent Agreement with the EPA in 1982, agreeing
to conduct quarterly groundwater monitoring at the site to determine whether contaminants
had dissipated to acceptable levels. In 1988, the EPA issued a Unilateral Order to the
potentially responsible parties requiring them to conduct initial cleanup activities at the site.
Environmental Progress
Fencing the site, removing empty drums, and disposing of hazardous waste and contaminated
soils have reduced the potential for exposure to contaminants at the Fisher-Calo site while
cleanup technologies are being designed and cleanup activities are being planned. About 3400
buried drums have been excavated and overpacked for off-site disposal.
Site Repository
La Porte County Public Library, 904 Indiana Avenue, La Porte, IN 46350
May 1994 - FISHER-CALO
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FORT WAYNE
REDUCTION DU
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND9806795
EPA REGION 5
Allen County
Fort Wayne
Site Description
The 35-acre Fort Wayne Reduction Dump site is a former municipal landfill and waste
disposal facility. Before 1967, the site was uncultivated farmland often used for dumping
unknown waste. Between 1967 and 1976, the facility accepted wastes including residential
garbage, sewage, industrial liquid waste, paper, and wood. Wastes were incinerated, and the
residual ash was disposed of on the site. Volatile liquids were dumped from drums into a pit
adjacent to the Maumee River. The site consists of two areas: the 15-acre eastern portion
used as the general refuse landfill, and a 5-acre western section used for the disposal of
industrial wastes, building debris, barrels of unidentified wastes, and residual ash from the
incinerator. In 1970, Fort Wayne Reduction changed its name to National Recycling
Corporation (NRC) and built a recycling plant for processing solid waste. The recycling
stopped in 1975, and the building was torn down in 1985. NRC was acquired by Service
Corporation of America (SCA) in 1973. SCA was denied a municipal refuse permit, and
operations ceased in 1976. Waste Management acquired SCA in 1984. Two residential
communities are located approximately 1/2 mile from the dump. The Maumee River borders
the property, and the site is in the 100-year flood plain. Approximately 1,100 people use
private wells as a source of drinking water. Two areas on the site are designated as wetlands.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy
metals. Heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenols, and VOCs are present in the soil. People who
come into direct contact with or accidentally ingest contaminated groundwater or
soil may be at risk. Contaminants have migrated into the Maumee River through
groundwater discharge.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1988, the EPA selected a remedy to clean up the site by: closing
the eastern portion of the site to prevent erosion and eliminating potential direct
contact threats; monitoring the groundwater as it flows from the site to the
Maumee River; installing a system to collect groundwater between the site and the Maumee
River and treating the groundwater, if necessary; excavating drums (estimated at 4,600) and
incinerating their contents as needed; backfilling the excavated areas; closing the western
portion of the site to prevent erosion and eliminate potential direct contact threats;
constructing a fence around the site; imposing deed restrictions on the use of the land; and
installing erosion mats and planting vegetation to reduce erosion during Maumee River
floods. Waste Management, under EPA monitoring, designed the technical specifications for
the cleanup. Construction of the remedy for the eastern portion was completed in the
summer of 1991.
The design of the cleanup measures for the portion is complete. The drum removal activity
began in February 1993 and was completed in May 1994. Over 27,000 drums were removed.
The construction of the western portion cap will begin in June 1994. The ground water
treatment facility will be brought on-line in June 1994. All construction is scheduled for
completion in the fall of 1994.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Fort Wayne Reduction Dump
site. Cleanup actions in the eastern portion of the site currently are underway, while the
design of the cleanup approach for the western site area is complete.
Site Repository
Allen County Public Library, 900 Webster Street, Forte Wayne, IN 46801
May 1994
FOFIT WAYNE REDUCTION DUMP
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GALEN MYERS
DUMP/DRUM
SALVAGE
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980999635
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
St. Joseph County
Osceola
From 1960 to 1982, drums from local industries were stored and recycled at the 5-acre Galen
Myers Dump/Drum Salvage site. The tops were removed, the contents were dumped into a
pit and driveway, and the drums were sold as trash containers. In 1984, the EPA found many
leaking and deteriorating drums on the site and removed them in 1985. In 1986, the Indiana
Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) found soil and private wells to be
contaminated. Approximately 17,000 people obtain drinking water from wells located within 3
miles of the site. The St. Joseph River is located 1 mile from the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soil are contaminated with various volatile organic compounds
(VOCs). The soil also contains phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and
pesticides. Most area residents use private wells for drinking water. The municipal
water supply is drawn from the same aquifer as the private wells. People who drink
contaminated water or come into direct contact with the water or soils may be at
risk.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
May 1994
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1985, the EPA removed 274 drums of waste and
contaminated soils and transported them to a Federally approved storage facility.
In 1987, the EPA provided filtered water systems to 10 residences. This involved
installing a combination air stripping and carbon filtration system at two residences,
whole-house clean carbon filters at three residences, and point of use filters on taps at eight
residences. In 1992 and 1993, IDEM provided filtered water systems to 15 additional
residences.
Entire Site: In 1991, the State began a study to determine the extent of the
groundwater and soil contamination at the site. Once the study is completed, final
site cleanup measures will be recommended. In January 1994, an action memo was
signed to provide a municipal water supply for the residences affected by the Galen Myers
Site.
Environmental Progress
The removal of contaminated materials and the provision of an alternate source of drinking
water to affected residences have eliminated the potential of exposure to contaminated
drinking water and will continue to protect residents near the Galen Myers Dump/Drum
Salvage site while studies leading to the selection of the final cleanup methods are being
planned.
Site Repository
Not established.
May 1994
GALEN MYERS DUMP/DRUM SALVAGE
-------
HIMCO DUMP
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980500292
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
Elkhart County
Elkhart
The 50-acre Himco Dump site, located in the Town of Elkhart, operated as a dump from
1960 until 1976. During its operation, general refuse and medical, pharmaceutical, and
industrial wastes were disposed of on the site. As waste was brought into the dump, marshy
land was filled in and then covered with sand. The elevation at the center of the site is built
up approximately 15 feet. Along the perimeter of the site, the elevation is 5 feet higher than
the original levels. The disposal practices make it difficult to determine exact locations where
the waste was buried; however, the present topography of the site suggests that waste may
have been deposited over the entire 50 acres. Vegetation on the site appears to have been
affected by the contamination. During a site inspection in 1984, the EPA observed several
leachate streams at various locations, as well as strong sulfate and methane odors. The EPA
also detected several contaminants in monitoring wells downgradient of the site. In 1974, the
State Health Commissioner advised the site operator to drill deep wells to replace six
contaminated shallow residential wells located adjacent to and just south of the site. A 1988
inspection of the site by the Indiana State Board of Health (ISBH) and the Department of
Environmental Management identified disposal areas that were uncovered and exposed to the
environment. Wells within 3 miles of the site serve at least 20,000 people. The closest
residences to the site are located on the southern perimeter. A 200-home mobile home park
is located downgradient of the site, to the south of the landfill. Several small industries, a
residential area, and land used for agricultural purposes are located in the vicinity of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals including selenium and beryllium
and the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) trichloroethylene (TCE) and toluene.
The dump is located over a continuous portion of shallow groundwater that is the
sole source of drinking water for the town of Elkhart. There is a significant
potential for contamination of the aquifer because there is not an adequate
barrier, natural or man-made, to impede leachate flow into the aquifer. The
contamination on the site also could adversely affect future residents and the
nearby wetlands.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In response to complaints of well contamination, the site
operator installed deep wells to replace nearby contaminated residential drinking
water wells. In 1992, an immediate action was undertaken to remove drums and
waste material from a hot spot in the landfill.
Entire Site: In 1989, the EPA began a study to assess the nature and extent of
site contamination and to identify cleanup options. The EPA finished this study in
1993 and selected the remedy for the site in late 1993. The remedy includes
capping the landfill, collection of landfill gas, groundwater monitoring and institutional
controls.
Site Facts: In 1975, the owner of the site signed a Consent Agreement with the Stream
Pollution Control Board of Indiana that resulted in the closure of the site in 1976. Possible
contamination of six residential shallow wells, ranging from 22 to 62 feet deep, was reported
to the Elkhart County Health Department, the ISBH, and the EPA in 1974. In response to
these complaints, the site operator drilled new water wells for these six individuals, and when
these wells were sampled in 1984, they were not found to be contaminated.
Environmental Progress
New wells installed by the site operator for the six residences with contaminated wells has
reduced the potential for exposure to the contaminated groundwater. After listing the Himco
Dump site on the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary evaluations and determined that the
site does not pose an immediate threat to the surrounding community or the environment
while the implementation of the final cleanup remedy for the site is taking place.
Site Repository
Elkhart Public Library, Pierre Moran Branch Library, 2400 Benham Avenue, Elkhart,
IN 46517
May 1994 HIMCO DUMP
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INTERNATIONAL
MINERALS &
CHEMICAL CO
(TERRE HAUTE
EAST PLANT)
INDIANA
EPA ID#INT190010876
EPA REGION 5
Vigo County
Terre Haute
Other Names:
IMC (Terre Haute East Plant)
Site Description
The International Minerals & Chemical Corp. (Terre Haute East Plant) site consists of 6
acres of a 37-acre lot and is located in southeastern Terre Haute, about 2 miles east of the
Wabash River. It is bordered on the east and west by various railroad facilities. From 1946
until 1954, the Commercial Solvents Corporation (CSC) manufactured and stored benzene
hexachloride (BHC), a raw material used in the production of pesticides, at the facility.
Wastes generated from the production of BHC were collected on the site property in a sump
and eventually were disposed of at the Canal Road Dump, located a few miles south of the
property. In 1975, International Minerals and Chemical Corporation (IMC) purchased the
site. Beginning in 1979, IMC collected samples of soils from the East Plant facility and the
Canal Road Dump and analyzed them for the presence of site-related contaminants. IMC
also installed monitoring wells on and around the East Plant property to determine if
contaminants were migrating from the site into the groundwater. The results of these studies
confirmed the presence of BHC in soil samples and in samples collected from two of the
groundwater monitoring wells. The EPA became involved in activities at the site in 1984,
when contamination was detected in some of the monitoring wells. While residential wells
were found to contain varying amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), none of the
samples taken contained BHC. The population of the City of Terre Haute is approximately
61,000. The majority of the residences within the vicinity of the site are connected to the
municipal water supply system; the others depend on private wells for their drinking water
supply. There are approximately 30 nearby residential wells located downgradient of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site was addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Deleted Date: 02/11/91
May 1994
-------
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soils were contaminated with VOCs including low levels of BHC.
Due to the nature of this chemical, it is unlikely that it migrated into the local
water supply system. During sampling, three residential wells were found to contain
chloroform and associated derivatives at or above the maximum contaminant level
for safe drinking water. The removal of the source of contamination resulted in
the reduction of contaminants to within safety levels. Potential health threats
included direct contact with or inhalation of contaminated soils and accidental
ingestion of contaminated groundwater prior to the completion of cleanup
activities.
Cleanup Approach
The site was addressed through immediate actions; further investigations showed that no
other cleanup actions were necessary except for maintenance of existing remedies.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: IMC excavated approximately 18,500 cubic yards of
contaminated soil, rubble, piping, and other debris. The debris was stockpiled in
an on-site mound on the East Plant property. After the completion of this mound,
concentrations of BHC in groundwater declined relatively quickly to within safety levels. The
stockpile was covered with clay, common fill, and loam, then seeded in 1980 to prevent
erosion that could have resulted in exposure to contaminants. This cover included a surface
drainage collection system and venting mechanisms that allow gas to escape from the soil. In
1981, IMC, under State and EPA supervision, installed additional groundwater monitoring
wells uphill and downhill of the stockpile mound. From 1981 to the present, these wells have
been sampled quarterly for the presence of BHC and other contaminants.
Entire Site: Because of the immediate actions conducted by IMC in 1980, a
decision was reached in 1988 by the EPA that no further cleanup action was
necessary at the site. However, the following maintenance activities are being
conducted over a 30-year period: inspecting the existing cover on a quarterly basis;
maintaining the vegetation cover; monitoring BHC in the groundwater semi-annually for 5
years and annually for the next 25 years; annually reporting of monitoring results to the
State; restricting access to the site; and establishing a contingency plan that provides
appropriate cleanup measures to be taken if there is a chance that BHC may be released into
the environment from the site. The parties potentially responsible for site contamination are
conducting the maintenance activities as specified, under EPA monitoring. Both the EPA and
the State of Indiana have determined that all appropriate responses at the site have been
completed and that no further cleanup actions are necessary. The site was deleted from the
NPL in 1991.
May 1994 INTERNATIONAL MINERALS & CHEMICAL
CORP. (TERRE HAUTE EAST PLANT)
-------
Environmental Progress
The party potentially responsible for the site contamination took immediate action to remove
contaminated materials from the site, which eliminated the potential for exposure to
hazardous substances and effectively controlled the movement of contaminants into the
groundwater. The EPA has determined that the site no longer poses a threat to public health
or the environment and has deleted the International Minerals & Chemical Corp. (Terre
Haute East Plant) site from the NPL.
Site Repository
Not established.
INTERNATIONAL MINERALS & CHEMICAL
CORP. CTERRE HAUTE EAST PLANT)
May 1994
-------
LAKELAND DISPO
SERVICE, INC.
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND064703200
EPA REGION 5
Kosciusko County
Claypool
Site Description
Lakeland Disposal Service, Inc. operated a 39-acre sanitary landfill 3 1/2 miles northwest of
Claypool. The landfill was licensed by the Indiana State Board of Health (ISBH) to accept
municipal and certain industrial wastes from specific facilities. Beginning in 1974, general
refuse and hazardous wastes including cyanide and sludges containing paint, hydroxides of
aluminum, and heavy metals were disposed of at the site. In 1978, the Kosciusko County
Circuit Court ordered the landfill closed as a result of improper operations. The same year, a
new owner began subdividing and selling portions of the landfill to mobile home owners. In
1982, the State conducted a methane gas survey at the closed landfill and detected high
concentrations of the gas beside one of the mobile homes. The State filed an injunction
requesting that the residents move from the landfill property. In 1983, the Kosciusko County
Board of Zoning Appeals ordered the residents to move off the landfill site. Currently, no
one resides at the site. Sloan Ditch runs adjacent to the site and flows into Palestine Lake 2
miles away, which is used for recreational activities. There are approximately 1,100 residents
within 2 miles of the site who rely on private wells for their water supply. Claypool's two
municipal wells are within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
m
The groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic, barium, and
cadmium and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including trichloroethene and
vinyl chloride. On-site soils are contaminated with heavy metals. Accidental
ingestion of contaminated water from wells, direct contact with contaminated soil,
and the risk of fire and explosion may pose health threats. The area has several
wetlands, which could be affected by contaminated runoff from the site.
May 1994
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The parties potentially responsible for the site contamination have
begun an investigation to determine the nature and extent of contamination and
to identify alternatives for long-term cleanup of the site. The first phase of the
investigation was completed in early 1991. The second phase, which included installation of
more monitoring wells, wetland delineation, and residential well sampling, was completed in
1992. The cleanup remedy selected in 1993 includes fencing and security to prevent
unauthorized access; deed restrictions; removal and proper disposal of buried waste in a "hot
spot" area and encountered during other excavation work; construction and maintenance of a
landfill cap and gas collection system, subsurface slurry wall to prevent groundwater migration
from the site, extraction and treatment of the groundwater within the slurry wall; a
monitoring program to ensure that the constructed system is operating effectively, and
correction of any deficiencies; and a wetlands assessment with restoration and/or replacement
of wetlands, as necessary.
Site Facts: In 1989, Dana Corporation, General Motors Corporation, United Technologies
Automotive, Inc., and Warsaw Black Oxide, Inc. signed a Consent Order with the EPA, and
conducted the investigation of site contamination.
Environmental Progress
After adding the Lakeland Disposal Service, Inc. site to the NPL, the EPA determined that
the site does not pose an imminent threat to the surrounding community and the
environment while the investigations leading to the selection of final cleanup remedies for the
site are taking place.
Site Repository
Koscuisko County Health Department, 100 West Center Street, 3rd Floor, Room 2,
Warsaw, IN 46580
May 1994 • LAKELAND DISPOSAL SERVICE, INC.
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LAKE SANDY JO
(M & M LANDFILL
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980500524
EPA REGION 5
Lake County
Gary
Site Description
The Lake Sandy Jo (M & M Landfill) site covers 40 acres in Gary. The site was a former
water-filled borrow pit that was used as a landfill between 1971 and 1980. Various wastes,
including construction and demolition debris, garage and industrial wastes, and drums are
believed to be buried on the site. The borrow pit originally was dug to support construction of
1-90/84, which is adjacent to the site. In 1971, groundwater filled the pit, and it was used for a
short time as a recreational lake. From 1971 until 1975, the pit was filled with various debris.
Local residents became concerned over odors from the site and, in 1976, the owners were
ordered to drain the lake and to restrict fill to demolition debris only. Later in 1976, the site
was sold to Glen and Gordon Martin, who continued filling operations without a license until
the site was closed in 1980. Approximately 5,300 people live within 3 miles of the site and
draw water from more than 1,400 wells.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater, sediments, surface water, and soils contain heavy metals such as
arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, and silver; volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including methylene chloride and chloroform; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs);
and the pesticide DDT. The soils also are contaminated with polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, and heavy metals. People who come in direct
contact with or accidentally ingest contaminated groundwater, soil, surface water,
or sediments may be at risk.
May 1994
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the soil and sediments and extension of the water line.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1986, the EPA installed a 6-foot chain-link fence to
restrict access to the site. An existing 4-foot fence on the swampy southern side
of the site was deemed a sufficient barrier to complete the enclosure. Several
days after the installation, vandals stole 100 feet of the fence. To discourage future
vandalism, the fence was painted with fluorescent paint, reducing its resale value.
Soil and Sediments: Following the selection of cleanup activities in 1986, the
EPA has: consolidated all contaminated soil and sediments; installed additional
monitoring wells; and covered the site with clean soil and reseeded. These actions
were completed in 1990. A groundwater and surface water monitoring program, deed
restrictions on the use of the land, and institutional controls on the use of the aquifer are
expected to be in effect in 1992.
Water Line: Based on the 1986 decision on site cleanup, the EPA is extending a
water line to residences affected by the site. The main water line is constructed,
however the 40 to 45 residences have not been connected to the water system nor
has the system been transferred to the local utility. These activities were completed in 1993.
Environmental Progress
The installation of a security fence around the site and a cover over the site has reduced
threats posed by the Lake Sandy Jo (M & M Landfill) site to the surrounding community and
the environment while final cleanup activities are being completed.
Site Repository
Gary Public Library, 220 West 5th Avenue, Gary, IN 46402
May 1994 LAKE SANDY JO
(M & M LANDFILL)
-------
LEMON LANE
LANDFILL
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980794341
EPA REGION 5
Monroe County
Bloomington
Site Description
The Lemon Lane Landfill site is located on the western edge of the City of Bloomington.
The site encompasses 10 acres, 3 of which are owned by a private citizen. From 1950 to 1964,
the landfill, which had no liner or runoff controls, accepted both municipal and industrial
wastes. Allegedly, wastes were burned on site. No records were kept of the types or quantities
of wastes received. Of primary concern were large quantities of exposed and leaking
capacitors containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Since 1980, the State of Indiana and
the EPA sampled the area several times. No PCBs were detected in nearby residential wells
at the time, nor were any surface discharges observed. However, the geology of the area
suggests that groundwater contamination is possible. Westinghouse Electric Corporation, the
party potentially responsible for contamination at the site, is obligated to perform the cleanup
of Lemon Lane Landfill, as well as other NPL sites, including one authorized landfill, and an
inactive, City-owned wastewater treatment plant in the Bloomington area (Neal's Landfill,
Neal's Dump, Bennett Stone Quarry, the Anderson Road Landfill, and the Winston-Thomas
Treatment Plant). Under the terms of a 1985 Consent Decree, Westinghouse is required to
construct and operate an incinerator to treat the landfill contents. Currently the parties to
the Consent Decree are exploring alternative remedies to the incinerator.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL USTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
The principal threats from the site is contamination of groundwater which some
residents use as a drinking water supply. In addition, several local springs have
been contaminated with low levels of PCBs as a result of contaminant migration
from the site. Capping the landfill has reduced the possibility for contaminants to
reach the groundwater.
May 1994
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1983, the EPA constructed a fence around the site to
prevent access to the area. The EPA also removed exposed PCB capacitors,
graded and covered the southern slopes of the site, regraded and contoured the
land to prevent ponding or erosion, and capped the site. In 1988 and 1989, trace studies of
the groundwater system around the landfill were conducted to determine the hydrologic
connection of springs to the site and to better define the groundwater system. On the basis of
this study, the EPA concluded that effects on the local groundwater wells are minimal.
Entire Site: An alternate water supply was provided to a resident whose wells
showed signs of contamination. One nearby residence was connected to the city
water supply in 1988, after the dye trace study determined that its well water
supply was contaminated. A synthetic cap was placed on the landfill in 1988. In 1990,
Westinghouse concluded high-flow dye trace studies of the flow and presence of
contaminated groundwater. Under the provisions of a 1985 Consent Decree, Westinghouse is
obligated to perform the following activities: excavation of approximately 176,000 cubic yards
of soil and material from the landfill to a pre-Westinghouse depth plus 3 feet of buffer zone;
incineration of excavated materials in an approved facility; and periodic groundwater
monitoring. Currently, the Consent Decree parties are exploring alternative remedies to
incineration.
Environmental Progress
By constructing a fence to restrict site access, removing the PCB capacitors, and grading and
installing a synthetic liner cap over the site to limit movement of contaminants from the
property, the potential for exposure to hazardous materials at the Lemon Lane Landfill site
has been reduced pending final cleanup activities.
Site Repository
Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47491
May 1994 LEMON LANE LANDFILL
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MAIN STREET WE
FIELD
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980794358
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
Elkhart County
Elkhart
Other Names:
•Ikhart Main Street Wellfield
The Main Street Well Field site consists of 15 wells on 10 acres of land in Elkhart. This well
field is the largest of three municipal well fields and supplies about 70 percent of the drinking
water for 40,000 residents of Elkhart. In 1981, during an EPA National Groundwater Supply
Survey, the well field was found to be contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The EPA resampled water from the well field a month later and discovered elevated
concentrations of VOCs in the water used for consumption and in three production wells.
Monitoring wells were installed by the City, and sampling indicated that two industries on the
eastern boundary of the well field were potential sources of groundwater contamination. In
1982, the City installed two interceptor wells to help prevent further migration of the
contaminant plume. At first the contaminant levels decreased, but between 1983 and 1985,
they gradually increased.
Site Responsibility: The site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soils contain VOCs including trichloroethylene (TCE).
Individuals who come in direct contact with or accidentally ingest contaminated
groundwater or soil may be at risk.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in four stages: immediate actions and three long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the groundwater, the aquifer, and the soil.
May 1994
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1987, the EPA provided drinking water to approximately
300 residents and extended the water main to six businesses, a church, and 293
homes. Carbon filters were installed in 11 homes.
Groundwater: In 1985, the EPA selected a remedy to provide a potable water
supply by constructing air stripping facilities to remove the contaminated flow from
the Main Street Well Field. Contaminated water is pumped from the aquifer,
treated, and discharged to the existing water treatment plant and distribution system. The
EPA completed all actions involving the installation of the air stripper in 1987.
Aquifer: Based on the results of an investigation of the contaminated aquifer,
the EPA has selected the following remedies: vacuum extraction of VOCs in the
contaminated soil; removal and disposal of contaminants; installation of new well
interceptors to prevent continued plume migration; continued use of the air stripper and
groundwater monitoring, as well as imposing deed restrictions to limit future uses of the site.
Technical designs were approved September 1993.
Soil: The EPA will conduct an investigation into the type and extent of remaining
soil contamination from the multiple sources contributing to the well field
contamination. Once the investigation is completed, the most appropriate methods
for soil cleanup, if needed, will be recommended.
Environmental Progress
A potable water supply has been provided to the communities served by the Main Street Well
Field, thereby reducing the potential for exposure to contaminated groundwater. Further
investigations will be conducted to determine the sources of soil contamination while the
selected remedies are being designed to address contamination of the underlying aquifer.
Site Repository
Elkhart Public Library, 300 South 2nd Street, Elkhart, IN 46516
May 1994 MAIN STREET WELL FIELD
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MARION (BRAGG)
DUMP
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980794366
EPA REGION 5
Grant County
Marion
Site Description
The Marion (Bragg) Dump site covers 72 acres and is located on Central Avenue, just
outside Marion. The area is relatively flat, with the Mississinewa River bordering the site on
the east and the north. The landfill was formerly a gravel pit. The land was leased for the
disposal of various wastes by the Radio Corporation of America and the Bragg Construction
Company, which was closed in 1975. That year a transfer station was opened at the site by
Waste Reduction Systems, which closed in 1977. The dump contains approximately 1,100,000
cubic yards of wastes, some of which are hazardous, including solvents, plasticizers, lead, and
cadmium. Residents in the area depend on groundwater from private and municipal wells for
their water supply. A 15-acre pond in the middle of the landfill is connected to the upper
aquifer. Some of the northern portion of the site is within the 100-year flood plain of the
Mississinewa River.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including benzene and trichloroethene. The soil is contaminated with polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and arsenic. Those who come in direct contact with
or accidentally ingest contaminated groundwater or soil may be at risk, although
the wells in the immediate area, which draw on the aquifer, have not been found
to contain contaminants.
May 1994
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase directed at cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1987, the EPA selected the following remedies for the site:
regrading and capping the site to promote runoff, reduce infiltration, eliminate
leachate seepage, and prevent direct contact with surface soils and exposed waste;
providing and maintaining flood control measures to protect the portions of the site in the
flood plain; constructing and maintaining a fence around the site; replacing private drinking
water wells in the deep aquifer for users within a specified boundary; sealing shallow wells;
conducting supplemental studies to complete investigations of the groundwater and pond; and
operating and maintaining the remedies at the site. Some of the potentially responsible
parties installed a fence around the site, drilled new monitoring wells, and completed capping
the site. The supplemental studies of the groundwater and the adjacent surface waters are
on-going. Within about a year it is expected that a decision will be made concerning any need
to address the groundwater at the site.
Environmental Progress
By constructing a fence around the site and a cap over the site, the potential for exposure to
hazardous materials from the Marion (Bragg) Dump site has been reduced. Studies of the
groundwater and the surface water are on-going.
Site Repository
Marion Public Library, 600 South Washington Street, Marion, IN 46953.
May 1994 MARION (BRAGG) DUMP
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MIDCO I
INDIANA
EPA ID#IND980615421
EPA REGION 5
Lake County
Gary
Other Names:
Midwest Solvents Recovery
Site Description
The Midwest Solvent Recovery Company (MIDCO) I site is a 4-acre, abandoned industrial
waste recycling, storage, and disposal facility in Gary. Recycling, storing, and disposing of
industrial wastes began at the site some time before 1973. In 1973, approximately 6,000 to
7,000 drums were observed on the site. Later, four bulk tanks, each with a capacity of 4,000
to 10,000 gallons, were found on the site. In 1976, a fire burned approximately 14,000 drums
of chemical waste. Operations resumed in 1977 under new management, but by 1979, the
facility was abandoned, leaving an estimated 14,000 drums stockpiled on site. In 1981, severe
flooding caused water in the area to drain into a neighboring city to the west; contact with
the flood water reportedly resulted in skin burns. Following a fire in 1976, MIDCO I moved
to a new location, known as MIDCO II, which also is on the NPL. Residential neighborhoods
are near the site, with one resident living as close as 900 feet from the site. Twelve drinking
water wells have been identified in the Calumet Aquifer, within approximately a mile from
the site, in the downgradient groundwater flow direction. The Calumet Aquifer is highly
susceptible to contamination from surface sources. The area surrounding the site is mixed
light industrial, commercial, and residential, and contains wetlands.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
May 1994
-------
Threats and Contaminants
ZIAJ
Groundwater contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including
trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride, benzene, methylene chloride; semi-volatile
compounds; metals; and cyanide. Sediments and soils are contaminated with
VOCs, semi-volatiles, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), metals, cyanide, and
chlordane, a pesticide. VOCs, chromium, lead, cadmium, and cyanide were
detected in surface waters northeast of the site. Contaminants in the soil are
leaching into the groundwater. The contaminated groundwater in turn is migrating
off site and eventually may affect downgradient drinking water wells. People who
come in direct contact with or accidentally ingest contaminated groundwater,
surface water, sediments, or soil may be at risk. The contamination may also be
adversely affecting wildlife and plants in or around the wetlands. High sodium
chloride in the ground water make it unacceptable for a surface water discharge
even if treated to remove the hazardous substances.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: A security fence was installed around the site in 1981. In
1982, to address the immediate threats to the public, the EPA removed extensive
surface wastes, an underground tank, drums, and the top 1 foot of contaminated
soil. Much of the site was then covered with a temporary clay cover.
Entire Site: To address the contaminated subsurface soil, sediment, and
groundwater, the EPA selected the following cleanup actions in 1989: treatment
of approximately 12,400 cubic yards of contaminated soil and subsurface materials
using a combination of soil vapor extraction and solidification/stabilization, followed by on-site
disposal; excavation and on-site solidification/stabilization of approximately 1,200 cubic yards
of contaminated sediment from surrounding wetlands; installation of a final site cover;
installation and operation of a treatment system to remove hazardous substances from the
contaminated groundwater, followed by deep well injection of the salt-contaminated water, or
installation and operation of a treatment system, followed by reinjection of the
salt-contaminated groundwater into the Calumet Aquifer in a manner that will prevent
spreading of the salt plume; groundwater monitoring; and implementation of deed and access
restrictions. In 1992, the EPA approved an amendment to the selected remedies. The
amendment proposed a change in the method for determining how much soil will be treated.
As a result of the amendment, it is estimated that 7,800 cubic yards of soil will be treated.
The amendment also further defined the criteria for treatment prior to deep well injection,
the performance criteria for soil treatment, and other requirements. A group of PRPs have
agreed to implement the final remedy. The design of the ground water extraction, treatment
and deep well injection system is nearing completion, with construction expected to be
May 1994 MIDCO I
-------
initiated during the summer of 1994. Sediment excavation and installation of the deep well
was conducted during the summer and fall of 1993.
Site Facts: In June 1985, a group of potentially responsible parties agreed to reimburse the
EPA for past cleanup action costs and to perform the site investigation. This Consent Decree
became effective in August 1985. The EPA issued an Administrative Order in 1989,
instructing the potentially responsible parties to conduct the remaining site cleanup, when the
PRPs did not agree to implement the final remedy without conditions that were unacceptable
to EPA. Subsequently, EPA reached a global settlement with PRPs for the PRPs to
implement the final remedy and for cost recovery. The Consent Decree for this settlement
was entered in court on June 23, 1992.
Environmental Progress
The removal of the contaminated materials and soils from the site and the installation of a
fence and a temporary cover have reduced the threat of exposure to hazardous materials
while cleanup actions for the MIDCO I site are being designed.
Site Repository
Gary Public Library, 220 West 5th Avenue, Gary, IN 46402
MIDCO I
May 1994
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MIDCO II
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980679559
EPA REGION 5
Lake County
Gary
Other Names:
Midwest Industrial Waste Disposal
Company
Site Description
The Midwest Industrial Waste Disposal Company (MIDCO) II site is an abandoned,
industrial waste recycling/disposal facility covering 7 acres in Gary. The operators of the
MIDCO I facility, another NPL site, relocated to the MIDCO II location after a fire in 1976.
Operations at MIDCO II began in 1976 and included temporary bulk liquid and drum storage
of waste and recyclable materials, neutralization of acids and caustics, and on-site dumping of
waste into pits, which allowed wastes to percolate into the groundwater. One of these pits
had an overflow pipe leading into a ditch that drains into the Grand Calumet River. In 1977,
a fire at MIDCO n destroyed equipment, buildings, and an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 drums.
The site was abandoned after the fire. Burned-out drums, drums containing chemical wastes,
12 aboveground tanks with 10,000-gallon capacity, and one underground tank were
abandoned on the site. Approximately 479,000 people live within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
Contaminants affecting the groundwater include volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) such as methylene chloride, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene
(TCE); other organics including isoporone; cyanide; and arsenic, lead, and other
heavy metals. The groundwater also is so highly contaminated with sodium and
potassium chloride that it is unacceptable for a surface water discharge even if
treated to remove hazardous substances. Sediments and soils are contaminated
with similar substances and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Potential health risks
exist for individuals include accidentally ingesting or coming into direct contact with
the contaminated soil, sediment, or groundwater. Migration of contaminants
through the groundwater may threaten the off-site aquifer and downstream wetlands.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: From 1984 to 1989, the EPA repaired and extended the
site fence; sampled and removed all the remaining drums, tanks, and debris from
the site's surface; and excavated the sludge pits and filter pit contents. The
resulting PCB-contaminated pile was removed and disposed of in an off-site hazardous waste
landfill in early 1986. Most of the cyanide-contaminated pile also was removed.
Entire Site: The major components of the remedies selected by the EPA in 1989
are: on-site treatment of an estimated 35,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and
waste material by solidification/stabilization, with the solidified material
remaining on site; excavation and on-site solidification/stabilization of approximately 500 cubic
yards of contaminated sediments in the ditch adjacent to the northeastern boundary of the
site; installation and operation of a groundwater pump and treat system to intercept and treat
contaminated groundwater; installation and operation of injection wells for disposal of the
treated water; installation of a conduit in the ditch along the site and a final site cover;
restriction of site access and imposition of deed restrictions as appropriate; and related testing
and long-term monitoring. In 1992, the EPA approved an amendment to the selected
remedies. The amendment proposed a change in the method for determining how much soil
will be treated. As a result of the amendment, it is estimated that 18,300 cubic yards of
contaminated sediment will be treated. The amendment also further defined the criteria for
treatment prior to deep well injection, the performance criteria for soil treatment, and other
requirements. A group of PRPs have agreed to implement the final remedy. The design of
the ground water extraction, treatment and deep well injection system is nearing completion,
with construction expected to be initiated during the summer of 1994. Some sediment
excavation and installation of the deep well was conducted during the summer and fall of
1993.
Site Facts: In June 1985, a group of potentially responsible parties agreed to reimburse the
EPA for past cleanup action costs and to perform the site investigation. This Consent Decree
became effective in August 1985. In December 1989, the EPA issued an Administrative
Order to the parties to perform the cleanup actions at the MIDCO I and II sites, when the
PRPs did not agree to implement the remedy without conditions that were unacceptable to
EPA. Subsequently, EPA reached a global settlement with the PRPs for the PRPs to
implement the final remedy and for cost recovery. The Consent Decree for this settlement
was entered in court on June 23, 1992.
May 1994 MIDCO
-------
Environmental Progress
By fencing the MIDCO II site and removing drums, tanks, and debris, the EPA has reduced
the potential for exposure to hazardous materials while the technical specifications for the
remedies selected for final site cleanup are being prepared by the EPA.
Site Repository
Gary Public Library, 220 West 5th Avenue, Gary, IN 46402
MIDCO II
May 1994
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MEAL'S DUMP
(SPENCER)
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980794549
EPA REGION 5
Owen County
Spencer
Site Description
The Neal's Dump site covers approximately 1/2 acre in Spencer. The dump operated from
1966 until 1971, when it was closed. During its operation, the owner accepted electrical
capacitors, oil-stained rags, and sawdust from the Westinghouse facility nearby. The
Westinghouse Electric Corporation ("Westinghouse"), the party potentially responsible for the
contamination at the site, is responsible for the clean up of Neal's Dump, as well as three
other NPL sites, an inactive city-owned wastewater treatment plant, and an authorized
landfill in the Bloomington area. These sites are: Neal's Landfill, Lemon Lane Landfill,
Bennett Stone Quarry, Winston-Thomas Treatment Plant, and Anderson Road Landfill.
Under the provisions of a 1985 Consent Decree, Westinghouse is obligated to construct an
incinerator, to destroy PCBs from the site, and that will comply with all applicable local,
State, and Federal laws. Currently, the parties to the Consent Decree are exploring
alternative remedies for cleanup of the site. Approximately 175 people live within 1 mile of
the site, and 954 people live within 3 miles. Forty-nine wells are located within a mile of the
site. Located adjacent to the site are natural springs, a stream, and the White River.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
The principal threat posed by the site is through drinking water contaminated with
PCBs. On-site monitoring wells show PCB concentrations at and above health
advisory levels, however, testing of residential monitoring wells has not indicated
the presence of PCBs.
May 1994
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1983, under the EPA's monitoring, the parties
potentially responsible for the contamination installed a soil cap, installed
monitoring wells, constructed a security fence, and a surface drainage control
Entire Site: Under the provisions of a 1985 Consent Decree, the Westinghouse
Electric Corporation, is obligated to perform the following cleanup actions:
excavate all contaminated materials plus a 2-foot buffer zone; incinerate
excavated materials in an approved facility; and monitor groundwater. In the summer of 1991,
permit applications were submitted for constructing the incinerator and for landfilling its
waste by-product ash. Currently, the parties to the Consent Decree are exploring alternatives
to the incinerator required by the Consent Decree.
Environmental Progress
By constructing a security fence, capping the site, and installing a drainage control system, the
parties potentially responsible for site contamination have reduced the potential for exposure
to hazardous materials at the Neal's Dump site pending final cleanup actions.
Site Repository
Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47491
May 1994 NEAL'S DUMP (SPENCER)
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MEAL'S LANDFIL
(BLOOMINGTON
INDIANA
EPAID# IND980614556
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
Monroe County
Bloomington
The Neal's Landfill (Bloomington) site covers approximately 18 acres in Bloomington. The
site was used as an industrial and municipal waste landfill from 1950 to 1972. The main fill
area measures about 300 yards. Later, the landfill was used as a pasture for beef cattle. A
number of springs surface near the site and flow to Richland Creek, a tributary of the White
River. In 1966 and 1967, capacitors and arresters containing polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), as well as PCB-contaminated capacitor insulation material, rags, and filter clay, were
disposed of at the landfill. Capacitors and other contaminated materials are visible on the
surface. PCBs have been found in surface soils in the northeast portion of the landfill, the
springs near the site, and the sediments of Richard Creek. The Westinghouse Electric
Corporation, the party potentially responsible for the contamination at the site, is treating
Neal's Landfill (Bloomington) site, as well as three other NPL sites, an inactive City-owned
wastewater treatment plant, and an authorized landfill in the Bloomington area. These areas
are Neal's Dump, Lemon Lane Landfill, Bennett's Dump, Winston-Thomas Treatment Plant,
and Anderson Road Landfill. Approximately 121 people live within a mile of the site, and
about 1,085 people live within 3 miles of the site. Conard's Branch and Richland Creek are
nearby. In 1983, surface capacitors from the site were removed, a clay cap and erosion
controls were installed, and a site security fence was erected. In 1989, a springwater
treatment plant near the site became operational and currently treats contaminated
springwater near the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/22/81
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
The principal threats posed by the site are from potentially contaminated
groundwater. Residents in the vicinity of the site use groundwater wells for
drinking water. In addition, springwater which bypasses the treatment plant during
rainfall can contaminate the surface waters of Conards Branch and Richland
May 1994
-------
Creek. Fish from Richland Creek which become contaminated may pose a risk to
anglers.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Under the EPA's monitoring, the parties potentially
responsible for the contamination installed a cap, erosion control fences, a
security fence, and drainage control trenches. Warning signs have been posted
along Conard's Branch and Richland Creek. A sediment collection system also was installed
at Conard's Branch. Westinghouse removed PCB-contaminated sediments from Richland
Creek and Conard's Branch in late 1989. A treatment plant has been constructed by
Westinghouse to treat spring water discharge from Neal's Landfill.
Entire Site: In 1988, Westinghouse began a cleanup program, including:
excavating all 4,060 tons of sediment from Conard's Branch; storing excavated
materials in an approved facility until an approved incinerator and by-product
disposal area are developed; operating a carbon treatment system for spring water discharges;
and monitoring the groundwater. Westinghouse conducted a dye trace study to investigate
groundwater flow patterns from Neal's Landfill. Groundwater monitoring occurs on a
quarterly basis for on-site wells. Dye trace testing began in April 1992 and sampling was
completed in June 1992. Removal of sediments from mouths of springs is ongoing. Under the
provisions of a 1985 Consent Decree, Westinghouse is required to construct an incinerator to
treat the landfill contents. Currently, the parties to the Consent Decree are exploring
alternative remedies to the required incinerator.
Environmental Progress
Immediate actions including capping and fencing the landfill and long-term activities including
excavating sediment, treating the spring water, and groundwater monitoring have reduced the
potential for exposure to hazardous materials at the Neal's Landfill (Bloomington) site while
final cleanup actions are pending.
May 1994 NEAL'S LANDFILL (BLOOMINGTON)
-------
Site Repository
Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave., Bloomington, IN 47491
May 1994
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NINTH AVENUE
DUMP
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980794432
EPA REGION 5
Lake County
Gary
Site Description
Ninth Avenue Dump is an inactive chemical and industrial waste disposal site located in Gary,
Indiana. It is approximately a seventeen acre parcel in an area of mixed industrial,
commercial, and residential use. The site is located in a low-lying area with poor drainage.
Hazardous waste disposal occurred at the site from the early to mid-1970s, with some filling,
believed to have been associated with some cleanup activities, continuing until 1980. The site
operator accepted dry industrial, construction, and demolition wastes, such as ashes, broken
concrete, bricks, trees, wood, tires, cardboard, paper, and car batteries. The site also received
liquid industrial wastes, including oil, paint solvents, and sludges, resins, acids, and other
chemical wastes. In 1975, the Indiana State Board of Health (ISBH) inspected the site and
documented the existence of drums at the surface and found evidence that liquid wastes had
been dumped at the site. In 1975 and 1980, the site operator was ordered by ISBH and U.S.
EPA, respectively, to initiate surface cleanups. In 1983, a Partial Consent Judgement was
signed by U.S. EPA and the site operator that required the operator to evaluate surface and
subsurface conditions and submit a plan for remedial action. Around this time, the operator
removed drums, tank cars, and some contaminated soils from the site. In early 1985, U.S.
EPA took over from the operator the performance of the remedial investigation and
feasibility study. The Ninth Avenue Dump site lies a few hundred feet north of the Midco I
NPL site and is north of an Indiana Department of Highways maintenance facility that
formerly had an outdoor salt storage pile. It is across the street from the H & H Enterprises
site where a large fire occurred in 1993 and which is being addressed by the removal
program. There is a residential area on the other side of Cline Avenue which lies
approximately 1/8 mile to the west. The site is adjacent to several ponds and a wetland area.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
May 1994
-------
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including
benzene, toluene, and xylenes; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); and
heavy metals including nickel and silver. On-site groundwater contains a
hydrocarbon layer containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, VOCs,
and PAHs. PAHs, toluene, cadmium, and lead were detected in off-site surface
soil. On-site sediment samples contained PAHs and PCBs. Accidental ingestion of
contaminated groundwater, surface water, soil, or sediments may present health
risks. Groundwater monitoring at the nearest active private drinking well did not
detect any site-related contaminants./The site is currently fenced and, while work is
ongoing, there is a guard present continuously.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: Interim site remedy and final site remedy.
Response Action Status
Interim Site Remedy: This remedy, the subject of a September 1988 Record of
Decision (ROD) and an October 1991 Explanation of Significant Differences
(ESD), has resulted in the installation of a soil/bentonite slurry wall around most
of the contamination at the site. Also, part of this remedy has been the installation and
operation of an oil/groundwater extraction system, groundwater treatment system,
groundwater recharge system, and oil storage tanks. The purpose of this part of the remedy
has been to remove the extractable part of the oil layer, which has been stored temporarily at
the site and then sent to an off-site incinerator. A surface water removal and treatment
system, with discharge to the Grand Calumet River under a NPDES (National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System) permit, has also been installed and operated to control the
amount of water ati the site.
Final Site Remedy: This remedy, the subject of a June 1989 ROD, was to
include the excavation and thermal treatment of oil-contaminated waste and fill
down to the native sand, estimated to involve about 36,000 yd , capping the site
after the treatment residuals were placed in the excavated area, extraction, treatment, and
reinjection of groundwater within the slurry wall, and disposal of a small quantity of treated
groundwater outside the slurry wall to control the amount of water within the slurry wall. As
the result of further studies at the site, in Spring 1994 a Proposed Plan for a ROD
Amendment has been issued to change this remedy, deleting the excavation and thermal
treatment and the soil flushing and adding soil vapor extraction for the area inside the slurry
wall.
May 1994 NINTH AVENUE DUMP
-------
Site Facts: The interim and final site remedies are being done by a group of potentially
responsible parties as the result of two unilateral administrative orders, one issued in
December 1988 and the other issued in August 1989.
Environmental Progress
By removing the most heavily contaminated materials; fencing in the site; and posting a guard
at the entrance 24 hours a day to restrict access, the potential for exposure to hazardous
materials on the Ninth Avenue Dump site has been reduced while final cleanup actions are
being designed and completed.
Site Repository
Gary Public Library, 220 West 5th Avenue, Gary, IN 46402
NINTH AVENUE DUMP
May 1994
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NORTHSIDE SAN
LANDFILL, INC.
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND050530872
EPA REGION 5
Boone County
Zionsville
Site Description
The Northside Sanitary Landfill (NSL) covers approximately 70 acres of a 170-acre parcel of
land. The site is located in Union Township, about 10 miles northwest of Indianapolis. At
least 16 million gallons of hazardous wastes have been deposited in the landfill. The NSL
opened in the 1950s as an open dump and was licensed by the State in 1971 to accept
hazardous wastes. From 1972 to 1973, numerous operating deficiencies, including the failure
to cover refuse, surface burning, underground fires, leachate, and vermin problems resulted in
orders from the Indiana State Board of Health (ISBH) to cease operations. In 1982, the
owner, at the direction of the ISBH, installed a leachate collection system and three
submerged leachate collection tanks on the western side of the site. After the owner removed
400,000 gallons of leachate from the three tanks and disposed of it by spraying it on the
landfill, the Indiana Division of Land Pollution Control advised the owner that leachate
would have to be solidified prior to disposal. By early 1983, the State Environmental
Management Board issued a notice of violation and ordered the owner to stop accepting
hazardous waste. A small residential community, Northfield, is located to the north of the
site. Approximately 50 residences are located within a mile of the site, and 1,750 residences
within 3 miles of the site use wells for drinking water. An unnamed ditch runs along the
western edge of the landfill and joins Finley Creek. Finley Creek flows into Eagle Creek
about 1/2 mile downstream from the site. Eagle Creek flows south for 10 miles before it
empties into Eagle Creek Reservoir,
which supplies approximately 6 percent of the drinking water for the City of Indianapolis.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/08/83
Final Date: 09/21/84
May 1994
-------
Threats and Contaminants
ZEJ
Groundwater, soils, surface water, and sediments are contaminated with pesticides,
acids, oils, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene and
trichloroethylene (TCE). Potential health risks exist from accidental ingestion of
contaminated soils and sediments. Drinking contaminated groundwater also may
pose health risks, as may the consumption of fish from Finley Creek that have
bioaccumulated contaminants in their tissues. Contamination in the creek may
harm wildlife in or around the water.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1987, the EPA selected the following remedy to address the
contamination at the site: deed and access restrictions to prevent further
development of the site; installation of a multi-layer cap over the site; re-routing
of surface waters to reduce the potential for contamination migration; leachate collection and
treatment; groundwater collection and treatment; and monitoring to ensure treatment
effectiveness. Once the design activities are completed, final cleanup will begin. A 1991
amendment to the remedy selected for Northside Sanitary Landfill called for a pipeline to be
constructed to the Indianapolis publicly owned treatment works.
Site Facts: The EPA has reached an agreement with the potentially responsible parties to
assume responsibility for the cleanup action. The Northside Sanitary Landfill Site is located
near the Envirochem Corporation, another site on the NPL.
Environmental Progress
After adding the Northside Sanitary Landfill, Inc. site to the NPL, the EPA performed
preliminary investigations and determined that the site does not pose an imminent threat to
the surrounding communities or the environment while final cleanup remedies are being
planned.
May 1994 NORTHSIDE SANITARY LANDFILL, INC.
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Site Repository
Hussey Memorial Library, 225 West Hawthorne, Zionsville, IN 46077
NORTHSIDE SANITARY LANDFILL, INC.
May 1994
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POER FARM
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980684583
EPA REGION 5
Hancock County
3 miles north of Wilkinson, 5 miles
southeast of Knightstown
Other Names:
Norman Poer Farm
Site Description
Poer Farm is a 5-acre site located on a small hill between two streams and along East County
Road about 3 miles north of Wilkinson. The site is an abandoned tract of land with a house
and barn that have collapsed and have been vandalized. The surrounding area is open
farmland that supports crops of soybeans and corn. The site consists of three separate areas
where Norman Poer and Michael Coleman received and stored about 275 drums of solvents
and paint resins from 1973 until 1983. The owners planned to blend these materials into
low-quality paint for bridges and barns. They abandoned the project and left the 55-gallon
drums on the site. The EPA inspected the site and found that the drums were leaking, and
vegetation surrounding the area was damaged. The EPA analyzed the drums and soils
underneath them and found volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals.
Agricultural lands completely surround the Poer Farm site, and the nearest residence is
approximately 650 feet to the north. Approximately 500 people live 3 miles north of the site
in Wilkinson, and approximately 2,300 people live 5 miles away in Knightstown.
Site Responsibility: This site was addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/08/83
Final Date: 10/21/84
Deleted Date: 02/11/91
Threats and Contaminants
Soils on site contained VOCs including toluene, xylene, and ethyl benzene and
heavy metals such as cadmium, arsenic, and lead. The EPA sampled the entire site
following emergency actions and found no significant levels of contamination that
could pose a threat to the environment. Therefore, people near the site are not at
risk from exposure to hazardous chemicals.
May 1994
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site was addressed through emergency actions; further investigations showed that no
other cleanup actions were required.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: In 1983, the EPA removed all wastes and 6 to 8 inches of
soils from the drum storage areas on site. All solid and liquid wastes from the
drums were properly disposed of at EPA-regulated landfills. The well on site was
sampled, and results showed that the levels of arsenic, cadmium, and lead were at or below
the State and Federal standards for drinking water. The site was fenced, and signs to warn
the public of contaminants were posted.
Entire Site: The EPA completed a study of the nature and extent of
contamination at the site in 1985. The party potentially responsible for
contamination at the site completed a second study in 1988, under the EPA's
monitoring. The purpose of the second study was to determine if the immediate cleanup
actions at the site were effective and to ensure that no significant contamination remained at
the site that could threaten the health of people around it. Based on the results of the
second study, the EPA determined that no further action is needed at the Poer Farm site and
deleted the site from the NPL on February 11, 1991.
Site Facts: In 1985, a potentially responsible party signed a Consent Order with the EPA
and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, under which the party agreed to
reimburse the EPA for past response action costs and to carry out the study of the nature
and extent of contamination at the site.
Environmental Progress
The removal and disposal of hazardous waste and contaminated soils from the Poer Farm site
have eliminated the threat to human health and the surrounding environment. The EPA, in
conjunction with the State of Indiana, has deleted the Poer Farm site from the NPL.
Site Repository
Not established.
May 1994 POER FARM
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PRESTOLITE
DIVISION
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND006377048
EPA REGION 5
Knox County
Northeast of Vincennes
Other Names:
Ettra Corporation -
Prestolite Battery Division
Site Description
The 17 1/2-acre Prestolite Battery Division site is an inactive facility that manufactured
lead-acid batteries. The Autolite Battery Corporation set up the plant in 1945. Several
companies owned and operated the facility until Allied Chemical Company, the latest owner
of the site, ceased operations and closed the plant in 1985. Allied received a permit allowing
it to temporarily operate the site, but decided to close it before obtaining a long-term
operating permit for the plant. Wastewaters from the plant's operations were contaminated
with lead and sulfuric acid. Prior to 1978, the plant discharged its wastewaters directly to the
Vincennes Sanitary Sewer System. From 1978 until the plant closed in 1985, the plant treated
its wastewaters and then released them to a lagoon on site. The Vincennes Treatment Works
accepted the overflow from the lagoon. The plant also released air contaminated with lead.
Soil on site and in the area has been contaminated with lead, mainly from airborne particles.
Malfunctions of equipment on site and accidental spills also have contributed to the
contamination of soils. During the plant's operations, industrial sewer lines at the site became
plugged with lead, and as a result of leaks and sewer line backups, the soil around some of
these sewers and sumps became contaminated with lead. Soil on the site also was
contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The manufacturing building on site
remains intact, although all process equipment has been removed from inside the building. A
fence encloses the site. The site is located within the flood plain of the Wabash River, which
is 5,000 feet west of the site. Surface water from the site drains to Kelso and Snapp Creeks;
both within 3/4 of a mile of the site. The closest residence is approximately 50 feet away and
there are approximately 500 people within a mile of the site. The city of Vincennes maintains
seven wells for its municipal water supply, located 3 miles from the site. Private wells also are
located in the area around the site, none within the contaminated plume.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/18/85
Final Date: 10/04/89
May 1994
-------
Environmental Progress
The removal of contaminated sediments and soils and the installation of a fence around the
lagoon have reduced the potential of exposure to hazardous materials at the Prestolite
Battery Division site while final studies are taking place and cleanup activities are being
planned.
Site Repository
Knox County Public Library, 502 North 7th Street, Vincennes, IN 47591
PRESTOLITE BATTERY DIVISION
May 1994
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REILLY TAR &
CHEMICAL CORP.
(INDIANAPOUS—
PLANT)
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND000807107I
EPA REGION 5
Marion County
Indianapolis
Site Description
The 120-acre Reilly Tar & Chemical Corporation site has been used for the production of
specialty chemicals and related products since the early 1950s. Until 1972, a coal-tar refining
and wood-treatment facility using creosote operated on the site. Located on site are a trench,
a landfill, and several pits used to dispose of wastes. A lime pond received boiler cooling
water. The site is fenced. There are approximately 5,200 residents within 3 miles of the site
using groundwater for drinking water supplies. A residence is located less than 2,000 feet
from the site. All residents now have city water available to them, although private wells still
are in use.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/08/83
Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
ZE
Groundwater and surface water are contaminated with benzene, pyridine and
ammonia. Soil is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including
toluene and PAHs. The potential health risks include coming in direct contact with
or accidentally ingesting contaminated groundwater or soil.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: A potentially responsible party, Reilly Industries, Inc., currently is
conducting an investigation, under EPA monitoring, into the nature and extent of
contamination at the site. The investigation defined the contaminants and
recommended alternatives for an operable unit cleanup. The investigation was completed in
mid-1992. A Record of Decision was issued in June 1992 calling for a groundwater extraction
and treatment system to be installed at the site perimeter. This action was defined as
operable unit #1. A Record of Decision was signed in September 1993 for the second
operable unit at the site. This operable unit addressed five on-site areas of soil
contamination. Low temperature thermal desorption was chosen for "hot spots" in four of
the areas. The fifth area, the south landfill, will undergo in-situ solidification to solidify
sludge accumulations with a final cover placement, depending on the RCRA characteristics of
the sludge after the solidification process is complete. Operable units 3 and 4 are scheduled
to be completed in late 1994 and will address other on-site source areas and the plant sewer
system. Finally, off-site groundwater contamination will be addressed by the end of 1994.
Site Facts: Reilly Industries, Inc. has entered into a Consent Order with the EPA. The
company agreed to conduct the study into the nature and extent of contamination at the site
and to recommend alternatives for final cleanup. EPA amended the aforementioned consent
order to address RCRA corrective action requirements and added a number of SWMUs in
September 1992.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Reilly Tar and Chemical
Corporation site while studies are taking place and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, 40 East St. Clair Street, Indianapolis, IN 46206
May 1994 : REILLY TAR & CHEMICAL CORP.
(INDIANAPOLIS PLANT)
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SEYMOUR
RECYCLING
CORPORATION
INDIANA
EPAID# IND040313017
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
Jackson County
2 miles southwest of Seymour
The 14-acre Seymour Recycling Corporation site is made up of two parts: a 12-acre area
surrounded by a berm and fence to confine rainwater and prevent access to the site, and a
2-acre area located directly to the northeast of the larger area. From 1970 to 1980, the site
was operated as a processing center for waste chemicals. Wastes were accumulated on site in
drums, bulk storage tanks, and tank trucks. By 1980, there were approximately 98 storage
tanks and 50,000 drums on site. The majority of the drums were rusted and punctured, some
were missing lids, and a large number leaked. The leaks caused contaminants to cover a
widespread area, toxic vapors to be released from the site, and on-site fires. The facility
closed in 1980. Surface drums and tanks and their contents were removed in 1981 and 1982.
Contaminated soils continue to pollute the aquifers. The shallow aquifer is highly
contaminated with various hazardous chemicals including volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Approximately 100 homes are located within 1 mile of the site. Most private water supply
wells for these residences have been disconnected and replaced with water from the City of
Seymour water supply system. Contaminated runoff from the site entered nearby drainage
ditches that flow into the White River and then to the Ohio River. Releases of contaminants
from the site resulted in fish kills.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/22/81
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
ZEJ
Groundwater contains VOCs, chloroform, phenols, and heavy metals including
arsenic, barium, iron, and manganese. Soils are contaminated with high levels of
VOCs and heavy metals including beryllium. People could be exposed to
contaminants by accidentally coming in direct contact with or ingesting
contaminated groundwater or soil. People who eat contaminated fish may suffer
adverse health effects.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on groundwater cleanup and soil cleanup.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: As a result of a fire in 1980, chemical runoff from the site
posed a risk to nearby residents. Approximately 300 people were temporarily
relocated and the parties potentially responsible for site contamination removed
several thousand drums from the site. In 1981, the EPA removed chemicals from tanks at the
site and disposed of those wastes off site. A dike was installed around the site to prevent
rainfall from mixing with wastes on the ground. The site fence was upgraded. The surface
water treatment plant located on site was upgraded in 1982. From 1982 to 1984, potentially
responsible parties removed approximately 50,000 drums, 100 storage tanks, and
contaminated soil from 75 percent of the site's surface and partially covered the site with a
temporary soil cap. Homes surrounding the site were connected to the city water distribution
system in 1984 and 1985 due to the threat of groundwater contamination. A total of 177,500
gallons of flammable liquids were incinerated. Approximately 31,800 cubic yards of crushed
drums, scrap metal, sludge, and contaminated soil and debris, 359 lab packs of sludge, and
296 drums of flammable solids were landfilled. Approximately 104,200 gallons of inert liquids
were injected into a deep well. Warning signs have been posted, and a 24-hour guard will
remain at the site throughout construction activities.
Groundwater: The selected cleanup remedy to address the groundwater plume
includes implementation of a plume stabilization system that will extract, treat, and
discharge contaminated groundwater to the Seymour Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The potentially responsible parties constructed the groundwater pump and treat system, which
is operational. In order to sufficiently reduce contamination at the site, the groundwater
extraction and pump and treat system may have to be operated for up to 30 years. A third
extraction well and line may be constructed.
Soil: The selected cleanup remedies to address soil contamination include: putting
in place deed and access restrictions and other controls to prevent future
development of the site and the adjacent property; breaking down hazardous
components of the soil through bioremediation; installing a soil vapor extraction system;
extracting and treating contaminated groundwater at and beyond the site boundaries;
installing a cap; excavating contaminated sediment and consolidating sediment beneath the
cap; and regular monitoring to determine the effectiveness of these cleanup activities. The
potentially responsible parties have completed construction of the soil cap. The vapor
extraction system has been constructed and is planned to be operated for 2 to 5 years. The
soil bioremediation remedy has been completed. All soil cleanup components have been
constructed. Air monitoring stations have been constructed.
May 1994 SEYMOUR RECYCLING CORPORATION
-------
Site Facts: In 1988, the EPA, the State, and potentially responsible parties entered into a
Consent Decree. The Decree requires the parties to reimburse the Federal government for
past cleanup costs and to perform and pay for future cleanup activities. A preliminary close-
out report was signed in September 1993 for the Seymour Site.
Environmental Progress
The removal of drums, soils, and storage tanks, construction of the dike, and connecting
residents to the city water system have reduced the potential for exposure to contaminated
materials at the Seymour Recycling Corporation site. Ongoing cleanup actions continue to
reduce contamination levels in the soil and groundwater.
Site Repository
Jackson County Public Library, 2nd & Walnut Streets, Seymour, IN 47274
SEYMOUR RECYCLING CORPORATION
May 1994
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SOUTHSIDE SANI
LANDFILL
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980607360
EPA REGION 5
Marion County
Southwest of Indianapolis
Other Names:
Southslde Sanitary
Disposal & Transfer Co., Inc.
Site Description
The 160-acre Southside Sanitary Landfill is an active solid waste disposal facility that began
landfilling activities in 1971. In 1974, the 34 acres on the northern side of the site were
licensed by the County and the State for disposal of solid wastes. After the first excavated
area was filled by dumping refuse and covered with a layer of dirt, a second area was
excavated 150 feet to the south. After these areas were filled, the land between the two was
excavated. In 1975, the site was expanded to 160 acres. An estimated 4 million cubic yards of
waste including coal tar, asbestos, iron oxide and clarifier sludges, and paint waste have been
buried at the landfill. Access to the site is restricted. Approximately 7,200 people, within 3
miles of the site, use groundwater for drinking water supplies. The distance from the site to
the nearest residence is 1/2 mile. Approximately 2,000 private wells are located within 3 miles
of the site. Nearby Eagle Creek, White River, and Fall River are used for recreational
activities.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
State and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/10/86
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic, chromium,
cadmium, and nickel. On-site soils are contaminated with polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs). Potential health threats to people include coming in direct
contact with or accidentally ingesting contaminated groundwater or soil.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1988, the operators of the Southside Landfill constructed a
leachate collection system and an underground slurry wall to control the migration
of contaminated groundwater.
Entire Site: The owners/operators of the Southside Landfill, under State
monitoring, currently are conducting an investigation into the nature and extent of
contamination at the site. The investigation is defining the contaminants and will
result in the selection of the final cleanup remedies. The investigation is scheduled to be
completed in the winter of 1995.
Site Facts: In 1986, the State and Southside Landfill entered into an agreement, requiring
that the company construct a leachate collection system and an underground slurry wall to
control the migration of groundwater.
Environmental Progress
The construction of a leachate collection system and underground slurry wall has prevented
the migration of contaminated groundwater at the Southside Sanitary Landfill site while
studies are taking place and final cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Indianapolis Public Library, 40 East St. Clair Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
May 1994 SOUTHSIDE SANITARY LANDFILL
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TIPPECANOE
SANITARY LAND
INC.
INDIANA
EPA ID#
r ; o
EPA REGION 5
Tippecanoe County
Lafayette
Site Description ~
In 1971 the 70-acre Tippecanoe Sanitary Landfill received a permit from the State. The
principal wastes disposed of at the site have been garbage and refuse generated by the local
residents businesses, and industries. Some out-of-state wastes have also been sent there. In
1979 ALCOA advised the State that the sludge material that it had been sending to the
landfill since 1973 had been found to contain significant levels of polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs). Disposal of the sludge ceased, but considerable quantities had already been
deposited at the site. Groundwater contamination at the site has been verified. In 1989, as
the result of an agreement reached with the State, the facility discontinued accepting wastes.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater has been shown to be contaminated. Sludge buried at the site
contains PCBs. The landfill cover is inadequate and has not been maintained so
that some wastes are exposed. Landfill gas has been detected in the soils away
from the landfill. The contaminated groundwater is a potential health threat to
individuals if it is accidently directly contacted or swallowed and the landfill gas
presents an explosion hazard.
Cleanup Approach "
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the
entire site.
May 1994
-------
Response Action Status
Entire Site: Some of the parties potentially responsible for site contamination
agreed to conduct an investigation to determine the nature and extent of
contamination and to identify alternative cleanup actions. The work plan for the
investigation was approved and field work began in 1991. Completion of the study is
scheduled for 1994.
Site Facts: A Consent Decree signed in 1988 ordered the owner to close the landfill by
October 1989 and install a cover over the wastes. The owner filed for bankruptcy in 1989,
and the cover was not fully installed. In March 1990, the EPA, the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management, and 10 of the potentially responsible parties signed a Consent
Order requiring the parties to conduct site investigations.
Environmental Progress
After proposing this site for the NPL, preliminary investigations were done. The only
immediate action deemed necessary was the protection of a few nearby people from the
threat of landfill gas entering their homes and place of business. The State installed, and has
been maintaining, alarms that will alert these people to the presence of an unacceptable level
of gas.
Site Repository
Tippecanoe County Public Library, 627 South Street, Lafayette, IN 47901
May 1994 - TIPPECANOE SANITARY LANDFILL, INC.
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TRI-STATE PLATING
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND006038764
EPA REGION 5
Bartholomew County
Columbus
Site Description
For approximately 35 years prior to 1981, the Tri-State Plating site was used by Hull
Industries and Quality Plating Service Company. The site covers an area of approximately
16,000 square feet. In 1981, Tri-State Plating purchased the facility and began an
electroplating operation. Contamination problems first were detected at the site when the
Bartholomew County Health Department and the Indiana State Board of Health (ISBH)
inspected the site and found that soils contained high concentrations of cyanide and other
heavy metals. In 1984, after finding that Tri-State Plating was discharging contaminated
wastewater, the City of Columbus instructed the company to install a treatment system to
control contaminated wastewater discharges to the city's sewers. Later in 1984, when a
treatment system was not installed, the city blocked off sewers leading from the Tri-State
Plating facility and shut off the company's water supply. Tri-State Plating discontinued
operations in 1984. The nearest residence is adjacent to the site boundary. The City of
Columbus has approximately 30,000 people, some of whom are served by a well field located
near the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/18/85
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with chromium. The soil was contaminated with
heavy metals including cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and arsenic. The
contaminated groundwater could be hazardous to the health of individuals if it is
accidentally touched or swallowed before cleanup is completed. Haw Creek and
the White River, which are located nearby, had a potential of being contaminated
by the hazardous materials present at the site.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1987, the EPA constructed a fence around the entire site and
removed 27 barrels of waste to an off-site treatment facility. The EPA also took
steps to decontaminate the electroplating process building and storage shed. In
addition, contaminated surface soil was excavated and disposed of at an off-site landfill. After
the soil was removed, the EPA covered excavated areas with clean soil. These actions have
eliminated the immediate threat posed to residents by exposure to soil contamination. In
1989, the EPA took the following actions to remove the remaining sources of contamination
from the site: decontaminated the walls and ceilings of the main process building and
demolished the building; transported the building debris to an off-site landfill; excavated
contaminated soil and the contaminated building foundation and disposed of excavated
material at an off-site waste landfill; and filled the excavated areas with clean soil, graded the
surface of the ground, and reseeded the graded area. Upon completion of these actions, the
fence was removed.
Entire Site: The EPA completed an investigation in 1990 that determined the
nature and extent of the site contamination and recommended that the
contaminated groundwater be pumped and treated and then discharged to the
publicly owned water treatment works. The pump and treat system design was approved in
early 1991. Construction of the treatment system has been completed and groundwater
pumping and treatment was initiated in early 1992. Groundwater treatment will continue until
cleanup goals are met. During the course of the investigation and while demolishing the main
building, the EPA found asbestos-bearing materials. These materials were removed and
transferred to a licensed disposal facility.
Environmental Progress
Pumping and treating groundwater, excavating contaminated soils and debris, and demolishing
the contaminated building have reduced the potential of exposure to contaminated materials
at the Tri-State Plating site.
Site Repository
Bartholomew County Health Department, 440 3rd Street, Suite 303, Columbus, IN 47201
May 1994 TRI-STATE PLATING
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U.S. SMELTER
AND LEAD REF
INC.
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND047030226
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
Lake County
East Chicago
The former site of the U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, Inc. (USS Lead) operation is located
on a 79-acre parcel of land in East Chicago, Indiana. The area is primarily industrial. The
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad is located to the north of the site, the East West Toll Road
and the east branch of the Grand Calumet River to the south, Kennedy Avenue to the east,
and Indiana Harbor Canal to the west. From 1906 to 1920, USS Lead operated primarily as a
copper smelter. In 1920 the company added a primary lead smelter to its operation. USS
Lead converted to secondary smelting in 1973, recovering lead from scrap metal and old
automobile batteries. All operations were discontinued in 1985. Two primary waste materials
were generated as a result of the smelting operations: blast furnace slag and lead-containing
dust emitted by the blast furnace stack. Blast furnace slag was stockpiled south of the plant
building and once a year spread over an adjoining 21 acres of wetlands. The lead-containing
dust was originally trapped in bag filters and stored in a three to five acre area for future
recycling. In 1973 a larger blast furnace was installed to recycle both new and stockpiled dust.
Significant amounts of the dust were later contained in a building to prevent dispersion.
However, dust has spread throughout the building with increasing dilapidation. Substantial
amounts of dust remain on site. In 1975 and 1985, USS Lead received a National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to discharge furnace cooling water and storm
water run-off to the Grand Calumet River. According to the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management (IDEM), permit levels were exceeded for several materials. In
the 1980s, several State and Federal enforcement actions were taken against the company.
As a result of the permit violations and the dumping of slag water into the wetlands, nearby
surface waters are contaminated. In September 1985, the Indiana State Board of Health
(ISBH) found USS Lead in violation of State law because lead particles were found
downwind of the site. Approximately 4.1 million people draw drinking water from intakes
primarily into Lake Michigan, which is 15 miles downstream of where hazardous substances
from the site enter surface water. Lake Michigan, the Grand Calumet River and Indiana
Harbor Canal are nearby fishing areas. The Grand Calumet River Natural Area, located a
quarter mile southeast of the site, has two endangered species. Hammond Beach Marina is
four miles west of where the canal enters Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan, Wahala Beach and
several other major recreation areas are within 15 miles of the site. Seventy five hundred
people work or attend school within two miles of the site.
May 1994
-------
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions. The NPL Listing
will remain proposed until all
RCRA authorities have been
exhausted.
NPL Listing History:
Proposed Date: 02/07/92
Threats and Contaminants
ins
Elevated levels of lead exist in the blast furnace slag. Substantial amounts of
lead-containing dust have permeated the building, contaminating the structure and
surrounding soils. According to IDEM, the permit levels for lead, cadmium,
copper, arsenic and zinc over the years were exceeded. These permit violations as
well as the dumping of blast furnace slag water into wetlands have led to surface
water contamination. In addition, air is contaminated with lead particles downwind
of the site.
Cleanup Approach
This site is planned to be addressed through a long-term remedial action focusing on cleanup
of the entire site. At the present time, the facility has a Consent Order with RCRA to
prepare a Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU).
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The investigation will not begin until all RCRA authorities have been
exhausted.
Site Facts: In the 1980's, several State and Federal enforcement actions were taken against
USS Lead for permit violations. In April of 1990, IDEM drafted a Partial Interim Agreement
Order mandating that USS Lead develop a site cleanup plan. USS Lead's parent company,
Sharon Steel Corp., offered to lend USS Lead the funds to comply with the cleanup
requirements. Sharon Steel, however, subsequently filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of
the Federal Bankruptcy Code.
1994 • • U.S. SMELTER AND LEAD REFINERY, INC.
-------
Environmental Progress
Initial investigations indicate the U.S. Smelter and Lead Refinery, Inc. site poses no
immediate threat to the health and safety of the nearby population while the site awaits
additional investigations.
Site Repository
Not established.
U.S. SMELTER AND LEAD REFINERY, INC.
May 1994
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WASTE, INC.
LANDFILL
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980504006
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
Laporte County
Michigan City
The Waste, Inc. Landfill in Michigan City is composed of 32 acres situated on a former
wetland area. From 1966 to 1982, the landfill accepted approximately 128,000 tons of
industrial wastes. The landfill was unlined, and there were no dikes to control runoff.
Originally, the site sloped down to a creek, but now the landfill rises 50 feet above the
surrounding terrain. In 1983, the site was sampled by the EPA, and heavy metals, polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other organic
compounds were found in the sediment of Trail Creek, which borders the landfill.
Approximately 11,300 people live within a mile of the site, and about 2,100 people depend on
private wells within 3 miles of the site for their drinking water. The site drains into Trail
Creek, which is used for recreational purposes and discharges to Lake Michigan. The
Michigan City Water Works, serving approximately 32,000 people, draws water from intakes
in Lake Michigan less than 3 miles downstream from the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 04/10/85
Final Date: 07/21/87
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soils may be contaminated with volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), PCBs, PAHs, various phthalates, and heavy metals. Sediments in Trail
Creek contain heavy metals including arsenic, lead, and manganese; PAHs; PCBs;
and other organic compounds. People may be exposed to contaminants by
accidentally ingesting or coming in direct contact with contaminated soil, leachate,
groundwater, surface water, or sediment. Eating fish, waterfowl, or locally grown
vegetables containing accumulated contaminants may pose a health hazard.
May 1994
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The parties potentially responsible for the contamination at the site
are conducting an investigation, under EPA supervision, to determine the type and
extent of contamination. All sampling is complete. The investigative report defining
the nature and extent of contamination is being finalized. Currently, the EPA is evaluating
various cleanup alternatives and is expected to select final cleanup remedies by late 1992.
A proposed plan was released in January 1994 with the accompanying comment period ending
in late April 1994. A Record of Decision will be released in mid 1994.
Site Facts: Under a Consent Order with the EPA, signed on March 31, 1987, nine
potentially responsible parties agreed to undertake the investigation of the site contamination.
Environmental Progress
After listing the Waste, Inc. Landfill on the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary evaluations
and determined that the site does not pose an immediate threat to the surrounding
communities or the environment while the investigations leading to the selection of final
cleanup remedies are taking place.
Site Repository
Michigan City Public Library, 100 East 4th Street, Michigan City, IN 46360
Bethany Bible Baptist Church, Canada Community Improvement Society, 215 Miller Street,
Michigan City, IN 46360
LaPorte County Health Department, Michigan City Branch Office, 104 Brinckmann Avenue,
Michigan City, IN 46360
May 1994 WASTE, INC. LANDFILL
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WAYNE WASTE
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND048989479
EPA REGION 5
Whitley County
Columbia City
Other Names:
Wayne Reclamation and Recycling
(WRR)
Site Description
The Wayne Waste Oil site is located on 35 acres in Columbia City. Wayne Waste Oil, a
division of Wayne Reclamation and Recycling, Inc., deposited about a million gallons of oil
waste on this site from 1975 to 1980. During its period of operation, oil wastes were disposed
of on site by dumping them on surface soils, into unlined pits, and into a trench. The Indiana
State Board of Health investigated the facility in 1980 and found that hazardous wastes were
illegally deposited. As a result, the owner was ordered by the State of Indiana to clean up the
site. The site contained opened, leaking drums, waste areas covered with sands, and disposal
ponds. The area surrounding the site is used for residential, industrial and commercial
purposes. The population of Columbia City was estimated to be 5,100 in 1988.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene,
trichloroethylene (TCE), and toluene and heavy metals including arsenic, barium,
lead, and cyanide. Soil contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), VOCs,
heavy metals, phenols, and phthalates. On-site ponds and the adjacent Blue River
contain cyanide, copper, and TCE. Currently, the city wells, which are located at
the northern boundary of the site, are not contaminated. All residences are
connected to the municipal water supply. If migration of site-related contaminants
through groundwater occurs, area residents could be exposed to these pollutants
when consuming or using drinking water. On-site trespassers and workers could be
exposed to site-related contaminants when coming into direct contact with the
contaminated soils. To prevent unauthorized entry onto the site, a fence has been
installed along the north and west sides. The Blue River borders the site on the
east and south. Site-related contaminants in groundwater, surface water, and soils
could migrate into the river.
May 1994
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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1986, the potentially responsible parties, under EPA
monitoring, excavated 7S500 tons of contaminated soil in the oil decanting pit, the
tar pit, and the sludge ravine. This excavated soil along with over 200 drums and
soil from the buried barrel area, were removed and deposited in a federally approved
hazardous waste facility. This area was then backfilled. In 1988, the parties excavated
approximately 5,400 tons of contaminated soil from the discolored area, the acid pit, the ink
sludge area, and the sludge ravine and disposed of the soil in a federally approved facility. An
additional 125 drums were removed, as well as the contents of 23 tanks. A fence was
constructed around the oil decanting pit, the sludge ravine, and the discolored area. The acid
pit and the ink sludge areas were backfilled with clean fill material. Four drums were left on
site after these operations ceased in 1988 because of the difficulties involved with moving
them. The remaining drums were removed from the site in 1989.
Entire Site: The EPA began an investigation into the nature and extent of site
contamination in 1985. The parties potentially responsible for site contamination
completed the effort under EPA supervision. The remedy selected by the EPA in
early 1990 includes: constructing, operating, and maintaining a soil vapor extraction system in
the VOC-contaminated soil areas; constructing, operating, and maintaining a ground water
extraction, treatment (air stripping), and discharge system; delineating the extent of the
municipal landfill; constructing and maintaining a cap over the municipal landfill; covering
PAH-contaminated soil or consolidating the soil under the municipal landfill cap; removing
and treating the contents of all above-ground and underground tanks, and delineating the
extent of contamination due to spills or leaks associated with the tanks; removing and
disposing of site debris; installing an upgraded security fence around the site; monitoring the
ground water and the air; and implementing deed restrictions to ensure protection of the
municipal landfill cap. During the design phase, an air sparging system to enhance the
removal of VOCs from the groundwater and a subsurface slurry wall to prevent the migration
of contaminated groundwater (while the groundwater cleanup inside the wall continues) were
added for the southeast portion of the site. The potentially responsible parties, under EPA
monitoring, began designing the technical specifications in late 1991. The design phase was
completed in February 1994, and the cleanup activities will begin in the spring of 1994.
Site Facts: In 1986, the EPA and the potentially responsible parties entered into an
Administrative Order on Consent, under which the parties removed contaminated soil, drums,
and tanks from the site. The EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to five parties
potentially responsible for the site contamination in 1988. The purpose of this Order was to
compel these parties to remove additional drums, soils, debris, and tank contents.
May 1994 WAYNE WASTE OIL
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Environmental Progress
The removal of the contaminated soils and drums from the site and the construction of
security fences around the areas of greatest contamination have reduced the potential for
direct exposure to hazardous materials at the Wayne Waste Oil site while the specifications
for the selected cleanup remedy are completed and the actual cleanup activities are started.
Site Repository
Peabody Library, 203 North Main Street, Columbia City, IN 46725
WAYNE WASTE OIL
May 1994
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WEDZEB
ENTERPRISES, INC
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980794374
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
Boone County
Lebanon
The Wedzeb Enterprises, Inc. site is situated on 3/4 acre and in Lebanon, about 30 miles
northwest of Indianapolis. The site was owned by a succession of businesses prior to the late
1970s, when Wedzeb Enterprises, Inc. purchased it. Operating practices at Wedzeb consisted
of buying used electrical equipment for resale and storing it on site in two warehouses.
Various types of electrical equipment including electrical capacitors and transformers
containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were stored on site. A fire that completely
destroyed one of the warehouses on the eastern side occurred at the Wedzeb Enterprises,
Inc. site in 1981. According to inventory records, this warehouse had contained 77 tons of
electrical capacitors, some of which exploded during the fire. The water used to put out the
fire mixed with contaminants from the capacitors and subsequently dripped onto the ground
and flowed into a sanitary sewer line. PCBs may have been released into the environment as
a result of the fire, and contaminants may have been washed to nearby ground surfaces as
the fire was extinguished. Because of the potential health threat to nearby residents caused
by harmful chemicals, the Indiana State Board of Health and the EPA collected samples in
1981 of on-site soil and debris, as well as soot, wastewater, and sanitary sewer sediment from
areas located near the site. The results of these sampling activities showed concentrations of
PCBs in sediment from the sanitary sewage treatment plant, as well as traces of dioxins and
furans in the sediment and other soil samples from locations on and near the site. The EPA
and the Indiana Environmental Management Board requested a cleanup plan from Wedzeb
Enterprises, Inc. in 1982, but the company failed to submit one until 1985. Approximately
11,455 people live within a 3-mile radius of the site, and about 300 homes are located within
500 feet of the site. There are approximately 300 private wells and two municipal wells within
the vicinity of the site. These wells were not threatened by site contamination.
Site Responsibility:
This site was addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Deletion Date: 09/10/91
May 1994
-------
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater contains low levels of dioxins and furans that do no pose a risk to
people or the environment. On-site sediments and sediments located in the
sanitary sewer pipeline system near the site were contaminated with PCBs, dioxins,
and furans. Soils contained low levels of PCBs, dioxins, furans, and other organic
compounds. Low levels of PCBs were found in the interior warehouse surface
samples. The site is now clean, and there is no threat to public health or the
environment.
Cleanup Approach
The site was addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Wedzeb Enterprises, Inc. installed a fence and a windbreak
around the site in 1985 to minimize migration of dust off site. The EPA removed
50 boxes containing contaminated on-site surface soils and debris from the area
surrounding the warehouse on the eastern part of the site in 1987. The contaminated soils
and debris were shipped to an EPA-approved disposal facility. The contaminated soil
subsequently was replaced with clean fill. More than 250 drums of 3-pound capacitors were
shipped off site for incineration.
Entire Site: The work plan for long-term cleanup of the sewers and soils was
completed and approved by the EPA, and cleanup work began on the site in 1990.
The EPA selected the following methods to address site contamination: cleaning
the sewer lines with hydraulic jets and vacuum pumping to remove contaminants; inspection
of the sewer pipe; disposal or incineration of contaminated sediments; filtering sewer
sediments and discharging clean water to the publicly owned treatment works; and removal
and disposal of the wastes generated by the investigation into the nature and extent of
contamination at the site. Cleanup activities were completed in late 1990, and the EPA
deleted the site from the NPL in 1991.
Site Facts: The EPA and the State of Indiana made repeated attempts to compel Wedzeb
Enterprises, Inc., the party potentially responsible for site contamination, to clean up the site
between 1981 and 1985. Further enforcement efforts resulted in Wedzeb Enterprises, Inc.
submitting a cleanup plan for the site in 1985; however, Wedzeb Enterprises, Inc. never
initiated cleanup activities due to financial difficulties.
May 1994 WEDZEB ENTERPRISES, INC.
-------
Environmental Progress
All cleanup activities have been completed at the Wedzeb Enterprises, Inc. site. The EPA
deleted the site from the NPL in 1991.
Site Repository
Lebanon Public Library, 104 East Washington Street, Lebanon, IN 46052
WEDZEB ENTERPRISES, INC.
May 1994
-------
EPA REGION 5
St. Joseph County
South Bend
WHITEFORD SAL
AND SERVICE INC.
INDIANA
EPA ID# IND980999791
Site Description
The Whiteford Sales and Service Inc. site covers approximately 8 acres on Sample Street in
South Bend, Indiana. The site was in operation from 1960 until 1980. In 1980, St. Joseph
County purchased the property from Whiteford Trucking; Whiteford then leased the property
and structures from the County until 1983, when the County demolished all structures and
began construction of an overpass. During the excavation process, three dry wells, each
approximately 6 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep, were uncovered. Unknown quantities of
degreasing solvents and sludges from the cleaning of trucks and trailers, had been deposited
into these three unlined dry wells during the period the site was in operation. Tests conducted
by the St. Joseph County Health Department found on-site soils to be contaminated with
organic and inorganic compounds. The Whiteford site itself lies in an industrial area;
however, residences are located approximately 100 feet due north of the site. There are
approximately 10,000 people living within a 1-mile radius of the site. Approximately 237,000
people draw a portion of their drinking water from public wells within 300 feet of the site. In
1980, the Olive Street Well Field, part of the municipal water system located west of the
Whiteford Site, was shut down because of the presence of organic chemicals in the well
water.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater off site was found to contain a substance commonly used in
degreasing operations, other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including
trichloroethylene (TCE), and vinyl chloride. Soils and sludges on site were
found to be contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic, barium, cadmium,
and chromium, and with VOCs. It has been documented that contaminated
groundwater has migrated to the nearby municipal well field. If people should
come in direct contact with or accidentally ingest the contaminated groundwater,
they may be at risk. In addition, people who come into direct contact with or
accidentally ingest contaminated soil may suffer adverse health effects.
May 1994
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: an initial action and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Action: Cleanup of the Whiteford property was initiated by the
responsible parties. Three dry wells, in addition to a limited amount of
contaminated soils, were removed and taken to a state-permitted sanitary landfill.
Entire Site: EPA is investigating the type and extent of contamination at the site.
The field work has been completed and a report detailing the extent of
contamination is currently being prepared. The final selection of the cleanup
strategy for the site is expected in late 1994.
Environmental Progress
The removal of the contaminated dry wells and some of the contaminated soils from the
Whiteford Sales and Service Inc. site has reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous
materials while the investigations leading to the selection of the final cleanup remedies are
taking place.
Site Repository
St. Joseph County Public Library, 122 West Wayne Street, South Bend, IN 46601
May 1994
WHITEFORD SALES AND
SERVICE INC.
-------
GLOSSARY
Terms Used in the NPL Book
This glossary defines terms used throughout the NPL Volumes. The terms and
abbreviations contained in this glossary apply specifically to work performed
under the Superfimd program in the context of hazardous waste management. These
terms may have other meanings when used in a different context. A table of common
toxic chemicals found at NPL sites, their sources, and their potential threats is located
on page G-15
Acids: Substances, characterized by low pH
(less than 7.0), that arc used in chemical manu-
facturing. Acids in high concentration can be
very corrosive and react with manv inorganic
and organic substances. These reactions possi-
bly may create toxic compounds or release
heavy metal contaminants that remain in the
environment long after the acid is neutralized.
Administrative Order On Consent: A
legal and enforceable agreement between the
EPA and the parties potentially responsible for
site contamination. Under the terms of the
Order, the potentially responsible panics (PRPs)
agree to perform or pay for site studies or
cleanups. It also describes the oversight rules.
responsibilities, and enforcement options that
the government may exercise in the event of
non-compliance by potentially responsible
parties. This Order is signed by PRPs and the
government: it docs not require approval by a
judge.
Administrative Order [Unilateral]: A
legally binding document issued by the EPA.
directing the parties potentially responsible to
perform site cleanups or studies (generally, the
EPA does not issue Unilateral Orders for site
studies). This type of Order is not signed by the
PRPs and does not require approval by a judge.
Aeration: A process that promotes breakdown
of contaminants in soil or water by exposing
them to air.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Dis-
ease Registry (ATSDR): The Federal
agency within the U.S. Public Health Service
charged with carrying out the health-related
responsibilities of CERCLA.
Air Stripping: A process whereby volatile
organic chemicals (VOCs) are removed from
contaminated material by forcing a stream of air
through the contaminated material in a pressur-
ized vessel. The contaminants are evaporated
into the air stream. The air may be further
treated before it is released into the atmosphere.
Ambient Air: Any unconfined pan of the
atmosphere. Refers to the air that may be
inhaled by workers or residents in the vicinity of
contaminated air sources.
Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate
Requirements (ARARs): Federal State, or
local laws which apply to Superfund activities at
NPL sites. Both emergency and long-term
actions must comply with these laws or provide
sound reasons for allowing a waiver. ARARs
must be identified for each site relative to the
characteristics of the site, the substances found
at the site, or the cleanup alternatives being
considered for the site.
-------
GLOSSARY
propernes. \vruch increase cleaning erriciency.
However, these propernes also cause chemical
reactions that increase the hazard to human
health ana the environment.
Carbon Treatment: [see Carbon Adsorp-
tion].
Cell: In solid waste disposal, one of a series of
holes in a landfill where waste is dumped.
compacted, and covered with layers of dirt.
CERCLA: [see Comprehensive Environmen-
tal Response. Compensation, and Liability Act).
Characterization: The sampling, monitoring.
and analysis of a site to determine the extent and
nature of toxic releases. Characterization
provides the basis for acquiring the necessary
technical information to develop, screen, ana-
lyze, and select appropriate cleanup techniques.
Chemical Rxation: The use of chemicals to
bind contaminants, thereby reducing the poten-
tial for leaching or other movement.
Chromated Copper Arsenate: An insecti-
cide/herbicide formed from salts of three toxic
metals: copper, chromium, and arsenic. This
salt is used extensively as a wood preservative
in pressure-treating operations. It is highly toxic
and water-soluble, making it a relatively mobile
contaminant in the environment.
Cleanup: Actions taken to eliminate a release
or threat of release of a hazardous substance.
The term "cleanup" sometimes is used inter-
changeably with the terms remedial action.
removal action, response action, or corrective
action.
Closure: The process by which a landfill stops
accepting wastes and is shut down under Federal
i:uiaelines mat ensure the protection of the
puolic and the environment.
Comment Period: A specific interval during
which the puolic can review and comment on
various documents and EPA actions related to
site cleanup. For example, u comment period is
provided when the EPA proposes to add sites to
the NTL. Ai.so. there is minimum 3-week
comment period for community members to
review und comment on the remedy proposed to
clean up a site.
Community Relations: The EPA effort to
estaDlish and maintain two-way communication
with the puolic. The goals of community
relations programs include creating an under-
standing of EPA programs and related actions.
assuring public input into decision-making
processes related to affected communities, and
making certain that the Agency is aware of. and
responsive to. public concerns. Specific com-
munity relations activities are required in
relation to Superfund cleanup actions [see
Comment Period].
Comprehensive Environmental Re-
sponse, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA): Congress enacted the
CERCLA. known as Superfund. in 19X0 to
respond directly to hazardous waste problems
that may pose a threat to the public health and
the environment. The EPA administers the
Superfund program.
Confluence: The place where two bodies of
water, such as streams or rivers, come together.
Confined Aquifer: An aquifer in which
groundwater is confined tinder pressure that is
•ujpuficantiy greater than atmospheric pressure.
-------
GLOSSARY
Dike: A low wail that can act us a barrier to
prevent a spill from spreading.
Dioxin: An organic chemical by-product of
pesticide manufacture which is known to be one
of the most toxic man-made chemicals.
Disposal: Final placement or destruction of
toxic, radioactive, or other wastes: surplus or
banned pesticides or other chemicals: polluted
soils: and drums containing hazardous materials.
Disposal may be accomplished through the use
of approved secure landfills, surface impound-
ments, land farming, deep well injection, or
incineration.
Downgradient: A downward hydroiouit
slope that causes groundwater to move toward
lower elevations. Therefore, wells ik>wn^radi-
ant of a contaminated groundwater source are
prone to receiving pollutants.
Ecological Assessment: A study of the
impact of man-made or natural activity on living
creatures and their environment
Effluent: Wastewater. treated or untreated.
that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or
industrial outfall. Generally refers to wastes
discharged into surface waters.
Emission: Pollution discharged into the
atmosphere from smokestacks, other vents, and
surface areas of commercial or industrial facili-
ties.
Emulsifiers: Substances that help in mixing
materials that do not normally mix; e.g.. oil and
water.
Endangerment Assessment: A study
conducted to determine the risks posed to public-
health or the environment by contamination at
NPL sites. The EPA or the State conducts the
study when a legal action is to be taken to direct
the potentially responsible parties to clean up a
site or pay for the cleanup. An endangerment
assessment supplements an investigation of the
site hazards.
Enforcement: EPA. State, or local legal
actions taken against parties to facilitate
settlements: to compel compliance with laws.
rules, regulations, or agreements: or to obtain
penalties or criminal sanctions for violations.
Enforcement procedures may vary, depending
on the specific requirements of different
environmental laws and related regulatory
requirements. Under CERCLA. for example.
the EPA will seek to require potentially
responsible parties to clean up a Superfund
site or pay for the cleanup (see Cost Recov-
ery}.
Erosion: The wearing away of land surface
by wind or water. Erosion occurs naturally
from weather or surface runoff, but can be
intensified by such land-related practices as
farming, residential or industrial develop-
ment, road building, or timber-cutting. Ero-
sion may spread surface contamination to off-
site locations.
Estuary (estuarine): Areas where fresh
water from rivers and salt water from
nearshore ocean waters are mixed. These
areas may include bays, mouths of rivers, salt
marshes, and lagoons. These water ecosys-
tems shelter and" feed marine life, birds, and
wildlife.
Evaporation Ponds: Areas where sewage
sludge or other watery wastes are dumped and
allowed to dry out.
Feasibility Study: The analysis of the
potential cleanup alternatives for a site. The
feasibility study usually starts as soon as the
remedial investigation is underway. In this
volume, the feasibility study is referred to as a
site study [see also Remedial Investigation].
-------
GLOSSARY
Hot Spot: An area or vicinity of a site contain-
ing exceptionally high levels of contamination.
Hydrocarbons: Chemical compounds that
consist entirely of hydrogen and caroon.
Hydrology: The properties, distribution, and
circulation of water.
Hydrogeology: The geology of groundwater.
with particular emphasis on the chemistry and
movement of water.
Impoundment: A body of water or sludge
confined by a dam. dike, floodgate, or other
barrier.
Incineration: A group of treatment technolo-
gies involving destruction of waste by controlled
burning at high temperatures, e.g.. burning
sludge to reduce the remaining residues to a
non-burnable ash that can be disposed of safely
on land, in some waters, or in underground
locations.
Infiltration: The movement of water or
other liquid down through soil from precipita-
tion (rain or snow) or from application of
wastewater to the land surface.
Influent: Water, wastewater. or other liquid
flowing into a reservoir, basin, or treatment
plant.
Injection Well: A well into which waste
fluids are placed, under pressure, for purposes
of disposal.
Inorganic Chemicals: Chemical sub-
stances of mineral origin, not of basic carbon
structure.
Installation Restoration Program: The
specially funded program established in 197X
under which the Department of Defense has
been identifying and evaluating its hazardous
waste sites and controlling the migration of
hazardous contaminants from those sites.
Intake: The source from where a water supply
is drawn, .such as from a nver or water body.
Interagency Agreement: A written agree-
ment between the EPA and a Federal agency
that has the lead for site cleanup activities,
setting forth the roles and responsibilities of the
agencies for performing and overseeing the
activities. States often are parties to interagency
agreements.
Interim (Permit) Status: Conditions under
which hazardous waste treatment, storage.
and disposal facilities, that were operating
when regulations under the RCRA became
final in F9XO. are temporarily allowed by the
EPA to continue to operate while awaiting
denial or issuance of a permanent permit. The
facility must comply with certain regulations
to maintain interim status.
Lagoon: A shallow pond or liquid waste
containment structure. Lagoons typically are
used for the storage of wastewaters. sludges.
liquid wastes, or spent nuclear fuel.
Landfarm: To apply waste to land or incor-
porate waste into the surface soil, such as
fertilizer or soil conditioner. This practice
commonly is used for disposal of composted
wastes and sludges.
Landfill: A disposal facility where waste is
placed in or on land. Sanitary landfills are
disposal sites for non-hazardous solid wastes.
The waste is spread in layers, compacted to the
smallest practical volume, and covered with soil
at the end of each operating day. Secure chemi-
cal landfills are disposal sites for hazardous
waste. They are designed to minimize the
chance of release of hazardous substances into
the environment [see Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act).
Leach, Leaching [v.L]: The process by
which soluble chemical components are dis-
solved and carried through soil by water or
some other percolating liquid.
-------
GLOSSARY
The 60-day penod may be extended if the EPA
receives a good faith offer from the PRPs
within that penod. [See also Good Faith Offer).
On-Scene Coordinator (OSC): The
predesignated EPA. Coast Guard, or Depart-
ment of Defense official who coordinates and
directs Superfund removal actions or Clean
Water Act oil- or hazardous-spill corrective
actions.
Operation and Maintenance: Activities
conducted at a site after a cleanup action is
completed to ensure that the cleanup or
containment system is functioning properly.
Organic Chemicals/Compounds:
Chemical substances containing mainly
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Outfall: The place where wastewater is
discharged into receiving waters.
Overpacking: Process used for isolating
large volumes of waste by jacketing or encap-
sulating waste to prevent further spread or
leakage of contaminating materials. Leaking
drums may be contained within oversized
barrels as an interim measure prior to removal
and final disposal.
Pentachlorophenol (POP): A synthetic.
modified petrochemical that may be used as a
wood preservative because of its toxicity to
termites and fungi. It is a common component
of creosotes and can cause cancer.
Perched (groundwater): Groundwater
separated from another underlying body of
groundwater by a confining layer, often clay or
rock.
Percolation: The downward flow or filtering
of water or other liquids through subsurface
rock or soil layers, usually continuing down-
ward to groundwater.
Pesticide: A substance or mixture of sub-
stances intended to prevent, destroy, or repel any
pest If misused, pesticides can accumulate in
the foodchain and containinate the environment.
Petrochemicals: Chemical substances
produced from petroleum in refinery operations
-and as fuel oil residues. These include
fluoranthene. chrysene. mineral spirits, and
refined oils. Petrochemicals are the bases from
which volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
plastics, and many pesticides are made. These
chemical substances often are toxic to humans
and the environment
Phenols: Organic compounds that arc used in
plastics manufacturing and are by-products of
petroleum refining, tanning, textile, dye, and
resin manufacturing. Phenols are highly poison-
ous.
Physical Chemical Separation: The
treatment process of adding a chemical to a
substance to separate the compounds for further
treatment or disposal
Pilot Testing: A small-scale test of a pro-
posed treatment system in the field to determine
its ability to clean up specific contaminants.
Plugging: The process of stopping the flow of
water, oil. or gas into or out of the ground
through a borehole or well penetrating the
ground.
Plume: A body of contaminated groundwater
flowing from a specific source. The movement
of the groundwater is influenced by such factors
as local groundwater flow patterns, the character
of the aquifer in which groundwater is con-
tained, and the density of contaminants [see
Migration].
Pollution: Generally, the presence of matter
or energy whose nature, location, or quantity
produces undesired health or environmental
effects.
-------
GLOSSARY
Record of Decision (ROD): A public
document that explains which cleanup
alternative! s) will be used to clean up sites
listed on the NPL. It is based on information
generated during the remedial investigation
and feasibility study and consideration of
public comments and community concerns.
Recovery Wells: Wells used to withdraw
contaminants or contaminated groundwater.
Recycle: The process of minimizing waste
generation by recovering usable products that
might otherwise become waste.
Remedial Action (RA): The actual con-
struction or implementation phase of a
Supertund site cleanup following the remedial
design (see Cleanup].
Remedial Design: A phase of site cleanup
where engineers design the technical specifi-
cations for cleanup remedies and technolo-
gies.
Remedial Investigation: An in-depth
study designed to gather the data necessary to
determine the nature and extent of contamina-
tion at a Superfund site, establish the criteria
for cleaning up the site, identify the prelimi-
nary alternatives for cleanup actions, and
support the technical and cost analyses of the
alternatives. The remedial investigation is
usually done with the feasibility study. In this
volume, the remedial investigation is referred
to as a site study [see also Feasibility Study].
Remedial Project Manager (RPM): The
EPA or State official responsible for oversee-
ing cleanup actions at the site.
Remedy Selection: The selection of the
final cleanup strategy for the site. At the few
sites where the EPA has determined that
initial response actions have eliminated site
contamination, or that any remaining con-
tamination will be naturally dispersed without
further cleanup activities, a "No Action"
remedy is selected [see Record of Decision).
Removal Action: Short-term immediate
actions taken to address releases of hazardous
substances [see Cleanup].
Residual: The amount of a pollutant re-
maining in the environment after a natural or
technological process has taken place, e.g.,
the sludge remaining after initial wastewater
treatment, or the particulates remaining in air
after the air passes through a scrubber.
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA): A Federal law that established
a regulatory system to track hazardous sub-
stances from the time of generation to dis-
posal. The law requires safe and secure
procedures to be used in treating, transport-
ing, storing, and disposing of hazardous
substances. RCRA is designed to prevent
new. uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
Retention Pond: A small body of liquid
used for disposing of wastes and containing
overflow from production facilities. Some-
times retention ponds are used to expand the
capacity of such structures as lagoons the
store waste.
fc
Runoff: The discharge of water over land
into surface water. It can carry pollutants
from the air and land and spread contaminants
from its source.
Scrubber: An air pollution control device
that uses a spray of water or reactant or a dry
process to trap pollutants in emissions.
Sediment: The layer of soil. sand, and
minerals at the bottom of surface waters such
as streams, lakes, and rivers, that absorbs
contaminants.
-------
GLOSSARY
Solvent: A substance capable of dissolving
another substance to form a solution. The
primary uses of industrial solvents are as
cleaners for degreeing, in paints, and in
pharmaceutical^. Many solvents are flam-
mable and toxic to varying degrees.
Solvent Extraction: A means of separating
hazardous contaminants from soils, sludges.
and sediment, thereby reducing the volume of
the hazardous waste that must be treated. It
generally is used as one in a series of unit
operations. An organic chemical is used to
dissolve contaminants as opposed to water-
based compounds, which usually are used in
soil washing.
Sorption: The action of soaking up or
attracting substances. It is used in many
pollution control systems.
Special Notice Letter: [See Notice Let-
ter).
Stillbottom: Residues left over from the
process of recovering spent solvents.
Stripping: A process used to remove volatile
contaminants from a substance [see Air Strip-
ping].
Sumps: A pit or tank that catches liquid
runoff for drainage or disposal.
Superfund: The program operated under the
legislative authority of the CERCLA and
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act (SARA) to update and improve environ-
mental laws. The program has the authority to
respond directly to releases or threatened re-
leases of hazardous substances that may endan-
ger public health, welfare, or the environment
The "Superfund" is a trust fund that finances
cleanup actions at hazardous waste sites.
Surge Tanks: A holding structure used to
absorb irregularities in flow of liquids, including
liquid waste materials.
Swamp: A type of wetland that is dominated
by woody vegetation and does not accumulate
peat moss deposits. Swamps may be fresh or
saltwater and tidal or non-tidal [see Wetlands].
Thermal Treatment: The use of heat to
remove or destroy contaminants from soiL
Treatability Studies: Testing a treatment
method on contaminated groundwater. soil, etc.,
to determine whether and how well the method
will work.
Trichloroethylene (TCE): A stable, color-
less liquid with a low boiling point TCE has
many industrial applications, including use as
a solvent and as a metal degreasing agent.
TCE may be toxic to people when inhaled,
ingested, or through skin contact and can
damage vital organs, especially the liver [see
Volatile Organic Compounds].
Unilateral [Administrative] Order: [see
Administrative Order].
Upgradient: An upward hydroiogic slope;
demarks areas that are higher than contaminated
areas and, therefore, are not prone to contamina-
tion by the movement of polluted groundwater.
Vacuum Extraction: A technology used to
remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
from soils. Vacuum pumps are connected to a
series of wells drilled to just above the water
table. The wells arc sealed tightly at the soil
surface, and the vacuum established in the soil
draws VOC-contaminated air from the soil
pores into the well, as fresh air is drawn down
from the surface of the soil.
-------
GLOSSARY
Some Common Contaminants at NPL Sites
Contaminant t
Category
Example
Chemical Types
Sources
Potential Health
Threats*
Heavy Metals
Volatile Organic
Comoounos
(VOCs)
Pesticides/
Herbicides
Pbfychtorinaiac*
bfphenyts(PCBs)
Creosotes
Radiate!*:-
Arsenic, Barium. Seryllium, i Electroplating, batteries.
Cadmium, Cobalt. Copper, j paint pigments, photogra-
Chromium. Leaa. Manga- : phy, smelting, thermom-
nese. Mercury. Nickel. ; eters. fluorescent lights.
Silver. Selenium. Zinc ' solvent recovery
Trichloroethviene (TCE).
Perchloroetnyiene iPCE).
Acetone. Benzene.
Ketone. Methyl chloride.
Toluene. Vinyl Chloride.
Dichlorethylene
Chlordane, ODT 4-4. ODE.
Heptachlor. Aldnn. Endnn.
Atrazine, Dietdnn, Toxa-
phene
Polyaromatic hydrocar-
bons (PAHs), Polynuclear
aromatics (PNAs),
Phenolic Tars. Perrtachto-
rophenol (PGP)
Radium-226. Radon.
Uranium-235. Uranium-
238
Solvents ana degreasers.
gasoline octane ennanc-
ers, ous ana paints, dry
cleaning fluids, chemical
manufacturing.
Agncultural applications,
pesticide and herbicide
production
Electric transformers and
capacitors, insulators and
coolants, adhesives,
caulking compounds.
carbonless copy paper,
hydraulic fluids.
Wood preserving, fossil
fuel combustion
Mine tailings, radium
products, natural decay of
granites
Tumors, cancers, and kidney,
Drain, neurological, bone and
liver damage
Cancers. Kidney ana liver
damage, impairment of the
nervous system resulting in
sleepiness and headaches,
leukemia
Various effects ranging from
nausea to nervous disorders.
Oioxin is a common by-product
of the manufacture of pesti-
cides and is both highly toxic
and a suspected carcinogen.
Cancer and liver damage.
Cancers and skin ulcaratwns
with prolonged exposure
Cancer
Sources. Toxic Chemicals
Glossary ot Environment*
What They Are. How They Affect You (EPA. Region S)
Terms (SPA, 1988)
'The potential for risk due to these contaminants is linked to a numoar ot factors: for example, the length and level of expeaum
and environmental and health factors such as age.
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