&EPA
United States
Environmental Protectior
Agency
For more information
For questions, comments or for
more information about the Wedron
groundwater investigation, you can
contact these team members:
For technical questions:
Steven J. Faryan
EPA On-Scene Coordinator
Superfund Division
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL. 60604
312-353-9351
Farvan.steven@epa.gov
For general questions:
Heriberto Leon
EPA Community Involvement
Coordinator
Superfund Division
77 W Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
312-886-6163
Leon.heriberto@epa.gov
EPA toll-free:
800-621-8431, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30
p.m., weekdays
Website:
www.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/wedr
on/index.html
Illinois EPA contact:
Stan Black
Office of Community Relations
217-785-1427
stan .black@illinois. gov
1021 N. Grand Ave. E.
P.O Box 19276
Springfield, IL 62794-9276
EPA Considers Options for
Contaminated Wells
Wedron Groundwater Contamination Site
Wedron, Illinois	February 2013
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering several options
to protect Wedron residents whose drinking water wells are contaminated
with benzene, a chemical found in petroleum products. U.S. EPA has
sampled 36 private wells in Wedron. Currently, six homes exceed the
safety limits for benzene levels in drinking water and two homes are close
to the limit so are included in the latest consideration. The private wells
tap into a groundwater plume polluted by petroleum products from
multiple potential sources. "Groundwater" is an environmental term for an
underground source of fresh water. A plume is a mass of contaminated
groundwater. The plume is moving, so U.S. EPA experts expect other
wells besides the eight already identified could eventually be affected by
the pollution. If that happens, U.S. EPA has funds to include more homes
in the mitigation measures outlined below.
Under the authority of federal law,1 U.S. EPA will spend around $500,000
in taxpayer funds to protect residents in the eight target homes from
exposure to contaminated water. The money will also be used to
investigate pollution threats to the rest of the town and look for more
sources of the contamination. The federal Agency classifies the latest
project as a "time-critical removal action" because of the imminent health
threat the benzene poses to residents in the eight homes.
Action plan
In the short term, U.S. EPA has been providing bottled water to
contaminated homes since December 2011. The time-critical removal
action authorizes the federal Agency to take more long-term measures and
consider three options. U.S. EPA will continue to provide bottled water to
residents with contaminated wells until an alternative water source is
implemented. The federal Agency will also provide temporary whole-
house treatment units until a final longer-term option is chosen. U.S. EPA
experts understand that while residents of the eight affected homes are
currently not drinking tainted water, the units will remove the potential for
inhaling chemicals during showering, washing clothes and other water
uses. With the installation of the temporary whole-house treatment units,
U.S. EPA will then evaluate three long-term options:
•	Option 1 is to install permanent whole-house treatment units that
utilize carbon treatment to remove a family of petroleum-based
pollutants called volatile organic compounds or VOCs. The
property owner would be responsible for maintenance of these
units after one year.
•	Option 2 is to drill a double-cased, shared deep well and connect
each residence's water line to it via a common water main.
Continued on back...
1 EPA undertakes emergency environmental actions under the authority of Section
104(a)(1) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act
(CERCF4 commonly known as the Superfund law), 42 U.S. Code, and Section 300.415 of
the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. For more
technical information read the documents posted on the Wedron website
www, eva. zov/rezion5/cleanuv/wedron/index. html including the Nov. 16, 2012, Action
Memorandum.

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... continued from front
Residents connected to this shared well would
have to agree to pay for maintenance and
regular sampling.
• Option 3 is tying the affected eight homes into
a deep well in Wilbur Thompson Park. A
private business, Fairmount Minerals, is
working with U.S EPA to allow access to the
park and the well.
U.S. EPA staffers expect that implementing these
measures will take 120 days after legal agreements are
in place.
Pollution history
Wedron has a history of contaminated drinking water
dating back 30 years. In 1982, Illinois EPA began a
groundwater investigation after the Illinois Department
of Public Health received complaints from several
residents of gasoline-type odors in their private well
water. Illinois EPA collected groundwater samples
from several private wells between 1982 and 1984 and
confirmed the presence of chemicals found in gasoline.
In addition, an investigation of several potential sources
of contamination was completed, but no source was
found.
In 1984, the Illinois Commerce Commission installed
two deep wells on the former Martin Marietta property
near the existing Wedron Silica technical center, and
seven residences were connected. None of those homes
are now experiencing contaminated drinking water.
In 2011, some residents again reported gasoline odors
from their water. As a result, Illinois EPA collected
groundwater samples in October 2011 and found homes
with benzene levels above the health standard. In
November 2011, the LaSalle County Health
Department told these residents to no longer drink or
use their well water. Illinois EPA then contacted U.S.
EPA, which began the current investigation.
U.S. EPA's July 2012 investigation detected high
levels of benzene and other compounds associated with
gasoline in soil and groundwater samples. Benzene and
other VOCs were also detected in soil samples at
multiple locations that could be the source areas of the
groundwater plume.
Vapor issue
As part of U.S. EPA's latest action plan, inspectors will
conduct a "vapor intrusion" investigation in the area
within the plume. Vapor intrusion occurs when volatile
chemical vapors in the underground water rise up
through the soil and seep into buildings through
foundation cracks and holes, resulting in indoor air
pollution. Soil gas, sub-slab and indoor air tests are
performed to find vapor intrusion problems. During soil
gas and sub-slab testing, probes are pushed into the
ground or under building foundations to detect vapors
trapped between dirt particles. A simple air-sampling
canister can measure the concentrations of chemical
vapors in the indoor air. U.S. EPA staff will be asking
property owners of the target homes for permission to
test for vapor intrusion.
Looking for the source
Groundwater contamination is one of the most
challenging pollution problems faced by people and
environmental and health agencies. The contamination
can take years to clean up and sources are often
difficult to find. U.S. EPA's investigation has identified
multiple potential sources of Wedron's benzene
pollution, and the federal Agency continues to look for
other sources. U.S. EPA's focus has been first to
protect residents' health from exposure to benzene by
providing a safe source of drinking water and then
pursuing the investigation of the source(s) of
contamination.
Current and former commercial and industrial
properties known at the site include Fairmount Minerals
Ltd., Wedron Silica Co., the former Martin Marietta
Corp., Illinois Railway LLC, the former Doyle Hoxsey
gas station and store, the former W.D. Grain Co, and
the former LaSalle County Farm Supply Co. Past train
derailments may have also contributed to the problem.
Last July, U.S. EPA and Illinois EPA collected soil
samples from 18 locations in Wedron using a special
tool called a geoprobe that can collect samples beneath
the surface. The results of the soil sampling identified
several potential pollution sources, but more testing is
needed. U.S. EPA conducted an investigation last
August at the former Hoxsey gas station to determine if
underground tanks or piping are present. Investigators
found some piping but no tanks. Also last July, U.S.
EPA, Illinois EPA and the Illinois Fire Marshal's office
oversaw the excavation and removal of an underground
tank uncovered during an expansion along the Illinois
Railway tracks bordering N. 2153 Road (LaSalle
County 11). Illinois Railway hired a contractor to
remove the liquid in the tank, clean the tank and
remove the affected soil.
Based on the results of these groundwater and soil tests,
further investigation is necessary at the Hoxsey
property, along the railroad tracks, and on the Wedron
Silica properties. Other potential sources of
contamination include a former junk yard and other
facilities U.S. EPA is trying to identify.
2

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