vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency For more information If you have questions about the Charlevoix project, please contact these EPA team members: Matthew Ohl Remedial Project Manager 312-886-4442 ohl.matthew@epa.gov Ralph Dollhopf On-Scene Coordinator 231-301-0559 dollhopf.ralph@epa.gov Charles Rodriguez Community Involvement Coordinator 312-886-7472 rodriguez.charles@epa.gov Cheryl Allen Community Involvement Coordinator 312-886-6196 allen.cheryl@epa.gov You may review site-related documents at: Charlevoix Public Library Reference Desk 220 W. Clinton St. Or visit www.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/ charlevoixwell EPA to Begin Air Sampling Activities Charlevoix Municipal Well Superfund Site CharlevoixJV|ichic|an^^^^^^^_^^^^^^^_Februar^2015 Indoor air in homes and businesses in Charlevoix, Michigan could be impacted from previous ground water and soil contamination at the Charlevoix Municipal Well site. That's why the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to gather more information by collecting air samples from various properties. "Ground water" is an environmental term for underground supplies of fresh water. EPA wants to determine if hazardous vapors from the polluted ground water and soil are seeping into homes or businesses and contaminating indoor air. This problem, when it occurs, is known as "vapor intrusion." Soil vapor sampling and indoor air monitoring can spot vapor intrusion issues. A public availability session was held in October 2014 to explain soil vapor sampling and discuss plans to conduct future sampling and install treatment systems. About the site The Charlevoix Municipal Well site is located in Charlevoix, Charlevoix County, Michigan. The city of Charlevoix is located in the northwest part of the lower peninsula of Michigan on the shore of Lake Michigan. It has a permanent population of 3,000 but increases to about 30,000 people during the summer tourist season. Ground water was contaminated with chemicals called trichloroethylene, or TCE and tetrachloroethylene, commonly known as PCE. TCE and PCE are in a class of chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. VOCs can dissolve in water and evaporate easily, giving off vapors that can be inhaled. Prior to cleanup methods being installed, people may have been exposed to these VOCs through ingestion, skin contact (absorption), or inhalation such as during showering. Previous site investigations In September 1981, the Michigan Department of Public Health found the city water supply contained VOCs at levels higher than what EPA considers safe. Four monitoring wells were installed and confirmed rising levels of TCE in the water. In December 1982, the city installed a temporary aeration system to remove some of the contaminants, which was only partially effective. Further ground water monitoring revealed the presence TCE and PCE plumes, or masses of contaminated water. However, PCE was not detected in the city's water supply. In lune 1984, EPA issued a Record of Decision, or ROD. The ROD outlined a cleanup plan to provide safe drinking water by constructing a new water intake system and filtration plant as the investigation continued. After completing an investigation of site contamination in September 1985, EPA issued a second ROD to monitor and restrict ground water use. The new system allowed the contaminated ground water plumes to naturally move and disperse into Lake Michigan. The 1985 ROD estimated that the ground water would return to a usable state after 50 years (in the year 2035). ------- During initial investigations, a plume of PCE was also detected in ground water, but PCE was not detected at the municipal well. At the time of cleanup plan selection in 1985, the full extent and some of the sources of the PCE plume were unknown. In 1987, the state found additional PCE sources and has been managing these problem areas under the state cleanup program. Interim actions have reduced concentrations. However, PCE contamination remains in the source areas that may affect ground water for an undetermined length of time. Five-year review Every five years, EPA reviews Superfund sites where waste remains managed onsite to make sure the environmental work completed in the past continues to protect people's health. EPA's 2011 Five-Year Review concluded that most of the TCE ground water contaminant plume that affected the old municipal well has dissipated with only very low levels detected in a couple of monitoring wells. However, the 2011 survey also concluded the PCE contamination remaining in the soil and ground water could potentially pose a risk for chemical vapors moving into the indoor air of buildings above the contaminated ground water. This exposure pathway may result in a longer period for ground water to return to a useable state than initially estimated. EPA has begun investigating ground water and soil contamination and mitigating problems at individual properties. Next steps EPA will be contacting residents in the area of potential vapor intrusion concerns to request access to their homes for sampling of indoor air and soil vapor levels around and under the basement or crawlspace floors. The amount of sampling may be different at individual homes and some homes may not be sampled nearby other homes that are sampled. Each sampling location and the amount of sampling is determined by the data EPA has to work with. Where sample results indicate a potential problem, EPA may work with property owners to install a sub-slab mitigation or other treatment system to remove vapors before they enter the home. v>EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Superfund Division (SI-7J) 77 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago. IL 60604-3590 CHARLEVOIX MUNICIPAL WELL SUPERFUND SITE EPA to Begin Air Sampling Activities ------- |