*>EPA

United States
Environmental Protectior
Agency

Public Water Connections
Scheduled for 23 Homes

Cossell/Vermont Neighborhood Groundwater Site

You are invited

EPA, Marion County Health
Department and Citizens Energy
Group staff will share information and
answer questions about public water
hook-ups and underground water
contamination in the Cossell Road
and Vermont Street neighborhood
during an open house and a formal
public meeting:

Wednesday, June 17
Open house, 5:30 p.m.

Public meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Garden City Elementary School
Cafeteria
4901 Rockville Road
Indianapolis

For more information

If you have questions or comments,
contact:

Heriberto Leon

EPA Community Involvement
Coordinator
312-886-6163
leon.heriberto@epa.gov

Shelly Lam

EPA On-Scene Coordinator

317-308-3073

lam.shelly@epa.gov

Call EPA toll-free, 800-621-8431,
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays

Pam Thevenow

Marion County Public Health Dept.
317-221-2266^
ptlievenoahhcorp. org

On the Web:

www.epa.gov/region5/sites/cossellver
mont

Additional websites:

www.citizensenergygroup.com

www.mchd.com

Speedway, indiana

June 2015

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This map shows the area where private water wells will be closed to prevent residents from
drinking contaminated water.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to hook up 23 properties
to the public water system in the Cossell Road and Vermont Street
neighborhood this summer. EPA will pay for hooking up homes to the
public water main, as well as the cost to close each home's private water
well.

The connection to public water is necessary to protect residents from
contamination in the groundwater, which is the underground fresh water
source for private wells. EPA is conducting the work under emergency
authority granted by federal law.1

Once connected to the public water supply, customers will receive a
monthly water bill from Citizens Energy Group. Bills will be based on the
amount of water used during the previous billing cycle. For information on
Citizens' services and rates, see www.citizensenergygroup.com.

Background

Well water sampling since 2009 by the Marion County Public Health
Department detected vinyl chloride in the wells at three residences. The
levels were higher than what EPA considers to be safe.

'This response action will be conducted in accordance with Section 104(a)(1) of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA),
better blown as the Superfund law, 42 I ISA'. Part 9604(a)(1), and 40 C.F.R. Part 300.415
of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.

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As a temporary measure, the EPA installed systems to
treat the water and make it safe for drinking at the three
residences.

Vinyl chloride is a breakdown product of other
chemicals, such as perchloroethylene, known as PCE or
Perc, and trichloroethylene, known as TCE. The two
chemicals are used in dry cleaning and as industrial
solvents. Vinyl chloride is in a family of hazardous
chemicals called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

VOCs evaporate easily and can dissolve in water.

VOCs can cause cancer at high concentrations and over
long periods of exposure. Other health effects include
dizziness; confusion; nausea; difficulty in breathing,
speaking and walking; impaired heart function; and
nerve, kidney and liver damage. Young children and
pregnant women are especially at risk from exposure.

Additional Actions

EPA plans to check for another environmental problem
called "vapor intrusion." Vapor intrusion occurs when
chemicals, such as vinyl chloride, in groundwater give
off dangerous gases that can seep into buildings
through foundation cracks and holes, causing unsafe
indoor air pollution. EPA tests for vapor intrusion by
collecting air samples in your home and beneath your
foundation or slab. EPA will soon ask you for
permission to test your home. The testing is free to
homeowners. If harmful concentrations are detected, a
simple vapor removal system can be installed in the
homes.

EPA is working with the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management to determine a long-term
solution to the pollution issue in the neighborhood.

Residents may soon see construction work like this talcing place in the Cossell Road and Vermont Street neighborhood to connect 23 homes to the
public water supply.

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