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Fact Sheet
November 2005
Record of Decision for Remedial Actions Signed - Missouri Electric Works Superfund Site, Operable Unit 2, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
INTRODUCTION
EPA Region 7 has signed a Record of Decision (ROD) for Remedial Actions that address contaminated groundwater at the Missouri Electric Works Superfund Site, Operable Unit 2 (OU2) in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. These actions are being taken under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund law. The ROD was signed on September 28, 2005.
On September 8, 2005, EPA and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) held a public meeting in Cape Girardeau to present a proposed plan to address contamination at OU2. A 30-day comment period ran from August 21 through September 19, 2005, but no substantive comments were received from the public. After the comment period closed, EPA selected the remedies and published the ROD. The ROD describes EPA’s selected remedies and is available for review at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.
EPA Region 7 has signed a Record of Decision (ROD) for Remedial Actions that address contaminated groundwater at the Missouri Electric Works Superfund Site, Operable Unit 2 (OU2) in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. These actions are being taken under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund law. The ROD was signed on September 28, 2005.
On September 8, 2005, EPA and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) held a public meeting in Cape Girardeau to present a proposed plan to address contamination at OU2. A 30-day comment period ran from August 21 through September 19, 2005, but no substantive comments were received from the public. After the comment period closed, EPA selected the remedies and published the ROD. The ROD describes EPA’s selected remedies and is available for review at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.
SITE BACKGROUND
The MEW Site is located at 824 South Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. Missouri Electric Works, Inc. conducted a motor and transformer sales and repair business at the site from 1954 through 1992. Transformers which contained polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were stored at the site. EPA discovered PCB contamination in site soils in 1984.
The site was placed on the National Priorities List in 1990. A Remedial Investigation (RI) was conducted at the site during 1989 and 1990. Site soils and adjacent properties were found to be contaminated with PCBs. Groundwater contaminants detected during the RI included volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) and PCBs.
As a Superfund project, the site was divided into three operable units: 1) OU1 focused on contaminated soils and was completed in 2000; 2) OU2 will address groundwater contamination; and 3) OU3 will address ecological risk to the wetland south of the MEW property caused by migrating soil and/or groundwater contamination.
SELECTED REMEDIES
The remedial actions for OU2 address contaminated groundwater in the fractured bedrock and in the alluvium.
Fractured Bedrock Remedy
This remedy includes four components.
Technical Impracticability Waiver -- A waiver for specific Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (ARARs) is needed due to the highly variable and fractured nature of the bedrock in the upland area of the site.
Institutional Controls (ICs) -- ICs, such as a restrictive covenant will be implemented as appropriate to prevent exposure to the contaminated groundwater. Other ICs that might be used include the designation of the area of groundwater contamination as a “special use” area by MDNR, the use of ordinances, inspection regimes, property notices, and/or public information.
Wellhead Treatment Systems -- Activated carbon or air stripper systems will be installed to remove Contaminants of Concern (COCs) from the drinking water supply.
Long-term Groundwater Monitoring – This will be accomplished by obtaining groundwater samples from bedrock wells and performing laboratory analysis on the samples for COCs.
Alluvium Remedy
AL-4 – Primary Remedy
EPA selected AL-4 as the primary remedy to address contamination in the alluvium. This remedy will consist of four components.
Institutional Controls (ICs) -- ICs, such as a restrictive covenant will be implemented as appropriate to prevent exposure to the contaminated groundwater. Other ICs that might be used include the designation of the area of groundwater contamination as a “special use” area by MDNR, the use of ordinances, inspection regimes, property notices, and/or public information.
Wellhead Treatment Systems -- Activated carbon or air stripper systems will be installed to remove COCs from the drinking water supply.
Long-term Groundwater Monitoring – This will be accomplished by obtaining groundwater samples from existing and new alluvial wells. The groundwater samples will be analyzed in the laboratory for COCs.
Enhanced Bio-degradation – Bio-degradation agent(s) to accelerate natural biological processes to degrade or breakdown COCs will be injected into the alluvial groundwater. Installation of injection wells will be required.
AL-5 - Contingent Remedy
AL-5 - EPA selected AL-5 as the contingent remedy to address contamination in the alluvium. AL-5 is the same as AL-4 except that it does not include enhanced bio-degradation as a component.
EPA’s selected remedy (AL-4) for addressing contamination in the alluvium includes an enhanced bio-degradation (EBD) treatment. However, it appears that natural physical, biological, and chemical processes are acting to reduce contaminant levels in this aquifer. EPA expects that quarterly groundwater monitoring will show that these processes are working adequately to address this groundwater contamination. Upon a demonstration that such processes are in fact occurring, which demonstration may be complete within the next year, EPA’s remedy for addressing contamination in the alluvium will convert from AL-4 to AL-5 as EBD treatment will no longer be required to facilitate contaminant degradation.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The ROD and other site-related documents are part of the Administrative Record which is available during regular business hours at the following locations:
Cape Girardeau Public Library
711 N. Clark Street
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:
Dianna Whitaker
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 7
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
913-551-7003, Toll-free 1-800-223-0425
E-mail: whitaker.dianna@epa.gov
