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Fact Sheet

July 2006

EPA Announces Proposed Plan/Public Meeting Parkview Well Superfund Site, Grand Island, Nebraska

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a proposed plan to address ground water contamination at the Parkview Well Superfund Site in Grand Island, Nebraska.

The proposed plan recommends interim remedial actions that will prevent unacceptable exposures to ground water contamination and to protect public and private drinking water supply wells. Further studies will allow EPA and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) to identify goals for cleaning up the source area of the ground water contamination.

EPA is asking for your comments on the proposed plan. Although EPA is recommending an action to address the contamination, a final decision will not be made until EPA reviews comments from the public. After the comments are evaluated, EPA will make a decision, which will be published in a Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will also include a summary of EPA's responses to the comments received during the public comment period.

THE CONTAMINANTS

Ground water contamination was discovered in 1999 through investigations of the public water supply system by the Nebraska Health and Human Services System. Industrial chemicals (chlorinated solvents) are the contaminants of concern. This site is best described as consisting of two ground water plumes. The Northern Study Area Plume originates on the Case New Holland facility. The Southern Plume originates on the Industrial Services Corporation facility. The Northern Study Area Plume does not contain chlorinated solvent contamination above Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) east of the Case New Holland facility and west of the Parkview Subdivision. The Southern Plume, extending from the Industrial Services Corporation facility, contains chlorinated solvents exceeding SDWA MCLs and extends into the Parkview subdivision.

THE RECOMMENDATION

EPA's recommendation for the interim remedy includes the following components of the preferred alternative:

  1. The ground water plume will be contained through ground water extraction wells, treatment via carbon adsorption, and discharge of the treated water to the surface.
  1. Alternate water supplies will be provided to residents with wells affected above health-based levels.
  1. Ground water use restrictions will be used to the extent possible.
  1. Monitored natural attenuation including long-term monitoring will be implemented to assess the remediation of the plume.

ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

A full comparison of the interim remedial alternatives appears in the Feasibility Study Report, which can be found in the administrative record file for the site. A summary of the interim remedial alternatives evaluated in that report is presented below.

Alternative 1 – No Action

Alternative 2 – Ground water Use Restrictions and Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA)

Alternative 3 – In Situ Remediation via Ozone Sparging for Containment and MNA

Alternative 4 – Extraction Well Installation for Containment and MNA

Alternative 5 – Permeable Reactive Barrier for Containment and MNA

SOURCE REMOVAL

EPA plans to conduct further studies and intends to propose a remedial action for the source area of the Southern Plume at a later date.

PROTECTION OF THE AQUIFER

The preferred alternative has been designed to prevent further contaminant migration at OU1 and to achieve interim goals within the shortest amount of time. The preferred alternative represents proven, practical, and cost-effective technologies that can achieve the interim remedial action objectives and will contribute to achieving the final remedial action objectives.

Actual performance of the interim action will be carefully monitored in accordance with the monitoring plans to be developed. The preferred alternative involves evaluation of ground water sampling data during the design activities. The EPA expects the monitoring data to confirm that interim action goals are being achieved. If not, EPA and the State will reconsider the remedy decision. Reviews at least every five years, as required by CERCLA, would be necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of any of these alternatives if hazardous substances would remain on-site in concentrations above health-based levels.

PUBLIC MEETING AND COMMENT PERIOD

EPA will hold a public meeting to provide information on the proposed plan for the Parkview Well Superfund Site. The public meeting will be held:

Thursday, July 27, 2006
7:00 p.m.
Grand Island City Hall
100 First Street
Grand Island, Nebraska

EPA will take comments on the Parkview Well Proposed Plan through August 6, 2006. Comments may be made at the public meeting, or sent to the EPA address listed below:

Beckie Himes
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of External Programs
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
Fax: 913-551-7066
E-mail: himes.beckie@epa.gov

Staff members involved at the site will be available to answer your questions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The proposed plan and other site-related documents provide details of the nature and extent of contamination and the work that has been completed at the site. These documents are part of the Administrative Record File, available during regular business hours at the following locations:

Edith Abbot Memorial Library
211 N. Washington
Grand Island, NE  68801

EPA Records Center
Region 7
901 N. 5th St.
Kansas City, KS  66101

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact:

Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 7, Office of External Programs
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
913-551-7003
Toll-Free 1-800-223-0425
E-mail: himes.beckie@epa.gov

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