![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Fact Sheet
May 2008
EPA Announces Proposed Plan, Second Street Subsite, Operable Unit 12, Hastings Ground Water Contamination Site, Hastings, Nebraska
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a proposed plan to amend the Record of Decision (ROD) which addresses contaminated soils and source materials (Operable Unit 12) at the Second Street Subsite of the Hastings Ground Water Contamination Site, Hastings, Nebraska. The ROD was issued September 21, 2006.
The Proposed Plan recommends changes to the selected remedy that will protect human health by eliminating exposure to contaminated soils and source materials, and addressing contaminants in the ground water.
EPA is asking for your comments on the Proposed Plan. Although EPA, in consultation with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ), is recommending an amendment to the action to address the contamination, a final decision will not be made until EPA reviews comments from the public.
A 30-day public comment period will run from May 28 until June 27, 2008. If requested, a public meeting will be held to explain the Proposed Plan. Written comments will be accepted until June 27, 2008. After all comments are evaluated, EPA will make a decision, which will be published in an Amendment to the ROD (Amendment).
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Written comments must be postmarked no later than June 27, 2008, and should be sent to:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
himes.beckie@epa.gov
If requested, EPA and NDEQ will hold a public meeting to give the community the opportunity to make public comments on the Proposed Plan for the Second Street Subsite of the Hastings Ground Water Contamination Site, Operable Unit 12.
The Amendment will also include a summary of EPA's responses to the comments received during the public comment period.
THE CONTAMINANTS
Contaminants primarily are BTEXs (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ROD
EPA's recommendation includes actions to prevent exposure to the contaminated soils and source materials, and address contaminants in ground water. The proposed changes include:
Active Treatment of Ground Water- EPA proposes to include ground water remediation as part of the selected remedy. (Treatment of ground water was implied in the ROD discussion of in-situ chemical oxidation because the chemicals are injected into the soils and the ground water. Costing of the selected remedy took the ground water treatment into account.)
- The federal Safe Drinking Water Act, which defines safe drinking water standards at the tap, is proposed as an ARAR.
- Nebraska Title 118, which establishes procedures including anti-degradation clauses and numerical standards for contaminants introduced to ground water, is proposed as an ARAR for cleanup standards.
- EPA proposes a cleanup level for 2-methylnapthalene.
- EPA proposes to amend soil cleanup levels for ground water protection to address errors published in the original ROD.
- EPA proposes a change from residential to industrial use because there are no reasonably anticipated residential uses at the Subsite.
- In order to accommodate the change in use, EPA proposes to add an environmental covenant consistent with the Nebraska Uniform Environmental Covenants Act as an institutional control.
- EPA proposes to add ground water cleanup levels for monitoring the progress of ground water restoration efforts.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Proposed Plan and other subsite-related documents provide details of the nature and extent of contamination and the work that has been completed at the subsite. These documents are part of the Administrative Record, available during regular business hours at the following locations:
Hastings Public Library
4th and Denver Streets
Hastings, Nebraska
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 7
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
913-551-7253, Toll-free 1-800-223-0425
E-mail: himes.beckie@epa.gov
