Region 8
Serving Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 Tribal Nations
Superfund Program
National Information
Regional Information
Site Information
National Priorities List (NPL) History
Proposed Date
5/11/2000
Final Date
12/1/2000
Lockwood Solvent Ground Water Plume Site
Billings, Montana, Yellowstone County,
Congressional District: At large
EPA ID# MT0007623052
SITE DESCRIPTION
The Lockwood Solvent Ground Water Plume Site (LSGPS) is located on the outskirts of Billings, Montana and consists of chlorinated solvent contamination in soils and groundwater. The groundwater contamination underlies approximately 580 acres. The primary contaminants of concern are the volatile organic compounds tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), dichloroethene (DCE), vinyl chloride (VC), and carbon tetrachloride. Based on current data, the contaminated groundwater plume is estimated to extend from the Beall Trailers of Montana property on the south and Brickyard Road and Klenck Lane on the east, to the Yellowstone River on the north and west. The LSGPS was proposed for placement on the National Priorities List (NPL) in May 2000. The public comment period ended July 11, 2000, and final listing occurred on December 1, 2000.
SITE RISKS
In June 1998, DEQ performed an integrated assessment focusing on the collection of samples up-gradient of the Lockwood Water and Sewer District Treatment Plant wells and numerous petroleum release sites. As a precautionary measure, DEQ personnel also collected 14 groundwater samples from residential wells in the northern portion (Lomond Lane Area) of the currently identified LSGPS. Results from this study and subsequent sampling tentatively identified Beall Trailers of Montana, Inc. (Beall) as a potential source for TCE and its chemical breakdown products in the groundwater. In addition, 9 residential wells, mainly in the Lomond Lane Area, exceeded MCLs for PCE, TCE, cis-1,2-DCE, VC, and/or carbon tetrachloride.
DEQ immediately provided bottled water to residents whose wells contained groundwater contaminants exceeding or approaching MCLs. DEQ then requested EPA to provide whole-house alternative water, control the sources of groundwater contamination, perform indoor air quality investigations and mitigation (if necessary), continue groundwater monitoring, and proceed with preparation of a Hazard Ranking System (HRS) package for the LSGPS to evaluate whether NPL listing was warranted.
During the summer of 2000, the EPA's Emergency Removal Program extended the LWSD public water supply (PWS) to the Lomond Lane Area, and 14 residences were connected to the PWS by August 2000. Groundwater monitoring occurred periodically beginning in the fall of 1999, continues today, and will continue into the future.
A PCE source investigation in the Lomond Lane area began in September 1999, and available data suggested a potential PCE source on the property of Brenntag West Inc. (formerly known as hci Dyce Chemical Inc.).
Between September 1999 and April 2000, the indoor air from seven homes in the Lomond Lane area was tested for the presence of chlorinated solvent vapors. EPA performed vapor mitigation in two homes, and post-mitigation sampling indicated a reduction of PCE vapors to concentrations below screening levels. DEQ expanded and continued the indoor air sampling program from April 2001 through January 2002.
During the summer of 2002, TtEMI conducted field work as outlined in the Remedial Investigation Work Plan. In addition to the collection of groundwater, surface water, and soil samples, 62 monitoring wells were installed as part of the RI field activities. In June 2003, DEQ released the Final Remedial Investigation Report, including the Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessments. Remedial Investigation Executive Summary.
From the results of the Remedial Investigation, DEQ evaluated potential remedial alternatives and the detailed analysis is presented in the Final Feasibility Study. The Proposed Plan (VERY large PDF file - 2.9 MB) is a summary of the Feasibility Study; in which DEQ and EPA identify the preferred actions for clean up at the LSGPS. DEQ held a public meeting during a public comment period to receive public information and comments on the Proposed Plan. DEQ and EPA will then decide upon a final remedy and documented the final cleanup decisions in a Record of Decision based on all information contained in the Administrative Record and comments and information received during the public comment period for the Proposed Plan.
Now that the Record of Decision is finalized, the DEQ and EPA will proceed with actions necessary to design and implement the remedy. DEQ, EPA, or potentially responsible parties may implement the remedial design and remedial action. Any work conducted by potentially responsible parties will be under the direct oversight of DEQ and EPA.
| Media Affected | Contaminants | Source of Contamination |
| Ground water, sediment, surface water, soils | chlorinated solvent contamination |
CLEANUP PROGRESS
Negotiations with the identified Responsible Parties to determine how the Record of Decision (ROD) will be implemented has begun.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Beginning in June 1998, DEQ asked residents to allow samples of water to be taken from private, residential, commercial, and industrial wells. On September 18, 1998, DEQ issued a news release advising residents of Lomond Lane and Doon Avenue their well water contained high levels of chlorinated solvents, including one solvent known to cause cancer and several probable human carcinogens, and advised the residents not to drink the water. DEQ and EPA held a public meeting on May 12, 1999, at the Lockwood School to report on recent investigations into groundwater contamination. In December 1999, EPA discussed its removal program activities at a public meeting in Lockwood.
DEQ personnel interviewed home and business owners in Lockwood from January 16 to 18, 2001, and then prepared a Community Involvement Plan in October 2001. The Community Involvement Plan identifies issues of concern to the local community regarding the LSGPS. Staff members from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conducted interviews and an availability session in Lockwood on January 18, 2001, to provide a foundation for a Public Health Assessment and to guide ATSDR in planning their future activities at the LSGPS.
DEQ held two public meetings announcing the release of the Remedial Investigation Report (TtEMI 2003a) in June 2003. The public meetings provided citizens a summary of the findings of the Remedial Investigation, the conclusions of the Risk Assessment, and an opportunity for their questions to be answered. The Feasibility Study (TtEMI 2004) was released in August 2004. Both documents can be found in the Administrative Record file and the information repository maintained at the MSU-Billings Library. DEQ mailed postcards to all interested parties announcing the availability of these two documents and provided newspaper ads in the Billings Gazette and Billings Outpost announcing the public meetings.
DEQ and EPA released the Proposed Plan (DEQ 2004) for public comment on November 15, 2004. DEQ and EPA accepted written comments through January 14, 2005. DEQ provided a direct mailing to interested parties that included either a copy of the Proposed Plan or a postcard announcing the public comment period and encouraging individuals to visit the Administrative Record for a copy of the Proposed Plan. DEQ also provided a press release, newspaper ads, and television interviews. DEQ and EPA held a public meeting and hearing on Thursday, December 2, 2004, at the Lockwood School. DEQ presented the Preferred Alternative and moderated the public hearing during which the public verbally submitted comments, recorded by a court reporter, on the Proposed Plan. Approximately 20 people attended. All comments submitted to DEQ before January 14, 2005, are addressed in Part 3, Responsiveness Summary, of this Record of Decision.
DOCUMENTS
On Wednesday, August 24, 2005, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Record of Decision for the Lockwood Solvent Ground Water Plume Superfund Site. The Record of Decision details DEQ's and EPA's final determination for the components of the Selected Remedy for cleanup at the site. Such components include excavation and thermal treatment, soil vapor extraction, and in-situ chemical oxidation of contaminated soils, and containment and treatment of contaminated groundwater with enhanced bioremediation and a treatment barrier.
The ROD contains 3 parts: Part One: The Declaration (4 page legal summary which DEQ and EPA signed); Part Two: Decision Summary (fully describes the selected remedy, including information leading to this decision); and Part Three: Responsiveness Summary (public comments and responses to those comments). The Record of Decision, and the associated tables, appendices, and figures are provided as PDF files (About PDF) in the following links:
Record of Decision for the Lockwood Solvent Ground Water Plume Superfund Site
Appendix A | Appendix B | Appendix C
All tables from the RODFigure 1 | Figure 2 | Figure 3 | Figure 4 | Figure 5 (VERY large PDF file - 3.7 MB)
Figure 6 | Figure 7 | Figure 8 | Figure 9 | Figure 10 | Figure 11
On Monday, November 15, 2004, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a Proposed Plan for the Lockwood Solvent Ground Water Plume Superfund Site. The Proposed Plan recommends aggressive source area groundwater and soil clean up, enhanced with site-wide groundwater remediation. DEQ held a public meeting during a public comment period to receive public information and comments on the Proposed Plan. DEQ and EPA accepted public comment on the Proposed Plan through January 14, 2005. DEQ and EPA responses to those comments, along with the Selected Remedy for the site, can be found in the Record of Decision.
Lockwood Solvent Ground Water Plume Site Proposed Plan (VERY large PDF file - 2.9 MB)
Click to open the text-only section of the Feasibility Study (Note: this is a large PDF file, 175 pages, 587 kB)
About PDF files
Remedial Investigation Report, June 2003 (PDF, 249 pp, 634 kB)
Note: the FS does not include figures, tables or appendices. To obtain copies of any additional documents related to the Feasibility Study, please contact Catherine LeCours at 406-841-5040 or clecours@mt.gov.
CONTACTS
EPASusan MittelstadtEPA Remedial Project Manager U.S. EPA, Region 8 Montana Office 10 W. 15th St.; Suite 3200 Helena, MT 59626 (406) 457-5019 or toll-free (866) 457-2690 mittelstadt.susan@epa.gov |
Montana Department of Environmental QualityCatherine LeCours |
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View Documents at: Montana State University - Billings Montana DEQ |
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