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Fact Sheet
July 2007
Third Five-Year Review Completed, Hastings Ground Water Contamination Superfund Site, Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts regular checkups, called five-year reviews, on Superfund sites where cleanups are in progress or have been completed. These reviews are required by the Superfund law [42 U.S.C. Section 9621 (c)] to make sure the cleanups remain protective of human health and the environment. EPA Region 7 and the city of Hastings have completed the third five-year review of the Hastings Ground Water Contamination Superfund Site in Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska.
Availability Session
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Hastings Public Library Auditorium
4 to 6 p.m.
EPA project managers will hold an informal availability session to discuss the findings of the five-year review, the site response actions conducted to date and the next steps for the site cleanup.
SITE BACKGROUND
EPA began investigating sources of ground water contamination in the Hastings area in 1984, after high levels of contaminants were found in three municipal wells used to supply drinking water to the public. The contamination occurred primarily as a result of releases of hazardous substances from a former coal gasification plant, solvents from local industries, and grain fumigants from grain storage facilities. In 1986, the site was placed on the National Priorities List, a list of sites in the nation eligible for investigation and remediation under the Superfund Program.
The Hastings Ground Water Contamination site (HGWCS) covers the central industrial area of the city of Hastings and areas outside the city limits. For purposes of investigation and remediation, the site was divided into seven subsites. The names of these subsites identify their location within the Hastings area and are known as:
North Landfill Well Number 3
Second Street South Landfill
Former Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD).
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is conducting the five-year review for the former NAD while EPA conducted the five-year review for the remainder of the HGWCS.
EPA is coordinating multiple response actions at the subsites. The actions taken, or planned, serve to prevent exposure to the contamination and to reduce contamination at each of the subsites so the ground water quality will meet the federal safe drinking water standards.
FIVE-YEAR REVIEW PROCESS
During this third five-year review, EPA and the city of Hastings reviewed site operations and maintenance records, monitoring data, and other reports and inspected each of the subsites of the HGWCS. A technical assessment was done to determine if the remedies are performing as intended. The assessment also compared actual costs with estimated remedy costs. In addition, the assessment sought to ensure targeted cleanup levels are protective of human health and the environment and that the remedy meets state and federal requirements.
EPA evaluated the progress made since the last five-year review and identified potential issues and follow-up actions to address these. EPA and the city of Hastings prepared a Five-Year Review Report that documents this review.
RESULTS OF THE FIVE-YEAR REVIEW
EPA believes the remedies continue to protect human health and the environment because current and future property owners are prohibited from domestic use of ground water unless it is demonstrated through sampling that the ground water is suitable for use. However, additional monitoring is necessary to confirm the protectiveness of these actions. Target cleanup levels for several of the subsites are interim levels and are not considered protective over the long-term.
The long-term effectiveness of the remedies cannot be ascertained because final remedies have not been selected or implemented at all of the subsites.
There have been no changes to the physical condition of the site or the surrounding land use that would affect the remedy.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The five-year review report and the complete site administrative record can be reviewed at the following locations during normal business hours:
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, Kan.
Hastings Public Library
517 W. Fourth St.
Hastings, Neb.
Questions or requests for information about the five-year review process can be submitted to:
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Toll free: (800) 223-0425
E-mail: hirter.fritz@epa.gov
