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Fact Sheet
February 2012
Public Availability Session Regarding the Remediation Process at the 10th Street Superfund Site, Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a Public Availability Session to discuss the status of the remediation process, focusing on the installation of vapor mitigation systems.
PUBLIC AVAILABILITY
EPA plans to host a Public Availability Session in February 2012 at the City Council Chambers in Columbus, Nebraska. EPA representatives will discuss the installation of vapor mitigation systems in affected homes and businesses as part of the long-term remediation of the Site.
The Public Availability Session will be held:
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
1369 25th Avenue
Columbus, Nebraska
EPA Region 7 is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting, please notify the EPA Reasonable Accommodations Coordinator, Jonathan Cooper, at 800-223-0425 or cooper.jonathan@epa.gov. Speech or hearing impaired individuals should email or call using the local relay service.
SITE UPDATE
In 2010 and 2011, EPA collected indoor air samples from homes and businesses located in the vicinity of the 10th Street Site. Sample results show that contaminated ground water in the area is likely affecting air quality in certain buildings located above the ground water contaminant plume. The indoor air sampling was a recommendation of the 2010 Five-Year Review.
EPA is planning to offer ventilation systems to affected residents and businesses in the vicinity of the Site. The Public Availability Session will discuss the ventilation systems and long-term Site remediation.
BACKGROUND
The 10th Street Site first came to the attention of the Nebraska Department of Health, now the Nebraska Health and Human Services System (NHHSS), in November 1983 when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected in a routine sampling event of the city's municipal wells. Follow-up analysis of the municipal wells also detected trichloroethene (TCE), a class of VOC, at concentrations exceeding the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for TCE of 5 micrograms per liter (mg/l). The MCLs are established by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
In April 1987, the Site was referred to EPA for investigation. The 10th Street Site was proposed for the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in October 1989 and went final on the NPL in August 1990.
A Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) was conducted by EPA between 1990 and 1993. Potential contaminant sources and the extent of ground water contamination were investigated during the Rl/FS.
EPA issued an interim Record of Decision (ROD) for the 10th Street Operable Unit 2 (OU2) Site in September 2001. The purpose of the interim ROD was to implement an interim remedial action to protect the southern municipal well field from ground water contaminants, prior to implementation of the final Site-wide remedy.
In May 2005, EPA prepared a second FS, entitled "Revised Final Feasibility Study Report," which incorporated the existing Ground Water Extraction and Treatment System (GET) and Air Sparge (AS)/Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) systems into the alternatives considered for the Site-wide remedy for contaminated soil and ground water. These alternatives are presented in this document. All of the investigative work, the May 2005 FS, Baseline Risk Assessment, and other documents in the Administrative Record file may be reviewed for more complete information regarding the history of the Site.
EPA issued another ROD in September 2005 that incorporated the existing GET and AS/SVE system. The ROD also included institutional controls to limit excavation and use of ground water in the affected areas. The ROD also instituted chemical oxidation in the upgradient contaminant plume.
EPA is investigating methods to speed up addressing the contamination in the source areas of the contaminant plume.
ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD
EPA encourages the community to review the Administrative Record which contains information about past cleanup activities and next steps. The Administrative Record is available during normal business hours at the following locations:EPA Records Center
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, Kan.
Columbus Public Library
2504 14th Street
Columbus, Neb.
For more information, please contact:
Ben Washburn
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Toll-free: (800) 223-0425
email: washburn.ben@.epa.gov