Bloomington PCB cleanup project
Introduction
The Westinghouse Electric Corporation is the responsible party for the Bloomington PCB Cleanup Project under the Federal/USEPA Superfund Program. Westinghouse became CBS in May 1997. CBS became Viacom in May 2000. Viacom became CBS on January 1, 2006. After several years of negotiations between Westinghouse and the governmental parties (USEPA, State of Indiana, City of Bloomington and Monroe County) a Consent Decree (CD) for this cleanup project was signed.
The Monroe County Board of Health is the designated Monroe County representative for the Consent Decree. A senior staff member of the Monroe County Health Department is appointed as the Monroe County PCB Project Manager by the Monroe County Commissioners. Each party to this agreement has an assigned project manager. The approved 1985 Consent Decree and the 1994 Operating Principles are the legal documents for this remediation project. A Consent Decree Amendment (CDA) was approved by the Federal Court in 2009.
Historical Site Summaries
Winston Thomas Wastewater Treatment Facility: All removal and remediation activities at this site were completed by December 31, 1999. A long term groundwater monitoring plan (LTGWMP) and an investigation study were developed by Viacom in 2002. The governmental parties reviewed and approved the LTGWMP in 2002. Approved activities began in 2003 and continued into 2004. Semi-annual groundwater monitoring and sampling is conducted at the Abandoned Lagoon Spring, the on-site monitoring wells and in Clear Creek during non-storm events.
Interim Storage Facility (ISF) at Winston Thomas: The ISF is now being used as a project support area for the long term monitoring activities and investigative studies. According to the 2009 CDA, the ISF must be decontaminated and decommissioned by CBS with approval from the governmental parties. Demolition is planned for 2010.
Illinois Central Spring/Quarry Springs: During 2007, the USEPA and IDEM continued operating the ICS water treatment facility near the Illinois Central Spring (ICS)/Quarry Springs (QS) area to treat this contaminated groundwater. Construction began in June 1999 and the facility was operational in May 2000. New water storage tanks were installed in 2001. As part of the 2009 CDA, CBS is currently operating the facility.
Lemon Lane Landfill: CBS/Viacom developed and conducted a natural-potential survey of the groundwater flow around this site in 1999. The survey was done to map possible groundwater conduits conducting water to the landfill site, and to find likely pathways connecting the landfill to Illinois Central Spring, where PCBs have been detected. Additional survey work continued in 2005. Several pump tests were implemented in 2005. A LTGWMP was submitted by Viacom in late 2002 and was approved by the governmental parties in early 2003. Monthly groundwater samples are collected in ICS and stream. A series of flush and pump tests were conducted in 2004 in an attempt to locate the underground source of PCB contaminated groundwater. Sampling of fish, water and sediment in Clear Creek was performed in November 2005. Sediment sampling of Clear Creek was also conducted in June and July 2005. On July 13, 2006, USEPA conducted a public meeting on the “Proposed Water Overflow Treatment for Clear Creek.” A total of four alternative cleanup plans for managing and cleaning up contaminated underground water supplies for Operable Unit 2/Groundwater were evaluated. The preferred alternative by EPA is number four. This plan includes increase bulk storm water storage to 2.4 million gallons from 1.2 million gallons and two work projects modifications A and B.
Neal's Landfill: A long term groundwater monitoring program was submitted by Viacom in 2002. The program was reviewed and approved by the governmental parties in 2002. An additional spring collection system was installed in Conard’s Branch in December 2002. The Groundwater Investigation Study report was submitted in October 2003 and approved in early 2004. A basin observation study was conducted in 2004. Sediment sampling in Conard’s Branch and Richland Creek was performed in the last quarter of 2004. An additional fish sampling event was also completed in late 2005. A sinkhole/cave near the Northwest Spring System was excavated in September 2004. A “Proposed Plan/ROD” is still being discussed.
Bennett’s Dump: A long term groundwater monitoring plan was submitted by Viacom and reviewed and approved by the governmental parties in 2002. In 2003, this plan was being implemented by Viacom with oversight by the governmental parties. Various activities continued into 2006. Quarterly samples were collected in the springs and stream. Semi-annual sampling of monitoring wells MW6i and MW 6d was performed. A public meeting was held February 14, 2006 by USEPA and IDEM on the “Proposed Plan for the Record of Decision Amendment Operable Units Two and Three for the Bennett’s Dump Superfund Site.” A total of five remedial alternatives to address groundwater and surface water contamination were evaluated. The preferred alternative for the cleanup by EPA is Alternative 5. This alternative includes a passive quarry drain system with installation of a groundwater interceptor trench with carbon treatment.
Phase 1 Project Summary: Source control activities at the six Consent Decree sites and other non-CD sites have been on going since 1983. As of January 1, 2005, a total of 14, 422 capacitors have been recovered and transported for TSCA incineration. A total of 326, 607.57 tons of TSCA waste has been removed and disposed of at TSCA landfills. A total of 4, 303.36 tons of non-TSCA waste materials have been removed and disposed of at non-TSCA landfills. A total of approximately 50,000,000 gallons of water has been treated. A total of 28, 771 vehicle tires have been processed. An additional 145, 200 tons of low level contaminated materials have been consolidated under RCRA caps. During 2007, additional fish studies were conducted for Clear Creek, Stout’s Creek and Richland Creek waterways. The ABB plant was demolished.
Phase 2 Future Activities in 2008 and beyond: The approved long term groundwater monitoring plans (LTGWMPs) are being conducted at Neal’s Landfill, Winston Thomas, Bennett’s Dump and Lemon Lane Landfill sites. The plans for four sites were developed and approved during 2002. In addition to the LTGWMPs, some of the sites are conducting an investigation plan/study of the groundwater basins. Based on the results for each investigative study, additional action plans may be required for future remediation activities. This project will probably continue for the next twenty to thirty years, using the USEPA approved five-year review process.
Status reports were filed with the Federal Court in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. These reports included Phase 2 tasks to be conducted in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and a timetable for completing this project. Additional future tasks to be performed include: (1) Storm event sampling; (2) Sediment sampling; (3) Completion of groundwater studies; (4) Treatability studies for remediation of groundwater; (5) Focused ecological risk assessments; (6) Human health risk assessments; (7) Review of Federal and State environmental laws; (8) Focused feasibility studies; (9) Surface water diversion feasibility study; (10) Groundwater remediation activities; (11) Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs); (12) Proposed Work Plans; and (13) Record of Decisions (RODs) Amendments for each remaining site.
PCB Cleanup Global Settlement: A PCB settlement agreement was filed in February 2008 with the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis. CBS Corporation has agreed to pay more than $31 million to settle all liability for the Bloomington PCB Cleanup Project. The settlement amends the original PCB Consent Decree from August 1985. The court ruled and approved the CDA in 2009. Once approved, remediation operations are scheduled to begin in 2010 at Bennett’s Dump, Lemon Lane Landfill/ICSTP and Neal’s Landfill sites. The Monroe County Commissioners approved Resolution 2008-07 agreeing with the settlement filed with the Federal Court.
Remediation Site work in 2009
ABB/Westinghouse Bloomington Plant Site Project: A “Groundwater and Surface Water Investigation Plan” for this site was submitted in March 2008. The soil investigation plan was completed in 2008. A Remediation Work Plan was submitted in December 2008. The plan addresses the soil remediation and removal of the concrete slab floor. The work plan also includes the project Health & Safety plan, the Sampling and Analysis plan and the Air Monitoring Plan. The work plan was approved, and the remediation work started in May 2009 and was completed by December 2009. Final site activities were completed in August 2010.
Area Landfill Cleanups Planned In 2010-2011
Work is under way on the design of cleanups at the Lemon Lane Landfill, Bennett’s Dump and Neal’s Landfill. The Westinghouse/ABB site is the source of PCB-contamination at the Bloomington area landfills.
At Lemon Lane Landfill, a soil and sediment cleanup for PCBs in areas near the Illinois Central Spring water treatment plant is scheduled to be completed in December 2010. A sampling and analysis plan has been developed. Once weather conditions permit, sampling will begin in the area near the Illinois Central Springs water treatment plant. Results of this sampling will help determine how much soil must be dug up and in what location. Also, under development is the design for expanding the water treatment plant from treating 1,000 gallons per minute of PCB-contaminated water to 6,000 gallons per minute. The expansion is expected to be completed in 2011.
At Bennett’s Dump, the design of the passive quarry drain is nearly complete. Construction is expected to begin sometime in March 2010, depending on the weather. The drain will be used to lower the amount of water in quarries surrounding the site, which will help reduce the amount of water flowing from springs contaminated with PCBs. After installation of the passive drain, EPA will study how the drain affects the flow of these springs. The springs flow into Stout’s Creek. If EPA finds that PCBs continue to flow into Stout’s Creek, the water will be collected and treated in a water treatment plant to be built on site.
At Neal’s Landfill, planning documents have been prepared. Later in 2010, sediment sampling will begin in a small creek called Conard’s Branch. Cleanup of sediment in Conard’s Branch is expected to take place in 2011.
Web-based information resources for Project:
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Coalition Opposed to PCB ash in Monroe County Indiana
Please contact Dennis at 349-2072 with any additional questions.