1.1.1 Incident Category
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Incident Category:  Groundwater plume site 

1.1.2 Site Description
The following sections provide information on the site location, description of threat, and removal assessment results.

1.1.2.1 Location
The site is a Residential Area bounded by West Vermont Street to the south, Holt Road to the east, West Michigan Street to the north, and North Rybolt Avenue to the west in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.  The site consists of 23 homes that rely upon private drinking water wells as their only sources of water. 

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
In 2009, the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) identified homes in the West Vermont-Cossell Road neighborhood that obtained drinking water from private wells.  MCPHD sampled the wells and detected vinyl chloride in drinking water at three residences at concentrations above the Removal Management Level (RML) (January 2015) of 1.9 micrograms per liter (µg/L) and Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 2 µg/L in groundwater used as a drinking water source 

Vinyl chloride is a hazardous substance, as defined by section 101(14) of CERCLA.   According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the effects of drinking high levels of vinyl chloride are unknown.  However, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has determined that vinyl chloride is a known carcinogen.  In addition to ingestion of contaminated water, there is potential exposure via inhalation of vinyl chloride vapors from  use of contaminated water for cooking, showering, and bathing.  Breathing vinyl chloride for long periods of time can result in permanent liver damage, immune reactions, nerve damage, and liver cancer.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
See previous Pollution Reports (PolRep).

On May 1, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved an action memorandum to conduct a time-critical removal action to connect residential properties to a municipal drinking water supply; properly abandon private drinking water wells; conduct sub-slab and indoor air sampling at residential properties; perform vapor mitigation, as necessary; and transport and dispose off-site any hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants at a CERCLA-approved disposal facility in accordance with U.S. EPA's Off-Site Rule (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] § 300.440).

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
During the reporting period, EPA and its contractors conducted the following activities:

• Completed the connection of all homes to the municipal water system;
• Abandoned/closed all private drinking water wells;
• Completed plumbing connections and bladder tank and/or treatment system removals in all homes, except four;
• Sealed a sump in the basement of the home that had high trichloroethene (TCE) in indoor air; and
• Sampled 12 residential properties for vapor intrusion.  

One property on West Vermont Street had two drinking water wells, one of which was reportedly out-of-service.  On December 17, 2015, the resident reported water in his basement following well abandonment.  EPA's Emergency and Rapid Response (ERRS) contractor observed that water and bentonite were present in the basement in a partially-finished bedroom.  It appeared that water and bentonite entered the basement through an open pipe connected to the out-of-service well.  EPA's contractors removed water and bentonite from the floor using a shop-vac.  The crew used a carpet fan and whole-house high-capacity dehumidifier to remove additional moisture. Additionally, the ERRS contractor replaced the carpet and reimbursed the property owner for damage to electronic equipment. 

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Enforcement strategies are contained in a confidential Enforcement Addendum to the Action Memorandum.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics
Progress metrics include waste generated during assessment activities and previous removal actions.

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
The following sections discuss planned response activities and next steps.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
During the next reporting period, EPA will evaluate vapor intrusion results to determine if additional work is necessary.  If sealing the basement sump prevents the migration of TCE into indoor air, EPA may not need to install a vapor mitigation system. Additionally, EPA will attempt to complete plumbing connections and bladder tank/treatment system removal in all homes.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
See above.

2.2.2 Issues
See Section 2.1.2.

* The above accounting of expenditures is an estimate based on figures known to the OSC at the time this report was written. The OSC does not necessarily receive specific figures on final payments made to any contractor(s). Other financial data which the OSC must rely upon may not be entirely up-to-date. The cost accounting provided in this report does not necessarily represent an exact monetary figure which the government may include in any claim for cost recovery.