1.1.1 Incident Category
Time Critical Removal
1.1.2 Site Description

The Town of Pines bounds about 330 homes, a small number of parks, a playground, open space as a part of the railroad right-of-way, schools, and public buildings. Some properties in or near the town have levels of arsenic and/or thallium elevated above EPA RMLs and preliminary data indicate that some properties also have levels of lead elevated above EPA RMLs. The source for the arsenic, thallium, and lead contamination is coal combustion residuals used as fill materials around the Town of Pines during (but possibly not limited to) the 1970's. The coal combustion residuals were generated by the Michigan City Power Generation Station was owned and operated by NIPSCO.

The Town of Pines has a population of roughly 700 people and is primarily a residential community with some commercial (e.g., restaurants, gas stations, motels, etc.) and industrial (e.g., Illiana Block) land use, in addition to undeveloped and/or open space areas such as parks/playgrounds, wetland/swamp areas, wooded areas, ponds, and drainage ditches. Until 2004, drinking water for the residences and businesses in the Town of Pines was supplied through domestic (private) wells located on individual properties which pumped groundwater from the shallow surficial aquifer and/or the deeper confined aquifers. Additionally, there is no sewer service in the Town of Pines, so all septic wastes are presumed to be discharged to individual, subsurface septic systems.
1.1.2.1 Location
The site includes the
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

The threat is exposure to elevated levels of arsenic, thallium and lead from coal combustion residuals that were used as fill material. Arsenic, thallium and lead are hazardous substances as defined in Section 101(14) of CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 101(14), and as designated in 40 CFR § 302(4) and Table 302.4.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

In September 2001, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) conducted groundwater sampling at several private drinking wells throughout the Town of Pines, Indiana. The analytical results showed elevated levels of boron and molybdenum in some residential wells. In May 2002, EPA sampled more than 100 drinking water wells in the Town of Pines. Laboratory analysis of these samples showed that drinking water wells at 30 homes and businesses in the Pines community were contaminated with elevated levels of boron and/or molybdenum that exceeded removal action levels (standard used prior to Removal Management levels or RMLs). An alternative water supply was provided for these homes. A subsequent groundwater investigation identified the source of the contamination to be from a state-permitted landfill located in the Town of Pines. The landfill, Yard 520, received coal ash from the power generation plant in Michigan City, Indiana that was and is owned and operated by NIPSCO (Michigan City Power Generation Station). As a result, NIPSCO and the other Potential Responsible Parties (PRP's) entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC I) with EPA to install a municipal waterline for the residents with impacted drinking water. In April 2004, a second AOC (AOC II) was signed by the PRPs that required a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS for AOC II or RI/FS) for the Town of Pines Groundwater Plume Site, which is currently on-going.

Utilizing town records from the 1970s, anecdotal irrformation from residents, visual inspections conducted during the municipal water line installation, among other means, dozens of residential and municipal properties located at the Site have been identified as having accepted fly ash, bottom ash, or other coal combustion byproducts or residuals (coal combustion residuals) from the Michigan City Power Generation Station for use as fill material. Due to concerns about the historical use of such materials and as a part of the RI/FS under AOC II, NIPSCO's contractor conducted a residential radiation survey and supplemental soil sampling in November 2014 at nine of these properties, including residential properties and properties owned by the Town of Pines. Soil samples were collected and analyzed under an EPA approved sampling plan (the Supplemental Soil Characterization Work Plan) and Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). Soil sample results indicated elevated levels of arsenic and thallium. In total, seven of nine properties have arsenic levels above background, but only five of those have arsenic levels exceeding the RML of 67 mg/kg. In addition, several properties had thallium levels exceeding the RML of 2.3 mg/kg. Preliminary lead data collected at four of the nine properties have lead levels above the RML of 400 mg/kg. 

2.1.1 Narrative
On June 6, 2016, Entact, contractor to NISPCO, mobilized lead personnel to the site to begin preparing the site for removal actions scheduled to start on June 7.  During the week of May 31, initial site work was performed to remove trees and install site security measures at the first property.  Haley & Aldrich, technical contractors to NISPCO, were onsite to collecting background air samples and documenting pre-removal site and road conditions.

On June 6th, Entact mobilized in heavy equipment and field personnel to the site to begin removal actions.

There are 13 properties scheduled for a removal action. These properties will be remediated one at a time.  Work will be limited to Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5 pm. 

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

­GS042    ­(Start Date: 6/07/15  Completion: TBD)

• Obtain property owner approval for pre-design survey work - COMPLETED

• Conduct subsurface utility survey- COMPLETED

• Conduct site topographic and property boundary survey- COMPLETED

• Conduct landscape inventory- COMPLETED

• Complete Design Drawings and obtain USEPA approval- COMPLETED

• Obtain property owner approval for removal work- COMPLETED

• Photo document pre-excavation conditions- COMPLETED

• Conduct building condition survey, if applicable- COMPLETED

• Mobilize for construction- COMPLETED

• Install site security and access controls- COMPLETED

• Install erosion and sedimentation controls- COMPLETED

• Establish construction controls and facilities- COMPLETED

• Establish decontamination facilities for personnel and equipment- COMPLETED

• Clear and grub - COMPLETED

• Conduct excavation activities - ONGOING

• Conduct confirmation sampling - ONGOING

• Place a marker barrier in excavations where target materials remain in place - ONGOING

• Backfill excavation – ONGOING

• Complete landscape restoration – NOT STARTED

• Demobilize – NOT STARTED

Excavation activities commenced on the eastern half of the property and near the utilities.  A small excavator and hand digging were utilized in the immediate vicinity of the utilities.  Excavation has been completed through Quadrant B and D.  Crews are working to remove the remaining material in Quadrants A and C. Three confirmation samples were collected in quadrants that reached the dig depth or where field screening result were below the threshold.  Excavation activities are expected to be completed for GS042 by 6/27/16.

GS014   ­(Start Date: 6/17/15  Completion: TBD)

• Obtain property owner approval for pre-design survey work - COMPLETED

• Conduct subsurface utility survey- COMPLETED

• Conduct site topographic and property boundary survey- COMPLETED

• Conduct landscape inventory- COMPLETED

• Complete Design Drawings and obtain USEPA approval- COMPLETED

• Obtain property owner approval for removal work- COMPLETED

• Photo document pre-excavation conditions- COMPLETED

• Conduct building condition survey, if applicable- COMPLETED

• Mobilize for construction- COMPLETED

• Install site security and access controls- COMPLETED

• Install erosion and sedimentation controls- ONGOING

• Establish construction controls and facilities- ONGOING

• Establish decontamination facilities for personnel and equipment- ONGOING

• Clear and grub - ONGOING

• Conduct excavation activities - NOT STARTED

• Conduct confirmation sampling - NOT STARTED

• Place a marker barrier in excavations where target materials remain in place - NOT STARTED

• Backfill excavation – NOT STARTED

• Complete landscape restoration – NOT STARTED

• Demobilize – NOT STARTED

Site security measures have been constructed and surveyors have been on the property to conduct a pre-excavation elevation survey.   Excavation activities will begin the week of 6/26/16.

 GS037    ­(Start Date: 6/15/15  Completion: TBD)

• Obtain property owner approval for pre-design survey work - COMPLETED

• Conduct subsurface utility survey- COMPLETED

• Conduct site topographic and property boundary survey- COMPLETED

• Conduct landscape inventory- COMPLETED

• Complete Design Drawings and obtain USEPA approval- COMPLETED

• Obtain property owner approval for removal work- COMPLETED

• Photo document pre-excavation conditions- COMPLETED

• Conduct building condition survey, if applicable- COMPLETED

• Mobilize for construction- COMPLETED

• Install site security and access controls- COMPLETED

• Install erosion and sedimentation controls- COMPLETED

• Establish construction controls and facilities- COMPLETED

• Establish decontamination facilities for personnel and equipment- COMPLETED

• Clear and grub - COMPLETED

• Conduct excavation activities - ONGOING

• Conduct confirmation sampling - ONGOING

• Place a marker barrier in excavations where target materials remain in place - NOT STARTED 

• Backfill excavation – NOT STARTED

• Complete landscape restoration – NOT STARTED

• Demobilize – NOT STARTED

  Excavations activities have been completed in Quadrant B have been completed.  Crews are working on removing additional material in Quadrant A.  A confirmation sample was collected from Quadrant B.

 2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

NIPSCO is the identified PRP 

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

170 loads of soil were hauled off-site from 6/13 to 6/17.

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Continue regularly project call

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Sequencing of Events for Each Removal Action:

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

2.5.1 Safety Officer
Entact - Jerry Overton

2.5.2 Liaison Officer
USEPA - Eileen Deamer

2.5.3 Information Officer

 USEPA - Sue Pastor and Rachel Bassler

 NIPSCO - Nick Meyer and Angie Nelson

3.1 Unified Command

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

• IDEM
• Town of Pines
• National Park Service
• US Fish and Wildlife

Onsite Staff:

• EPA - 2
• START - 2
• NIPSCO - 2
• Haley & Aldrich - 4
•  Entact - 12

EPA - United State Environmental Protection Agency
START - Superfund Technical Assistance and Response Team

6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0508071
6.2 Reporting Schedule

As needed