IDEM INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 


We Protect Hoosiers and Our Environment. 

Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. 100 North Senate Avenue 

Governor Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 

(317) 232-8603 

Thomas W Easterly Toll Free (800) 451-6027 

Commissioner www.idem.IN.gov 

July 6, 2012 

Ms. Susan Hedman 

Regional Administrator 

U.S. EPA, Region V 


77 West Jackson Boulevard R-19J 


Chicago, Illinois 60604-3507 


Dear Ms. Hedman: 

Re: 	 Proposed inclusion of the 

Pike and Mulberry Streets PCE Plume, 

Martinsville, Morgan County, Indiana, 

on the National Priorities List of 

Hazardous Waste Sites 

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is providing this letter to 

convey its support to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) regarding 

the inclusion of the Pike and Mulberry Streets PCE Plume site on the National Priorities List 

(NPL) of hazardous waste sites. The Pike and Mulberry Streets PCE Plume (CERCUS ID number 

INN000508678) in Martinsville, Indiana, extends from the center of the city to the northwest edge 

of the city, encompasses an area of nearly 40 acres, and has contaminated municipal drinking 

water wells. 

A previous investigation centered on the Master Wear site, a former drycleaner that 

released chlorinated solvents to the soil and ground water during its operations from 1986 to 1991. 

As a result, one of the three city ofMartins ille s m,unicipal wells became contaminated with 

tetrachloroethylene (PCE) at levels (currently 11 parts per billion [ppb]) exceeding the U.S. EPA 

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 5.0 ppb. A Removal Action was then conducted at the 

Master Wear site by the responsible parties through their contractor, under U.S. EPA oversight. 

Although the Master Wear site was addressed, the level ofPCE in the city's drinking water supply 

has continued to increase. 

Due to the presence of PCE in the wellfield, the city of Martinsville installed an activated 

carbon filtration system in June 2005 to remove any PCE from its finished water. There appears 

to be several possible sources of PCE contamination in the Martinsville area that may be 

contributing to the current ground water plume. 

Recycled Paper @ 	 An Equal Opponuniry Employer Please Recycle 0 
Ms. Susan Hedman 

Regional Administrator 

Page 2 of2 

This site qualifies for inclusion on the NPL because: 

1) 	 The site meets the National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan 

(NCP) criteria for listing on the NPL, scoring sufficiently high pursuant to the Hazard 

Ranking System (HRS). 

2) 	 The site requires a long-term response action. 

A NPL listing would allow for proper and timely investigation ofthe nature and extent of 

the contamination ofthe potential sources and enable the U.S. EPA to determine cleanup 

alternatives for the impacted areas, protecting human health and the environment. The NPL listing 

appears to be the most viable alternative for addressing the existing environmental problems. 

However, if in the future, the U.S. EPA determines that the liable responsible parties are still 

viable and are believed to be capable of, and agreeable to, performing the cleanup work under an 

Administrative Order on Consent or Consent Decree, I would support addressing the site as a 

Superfund Alternative site. 

As the Commissioner of the IDEM, I am authorized by Indiana Governor Mitchell E. 

Daniels to act in these matters on his behalf. I have considered my staff's recommendations and I 

fully support the designation of the Pike and Mulberry Streets PCE Plume site for inclusion on the 

NPL. I request that the U.S. EPA assign a Remedial Project Manager and/or On-Scene 

Coordinator to implement the process. If you require any additional information or have any 

questions, please contact Dan Chesterson of the Site Investigation Section at 317/234-3505 or via 

e-mail at dchester@idem.in.gov. 

Thomas W. Easterly 

Commissioner 

cc: Denise Boone, U.S. EPA 

Nuria Muniz, U.S. EPA