### IDEM INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT We ProtectHoosiers and OurEnvironment. 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 ofthe Pike and Mulberry Streets PCE Plume, Martinsville, Morgan County, Indiana, on the National Priorities List of Hazardous Waste Sites

The Indiana Department ofEnvironmental Management (IDEM) is providing this letter to convey its support to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) regarding the inclusion ofthe Pike and Mulberry Streets PCE Plume site on the National Priorities List (NPL) ofhazardous waste sites. The Pike and Mulberry Streets PCE Plume (CERCUS ID number INN000508678) in Martinsville, Indiana, extends from the center ofthe city to the northwest edge ofthe city, encompasses an area ofnearly 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 ofthe three city**ofMartins ille** **s** m,unicipal wells became contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (PCE) at levels (currently 11 parts perbillion [ppb]) exceeding the U.S

.EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of5.0 ppb. A Removal Action was then conducted at the Master Wear site by the responsible parties through their contractor, under U.S. EPA oversight. Althoughthe Master Wear site was addressed, the level ofPCE inthe city's drinking water supply has continued to increase.
Due to the presence ofPCE inthe wellfield, the city ofMartinsville installed an activated carbon filtration system in June 2005 to remove any PCE from its finished water. There appears to be several possible sources ofPCE contamination in the Martinsville area that maybe contributing to the current ground water plume.

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### 0Ms. Susan Hedman Regional Administrator Page 2 of2

This site qualifies for inclusiononthe NPL because: 1) The site meets the National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) criteria for listing onthe 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 ofthepotential 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 bethe most viable alternative for addressing the existing environmental problems. However, ifinthe 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 ofthe IDEM, I am authorized by Indiana Governor Mitchell E. Daniels to act inthese matters onhis behalf

. I have considered my staff's recommendations and I fully support the designation ofthe Pike and Mulberry Streets PCE Plume site for inclusion onthe NPL. I request that the U.S. EPA assign a Remedial Project Manager and/or On-Scene Coordinator to implement the process. Ifyourequire any additional information or have any questions, please contact Dan Chesterson ofthe Site Investigation Section at 317/234-3505 or via e-mail at dchester@idem.in.gov

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Thomas W. Easterly Commissioner

cc: Denise Boone, U.S. EPA NuriaMuniz, U.S. EPA