An Equal Opportunity Employer <i) RecycledPaper INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT We ProtectHoosiers andOurEnvironment. 100 N. SenateAvenue • Indianapolis, IN 46204 (800) 451-6027 • (317) 232-8603 • www.idem.IN.gov Michael R. Pence ThomasW. Easterly Governor Commissioner
May 8, 2014
Ms. Susan Hedman Regional Administrator U.S. EPA, Region V R-19J 77 WestJackson Boulevard Chicago, Illinois 60604-3507
Dear Ms. Hedman:
Re: Proposed Inclusion ofthe Kokomo Contaminated Ground Water Plume Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana, on the National Priorities List of Hazardous Waste Sites
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is providing this letterto convey its supportto the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) regarding inclusion ofthe Kokomo Contaminated Ground Water Plume site on the National Priorities List (NPL) of hazardous waste sites. The Kokomo Contaminated Ground Water Plume (CERCUS ID number INN000510479) has contaminated the drinking water in several municipalwells in Kokomo, Howard County, Indiana, with vinyl chloride. The contaminated plume extendsfrom the centerof Kokomo northward toward the municipal well field forthe city of Kokomo. The vinyl chloride plume encompasses an area ofapproximately 294 acres and has contaminated the drinking water above U.S. EPA benchmarks in 5 municipal wells.
The Indiana American Water Company (IAWC) operates the drinking water utility forthe city of Kokomo. Raw water sample results taken by IAWCfrom the municipal wells have detected vinyl chloride at levels exceeding the Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL) of2.0 ppb between 2007 and 2010. IDEM has identified 15 potential sources of contamination to the well field, including sites in the Voluntary Remediation Program and RCRA Corrective Action program, but a definitive source ofthe contamination has not been identified.Ms. Susan Hedman Regional Administrator Page 2 of2

This site qualifiesfor.inclusion on the NPL because: 1) The site meetsthe National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) criteria for listing on the NPL, scoring sufficiently high pursuantto the Hazard Ranking System (HRS). 2) The site requires a long-term response action.
An NPL listing would allowfor proper and timely investigation ofthe nature and extent ofthe contamination ofthe potential sources and enable the U.S. EPAto determine cleanup alternatives forthe impacted areas, thereby protecting human health and the environment. The NPL listing appears to be the mostviable alternative for addressing the existing environmental problems.
As the Commissionerof IDEM, I am authorized by Indiana Governor Michael Pence to act in these matters on his behalf. I have considered my staff's recommendations and Ifully supportthe designation ofthe Kokomo Contaminated Ground Water Plume site for inclusion on the NPL. I request thatthe U.S. EPAassign a Remedial Project Managerand/or On-Scene Coordinatorto implementthe process. If you require any additional information or have any questions, please contact Mark Jaworski ofthe Site Investigation Program at 317/233-2407 orvia e-mail at mjaworsk@idem.in.gov. Sincerely,

ThomasW. Easterly Commissioner

cc: Denise Boone, U.S. EPA Nuria Muniz, U.S. EPA Mark Jaworski, IDEM