UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200 

Dallas, TX 75202-2733 

Ms. Beth Seaton, Remediation Director 

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 

P.O. Box 13087 

Austin, TX 78711-3087 

Dear Ms. Seaton, 

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering proposing the Main 

Street Ground Water Plume site in Burnet, Texas, on the Superfund National Priorities List 

(NPL), pursuant to its authority under Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental 

Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 9605. 

The NPL contains a list of priority sites with releases of hazardous substances, pollutants or 

contaminants that require evaluation for possible remediation. It is the EPA's policy to determine 

the State's position on sites that the EPA is considering placing on the NPL. With this letter, the 

EPA is seeking the concurrence of the State of Texas on adding the Main Street Ground Water 

Plume site to the NPL. 

The Main Street Ground Water Plume site is located on west side of County Road 340 in Burnet 

County, Texas, approximately 1 mile south of the city limits of the City of Burnet. The site 

consists of a ground water plume originating from an unknown source that released 

tetrachloroethylene (PCE) into the Ellenburger-San Saba Aquifer. Samples collected from nine 

groundwater wells, including two public water suply wells arid seven private water wells serving 

more than 1100 residents, contained concentrations of PCE meeting the observed release criteria. 

Currently all contaminated drinking water wells are below their Maximum Contaminant Level 

(MCL) for PCE. However, two wells used for irrigation and livestock watering exceed the MCL. 

No filtration systems are in place on any of the contaminated wells. The private drinking water 

wells in the contaminated aquifer are the only source of water for residents who live outside the 

city limits of Burnet. 

The site is scheduled to be proposed to the NPL in March 2015, based on the presence of PCE in 

the Ellenburger-San Saba Aquifer. Without identification and investigation of the source of 

ground water contamination and remediation of the contaminated ground water plume additional 

public and private wells may be threatened. 

The EPA is committed to working cooperatively with the State and local community throughout 

the listing and subsequent Superfund cleanup process, and to ensuring that the EPA's actions· are 

conducted in an open and transparent manner. For a fund-financed remedial action prior to 

initiation of the remedial action, the EPA and the State will collaborate in the development of a 
Superfund State Contract to provide the State assurances required by CERCLA, including for 

example, the State's statutory cost shru, ~ for. t~e remedial action and assumption of operation and 

maintenance responsibilities. · 

The EPA is requesting a written response to this letter from your Governor's office or from the 

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) by December 15, 2014. The EPA has set 

this date to allow adequate time to meet the proposed rule schedule. The response letter should, 

indicate whether the State supports placement of the site on the NPL. If the State does not 

support listing, the State should describe the alternative approach to placement on the NPL that 

will ensure the identified priority site and associated release( s) will be addressed. The EPA will 

be sharing information with the community regarding the State's position, including posting the 

information on the internet. The EPA will also invite the TCEQ to participate in any community 

meetings during the listing process. 

We will continue to work closely with and seek input from the state as the listing process 

proceeds. We appreciate your consideration of this matter. If additional information is needed or 

you would like to meet to discuss this matter further, please contact me at (214) 665-6701, or 

have your staff, call Brenda Nixon Cook, Region 6 NPL Coordinator, at (214) 665-7436. 

Director 

Superfund Division 

CC via email: 

Mr. Brent Wade, TCEQ 

Mr. Monica Harris, TCEQ 

Mr. Michael Cave, TCEQ 

Ms. Terry Jeng, EP A-OSRTI