### 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 ofthe Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 9605. The NPL contains a list ofpriority sites with releases ofhazardous 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 ofthe State ofTexas on adding the Main Street Ground Water Plume site to the NPL.
The Main Street Ground Water Plume site is located on west side ofCounty Road 340 in Burnet County, Texas, approximately 1 mile south ofthe city limits ofthe City ofBurnet. The site consists ofa 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 ofPCE 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 ofthe contaminated wells. The private drinking water wells in the contaminated aquifer are the only source ofwater for residents who live outside the city limits ofBurnet.
The site is scheduled to be proposed to the NPL in March 2015 , based on the presence ofPCE in the Ellenburger-San Saba Aquifer. Without identification and investigation ofthe source of ground water contamination and remediation ofthe 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 ofthe remedial action, the EPA and the State will collaborate in the development ofaSuperfund 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 ofoperation 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 ofthe site on the NPL. Ifthe State does not support listin g, 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 ofthis matter. Ifadditional 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, EPA-OSRTI