INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT We ProtectHoosiers and Our Environment. 100 N. SenateAvenue • Indianapolis, IN 46204 (800) 451-6027 • (317) 232-8603 • www.idem.IN.gov Michael R. Pence Thomas W.**East~rly** Governor Commissioner



### January 

### 22, 2014

Ms. Susan Hedman Regional Administrator U.S. EPA, Region V, R-19J 77 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago, Illinois 60604-3507
Dear Ms. Hedman:
Re: Proposed Inclusion ofthe North Shore Drive Site, Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana on the National Priorities List of Hazardous Waste Sites
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is providing this letterto convey its support to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) regarding the inclusion ofthe North Shore Drive site on the National Priorities List (NPL) of hazardous waste sites. The ground water plume at North Shore Drive (CERCUS ID number INSFN0507828) has contaminated drinking waterwith trichloroethene (TCE), tetrachloroethene, trans-1 ,2- dichloroethene, and cis-1 ,2­ dichloroethelene in Elkhart, Indiana, and extends north ofthe St. Joseph River and south of Old U.S. Highway 20. The TCE plume encompasses an area of approximately 16.368 acres and has contaminated the drinking water above U.S. EPA benchmarks in at least eleven (11) known residences. Fifty-one (51) private residential wells lie within 

### Y. mile ofthe center ofthe ground water plume.
The contamination in a residential well was first discovered in 1996. IDEM has since conducted many investigations in the area including several potential nearby sources. IDEM has not identified a definite source ofthe contamination and continues to supply and maintain carbon filtration systems on eleven (11) residential wells.


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AnEqual Opportunity Employer 

### (i) RecycledPaper AState**that~**Ms. Susan Hedman Regional Administrator Page2 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 pursuantto the Hazard Ranking System (HRS). 2) The site requires a long-term response action.
An NPL listing would allow for proper and timely investigation ofthe nature and extent ofthe contamination ofthe potential sources and enablethe U.S. EPA to determine cleanup alternativesforthe impacted areas, thereby protecting human health and the environment. The NPL listing appears to be the most viable alternative for addressing the existing environmental problems.
Asthe Commissioner ofthe IDEM, I am authorized by Indiana Governor Mike Pence to act in these matters on his behalf. I have considered my staff's recommendations and Ifully supportthe designation ofthe North Shore Drive site for inclusion on the NPL. I request thatthe U.S. EPA assign a Remedial Project Manager and/or On-Scene Coordinatorto implement the process. Ifyou require any additional information or have any questions, please contact Mark Jaworski ofthe Federal Programs Section, Site Investigation Program at 317/233-2407 orvia e-mail at mjaworski@idem.in.gov

. Since**1~.**

### ·

### ~U/t/ homas W. Easterly Commissioner TE:MJ:bl cc: Denise Boone, U.S. EPA Nuria Muniz, U.S. EPA Rex Osborn, IDEM