Site Discovery Town officials investigated a fire on the train yard property. They noticed a peculiar odor from leaking, half-buried barrels and became concerned about the accessibility of the site to trespassers and other safety issues at the site. At the request of Ruralville s public works director, EPA began studying the site. Health Concerns EPA collected samples of soil and other materials at the site and tested them in a laboratory. Trespassers at the site could be at particular risk, since they would have more contact with the chemical.
Several families depend on fish from the Flowing River for meals three or four times a week.
If contaminated, these fish could pose a relatively high risk to the health of these families. Preliminary water samples from a well drilled at the site contained lead and high concentrations of TCE, although the full extent of contamination is unknown. No contamination was found in either a deep well or drinking water from the faucet. Drinking water may become contaminated in the future if the groundwater is contaminated. Soil contamination was found in a few areas, although a full test has not been conducted.