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Fact Sheet
May 2005
Remedial Design Completed for the Second Street Subsite
Hastings Ground Water Superfund Site, Hastings, Nebraska
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed a Remedial Design (RD) for the Second Street subsite ground water operable unit. The RD defines the work needed to implement the Remedial Action (RA) at the subsite. The RA is necessary to address ground water contamination by hazardous substances in the aquifer migrating from the Second Street Subsite of the Hastings Ground Water Contamination Site in Hastings, Nebraska. The action would be taken under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund law.
The RA will help to restore contaminated ground water at this subsite to its beneficial uses by treating the water. Soil contamination at the source area is being addressed by soil vapor extraction.
In 2002, EPA presented the Proposed Plan and announced a Public Comment Period for the plan. A Responsiveness Summary was prepared by EPA to respond to the comments.
In 2003, EPA prepared a Record of Decision (ROD). A summary of information contained in the ROD appears on the following page.
ABOUT THE CONTAMINATION
The contamination at this subsite consists of benzene, toluene, xylene, naphthalene and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and other compounds. The primary source is a manufactured gas plant (MGP) that operated until the 1930's. A building at the former MGP property was occupied by the Hastings police department and was vacated in 2001.
REMEDIAL ACTION
Cleanup activities being planned include the following three actions:
- Existing systems that partially address the contamination originating
west of Pine Avenue would continue to operate. This includes a ground
water extraction and treatment unit and a soil vapor extraction unit
in the Asource area@ west of Pine Avenue, and an in-well aeration treatment
system located at Pine Avenue.
- In the remainder of the contaminated area east of Pine Avenue, oxygen-release
compounds would be added to the ground water to enhance existing bacterial
cleanup processes already found in the aquifer. The compound expected
to be used, magnesium peroxide, is mixed as a slurry and degrades to
a harmless magnesium hydroxide Amilk of magnesia@ residue.
- Long-term ground water monitoring data would be evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the cleanup actions.
The activities being planned at this time do not include any extraction of ground water from the subsurface. The scope and nature of future RA activities will be based on evaluation of ground water monitoring data to be collected during the next 2 - 3 years.
Schedule for the Remedial Action: May 23 Begin well installation July 15 Complete well installation Fall 2005-2007 Sample monitoring wells and evaluate data |
The existing systems at Pine Avenue and west of Pine Avenue help to prevent the contamination from spreading, but are not designed to treat the entire ground water contaminant plume. In addition to the work described above, further steps are expected to be taken later to address the contaminated soil in the source area of the former MGP property.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The ROD and other site-related documents provide details of the nature and extent of contamination and the work that has been completed at the site. These documents are part of the Administrative Record File, available at the following locations:
Hastings Public Library
4th and Denver Streets
Hastings, Nebraska
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA, Region 7
Office of External Programs
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
913-551-7003
Toll-free 1-800-223-0425
E-mail: himes.beckie@epa.gov
