CERCLA Creek Soil
and Sediment Removal Action
Currently, Removal Actions along Bailey's Branch and
Pleasant Run Creek are being undertaken under a voluntary
Administrative
Order on Consent (AOC) with the U.S. EPA Region
V under the Comprehensive, Environmental Response
and
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), which became
effective on July 31, 2003.
An Interim Measure, also known as a Removal Action
under the recently executed AOC, has begun in order
to clean up PCB contaminated sediment and floodplain
soil within the Pleasant Run Creek Watershed. The AOC
has been entered into voluntarily by the U.S. EPA and
GM to expedite the implementation of the cleanup work.
This area includes approximately 5 miles of creek from
the GM Bedford Plant Outfall to approximately the old
Murdoch railroad trestle (Figure
1). Both the creek bed and the adjacent floodplain
areas are a part of the Removal Action activities. The
objectives of the AOC are to control any potential ongoing
releases to the creek, and to remove sediment and soil
present at levels above the cleanup criteria. The cleanup
criteria for floodplain soil is the State of Indiana
residential landuse default criteria of 1.8 parts per
million (ppm). The cleanup criteria for sediment in
the creek is 1.0 ppm. The Removal Action along the stream
will continue, starting with the upstream section first
and then proceeding downstream.
Work Plans for the Parcel 22 and Upstream Parcels
Removal
Actions were approved by the U.S. EPA as part of the
AOC. The first components of the cleanup activities
began in April 2003 with the cutting of larger trees
on several of the upstream properties. Next, the areas
targeted for cleanup will be cleared and the sediment
and floodplain soils exceeding the cleanup criteria
will be removed. Areas will be cleaned in sections
up
to 500 feet in length. During this removal activity,
the creek will be temporarily re-routed around the
work
area. This will be done by temporarily damming upstream
and downstream parts of the section to be cleaned and
water will be re-routed in pipes from before the upstream
dam to below downstream of the dam. Upstream dams and
piping will then be moved downstream in succession
as
cleanup progresses. Testing of the remaining soil and
sediment is then conducted to ensure the cleanup criteria
are achieved prior to regrading and planting. The downstream
cleanup activities are anticipated to begin at the
end of 2003 and will continue throughout 2004.
The Pleasant Run Creek Watershed area is a potential
nesting area for the Indiana Bat, an endangered species.
A survey has just recently been completed and is being
evaluated. Should Indiana Bats be residing in the area,
the clearing of trees for the Removal Action can will
be handled on an individual basis during the bat nesting
period from April 15 to September 15. In order to confirm
the presence or absence of Indiana Bats in the area,
a bat survey was conducted at the end of July 2003.
United States Environmental l Protection
Agency (U.S. EPA) Region V has signed
an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with
GM for the Removal Action work at the Site.
For more information visit: www.epa.gov
Indiana Department of Environmental
Management (IDEM) and United State
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are cooperating
with U.S. EPA and GM and are providing review
and comment on the Corrective Action work being
performed at the Site.
For more information: www.in.gov/idem and www.fws.gov.
|
|