![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
EAU CLAIRE
Congressional District # 03
EAU CLAIRE MUNICIPAL WELL FIELD
EPA ID# WID980820054Last Updated: December, 2007
Site Description
The Eau Claire Municipal Well Field (ECMWF) is located in the city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and consists of 14 municipal groundwater water wells that provide drinking water to the 57,600 residents of the county. In the mid-1980s, routine groundwater sampling by the state of Wisconsin indicated elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the municipal water supply, including trichloroethene, dichloroethene, and tetrachloroethene.Site Responsibility
This site is currently being addressed through potentially responsible party (PRP) actions and is considered a federal enforcement lead site.Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater at the site is contaminated with VOCs, including trichloroethene, dichlorethene, and tetrachloroethene. People could be exposed to VOCs if they drink or come into direct contact with contaminated groundwater or if they inhale hazardous substances that the water may release into the air. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) does not believe that the nearby Chippewa River has been affected by the groundwater contamination, as pumping of the municipal wells prevents the groundwater from discharging into the River.Cleanup Progress
During investigation of contamination at a nearby Superfund site, National Presto Industries, U.S. EPA determined that the NPI Site was the source of groundwater contamination at the ECMWF Site. Information provide herein is for both the ECMWF and NPI Sites.
The ECMWF Site was proposed for National Priorities List (NPL) by U.S. EPA on September 8, 1983.
The ECMWF Site was placed on NPL on September 21, 1984 by U.S. EPA.
In 1984, U.S. EPA completed a focused Feasibility Study at the ECMWF Site.
The NPI Site was proposed by U.S. EPA for the NPL on October 15, 1984.
On June 10, 1985, U.S. EPA issued a remedy selection decision, documented in a Record of Decision (ROD), selecting air stripping for ECMWF Site as an Interim Remedial Measure to address groundwater contamination at the well field.
On September 24, 1985, U.S. EPA issued an Action Memo for removal actions at the ECMWF Site.
The NPI Site was placed on the NPL by U.S. EPA on June 10, 1986.
On June 6, 1986, an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) was entered between EPA and NPI to conduct a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at the NPI site. During the Remedial Investigation for the NPI Site, NPI groundwater contaminant Plumes 1 and 2 NPI were identified as the sources of groundwater contamination at the ECMWF Site from. Five Plumes were identified emanating from the NPI Site.
In 1987, under contract with the U.S. EPA, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of an air stripper to treat contaminated groundwater at the ECMWF.
On March 31, 1988, U.S. EPA issued a record of decision (ROD) which provided for continued operation of the two-column air stripper at the ECMWP, which was constructed in 1987. U.S. EPA also required other measures such as connection of private wells to the municipal water system and installation of additional extraction wells in the North Field and Plume 2 for direct discharge into the Chippewa River.
On April 25, 1989, U.S. EPA issued an Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) to NPI to conduct a Phased FS to find an alternative water source for Hallie and requires implementation of a bottled water program (V-W-89-C-015) for all private well users in unincorporated areas affected by Plumes 3, 4 and 5.
On August 1, 1990, U.S. EPA issued a second ROD at Operable Unit #1 for the NPI site. At this site, EPA selected a permanent alternative drinking water supply for the area affected by groundwater Plumes 3, 4, and 5. This work included construction of a water supply system and an extension of the municipal water service to areas annexed by the city. A permanent alternate drinking water supply was installed by NPI in fall 1991 at approximately 174 residences serving a population of 425. In a 1993 consent decree (CD), NPI and U.S. EPA reached settlement for costs of the groundwater treatment system.
On September 25, 1990, the AOC for RI/FS was modified.
On March 8, 1991, U.S. EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) for Remedial Action (V-W-91-C-091) to implement the August 1990 ROD. This involved the extension of municipal water in Eau Claire, construction of well field, closure and abandonment of all private wells is the area.
In September 1991, U.S. EPA issued a ROD for the selected interim remedial action for on-site contaminated water at the NPI Site.
On July 2, 1992, U.S. EPA issued a UAO to NPI to conduct and interim RD/RA as described in the 9/30/91 ROD (V-W-92-C- 156)
On August 19, 1993, a Consent Decree (CD) was issued which requires reimbursement of past response costs for the response action (Air Stripper) at ECMWF and for O & M Costs at ECMWF (93C - 0610C).
On October 14, 1993, an AOC was entered for performance of time-critical removal Lagoon 1 - removal of floating oil and waste forge compound, and post removal site control (V-W-93 -C- 209)
On October 13, 1994, the existing AOC (dated 10/8/93) was modified- adding non time-critical removal activities at Lagoon 1- characterization, evaluation design and remediation of soil/wastes at Lagoon #1 (V-W-93-C-209).
The final-site wide ROD was issued by U.S. EPA on May 15, 1996 for OU #3 ath the NPI Site. This involved: (1) installation of soil vapor extraction at the Melby Road Disposal Site; (2) removal of soils/wastes from drainage ditch and dry wells 2 and 5; (3) continued operation of air stripper for Plume 1-2; (4) continued operation of pump and treat for Plumes 3 and 4, (5) long-term ground water monitoring and surface water monitoring in Lake; (6) long term monitoring of Plume 5; (7) surface water sampling in Lake Hallie and (8) institutional controls.
On September 20, 1996, the U.S. EPA issued a UAO requiring NPI to implement the 1996 ROD for OU #3 at the NPI Site.
On September 30, 1997, U. S. EPA issued an Action Memo for non-time critical removal action at the NPI Site.
The first Five Year Review for ECMWF was completed in September 1997. This review determined that the remedy is protective of human health and the environment. The air stripper at the ECMWF Site continues to operate effectively and currently treats approximately six to seven million gallons of water daily. The pump and treat systems at the NPI Site continue to operate properly as do other operation and maintenance activities at the Site.
On September 30, 1998, U.S. EPA issued a UAO (V-W-98-C-506) to conduct removal actions at the NPI Site. The UAO required: (1)design /implementation of soil vapor extraction (SVE) at Lagoon 1 and annex, (2) long term O&M of the SVE at Lagoon #1, and (3) implementation of selected remedy for soils stockpiled by Lagoon 1 annex; (4) monitoring of Lagoon 1; and (5) long-term monitoring of groundwater.
The first Five Year Review for NPI was completed in September 1998.
The preliminary close-out report was completed by U.S. EPA in September 1999.
The second five-year review was a consolidated review of the NPI and Eau Claire Municipal Well Field sites (the Sites) was concluded in September 2002. The review determined that the remedies for the Sites are protective of human health and the environment. Several follow-up actions at NPI were recommended to assure continued protectiveness for which include: (1) investigating increase in groundwater contamination in the southwest corner of the site; (2) modifying the groundwater monitoring program; (3) labelling and repairing monitoring wells; (4) repairing landfill cap and revegetating; (5) documenting completion of removables at Lagoon #2 and loading dock; and (6) identifying and implemeting needed deed restrictions. The follow-up actions determined to be appropriate by the second five-year review are either underway or completed. See the NPI Fact Sheet for more information on these follow-up actions.
The third five-year review was for the Eau Claire Municipal Well Field site was completed on July 20, 2007. The review concluded that the remedy currently protects human health and the environment in the short term. The air strippers effectively remove the contaminants from the drinking water used by the City of Eau Claire. In order for the remedy to be protective in the long-term, effective institutional controls must be in-place and maintained until the groundwater cleanup standards are achieved throughout the plume area. Several follow-up items were recommended to assure continued protectiveness: (1) an Institutional Control Study needs to be performed and evaluated at the Site to determine if current institutional controlrs are protective of human health and the environment; (2) an Institutional Control Plan will be prepared to evaluate insitutional controls and implement any necessary follow-up activities; (3) an Explanation of Significant Differences will be prepared as an Administrative Matter since groundwater extraction wells in Plume 2 will not be installed; and (4) it needs to be determined if groundwater is used as a drinking water source in 77 parcels of land in the City of Eau Claire and if municipal water is available to these parcels.
Five Year Reviews for the Site will continued until the remedy allows for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure. The fourth five year review of the Sites is due in July 2012.
Community Involvement
The five-year reports and other site-related documents are available for review at:
L.E. Phillips Memorial Library
400 Eau Claire St.
Eau Claire, WI
Contacts
Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPAhoward caine (caine.howard@epa.gov)
(312) 353-9685
Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
susan pastor
(312) 353-1325
Aliases
EAU CLAIRE MUNI WELL FIELD