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Perdido Groundwater Contamination
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Ground water treatment system building on site.
- Additional Site Photos
- Site Video
Additional Resources
- Site Cleanup Terms - can be found in EPA's glossary
- EPA Guides to Cleanup Technologies
- Superfund Community Involvement (PDF) (17 pp, 130K, About PDF)
Site Summary Profile
EPA ID: ALD980728703Location: Perdido, Baldwin County, AL
Lat/Long: 31.012500, -087.62500
Congressional District: 01
NPL Status: Proposed: 12/30/82; Final: 09/08/83
Affected Media: Ground water
Cleanup Status: Construction complete - physical cleanup activities have been completed
Site Reuse/Redevelopment:
Site Manager: Michael Arnett (arnett.michael@epa.gov)
Site Background
The Perdido Groundwater Contamination site is a 15 acre site located in the Town of Perdido, Alabama. In 1965, a train derailment occurred, spilling benzene into the drainage ditches along Highway 61. As a result of the spill, an unknown quantity of benzene leached into the ground water aquifer used by the area residents for their domestic well water.
In December, 1981, the Alabama Department of Public Health (DPH) documented reports of odor problems in domestic water supply wells. DPH sampled wells in 1982 and found benzene contamination. Residents were advised to stop drinking or bathing with well water. Alternative water supplies were provided initially by the National Guard and eventually through connections to the municipal water supply. A permanent water line was installed in 1983.
DPH requested support from EPA to determine the extent of the ground water contamination. During October 1982, DPH and EPA conducted ground water sampling of 49 domestic water wells. A total of nine wells were determined to be contaminated in the Perdido area. As a result of finding contaminated ground water, the site was placed on the NPL in 1983.
The area immediately surrounding the site is wooded with several residences located along McCoy Road and a few commercial businesses located along Highway 47.
Threats and Contaminants
Benzene in ground water is the only contaminant of concern at the site.
Site Cleanup Plan
The 1988 Record of Decision established the following cleanup goals for the site:
- Recovery of the contaminated ground water using a recovery well field.
- Treatment of the recovered contaminated ground water, by air stripping, to achieve the 5 parts per billion (ppb) cleanup levels for benzene.
- Injection of the treated ground water back into the aquifer.
- Periodic monitoring of the pump and treat system to ensure continued effectiveness of the system.
A 1993 Explanation of Significant Differences changed the remedy from injection of treated ground water back into the aquifer to surface water discharge to the Perdido Creek.
Cleanup Progress
Ground water recovery withdrawal and treatment has been ongoing at the site since 1992.
Operation and maintenance procedures are performed regularly, ground water sampling is performed quarterly and the results are reported semi-annually.
A series of Five-Year Reviews (FYR) have been conducted at the site. The first FYR was conducted in May 1995. A second FYR was completed in August 2000. A third FYR was completed in December 2005. This most recent FYR found that the system is operating as intended and the benzene concentrations are approaching the remediation goal of 5 ppb.
Site cleanup activities have been undertaken both by EPA and by potentially responsible parties with oversight by EPA.
Enforcement Activities
In October 1985, CSX Transportation executed an Administrative Order on Consent with EPA to conduct a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) on the site. The RI began in 1986 and completed in November 1987.
CSX Transportation is also undertaking implementation of Remedial Action for the ground water cleanup at the Perdido site as mandated by a Consent Decree signed between EPA and CSX in 1990.
Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Perdido site to solicit community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about site activities throughout the site cleanup process. Outreach activities have included public notices and information meetings on site cleanup progress and activities.Future Work
Ground water monitoring continues to show a decline in the area and extent of ground water contamination at the site. As the site enters the final phase of cleanup, a study is underway to determine what changes to the treatment system are needed to maximize the system’s effectiveness.
The next FYR is scheduled for 2010.
Site Administrative Documents
Site Repository
For more information or to view any site-related documents, please visit the site information repository at the following location. As new documents are generated, they will be placed in the information repository for public information.
Bay Minette Public Library119 West 2nd St.
Bay Minette, AL 36507
Administrative Record Index
- OU-1 (PDF) (5 pp, 190K, About PDF)
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.