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ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
OSCEOLA
Congressional District # 2
GALEN MYERS DUMP/DRUM SALVAGE
EPA ID# IND980999635Last Updated: February, 2009
Site Description
Drum reclamation activities were conducted at the Galen Myers Dump/Drum Salvage Site from about 1970 to 1983 by the former owner of the approximately five acre Site property. Drums from local industries were stored and recycled by removing the tops, dumping the contents into a pit and driveway, and selling the empty drums as trash containers.
The St. Joseph County Health Department first investigated the Site in 1981 in response to nearby residents’ complaints, and requested that United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) assess the Site. During site inspections in 1984, U.S. EPA found many leaking and deteriorating drums on the Site.
In 1986, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) found site soil and nearby private wells to be contaminated. At the time, approximately 17,000 people obtained drinking water from the wells within three miles of the Site. The St. Joseph River is located approximately one mile from the Site.
Site Responsibility
Galen Myers is a state-lead site, and is being addressed through State and Federal actions.Threats and Contaminants
Area groundwater is contaminated with various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Most area residents used private wells for drinking water. Impacted wells in the area were offered an alternate water supply as part of the site response actions. Residents who declined U.S. EPA-funded public water connections may be at risk from consumption or inhalation of VOC-contaminated water.Cleanup Progress
A removal action was conducted by the U.S.EPA in 1985 to remove 1,800 pounds of flammable solids, alone with non-hazardous drums and soils on the Site property.
Based on residential well sampling conducted in 1986 and from 1991 to 1993, downgradient residential wells were found to be contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) at levels considered unsafe by U.S.EPA. IDEM notified U.S.EPA and began a series of discussions regarding the extent of contamination and available alternatives. In 1994, U.S.EPA received authorization from the Mishawaka Utilities to install water line extensions to supply residents with municipal water.
Remedial Investigation (RI) field activities were conducted by IDEM from 1993 to 1995 to define the nature and extent of contamination. A Record of Decision for the Site was issued in September 1995. The major components of the remedy included excavation of on-site soils contaminated with TCE, monitored natural attenuation of groundwater, connection of impacted residents to municipal water, and implementation of a groundwater protection ordinance.
In 1995 and 1996, U.S.EPA and IDEM offered municipal water connections to impacted residents. Water line construction and city water connections for approximately 180 homes were completed as a U.S.EPA Removal Action in early 1996. 23 residents declined the connection to municipal water and continue to use private wells.
IDEM received a Cooperative Agreement from U.S.EPA to perform Remedial Design (RD) and Remedial Action (RA) activities. IDEM completed the RD work in 1998. The RD field investigation indicated that no on-Site soil excavation was necessary, which was documented in a 1998 Explanation of Significant Difference (ESD).
The St. Joseph County Health Department issued a groundwater protection ordinance effective as of January 1999.
Beginning in 1998, IDEM initiated activities to define the groundwater plume, and install groundwater monitoring wells for long-term monitoring. These field activities were completed in June 2003, and in December IDEM released a draft interim remedial action report describing the groundwater remedial action activities. IDEM resumed groundwater monitoring activities in April 2007.
The first five-year review assessing the effectiveness of the selected site remedy was conducted in fall 2000. IDEM completed the second five-year review for the Site in September 2005, and an addendum to the second five-year review was finalized in October 2007. In 2008, EPA and IDEM finalized a plan to monitor the Institutional Controls at the site, such as the County's groundwater protection ordinance. In early 2009, EPA will sample potable water at the residences where municipal water connections were previously declined.
Contacts
Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPAmargaret gielniewski (gielniewski.margaret@epa.gov)
(312) 886-6244
Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
mike joyce
(312) 353-5546
Aliases
MEYER'S DUMPGALEN MEYER'S DUMP/DRUM SAL