Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
BERRIEN COUNTY
ST. JOSEPH

Congressional District # 06

BENDIX CORP./ALLIED AUTOMOTIVE

EPA ID# MID005107222
Last Updated: October, 2006

Site Description

The Bendix Superfund Site is located approximately four miles south of the city of St. Joseph at 3737 Red Arrow Highway in Berrien County, Michigan. The contamination emanates from two source areas located within the boundaries of the former Bendix Automotive plant, now owned and operated by Bosch Braking Systems. During the plant’s history, the chlorinated solvents tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) were disposed of in unlined lagoons, allowing the contaminants to infiltrate vertically and migrate laterally from the source areas. These source areas are approximately one half mile east of the Lake Michigan shore and one quarter mile west of Hickory Creek. The topography at the site is generally flat and covered by buildings and pavement, but to the west the land surface slopes toward the lake, and to the east it slopes toward Hickory Creek, creating a hydrogeological divide with groundwater from the source areas discharging west to Lake Michigan and east to Hickory Creek. The surface geology and water table aquifer are composed of permeable, course-grained, glacial deposits that allow relatively unrestricted infiltration and groundwater flow. There are some 750 homes within three miles of the site, but all within the affected area receive water from the city of St. Joseph’s municipal water system.  

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal, state and potentially responsible party actions.

Threats and Contaminants

Groundwater is contaminated with various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). People may be at risk if they consume or come into direct contact with contaminated groundwater; however, groundwater is not currently used as a source of drinking water.

Cleanup Progress

A Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) was completed under an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC), signed in February 1989. Studies conducted by Bendix, U.S. EPA’s Kerr Laboratory, and the University of Michigan concluded that natural attenuation was occurring and effectively limiting the discharge of contaminants into Lake Michigan and Hickory Creek. A Record of Decision (ROD) was signed on September 30, 1997, selecting Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) as the Remedial Action (RA) for both the western and eastern plumes, with Soil Vapor Extraction (SVE) added for the eastern plume. The SVE system was started in the summer of 1999, and at least 2,100 pounds of VOCs have been extracted from the eastern source area soils since system start-up; VOC concentrations in the soils have decreased 98%.

A five-year review was conducted for the site and issued in 2004, and an analysis of the data suggests that there may be problems with selected remedy, despite the apparent success of the SVE system. The volume of dissolved TCE in the eastern and western plumes appears to be increasing, and the discharge of cis-1,2 DCE and vinyl chloride into near-shore Lake Michigan sediments indicates that natural attenuation is not progressing to the extent anticipated in the ROD. Additional characterization of the plumes is warranted, and additional remedial action alternatives are being considered.

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
william ryan (ryan.williamj@epa.gov)
(312) 353-4374

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
stuart hill
(312) 886-0689

Aliases

BENDIX CORP HYDRAULICS
BENDIX CORP/ALLIED AUTOMOTIVE

 

Site Profile Information

This profile provides you with information on EPA's cleanup progress at this Superfund site.