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NPL Site Narrative for Newton County Wells
NEWTON COUNTY WELLS
Newton County, Missouri
Federal Register Notice: July 27, 2000Conditions at Proposal (January 19, 1999): The Newton County Wells site is located in Newton County, in southwest Missouri. The site is being proposed to the NPL based on evidence that hazardous substances, including chlorinated solvents and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have migrated or have the potential to migrate to nearby drinking water supplies.
The site was initially identified in 1991 following a sampling event at the International Paper (IP) State Registry site by the Missouri Department of Health (MDOH). Trichloroethene (TCE) and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cis-1,2-DCE), which are not associated with the wood treatment wastes at the IP site, were detected in two of the residential wells, both located on Moorhead Drive, directly south of the FAG Bearings property in the Village of Silver Creek. Based on the detection of elevated concentrations of TCE in one of the original wells, nine other residential wells along Moorhead Drive were sampled which confirmed the presence of TCE in the ground water. Results of the initial well sampling indicated that homes located along FAG Bearings' southern property had the highest incidence and concentrations of TCE in Silver Creek. EPA and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) were notified and conducted follow-up sampling and analysis. Ground water was the sole source of drinking water for the people in Silver Creek, Missouri. Investigations at the site have identified the sources of the contamination to be located on the FAG Bearings Corporation Property. FAG Bearings is a facility that has been in operation since 1970 and manufactures roller bearing assemblies such as wheel bearing assemblies for the automotive industry. The facility had used TCE for degreasing ball parts for the bearing assemblies in the past but the operations were discontinued in about 1981. Various VOCs, including TCE and its degradation products such as vinyl chloride, cis-1,2-DCE, and 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE) were found in ground water underlying FAG Bearings and down gradient from the facility.
TCE and cis-1,2-DCE were detected at concentrations of 400 ug/L and 11.4 ug/L, respectively in residential wells. Both exceeded the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 5.0 ug/L for each hazardous substance. MCLs are the highest level of a contaminant allowed by EPA in drinking water.
Several investigations were conducted at the site, including a Preliminary Assessment, Site Inspections with several sampling events, a Removal Action, an Expanded Site Inspection, a Phase II Remedial Investigation, and several private well sampling events. Consequently, TCE contamination was found in several residential wells located within two miles of the FAG Bearings property, within the Village of Saginaw. In August 1991, EPA began providing bottled water to 11 residences in Silver Creek and in January 1992, construction was initiated for Silver Creek to access the Missouri American Water Company. In July 1992, EPA began providing bottled water to the residents of Saginaw. Early in 1994, state funds were used to extend Joplin's water system to Saginaw.
Status (July 2000): Since December 1998, FAG has been conducting an investigation of contamination on their property with oversight by the MDNR. An additional round of residential well sampling within the Villages of Silver Creek and Saginaw is also part of the investigation to better identify the groundwater plume and transport of contamination. Presently, FAG is negotiating with the State of Missouri terms to conduct a complete Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) and is considering alternatives for Removal actions for areas where TCE has been detected in soils and perched groundwater on FAG property. Groundwater remediation will be addressed in the FS.
For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.