News Releases from Region 05
EPA, NIPSCO agree on soil cleanup in Town of Pines
For Immediate Release: No. 16-OPA015
CHICAGO (April 28, 2016) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced an enforceable agreement with Northern Indiana Public Service Co. to clean up contaminated soil at 12 residential properties and one municipal property near the Town of Pines Superfund site in Porter County, Ind. NIPSCO will hire a contractor to conduct the cleanup and will pay all cleanup costs under the terms of the agreement.
The properties slated for cleanup have elevated levels of arsenic, thallium and lead resulting from coal combustion byproducts. In November 2014, EPA required NIPSCO to begin sampling the soil at properties near the Town of Pines Groundwater Plume site. At EPA’s direction, NIPSCO has expanded its soil sampling efforts to determine whether additional properties will require cleanup in the future.
EPA anticipates the removal work to begin in late spring, 2016. NIPSCO is currently working with property owners to gain access for cleanup and has submitted a work plan to EPA for review and approval. Work will begin once the plan is approved and NIPSCO has access to the properties.
For more information: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/town-pines-groundwater
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