EPA Updates Cleanup Plan for Town of Pines Superfund Alternative Site in Indiana
The agency will hold a public meeting July 2 and accept public comments on the cleanup plan updates through July 24
CHICAGO (June 25, 2025) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a revised cleanup plan to lower levels for contaminants of concern at the Town of Pines Superfund alternative site in Indiana. These changes, made in consultation with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, include lowering the site’s cleanup levels to 25.2 parts per million (ppm) for arsenic, 1.62 ppm for thallium, and 200 ppm for lead. The changes will allow properties previously ineligible for cleanup to be re-evaluated against these new criteria. EPA will hold a public meeting to explain the proposed changes and accept public comments on the revision through July 24.
When:
Wednesday, July 2, from 6:30–8p.m.
Where:
Michigan City Public Library
100 E 4th Street
Michigan City, Indiana
The public comment period will end on July 24. To review the draft document, please visit the EPA information repository at the Michigan City Public Library or download a copy on the website https://www.epa.gov/superfund/town-pines-groundwater .
There are several ways to submit your comments:
- By website
- By email to safakas.kirstin@epa.gov
- By voicemail at 312-919-4621
- By mail: Kirstin Safakas
U.S. EPA Region 5
External Communications Office
77 W. Jackson Blvd., EC-19J
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Background:
In 2002, EPA became involved in the site due to groundwater contamination from coal ash, a byproduct from burning coal. During the investigation that followed, EPA discovered coal ash had been used as landscaping fill in residential properties, resulting in the excessive levels of arsenic, thallium, and lead. Since 2016, EPA has overseen soil cleanups conducted by Northern Indiana Public Service Co., NIPSCO, resulting in the removal of 3,733 truckloads of contaminated soil.
Based on resident concerns last year, EPA re-evaluated data and updated cleanup levels. This change to cleanup levels is memorialized in a document known as the “explanation of significant differences,” which updates the cleanup plan in the record of decision.
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