Copyright 2006, 2007, The News-Dispatch, All Rights Reserved.
| May 5, 2006
Deborah Sederberg, The News-Dispatch |
| During a Thursday meeting at the Michigan City Public Library, Tim Drexler of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Chicago office, explained the purpose and the process of the study. It likely will begin this month in an area bounded on the north by the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (some testing will be completed in the Lakeshore), on the south in an area just below Old Chicago road, on the west by Brown Road on the West and County Line Road on the East. “The study area is a kind of oval shape," Drexler said. Hence, the boundary lines are slightly more fluid than the description would imply. The EPA became involved in sampling water in Pines in 2000. Eventually, NIPSCO and the Brown Landfill 520 were named as the largest responsible parties. It was determined the major source of contamination in certain areas came from fly ash, a by product of burning coal to produce electricity. Fly ash was dumped at Landfill 520 and some was spread on roads and even driveways in Pines. Some wells were contaminated enough that EPA determined the homeowners should have city water and in 2003, water from Michigan City was brought to Pines. Many contaminated wells contained high levels of boron. This remedial investigation will take a look at what level of boron is naturally occurring and what level is the result of contamination. It also will look for human health risks. The new investigation will involve 23 sampling wells and four pizometers - long tubes allowing researchers to measure water levels. The wells will be used to prepare a study known as a vertical profile. Water samples taken from various depths - from the floor of the well and up - will be analyzed. Sediment samples will be taken from 20 locations as well. A study will help researchers to determine the relationship between groundwater and surface water. Ground water investigations will help to determine how seasonal variations and geological variations affect contamination. Scientists will look at the types of contamination, along with the concentration and extent of contamination. Kathi Murray, a member of People In Need of Environmental Safety (P.I.N.E.S.) and a member of the Pines Town Council, asked about access to private property for testing. Drexler said the EPA already has in hand a number of access agreements and is waiting for more. In some cases, he said, “we've given up and moved on to a neighbor," when access was denied or a property owner was unavailable. He urged the 20 people at the meeting to encourage their neighbors to return their access agreements. The responsible parties will pay for the study, including the EPA's oversight, Drexler said. |
|
|
Copyright 2006, 2007, The News-Dispatch, All Rights Reserved. |