IDEM Investigation Updates (click on the Virtual File Cabinet (VFC) links below to access the site documents):
- Former (O'Neal's) Clothes Depot Dry Cleaners
- This Site is an approximately 0.2-acre developed commercial property located at 833 E. Morgan Street, in a mixed commercial and residential area.
- Dry-cleaning facilities operated on the property from approximately 1987 to 2011. The Site was utilized as a dry-cleaning drop-off and pick-up facility from 1996 to 1997 and since 2011. The facility operated as the Clothes Depot Cleaners until 2011 when the Site was leased under the name Vista Cleaners. The business currently operates as Fabric Care Center.
- A release was reported to IDEM in October 2014 based on tetrachloroethene (“PCE”) detections in soil.
- After the release report, multiple phases of soil, groundwater and vapor investigations were conducted at and around the Site to identify and delineate the groundwater and potential vapor contamination.
- A public meeting was held in April 2017 to address questions related to the site.
- In 2018, a groundwater remediation pilot test was conducted and a Remediation Work Plan was submitted January 2019, and revised November 2019 (82860021 [PDF]).
- Soil chemical injections, to remediate the groundwater, were completed in April through June 2020. A Remediation Work Plan Implementation Report was received August 2020 (83035313 [PDF]), which noted:
- A total of 11 nearby residences were evaluated for vapor intrusion. Based on the sampling results, one residence required the installation and operation of a vapor mitigation system similar to a radon removal system.
- A mixture of approximately 50,000 pounds of Hydrogen Release Compound® (“HRC”), Bio-Dechlor INOCULUM Plus (“BDI Plus”), PlumeStop® Liquid Activated Carbon™ (“PlumeStop”), and calcium chloride (“CaCl”) was injected into the ground for source-area groundwater remediation. The mixture was injected to create three permeable reactive barriers (“PRBs”) positioned west and southwest of the Site property, which is the downgradient direction of groundwater flow. Further groundwater sampling is planned to determine remedy effectiveness.
- Quarterly groundwater monitoring will be conducted for a minimum of one to two years to assess the effectiveness of the remediation activities.
- The Site is presently in monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the remediation activities.
- The July 2020 monitoring report noted decreasing levels of PCE in the groundwater closest to the treatment areas. Continued monitoring is warranted.
- Twigg Corporation
- This Site is an approximately 4-acre developed industrial property located at 659 York Street, in a mixed commercial/industrial and residential area.
- Twigg fabricates metal alloy parts for the aerospace industry and its process formerly included vapor degreasing of metal parts with chlorinated solvents, which are the contaminants of concern for the Site.
- To address unknown extents of contamination at the facility, the Site entered IDEM’s Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) in 1997.
- An October 1998 Site investigation report (45547305 [PDF]) showed on- and off-site groundwater contamination located near the facility. Additional investigation was performed in 1999, and an Addendum to the Phase II Report was submitted in August 1999. The initial Remediation Work Plan (RWP) was submitted to IDEM for review December 1999.
- By 1998, seven residential wells had been documented and sampled at 17 homes located in and near the area of the groundwater contamination (45548912 PDF). Only one well had detections of the compounds of concern; however, the well was reported to not be used for drinking water purposes. The remaining homes declined sampling or did not respond to sampling requests.
- Portions (Phase I) of the on-site remediation system were installed and began operation in the former waste storage area in November 1999. The remediation system outlined in the RWP included a soil vapor extraction system (SVE) and ozone sparging system for the on-Site source areas and bioremediation in the off-site downgradient areas. The SVE remediation system was expanded several times to include an extension 250 feet off-Site. In 2004, Twigg conducted a pilot test of a downgradient bioremediation system and installed a full pilot system by December 2004. System startup, shutdown, restart and monitoring of the bioremediation system was conducted through 2008.
- In August 2008, a revised vapor intrusion sampling plan was received by IDEM (43439697[PDF]). Vapor intrusion sampling was proposed for December 2008 and in the spring of 2009 at 16 locations (14 residences and 2 businesses, including the Twigg facility). However, only 6 residences and the two business allowed sampling to be conducted. Results of the December sampling showed two residences above IDEM’s 30-year vapor intrusion 2008 indoor air screening levels. One of the exceedances was only in the residence’s crawl space which was addressed via the installation of a vapor remediation system in 2010 (67351135[PDF]). Vapor sampling and remediation at the residence was discontinued in 2012 due to no vapors being detected indoors. The detection in the second home was associated with household chemicals and was unrelated to vapor intrusion as there were no detections of contaminants in the basement of the home.
- A revised RWP (63851133[PDF] and (63851675[PDF]) was submitted to IDEM in October 2011. The RWP proposed monitored natural attenuation (MNA) for the areas of groundwater contamination outside of the influence of the previous remediation activities conducted at the drum storage areas and under the facility. The RWP was not initially approved by IDEM due to incomplete delineation of the groundwater plume. In October 2012, the revised RWP was public noticed for comments (67001206[PDF]) prior to its approval in November 2012 (67001206[PDF]).
- In August 2013, the results of a second residential water well survey was submitted to IDEM (69103332[PDF]). Sampling of the identified wells showed one residence above IDEM remediation goals; however, that residence was not using the well for drinking water purposes.
- A third undocumented residential well investigation was conducted in 2013 to evaluate potential unknown drinking water wells in the area. A total of 191 homes were contacted, and 188 responses were received. Of the eight wells identified, six of the property owners reported using their wells exclusively for non-potable use (i.e., car washing, lawn care, gardening, pools and toilets). One is used for a dog kennel, and one is for drinking water use. Permission from the homeowner was received for sampling five of the eight wells. The results showed no detections above residential concern for the contaminants of concern, including the samples collected from the home with the dog kennel and the drinking water well.
- Presently, no current or future human exposure concerns have been identified with the remaining groundwater contamination utilizing the protective Environmental Restrictive Ordinances (EROs) limiting groundwater use. To address the potential for future impacts to the one potable well, Twigg has offered to connect the residence to the municipal water supply.
- Since 2011, Twigg has conducted additional investigation and groundwater monitoring to assess off-Site Monitored Natural Attenuation towards obtaining closure with Environmental Restrictive Covenants (ERCs) and an ERO.
- Former Harman Becker Automotive Systems Incorporated
- This Site is an approximately 25-acre developed industrial property located at 1201 South Ohio Street, in a mixed industrial and residential area.
- The facility has been utilized for various industrial purposes over the years. The facility was owned by the Essex Group, Inc. to manufacture loudspeakers. Harman Becker purchased the facility in 1979 for the manufacture of automotive speakers. After Harman Becker closed in 2007, the property was subsequently purchased by For Bare Feet in 2014 to manufacture socks.
- A release was reported to IDEM in 1995 based on the detections of hydrocarbons and chlorinated compounds in soil and groundwater on- and off-Site (43577846[PDF]).
- In December 1995, an initial residential well survey (43583161[PDF]) was conducted to assess the presence of drinking water wells within the area of concern. The survey showed six residential wells were present with the following uses: two were abandoned, three were for yard/outdoor use only, and one well located outside of the contaminated groundwater area of concern was used for drinking purposes. The home with the drinking water well was then connected to the municipal water supply. The other residences were already connected to the municipal water supply.
- Investigations of the groundwater and an assessment of the potential for bioremediation were conducted through 2004 (41583804[PDF]). IDEM approved a bioremediation work plan and injections were conducted in the fall of 2005 through 2008. Monitoring showed a 40 percent reduction in chlorinated ethanes; however, reduction of the contaminants was incomplete.
- A remediation system consisting of air sparge (AS) and soil vapor extraction (SVE) was installed on-Site in the eastern parking lot in July 2006. The system was expanded to the western property edge, and was fully operational by July 2007 (38713301[PDF] and 38713403[PDF]). Monitoring was conducted to evaluate the system effectiveness (38713881[PDF], 49426565[PDF] , and 49432371[PDF]). The system was shut down in June 2008 due to flood damage, limited contaminant removal, and negligible effect in reducing groundwater contaminant concentrations. A sub-slab vapor removal system was installed under the facility in 2010 and remains operational.
- IDEM requested an indoor air evaluation of 11 residences and a four-unit apartment building located directly downgradient (west) of the facility. In response, Harman Becker sampled homes where permission was received (44335136[PDF]), and proactively installed vapor mitigation systems in the homes (57862209[PDF]).
- At IDEM’s request, further groundwater contamination delineation activities were conducted from February to November 2010 (62953764[PDF] and 62953778[PDF]), and at varying intervals through 2014.
- An additional two residences were evaluated in December 2011 for the potential of vapor intrusion, and no concerns were identified through sampling (65289463[PDF]). An apartment building was also sampled in July 2012, and no vapor concerns were noted (66502223[PDF]).
- A revised remediation work plan was received in April 2014 (80011752[PDF]).
- In 2014, a vapor evaluation was conducted at the Poston Road Elementary School which showed no detectable levels of TCE or PCE which indicated there is no potential vapor threat to the school.
- The Site was accepted into IDEM’s VRP (80557192[PDF]) in November 2017, and a Site Investigation Work Plan was received (83094450[PDF]), and subsequently approved in July 2021.
Background:
Martinsville, like other cities and towns in Indiana, has a long commercial and manufacturing history. Environmental contamination in the city of Martinsville is a concern to its citizens.
Exposure to volatile organic compounds can happen in many ways, but most commonly occurs when chemicals move through soil into groundwater and subsequently are taken up into drinking water wells. Vapors may also migrate through sewers and into structures (vapor intrusion).
These same chemicals may be present in residences and businesses through the use of everyday consumer products such as cleaners, adhesives, lubricants, dry cleaning, and stain removers.
Martinsville City Wellfield:
In 2003, IDEM was notified that one of three wells in the Martinsville City Wellfield had an elevated detection of tetrachloroethylene (PCE), based on findings from routine samples collected from the wells in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. This chemical is a volatile organic compound that was identified in the groundwater at the Martinsville City Wellfield in quantities that did not threaten the potability of the water supply in Martinsville. However, in 2005, the City of Martinsville proactively installed a $1.5M treatment system utilizing carbon filters in the water processing stream to capture the contaminant and eliminate potential exposure to contamination (ingestion via drinking the water).
At no time during the operation of the City of Martinsville Wellfield was the finished water from the wellfield considered unsafe for public consumption.
In response to this notification, IDEM and U.S. EPA conducted investigations in 2003 to 2004 to determine the source of the contamination. PCE and trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination was found in the soil and groundwater emanating from several dry cleaner sources located south of the wellfield, in the area of Pike Street and Mulberry Street. One primary source of contamination was identified to be the former Master Wear Cleaners. Due to the extent of the contamination and its impact to the wellfield, the site was referred to the U.S. EPA for further investigation and cleanup under their Superfund Program. The U.S. EPA's Superfund work is ongoing, continuing to ensure the remaining routes of human and environmental exposure, if any, are eliminated.
Environmental Restrictive Ordinances:
An Environmental Restrictive Ordinance (ERO) is a local ordinance that may be used to restrict groundwater use in designated areas or community-wide.
In September 2020, the City had enacted an ERO restricting the installation and use of new potable water wells within the City limits (City of Martinsville Ordinance 2020-0008).
Twigg worked with the City regarding the enactment of an ERO to prevent future exposure to residual groundwater impacts via the ingestion/direct contact exposure pathway in the Twigg area of investigation. In September 2021, the City subsequently enacted an ERO restricting the use of groundwater in the Twigg, Harman Becker, O’Neal’s Clothes Depot, and Pike and Mulberry site areas of investigation (City of Martinsville Ordinance 2021-0020) to ensure potable water protectiveness from wells in those areas.
The ERO included a Memorandum of Understanding between the signatories and the City that set aside one year of funding for residences with affected wells to be connected onto the municipal water system.
Household Chemical Products
Many household consumer products contain chlorinated or petroleum-based chemicals. IDEM’s Office of Land Quality has provided this information for both vapor intrusion investigation and consumer informational purposes. Before collecting indoor air samples, we recommend that this information be shared with the appropriate building occupants to aid in determining if any indoor consumer products might be present and potentially off-gassing to indoor air.
Note: The U.S. EPA is responsible for overseeing the investigation and cleanup of the Pike and Mulberry Superfund site which includes:
- Former Master Wear Cleaners
- Kent Cleaners
- Central Dry Cleaners
- Manitorium Cleaners
- Artisan City Cleaners
Fact Sheets:
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR):
- IDEM (available on the IDEM Fact Sheets page):
- Tetrachloroethene (PCE)
- Trichloroethylene
- Vapor Intrusion