GARDEN CITY, Ind.—The Environmental Protection Agency recently published a proposal plan to address groundwater contamination in Garden City. The water affected does not belong to the city or county, but the private wells from which local residents and businesses get their tap water. The source has been contaminated with TCE, or trichloroethne, a chlorinated solvent once widely used as a metal degreaser. Exposure to TCE can potentially cause cancer and other human health problems. The source of the contamination is currently unknown.
The federal agency is continuing with existing wellhead treatment and monitoring TCE levels in the groundwater. They will also issue deed restrictions, restrictive covenants, and protective easements, as needed.
The public comment period on the EPA’s proposal closes Thursday. Comments will be reviewed and implemented in a final cleanup plan, which will be released later this year. For the full proposal, visit: https://semspub.epa.gov/work/05/941201.pdf.
An administrative record, which contains detailed information that will be used in the selection of the final cleanup plan, is available on the web page and at the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library, in Columbus.