Source Areas 9/10 and 11
Results of Indoor Air Samples
Southeast Rockford Groundwater Contamination Superfund
Project
July 2004
Rockford, Illinois
What are Source Areas 9/10 and 11? In the 1980s, state
and federal agencies found that a number of southeast Rockford private wells were
contaminated with industrial solvents. The sources of these solvents were
unknown at that time. During Superfund1 investigations,
the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) identified Source Area
9/10 and Source Area 11 as two of four major sources of this well contamination. (See
map.) Information on the other two source areas is available from sources
listed on the last page.
Source Area 9/10
Area 9/10 (See map above.) has a long history of industrial activity
extending back to approximately 1926. At that time, the Rockford Milling
Machine and Rockford Tool companies merged to become the Sundstrand Machine Tool
Company, which is located at the northwest corner of Area 9/10. Other companies
have operated in the area. United Technologies Corporation company purchased
Sundstrand. Sundstrand is now known as Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (HS). HS
manufactures and tests parts, such as fuel pumps, for the aviation industry.
What is being done to remedy Area 9/10? In January 2003, HS
and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U. S. EPA) signed an Administrative
Order on Consent. In this order, Hamilton Sundstrand agreed to design the
Area 9/10 remedy designated in the 2002 Record of Decision. HS also agreed to reimburse
the U. S. EPA and the Illinois EPA $246,403.79 in past costs as well as future
oversight costs. Actual construction of the remedy will be the subject of
future negotiations.
What work has HS completed at Area 9/10?
Pre-Design Investigation. Recently, HS completed
the fieldwork for a predesign investigation in Area 9/10. The purpose of
this investigation is to collect the information necessary to design the remedy. This
information includes:
- 170 soil samples from soil borings. These samples will
give more information about the location, types and concentrations of contamination
in subsurface soil. These samples will also confirm geologic conditions
such as soil type (sand, clay, etc.) beneath ground surface. All the samples
will be analyzed for volatile organic compounds and diesel range organics (jet
fuel). Some soil samples also will be analyzed for metals.
- Groundwater samples, including samples from 15 newly installed monitoring
wells. These samples will be analyzed for volatile organic compounds
and diesel range organics and will give more information about the location,
types and concentrations of contaminants in groundwater. The wells will
also give information about the direction of groundwater flow.
Pilot Study. HS has begun a pilot study to test,
on a small scale, the effectiveness of the chosen remedy. One purpose of the test
is to help determine how many soil vapor extraction wells are needed to collect
the underground vapors.
What are the next steps for Source Area 9/10?
- HS is preparing a draft report summarizing the predesign investigation results. The
report will include the HS assessment of site conditions.
- When the pilot study is complete, HS will submit a draft report to the Illinois
EPA and U. S. EPA summarizing the study results.
- The Illinois EPA and U. S. EPA will review HS draft reports.
- Upon Illinois EPA and U. S. EPA approval of the predesign investigation and
pilot study reports, HS will begin a preliminary design of the remedy. Upon
the agencies’ approval of the preliminary design, HS will design the remedy.
- Upon
Illinois EPA and U. S. EPA approval of the remedy design, HS will enter into
negotiations with the U. S. EPA for construction of the remedy.
Source Area 11
What is Source Area 11? Source Area 11 is an old industrial
area dating back to at least 1906. (Map is on the first page.) Past
industries include Rockford Varnish, Rockford Coatings Corporation and Rockwell
International Graphics.
What is the status of Area 11 remedy? The Illinois EPA
has applied to the U. S. EPA for funding to design the Source Area 11 remedy. This
site will have to compete with other sites nationwide for the limited federal funds
available for cleanup of Superfund sites.
Areas 9/10 and 11 Contamination
Area 9/10. In Area 9/10, the main contaminants
of concern are industrial solvents in a class of chemicals called volatile organic
compounds (VOCs).* According to Illinois EPA data, the highest level of
contamination is suspected to be near and/or under the HS facility. Because
of limited access, however, the Illinois EPA was unable to conduct soil borings
at these locations. The information HS collects during the predesign investigation
should help answer questions about the location of the contamination.
Previous Illinois EPA investigations found high levels (18,278 parts per billion)
VOCs in groundwater samples collected from a monitoring well downgradient from
HS. One of the groundwater contaminants, (1,1,1-trichloroethane) is present
in high enough concentrations to be undissolved in the water. Undissolved
chemicals in water are called free product or non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL). NAPL
is of special concern, because contamination is concentrated and continually releases
chemicals into the groundwater and into the air pockets in the soil above the
groundwater.
Area 11.The contaminants at Source Area 11 include
chlorinated solvents and nonchlorinated solvents/ petroleum products such as xylenes.
*VOCs are called “volatile” because they vaporize (evaporate) readily
and “organic” because they contain carbon.
Remedies for Areas 9/10 and 11 Remedies
In June 2002, after carefully considering public comment, the Illinois EPA and
the U. S. EPA signed a Record of Decision for remedies in the four major source
areas.
Area 9/10.The soil remedy for Area 9/10 is
soil vapor extraction1 and treatment of vapors by granular activated carbon. The
leachate2 remedy for Area 9/10 is institutional controls plus enhanced air
sparging3. In addition, the Illinois EPA will install monitoring wells
southwest of HS to characterize groundwater coming out of Area 9/10. The
agency will determine the exact locations of these wells after evaluating data
from the HS predesign investigation report. There is a contingent remedy
in Area 9/10 to pump and treat the groundwater/leachate if the results of the
predesign investigation indicate such a contingent is necessary.
Area 11. The Area 11 remedy is soil vapor extraction1,
groundwater monitoring and restrictions on the use of property.
For More Information:
Contacts: For more information about the project including fact sheets
on the remedial investigation results, feasibility studies and proposed plans for
each of the four major source areas, you may contact the Illinois EPA staff listed
below:
Tammy Mitchell
Community Relations Coord.
Illinois EPA
1021 N. Grand Ave. E.
Box 19276
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276
Phone: (217) 524-2292 |
Thomas Williams
Project Manager
Illinois EPA
1021 N. Grand Ave. E.
Box 19276
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276
Phone: (815) 223-1714 |
Repositories: Full reports for the project may be reviewed at the following
locations.
Rock River Branch
Rockford Public Library
3128 S. 11th Street
Rockford, IL 61109
815-398-7514
(Call for hours)
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Ken-Rock Community Center
3218 S. 11th Street
Rockford, IL 61109
815-398-8864
(Call for hours) |
Administrative record file: The administrative record file is located at
the Illinois EPA headquarters in Springfield, Illinois. Call 217/782-9878 for an
appointment. The administrative record file will also be located on microfiche
at the Main Branch of the Rockford Public Library at 215 N. Wyman in Rockford.
Is my water safe to drink? If you
are connected to the Rockford Public Water Supply, your water is safe to drink. The
city of Rockford routinely tests its supply for possible contaminants. Water
that fails to meet U. S. EPA drinking water standards is not distributed to the
public.
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