EPA Sites In Elkhart, Indiana
Overview
EPA manages several projects to clean up hazardous waste around Elkhart.
Superfund Cleanups
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund) is a federal law authorizing EPA to clean up contaminated sites.
The law authorizes two kinds of response actions:
- Short-term removals, where actions may be taken to address releases or threatened releases requiring prompt response.
- Long-term remedial response actions that permanently and significantly reduce the dangers associated with releases or threats of releases of hazardous substances that are serious, but not immediately life threatening.
Long-Term Remedial Cleanups
Himco Dump Superfund Site
The Himco Dump site is in Cleveland Township, where a landfill contaminated soil and groundwater. Cleanup is complete at the capped landfill area, four adjacent properties, and 43 downgradient properties that were connected to the municipal water supply. Groundwater monitoring continues. Visit the Himco Dump webpage for more information.
North Shore Drive
The North Shore Drive site is about 70 acres with 47 residences and a few commercial facilities. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene (TCE) and dichloroethylene were found in residential wells. Indiana Department of Environmental Management provides point-of-entry carbon filters to the residential homes affected. Investigations at the site continue. Visit the North Shore Drive webpage for more information.
Conrail Rail Yard
The 2,500-acre Conrail Rail Yard site is an active rail yard affected by TCE and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in soil and groundwater. Following immediate actions to protect human health and the environment, the site’s long-term remedy is now in place. Source area investigations, groundwater treatment, and groundwater and soil vapor monitoring are ongoing. Visit the Conrail Rail Yard webpage for more information.
Lusher Street Groundwater Contamination
The 870-acre site consists of an underground mass of contaminated water, known as a groundwater plume. The groundwater is contaminated with VOCs. The site’s cleanup plan includes connecting properties to municipal water and to install vapor removal systems in area homes and buildings. EPA’s evaluation of potential sources is ongoing. Visit the Lusher Street Groundwater Contamination webpage for more information.
Lane Street Groundwater Contamination
The Lane Street Ground Water Contamination site is a plume of contaminated groundwater from an unidentified source that extends south from an industrial park to a residential area along Lane Street. The contamination includes TCE and other chlorinated solvents. Following immediate actions to protect human health and the environment, site investigations and cleanup planning are ongoing. Visit the Lane Street Ground Water Contamination webpage for more information.
North 5th Street Groundwater Contamination
At the site, a groundwater plume of chlorinated solvents contaminated four municipal wells supplying drinking water to the city of Goshen. The contaminants found in the municipal wells are below action levels and the groundwater is processed at a treatment plant to ensure its safety before being distributed to residents. Site investigations for a long-term cleanup plan are ongoing. Visit the North 5th Groundwater Contamination webpage for more information.
Short-Term Removal Cleanups
Conn Band Instruments
Local officials referred the former Conn Band Instruments property to EPA after finding high levels of lead in the soil. The site is part of a Brownfields redevelopment project. Visit the Conn Band Instruments webpage for more information.
Walter Piano Indiana
From 1892 to 2004 industrial activities like car manufacturing and warehousing activities occurred at the intersection of Michigan St. and Beardsley Ave. Walter Piano was the last business at that location. Former industrial activities contaminated the site with chemicals like perchloroethylene (PCE) and TCE that may have spread underground and can affect homes. The site is part of a Brownfields redevelopment project.