FELL IRON AND METAL DECISION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

May 1995

BACKGROUND

      The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
     identified the Fell Iron and Metal sites as a non time-critical
     removal action as defined under the National Contingency Plan
     (NCP). An Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) was
     performed at the site to screen, evaluate, identify, and recommend
     cleanup options.
     The goals of an EE/CA are to: 

 1)   satisfy environmental review requirements for removal actions
      required by the National Environmental Policy Act; 
 2)   satisfy administrative record requirements for documentation
      of removal action selections; and 
 3)   provide a framework for evaluating and selecting alternative
      technologies. 

 An initial screening of alternatives for the Fell Iron and Metal
 site was conducted and is outlined later in this fact sheet.

BRIEF HISTORY

     PCB-laden capacitors, manufactured by Westinghouse Electric
Corporation were dumped in various sites throughout Bloomington and
Monroe County, Indiana. EPA, at the request of the Monroe County Health
Department and the Indiana State Board of Health, conducted a
preliminary assessment/site investigation at the Fell Iron and Metal
(Fell) site in September, 1984. EPA found electrical capacitors,
capacitor parts, and PCB stained soils. The fluids from the leaky
capacitors were sampled and contained PCB concentrations of 757,000
parts per million (ppm). Analysis of soil samples indicated PCB
concentrations to 71,700 ppm.
     In 1985 and 1986, EPA took additional soil and water samples and
also scored the Fell site using the Hazard Ranking System. Although the
site did not score above the 28.5 needed for inclusion on the National
Priorities List, EPA believed, because of the accessibility of the site
to local residents and the high PCB concentrations, that a substantial
health threat existed. Under the EPA's Superfund Removal Program, EPA
removed the surface capacitors and the stained soils. These materials
were disposed of in out-of-state landfills. After the surface capacitors
were removed, the City of Bloomington and EPA both conducted sampling to
determine if PCBs at the Fell site had migrated. Those results showed
PCB concentrations in both the soil and the city's storm sewer and led
to the issuance of an administrative order under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). This
order required Westinghouse and Fell Iron and Metal, Inc. to conduct a
quarterly ground water monitoring program and to excavate and stockpile
approximately 16,000 cubic yards of PCB contaminated soil and materials.
This material was stockpiled and encapsulated between October 1988
through April 1989 until a permanent disposal method was selected
through an EE/CA.

ENGINEERING EVALUATION/COST ANALYSIS

     EPA released an EE/CA for the Fell site on September 27, 1989. EPA
examined each alternative against technical feasibility, institutional
considerations, environmental impacts, and costs. Alternatives proposed
by EPA for consideration by the community included on-site and offsite
incineration, in situ vitrification, and off-site landfilling. EPA
identified off-site landfilling as its preferred alternative for the
Fell stockpile. EPA then held a public comment period. EPA was to
announce its selection of a disposal method by September 1990; however,
EPA wanted additional public comment on specific applicable or relevant
and appropriate requirements (ARARs) for the two on-site alternatives
(in situ vitrification and onsite incineration).

     EPA collected comments on the ARARs for these two on-site
alternatives until February 2, 1992. On April 19, 1993, EPA issued a
clean-up decision and a unilateral administrative order to Westinghouse
and Fell to clean up Fell. The cleanup and decision order gave
Westinghouse and Fell two options for disposal: the proposed Bloomington
incinerator or an appropriately licensed incinerator.
     Westinghouse met with EPA to discuss the order on June 21, 1993.
EPA agreed to issue a stay of the order considering that Westinghouse
committed to actively investigate the availability of alternative
remedies for disposal of-the PCB-contaminated soils and materials at
Fell and if Westinghouse would use the information that it developed
regarding alternatives to supplement the Fell Administrative Record.
Westinghouse agreed and the order was stayed on July 7, 1993 while
Westinghouse explored alternatives.

FELL DECISION, AMENDMENT PROPOSAL

     Westinghouse submitted a request to EPA on March 1, 1995, asking
that EPA reconsider selecting off-site landfilling as a disposal option
for the Fell pile. Westinghouse's proposal, if accepted by the EPA,
describes that Westinghouse would transport the contaminated soil and
materials at Fell to the United States Pollution Control, Inc. (USPCI)
landfill in Knolls, Utah. Westinghouse had previously objected to off-site landfilling of the Fell material because it had hoped to use the
proposed Bloomington incinerator, when constructed. However, the
likelihood of the Bloomington incinerator being constructed in the near
future seems unlikely. Therefore, Westinghouse believes that
transporting and landfilling the Fell material is the most cost-effective option.
 
PUBLIC COMMENT

EPA is interested in knowing how the Bloomington community feels about
the Fell decision amendment proposal. EPA is giving the public an
opportunity to comment on this proposal beginning April 28th, 1995 and
extending for 30 days through May 27th, 1995. A public meeting will be
held at the Fairview Elementary School on Tuesday, May 9th at 7 PM. Oral
public comment will only be taken during the meeting on the 9th. Written
comments, however, will be accepted during the entire public comment
period and can be mailed to Dave Novak at the address on the next page.

Comments will also be accepted through one of the following mediums
prior to the close of business May 27, 1995:
FAX (312) 353-1155 or INTERNET: "NOVAK.DAVE@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV"