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1. ATSDR > Public Health Assessments & Consultations

PUBLIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT

Bloomington PCB Sites
Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana
and
Spencer, Owen County, Indiana

WINSTON-THOMAS FACILITY (Monroe County)

BACKGROUND

A. Site Description and History

The Winston-Thomas facility is an inactive sewage treatment plant owned by the City of Bloomington, Indiana, and located on the southwest side of the City of Bloomington (see Figure 1). The facility operated from 1933 until 1982. In November of 1975, Westinghouse advised the City of Bloomington that they had been discharging PCBs into the city sewer system. PCBs were then sampled for and confirmed at high concentrations in sewage, Tertiary Lagoon clay and sludge, and in the trickling filter at the plant.

The facility was made part of a comprehensive cleanup as defined in the Consent Decree. This site was not on the NPL at the time of the Consent Decree settlement in 1983, nor is it currently on the NPL. (IDEM. General Overview of Consent Decree Sites. July 1992.)

Interim Measures

The Winston-Thomas facility was shut down in 1982 and a new sewage treatment plant was opened at the Dillman Road site southwest of Bloomington.

In July 1986, the Bloomington Cities Utilities Board approved temporary storage of wastes on city property at the Winston-Thomas site. After this approval and receipt of all necessary permits needed for construction, Westinghouse constructed the Interim Storage Facility prior to commencement of remediation at the other sites as outlined in the Consent Decree.

In May of 1987, the first excavated materials from Anderson Road Landfill were taken to the facility for storage. Excavated materials also began arriving from the stream sites designated for cleanup. A total of 205, 55-gallon drums filled with capacitors and capacitor parts from Anderson Road Landfill and Lemon Lane Landfill were taken to the site and properly stored. A total of 391 cubic yards of stream sediment are stored at the facility along with a total of 706 loads of excavated materials from Anderson Road Landfill weighing 4,847 tons. The Conard's Branch excavation project, which ended in October 1988, generated a total of 1,877 tons of excavated bank material and 2,748 tons of stream bed sediment, all of which is being stored at the facility. In September 1990, APTUS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Westinghouse, drummed PCB-contaminated trash from other containers, labeled all 377 drums stored at the Interim Storage Facility, and transported them to Coffeyville, Kansas for incineration. This material consisted of protective clothing, rags, filters, etc. that had accumulated during routine maintenance and inspections of the Consent Decree sites. In December 1990, APTUS removed 605 capacitors being stored on the site for incineration in Coffeyville.

In November 1990, Westinghouse notified the Consent Decree parties that water had accumulated over the years in three digester tanks on-site and was close to overflowing. With the approval of all the Consent Decree parties, Westinghouse decontaminated 410,000 gallons of water from the three digesters. Hydrogeological investigations were also begun on-site in August of 1987.

PCB Sampling of Indicator Sediment Areas of Clear Creek

In June 1988, the IDEM oversaw the PCB sampling by Westinghouse of two sediment areas along Clear Creek as required by the Consent Decree.

Current Status

Westinghouse conducts monthly inspections of the Interim Storage Facility and submits inspection reports to the EPA, IDEM, and the City of Bloomington.

The City of Bloomington utilities has contracted for the removal of muskrats at the Winston-Thomas Tertiary Lagoon because of the concern they may undermine the dike and allow PCB-contaminated water to escape. Some of the muskrats that are removed will be submitted to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for PCB tissue analysis.

The City of Bloomington has contracted with an environmental firm to assess the degree, if any, of microbial degradation of the PCB-contaminated sewage sludge.

B. Site Visit

On January 28, 1993, Ms. Dollis Wright and Mr. Garry Mills of the ISDH, and staff from IDEM and Westinghouse visited the Consent Decree sites. Observances made during the site visit to the Winston-Thomas facility are listed below.

1. Access to the site is restricted by a locked chain-link fence.

2. Ducks were seen swimming on the Tertiary Lagoon.

3. Inside the on-site Interim Storage Facility (an aluminum, steel support building) a plastic liner had been placed on top of the contaminated soil. A concrete floor and liner prevents contamination from excavated soil from entering the soil under the storage facility.

4. There was a protective clothing and decontamination area in the Interim Storage Facility which included two above-ground storage tanks that are used for cleaning equipment.

5. The Winston-Thomas Sewage Treatment Plant is located in a mixed business/residential area.

C. Demographics, Land Use, Natural Resource Use, and Environmental Setting

Demographics

The Winston-Thomas Sewage Treatment Plant site area has high schools within a ½- to 1½-mile radius of the site. The population in the site area is predominantly white. Approximately 500 people live within a 1-mile radius of the site.

Land Use and Natural Resource Use

The site is surrounded by residential areas to the west and south, and by commercial developments to the north and east. A residential area lies west of the site beyond Clear Creek and the Illinois Central Railroad tracks. The municipal water supply serves the area in the vicinity of the site. The current status of residential well use in the area is unknown.

Environmental Setting

The site is located in the north to south trending valley of Clear Creek on a nearly level to moderately sloping plateau. Steep slopes are located along the berm edges of the Tertiary Lagoon. Clear Creek was at one time where the Tertiary Lagoon is presently located. Before the Tertiary Lagoon was made, Clear Creek was re-routed to the western edge of the site flowing south.

There are two layers of bedrock under the soil layer. Grey limestone and shale ranging in depths from 22-36 feet thick, make up the first layer. The second layer is made up of a water-holding, dark gray, silty shale with pyrite specks.

Groundwater flow is interpreted to flow generally to the southwest toward Clear Creek, which appears to be the discharge point. In the northern portion of the site, the groundwater flow direction trends more west-southwest, and in the central and southern areas of the site, it trends south-southwest.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND OTHER HAZARDS

A. On-site Contamination

Ambient Air

As part of Section 7.4 of the Westinghouse Project Safety Plan, April 1987, air monitoring for VOCs, and other chemicals that might be detected, is conducted on a quarterly basis for the Interim Storage Facility at the Winston-Thomas Sewage Treatment Plant site.

Monitoring results for VOCs and PCBs conducted by Westinghouse from April 1988 through February 1993 have shown the samples to be below detectable limits. (Westinghouse. Quarterly inactive status air sample results for the Interim Storage Facility, 1988-1992.)

Abandoned Lagoon Borings

Between March and April 1984, on-site boring samples were collected by EPA at two abandoned lagoons at the Winston-Thomas Sewage Treatment Plant site (see Figure 25). The former lagoons are located south of the Tertiary Lagoon near the sludge drying beds. Samples were collected at ten locations (B-1 - B-10) and analyzed for total PCBs. Sample depths ranged from 0 inches to 9 feet 4 inches (B-6). PCBs in the abandoned lagoon boring samples (Table 41) had a concentration range of less than 1 to 700 ppm (B-4). (Westinghouse. Phase I Progress Report on Winston-Thomas Facility and Bennett's Dump. January 1987.)

Table 41. On-Site Abandoned Lagoon Total PCB Sample Results for
Winston-Thomas Facility, March/April 1984

Tertiary Lagoon Borings

In May 1984, Tertiary Lagoon boring samples were collected by EPA for PCB analysis from six locations (B-11 - B-16) at the Winston-Thomas Sewage Treatment Plant site (see Figure 25). The Tertiary Lagoon is 17 acres in size and maintains a water depth of 18 inches. The sample depth involving a clay surface was 0-3 inches. Sample results ranged from 2 ppm in sample B-16 to 660 ppm in sample B-14. (Westinghouse. Phase I Progress Report on Winston-Thomas Facility and Bennett's Dump. January 1987.)

Tertiary Lagoon Sludge

In July 1982, sludge samples were collected by the City of Bloomington and analyzed for PCBs (see Figure 26). A total of 11 sample points (#1-11) were involved with an average depth in excess of 55 inches. Liquid and sludge were identified at approximately 55 feet. For sludge only, the average depth was in excess of 23 inches. PCBs were detected at all 11 sample points (Table 42). (Grodner & Fore Atty. Letter regarding Winston-Thomas Sewage Treatment Plant Lagoon Samples. November 10, 1982.)

Table 42. On-Site Tertiary Lagoon Sludge PCB Sample Results,
Winston-Thomas Facility, July 1982

Tertiary Lagoon Core Sludge

In the early 1980s, tertiary core sludge samples were collected at the site and analyzed for PCBs (see Figure 27). The second set of data were collected by a private contractor (sampling date unknown) for the City of Bloomington, and were documented by City of Bloomington correspondence dated February 1983.

A total of ten sample locations (B-top, middle, bottom, D, E, G, J, L, M, O), plus one duplicate (B-middle), were analyzed in this data set. Samples taken from the top to the bottom of the core section were analyzed. PCBs were detected at all ten locations for Tertiary Lagoon sludge. Results from this set of data are presented in Table 43. (Grodner & Fore Atty. Letter to O'Brien & Gere Engineers Inc. regarding Winston-Thomas Treatment Plant core sludge sample results. February 3, 1983.)

Table 43. On-Site Tertiary Lagoon Core Sludge Total PCB Sample
Results, Winston-Thomas Facility

Tertiary Lagoon Core Sludge and Clay

In June 1983, EPA correspondence documented that previous core sludge and clay samples had been collected and analyzed for total PCBs (see Figure 28). A total of eight core locations, plus one duplicate, were sampled. The average length of the sludge and clay in cores was in excess of 21 inches each. Samples taken from the top to the bottom of the core section were analyzed. PCBs were detected at all eight core sludge locations, while PCBs in the core clay were detected at three locations (E,G,M). PCB analyses results for lagoon core sludge and clay are shown in Table 44. (O'Brien & Gere. Letter to Blasland regarding Winston-Thomas Tertiary Lagoon sludge and clay core sample results. June 23, 1983.)

Table 44. On-Site Tertiary Lagoon Core Sludge & Clay
PCB Sample Results, Winston-Thomas Facility, June 1983

Groundwater - Monitoring Wells

Ten bedrock monitoring wells were installed in September and October 1987 around the perimeter of the Winston-Thomas facility (see Figure 29). One monitoring well, MW-3S, was installed in the unconsolidated material in July 1987. The monitoring wells were designated as MW-1, -2, -3S, -3I, -3D, -4, -5I, -5D, -6, -7, and -8 (S = shallow, I = intermediate, & D = deep). Eight wells are located hydraulically downgradient, while three wells are located upgradient. Four rounds of groundwater sampling for PCBs were performed by Westinghouse beginning in March 1988 and were completed in December 1988. Monitoring well depths ranged from in excess of 40 feet to in excess of 55 feet.

With respect to these sampling events, PCBs were not detected in the groundwater samples obtained from wells MW-1, -2, -3D, -4, -5I, -6, and -8. PCBs were detected in two of the four representative groundwater samples obtained from wells MW-3I and -5D; in all three samples obtained from well MW-7 (and in the duplicate sample from well MW-7); and in all four samples obtained from well MW-3S. PCB sample results are shown in Table 45. (Westinghouse. Quarterly Groundwater Sampling Results, Bennett's Dump and Winston-Thomas Facility Supplemental Hydrogeologic Investigation, December 5-7, 1988. January 1989.)

Table 45. On-Site Monitoring Well PCB Sample Results for
Winston-Thomas Facility, March-December 1988

Concentrations listed as one number indicate only a single sample at that location.

In 1992, the Fish and Wildlife Service implemented a waterfowl PCB uptake study using 72 yearling mallard hens. Five were processed as controls immediately, and the remaining 67 were marked and released. Five ducks were collected every ten days until none remained.

Liver tissues were analyzed for cytochrome P-450 induction and composite duck samples were taken for congener specific PCBs. The PCB uptake rate was remarkable. A concentration of 2 ppm was seen in the ducks after only 2 to 10 days of foraging at this site.

Up to several hundred waterfowl at a time can be observed for up to several months during fall and early winter migrations.

B. Off-site Contamination

Groundwater - Residential Wells

In November 1986, the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Bloomington conducted a well user survey of approximately 30 residential wells within 5,000 feet of the Winston-Thomas Sewage Treatment Plant site. Samples were collected at faucets nearest to the well head for drinking water and were analyzed for PCBs. Documentation for the well user survey did not include a location map of the residences sampled. Samples detected for PCBs had a concentration range of non-detect to 98 ppt. (Indiana University. Collection and Analysis of Drinking Water Well Samples for PCB Content. November 1986.)

Surface Water

Between March 1976, September 1977, and June/July 1980, off-site surface water samples were collected (see Figure 30) by the ISDH and analyzed for total PCBs at ten sample locations: Clear Creek (CC-1 & -3), Salt Creek (SC-2,-3,-5), Pleasant Run (PR-1), and East Fork of the White River (EW-3,-4,-5,-6) (Indiana State Department of Health. Memorandum from C. Bridges to O. Hert regarding PCB levels in water sediment and fish from Clear Creek, Salt Creek, Pleasant Run, and the East Fork of White River (Monroe and Lawrence Counties, Indiana) in 1980. February 23, 1981.)

All sample results are reported as total PCBs whether or not the samples collected detected one or more PCB types. Total PCBs detected in the off-site surface water samples had a concentration range of non-detect to 0.9 ppb (CC-1).

Sediment

Between March 1976, September 1977, and June/July 1980, off-site sediment samples were collected (see Figure 30) by the ISDH and analyzed for total PCBs at ten sample locations: Clear Creek (CC-1 & -3), Salt Creek (SC-2,-3,-5), Pleasant Run (PR-1), and East Fork of the White River (EW-3,-4,-5,-6). PCB analyses results are shown in Table 46. The Consent Decree requires Westinghouse to sample from these areas. (ISBH. Memorandum to O. Hert regarding PCB levels in water sediment and fish. February 23, 1981.)

All sample results are reported as total PCBs whether or not the samples collected detected one or more PCB types. Total PCBs detected in the off-site sediment samples had a concentration range of non-detect to 1,300 ppm (PR-1).

Between June and July 1988, sediment samples were collected from two indicator areas for PCBs along Clear Creek, near Gordon Pike and the town of Harrodsburg. Sampling was overseen by IDEM. These samples were taken after hydrovacuuming of Clear Creek had been performed by Westinghouse.

The first indicator area was designated within 300 feet downstream of Gordon Pike. Ten sampling locations were selected; no PCBs were detected.

The second indicator area for PCB sampling along Clear Creek is approximately 12 miles south of the first indicator area, Gordon Pike. This area was designated as within 200 feet upstream of Old State Road 37 near Harrodsburg, Indiana. Ten sampling locations were selected. Except for one detection of 12 ppm, all other samples were non-detect.

As part of the sediment sampling conducted at the Lemon Lane Landfill by IDEM in November 1991 (RK6320-RK6324), sediment samples were also collected off-site near the Winston-Thomas Sewage Treatment Plant site (IDEM. Memorandum. February 25, 1992). These samples were only analyzed for PCBs.

Table 46. Off-Site Surface Water and Sediment Total PCB Sample Results for Winston-Thomas Facility

ND = non-detect
Concentrations listed as one number indicate only a single sample at that location.

Fish

Between March 1976, September 1977 and 1979, and June/July 1980, fish samples were collected (see Figure 30) by the ISDH and analyzed for total PCBs at ten sample locations: Clear Creek (CC-1 & -3), Salt Creek (SL-2,-3,-5), Pleasant Run (PR-1), and East Fork of the White River (EW-3,-4,-5,-6). (ISBH. Memorandum to Water and Sewage Laboratory. February 1981.)

All sample results in Table 47 are reported as total PCBs whether or not the samples collected detected one or more PCB types. Total PCBs detected in the fish data (whole fish basis) had a concentration range of non-detect to 85 ppm (CC-3).

Table 47. Off-Site Fish PCB Sample Results for Winston-Thomas Facility

C. Quality Assurance and Quality Control

For the first groundwater sampling event (March 1988), the PCB analytical data are invalid for wells MW-1, -2, -4, -6, -7, and -8. The data are invalid because the pump utilized for sampling contained residual PCBs from sampling well MW-5 at the Bennett Stone Quarry site. A PCB concentration of 6 ppb was detected in the methods blank QA sample obtained from the pump. The PCB analytical data for the last three quarterly sampling events (June, September, and December 1988) are valid for the aforementioned wells, except for well MW-6 in the June 1988 sampling event. PCBs were apparently still present in this well from the March 1988 sampling event. The PCB analytical data are valid for wells MW-3S, -3I, -3D, -5I, and -5D for all four quarterly events.

D. Physical and Other Hazards

This site is surrounded by a chain-link fence. In the unlikely event that a trespasser were to gain access to the site, there is a potential for accidental drowning due to the number of areas with standing water. Per the site visit on January 28, 1993, there were no other apparent physical hazards present on this site.

PATHWAYS ANALYSES

A. Completed Exposure Pathways

Off-site Fish

Fish sampling of Clear Creek indicates that they are contaminated with PCBs. PCBs bind tightly to sediment particles. Due to the lipophilic nature of PCBs, they readily bio-concentrate. It is assumed that fish in Clear Creek bioaccumulated PCBs through contaminated water and ingestion of contaminated sediments. A level 2 fish advisory has been issued by the ISDH on Clear Creek since 1988 to the present.

A level 2 fish advisory means that women of child bearing age and children under the age of 18 should not consume any of the fish listed in the advisory for the named waterway. All other individuals should limit their consumption of those designated fish species to no more than one meal per week.

Eating fish taken from Clear Creek is a past, present, and future exposure pathway for human exposure to PCBs.

Off-site Sewage Sludge

Sludge was used by various individuals in the Bloomington area for gardening. From 1972 through 1976, approximately 500 to 1,000 persons had obtained sludge at the Westinghouse plant for organic gardening. It is important to note that studies of PCB uptake in plants indicate that PCBs may be taken up by the root system of plants. It is possible, however, that contamination of plants may be due to wind-blown dust versus the root uptake system (Sommers. 1976). Ingestion of vegetables from gardens which had PCB-contaminated sludge is a past, present, and future completed exposure pathway (Baker et al. 1980).

On- and Off-site Wild Game

Even though the Tertiary Lagoon is fenced, wildlife such as ducks and muskrats have been observed on the site. During the daily activities of these animals, sludge in the lagoon could quite naturally be disturbed. It is likely that the ducks and muskrats in the Tertiary Lagoon have migrated and accumulated PCBs from contaminated sludge in their bodies. Excretion of PCBs is slow, so accumulation occurs even at low exposure levels. Further, the higher the chlorination, the longer it takes to be excreted by the body. Human ingestion of these wild game is a past, present, and future pathway for PCBs to enter the body.

Table 48. Completed Exposure Pathways for Winston-Thomas Facility

PATHWAY NAME	EXPOSURE PATHWAY ELEMENTS						TIME
	SOURCE	ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA	POINT OF EXPOSURE	ROUTE OF EXPOSURE	EXPOSED POPULATION	NUMBER OF EXPOSED PERSONS
Off-site Fish	Winston- Thomas Site	Fish	Clear Creek	Ingestion	Individuals eating fish from Clear Creek	200-230	Past Present Future
Off-site Sewage Sludge	Winston- Thomas Site	Sludge	Gardens	Ingestion Dermal Contact	Individuals eating home- grown produce, Gardeners	500-1,000	Past Present Future
On- & Off-site Wild Game	Winston- Thomas Site	Ducks Muskrats	Tertiary Lagoon	Ingestion	Individuals eating wild game that roamed the Winston-Thomas site	65-70	Past Present Future

B. Potential Exposure Pathways

On- and Off-site Ambient Air

PCBs in air can be present as both airborne solid and liquid particles, and vapor that eventually return to the land as water, snow, rain, and the settling of dust particles. During its operation, the Winston-Thomas Sewage Treatment Plant had two sludge lagoons, three areas of sludge drying beds, and the Tertiary Lagoon. PCBs were found in these areas at up to 2,500 ppm. These six areas presented the potential for contamination of ambient air.

Monitoring results for VOCs and PCBs from April 1988 through February 1993 have all been non-detect. As the site is no longer operating, the sludge lagoons, sludge drying beds, and tertiary lagoons present a past potential inhalation exposure pathway.

Off-site ambient air is a past, present, and future inhalation exposure pathway for individuals who used sewage sludge for their gardens. It is possible that both airborne, solid, and liquid particles, and vapors from the sewage sludge contaminated the ambient air around these gardens.

Off-Site Sediment

Interim remediation involved the removal of 1,100 feet of sediment from Clear Creek. Before this removal, sediment was contaminated with unknown levels of PCBs. The sediment route of entry to the human body would be through incidental or accidental ingestion of stream water and/or absorption of the chemicals through the skin.

PCBs are bound to soil particles reducing the amount of human skin and stomach absorption considerably. Swimmers, especially young children, could swallow water containing these sediments. The amount of sediment ingested during swimming and wading is expected to be minimal. Sediment is a past potential exposure route for individuals participating in recreational activities at Clear Creek prior to the interim remediation.

The June 1988 sampling of Clear Creek revealed sediment samples contaminated with PCBs at 12 ppm. Because groundwater under the site discharges primarily into Clear Creek, and PCBs bioaccumulate rapidly, sediment is considered a future potential pathway for PCBs to reach the surrounding community during recreational activities by incidental ingestion and dermal contact. The IDEM performed the last sampling of Clear Creek in November 1991; PCBs were detected 0.19 ppm.

Off-site Surface Water

The sewage treatment plant was functional from 1933 to 1982. Clear Creek was at one time where the Tertiary Lagoon is presently located. Before the Tertiary Lagoon was made, Clear Creek was re-routed to the western edge of the site flowing south. Although interim remedial removal of sediments from Clear Creek were done by 1987, the last sampling data for Clear Creek showed PCBs at 0.19 ppm. Surface water presents a past, present, and future potential exposure pathway for individuals participating in recreational activities in Clear Creek through incidental ingestion of sediments and dermal contact.

Off-site Groundwater - Private Wells

The Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs performed a well user survey in 1986 for the Winston-Thomas site. Forty private wells were located within a 5,000-foot radius of the site. Results showed all samples taken from the private wells to be non-detect to 98 ppt for PCB. Although the area is currently served by municipal water, it is unknown how many private wells are still being used for potable water.

Groundwater under the site flows generally to the south, southwest toward Clear Creek. There is a potential for private wells to be contaminated with PCBs emanating from the site. The private wells south and southwest of the site are the most likely to potentially be contaminated. The use of the private wells in the vicinity of the Winston-Thomas site is a past, present, and future potential exposure pathway for individuals using them for potable water.

Off-site Cattle

Some of the individuals that obtained sludge for organic gardening also used sludge in pastures where cattle grazed. Accumulation of PCBs in the tissues of these cattle is possible. Cattle that grazed on sludge covered fields are a past potential exposure pathway to individuals who ate this meat.

Table 49. Potential Exposure Pathways for Winston-Thomas Facility

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