EPA and GM Agree to Cleanup In Bedford, Indiana

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EPA and GM Agree to Cleanup In Bedford, Indiana

7/31/03 12:00:00 PM

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To: National Desk and Environmental Reporter

Contact: Karen Thompson of the Environmental Protection Agency Region 5, 312-353-8547

CHICAGO, July 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 and General Motors Corp. have signed an order under which GM will dig up and remove PCB-contaminated soil and sediment from residential and other areas affected by the GM plant at 105 GM Dr., Bedford, Ind.

The EPA-managed Superfund cleanup will include stream sediment and floodplain soil along Bailey's Branch and Pleasant Run creeks and various tributaries. The cleanup areas begin on the east side of the GM plant and wrap around to the north and west. About 30 residential properties will be involved. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is also involved in oversight of the project.

"We feel it is in the best interest of the local residents for us to reduce the level of PCBs as quickly as possible," said EPA Superfund Director William Muno. "That's why we are taking the lead for the cleanup of these properties under the Superfund program."

This project is in addition to work GM is conducting on its property following an EPA, voluntary corrective action agreement signed with EPA in March 2001. GM will propose final cleanup plans to EPA when that investigation is complete.

EPA estimates that 180,000 tons of soil and sediment will be removed during the Superfund project, reducing PCBs in residential areas, local streams and floodplains to a level the Agency considers safe. GM will also clean up PCB-contaminated springs and seeps to prevent recontamination of the area.

GM contractors have conducted limited work, such as land clearing, over the past two weeks and residents can expect EPA involvement within the next two weeks.

Workers will scrape PCB-contaminated soil from flood plains and sediments from creek beds. The soils will be replaced with clean fill and new plants and erosion control measures will be implemented.