FRANKLIN, IN -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the completion of a groundwater cleanup pilot study near the Amphenol Corp. site. EPA has been working with the community, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), and Amphenol Corp. to protect human and environmental health. This study is part of the larger cleanup required by EPA to address historical contamination originating from the former facility. EPA oversees the work performed by Amphenol Corp. under a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Administrative Order on Consent.
Between October 2019 and April 2020, Amphenol Corp. treated contaminated groundwater to neutralize volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwater. VOCs are compounds that can be released into the air as vapors. PCE and TCE are two VOCs found in the groundwater on and near the Amphenol site. The treatment was found to be effective at reducing levels of VOCs in the groundwater. It will be considered as a full-scale potential cleanup option for all areas with contaminated groundwater.
The treatment was tested at two locations. One testing location was near a groundwater monitoring well (MW-35) on Hamilton Avenue, where concentrations of TCE decreased within one month to the point where they were no longer detected in laboratory analysis. Concentrations of PCE were already under detection limits when the test started.
The second test location was a trench along North Forsythe Ave. where the sewer line was being replaced and contaminated soil had been removed. When the sewer trench was open, Amphenol treated the soil and groundwater to see if they could create a contaminant barrier when groundwater moves through the soil. VOC concentrations in groundwater generally decreased around the former trench. However, it was not clear which of the remedial actions-- sewer line replacement or the treatment-- produced this result. This area will be studied further to understand the effects of the treatment.
EPA will consider the pilot study results and evaluate other technologies in deciding how to clean up the groundwater. EPA will propose a cleanup plan and consider public comments before making a final decision on cleanup.
EPA and IDEM are coordinating their efforts to respond to contaminated sites in Franklin and Johnson County, Indiana. EPA’s current efforts in Franklin are focused on the Amphenol site, which is being cleaned up under the authority of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
