Newmark Groundwater Contamination
EPA #: CAD981434517
State: California(CA)
County: San Bernardino
City: San Bernardino
Congressional District: 40
Other Names: North San Bernardino Muscoy Site
San Bernardino - Muscoy Area
Description and History
NPL Listing History
NPL Status: Final
Proposed Date: 06/24/1988
Final Date: 03/31/1989
Deleted Date:
The Newmark Groundwater Contamination site consists of areawide groundwater contamination underlying portions of the City of San Bernardino which has been developed for light industry and residential uses. Two groundwater plumes border Shandin Hills. On the east side of the site, a contaminated groundwater plume extends for 5 miles and is referred to as the Newmark Plume area. On the west side of Shandin Hills is a 4-mile long contaminated groundwater plume known as the Muscoy Plume area. The site covers a portion of an essential groundwater aquifer for the City of San Bernardino. Groundwater contamination from Norton Air Force Base is not considered part of this site. Although the suspected disposal may have occurred as early as the 1940s, the problem was not discovered until a water supply monitoring program was instituted in 1980. The discovery of contaminants, including chlorinated solvents, tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and trichloroethylene (TCE), resulted in the closing of 20 water supply wells within a 6-mile radius of the site. The State brought 12 of the wells back into operation by installing air stripping towers on eight wells and carbon filtration systems on the other four. More than 25 percent of the municipal water supply for the City of San Bernardino's 175,000 residents has been affected by the advancing contamination plumes. The City of Riverside, with a population of approximately 250,000, relies on wells downgradient from the Newmark plume for approximately 75 percent of its total water supply. The rapidly growing communities of Colton, Loma Linda, Fontana, and Rialto, with approximately 115,000 people, and several unincorporated areas also use well water unprotected from the contamination. No alternative water sources currently are available.
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Investigation and Cleanup Activities
This site is being addressed in two stages: (1) an immediate action to inhibit further spread of the two contaminant plumes (Newmark Plume and the Muscoy Plume); and, (2) long-term remedial actions addressing the Newmark Plume Area, the Muscoy Plume Area, and the source of the contamination.
Immediate Action: In May 1992, the EPA conducted a soil gas investigation to evaluate the need for a removal action at a potential disposal site in a residential neighborhood. It was confirmed that a disposal trench existed but no VOCs were present. In-home air sampling confirmed that volatile contaminants from the groundwater were not detectable in residences above the contaminated groundwater. In October 1993, EPA conducted a state-of-the-art subsurface survey over several acres to investigate a potential military equipment disposal area. No buried waste was discovered.
Newmark Plume Area: An investigation was initiated in 1990 to identify the source of the contaminant plume on the east side of the Shandin Hills, and to identify ways to control continued down-gradient migration of the plume while removing contaminants. The investigation determined that the contamination originated at least 2 miles upgradient of the site in another portion of the valley. An interim remedy was chosen in 1993 to pump and treat nearly 18 million gallons of contaminated water per day. This action will control the spread of contamination into clean parts of the aquifer and prevent additional contaminants from entering this part of the valley. The water will be treated by conventional activated carbon adsorption technology to meet all drinking water standards. The treated water will be delivered to the local municipal water departments, which will bear the majority of the operating costs. Design of the remedy began in 1993, property for 7 well sites was purchased in 1995 and construction was completed in October 1998. It is expected that the cleanup actions will take approximately 30 years.
Muscoy Plume Area: The investigation of the Muscoy area began in 1992, identifying the source or sources of contamination and determining how to control the migration of the plume. In 1994, the EPA separated the Muscoy Area into two projects: the Muscoy Plume, targeted at controlling the spread of contamination into clean areas; and the Source project, which will address final cleanup of the source of contamination (described below). The interim remedy for the Muscoy Plume was chosen in 1995. The remedy involves pumping of approximately 9 million gallons per day from the leading edge of the plume (to prevent the further spread of contamination), treating the water with conventional technologies to drinking water standards, and delivering the treated water to local water departments. Design of the remedy began in 1995, and initial construction activities started Fall 2000. The facility began operation in 2005.
On August 18, 2004, the EPA issued an Explanation of Significant Differences to provide notice of changes to the 1993 and 1995 Interim Records of Decision for the site. The purpose was to supplement the existing RODs with an institutional controls program. It will assure that the Newmark and Muscoy treatment systems remain effective in meeting the objectives of capturing contaminated groundwater and inhibiting the movement of contaminated water into clean portions of the groundwater.
On August 18, 2004, a Consent Decree was lodged in the District Court which resolves a lawsuit brought by the City of San Bernardino and the Department of Toxic Substances Control against the U.S. Army over groundwater contamination. Under the settlement, the United States will pay to the City of San Bernardino $69 million. The City is required to use most of the money to operate and maintain the EPA's groundwater treatment remedies at the Newmark Superfund Site, for up to fifty years. In addition, the City will use some of the funds for other activities realted to the cleanup, and build additional City treatment plants to expand its water treatment capacity.
Source Control: The investigation of potential groundwater contaminant source(s) is ongoing. The U.S. Army recently settled its potential liability for contamination at the Newmark Site; the Army leased approximately 1600 acres for use as a base from 1942 until 1947 and various activity areas on the former base property were investigated as potential contaminant source areas. However, EPA has not made a final determination regarding responsibility for the contamination. EPA has also been working with State, and San Bernardino City and County authorities to identify potential sources of groundwater contamination. EPA will continue its work to identify point sources of contamination and develop a comprehensive cleanup plan.
Cleanup Results to Date
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that no immediate actions were required at the Newmark Groundwater site while studies are ongoing and final cleanup activities are being planned. However, the San Bernardino Municipal Water Department has constructed and operated four wellhead treatment systems to ensure the safety of the public water supply. Presently, both the Newmark and Muscoy treatment systems are operating.
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Potentially Responsible Parties
Potentially responsible parties (PRPs) refers to companies that are potentially responsible for generating, transporting, or disposing of the hazardous waste found at the site.
On-line information about the PRPs for the site is not yet available.
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