Conrail Rail Yard
Conrail Rail Yard
The Industry[edit]
The Conrail Rail Yard is a very high traffic area that includes: an active railway, a drag strip, classification distribution for freight cars, engines cleaned and repaired, and diesel refueling.
History[edit]
In 1976, the Elkhart County Health Department began investigating complaints about Conrail. In 1986 the Elkhart County Health Department finds contamination in private well water. Environmental Protection Agency starts providing alternative drinking In 1988, ISDH and ATSDR begin an Interim Public Health Assessment identifying site related exposure in neighborhoods. 236 area residents were added to ATSDR’s newly formed TCE National Exposure Registry. Finally in 2000, the federal, state, and local health agencies start work on the community action plan.
Location[edit]
The Conrail Rail Yard is located in Elkhart, Indiana. The entire rail yard sits on 2500 acres. There are some worthwhile areas surrounding the yard. The St. Joseph River is 1 mile north of the site and can be easily affected by the results of the yard. The Baugo Bay is to the west of the site, with adjacent wetlands and floodplains that can lead into major waterways. Goshen College 4 miles down the road, means there are people constantly around the dangers. The cities of Dunlap, Jamestown, and Midway are in the area of railroad. These are things within a small distance from the superfund site.
Chart of Chemicals[edit]
| Name | Signal Word | Hazard Type | Why Hazardous |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCE (Trichloroethylene) Trichloroethylene | Danger | Harmful, Health Hazard | Mostly in contaminated drinking water, attacks Central Nervous System, can change heart rhythms into dysrhythmias, dangerous to humans and animals |
| Carbon TetrachlorideCarbon Tetrachloride | Danger | Toxic, Health Hazard | Toxic if swallowed, Toxic in contact with skin, Toxic if inhaled, May cause cancer |
Remediation Methods[edit]
Mobilization is the method of choice to take of the problem at Conrail Rail Yard. Mobilization is drilling wells into the ground and applying a vacuum system to remove the contaminants.
Remediation Level[edit]
The site is officially completed, but the material was left on site. This means that at least every 5 years there is a check done to make sure the site is okay, the next check on this site is set for June 2019. The review of this site includes: an evaluation of background information, cleanup requirements, effectiveness of cleanup and any anticipated future work, ways for EPA to work more efficiently, and maintenance and monitoring efforts. In 2009 during the five-year review, it was determined more wells needed to be dug especially around the railway and drag strip. It was also determined that the groundwater was contaminated. These wells were dug and applied in 2012. It was determined that the groundwater containment system was adequate. The next review will also investigate the new wells.
References[edit]
External links[edit]
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