| Abstract |
The 4.5 acre Poer Farm site is located about 4 miles north of Charlottesville, in Hancock County, Indiana. The site is an abandoned tract of land with a collapsed house and barn and an old, inactive well that lies southeast of the house. The surrounding area is open farmland. The nearest house is about 0.25 mile from the site and the nearby residents rely on private wells for their water supply. There are about 270 homes with a population of about 2,400 within 3 miles of the site. In 1973, approximately 260 drums of offgrade solvents and paint resins were stockpiled on the Poer property. In 1981 and 1983, the drums and an onsite well were tested and found to contain elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Emergency cleanup activities were conducted in the summer of 1983. All wastes were removed from the site and six to eight inches of soil were removed from the drum storage areas. Subsequent sampling showed significantly decreased levels of the heavy metals. The site was fenced and warning signs were posted. An investigation in 1988 indicated that contaminant levels were below Federal and State Health Standards and that there was no threat to human health or the environment. |
