News Release 590

DEPARTMENT REPLACES WATER LINE
AND CONTAMINATED SOIL IN CARDWELL

Volume 35-590

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 20, 2007 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is in Cardwell this week overseeing the replacement of a water line and removing petroleum contaminated soil following an extensive environmental investigation.

During an extensive environmental investigation, the department found petroleum contamination in the soil and groundwater on and near the now idle Brewer Brothers bulk petroleum plant and Martin Oil service station in Cardwell. An environmental consultant working on behalf of Brewer Brother submitted a site investigation and risk assessment report to the department.  The department also required the facility to conduct field investigations and submit additional information. The department used the information to determine exactly what actions were necessary to eliminate or reduce human health and environmental risks associated with soil and groundwater contamination on the bulk plant and Martin Oil sites.

Quarterly drinking water tests by the Department of Natural Resources at Cardwell show the city’s water system to be free of petroleum constituents at levels of concern. While investigations show petroleum contaminants have not entered the Cardwell water distribution system, the department required Brewer Brothers to replace the water line and remove contamination near the line to avoid future concern.

Contractors, in cooperation with the department’s staff and Cardwell’s city personnel, are replacing approximately 51 feet of water line and removing the grossly contaminated soil along the water line corridor for off-site disposal.  The line is being replaced with a PVC pipe inside of a ductile iron pipe.  The iron pipe will be welded at the joints to create an essentially impervious protective covering around the PVC main.  The space between the PVC and iron pipes will be sealed with bentonite.

The contractors will also cut and cap the water line connections on the Brewer Brothers South Bulk Plant between the old concrete/asbestos water lines and the new PVC water lines.  This will ensure the contamination surrounding the old lines does not get into the new distribution system.

The Department of Natural Resources will oversee additional groundwater and soil vapor sampling in January or February and expects to complete the work at the Martin Oil and the Brewer Brothers South Bulk Plant sites by March or April.  The department anticipates holding a public meeting in February to explain the investigation and provide a brief presentation on previous findings and replacement of the water line. 

For more information on the environmental investigation, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4465.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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