ON AUG 13, 2018, JUDGE CATHERINE C. EAGLES OF THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA SIGNED THE CD FOR RD/RA AT OU1 AT THE ABERDEEN CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER SITE.
THE SITE, LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF ABERDEEN, MOORE COUNTY, NC, CONSISTS OF A CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER PLUME THAT HAS IMPACTED THE TOWN'S MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY WELLS. THE LIKELY SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION ARE SEVERAL INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS IN THE SITE AREA, INCLUDING ASPHALTIC AGGREGATE TESTING LABORATORY RUN BY THE SETTLEMENT DEFENDANT, THE NC DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION (NCDOT). NCDOT RELEASED TRICHLOROETHENE (TCE) AND OTHER HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES INTO THE SOIL AND GROUNDWATER AT THE SITE FROM APPROX 1964 TO 1989 AND IS THEREFORE A LIABLE PARTY UNDER CERCLA.
UNDER THE CD, NCDOT AGREES TO CONDUCT THE RD/RA FOR OU1, WHICH WILL QUICKLY ADDRESS THE CONTAMINATION'S ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY BY CONSTRUCTING NEW MUNICIPAL WELLS. NCDOT HAS ALREADY SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED THIS WORK. NCDOT ALSO AGREES TO PAY THE EPA'S FUTURE RESPONSE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OU 1.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDED ON AUG 1, 2018, AND THE U.S. RECEIVED NO COMMENTS SO DOJ MOVED FOR ENTRY OF THE CD ON AUG 9, 2018.