Clear Creek and Richland Creek
Fish, Water and Sediment Sampling and Analysis Plan
November 2002
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Viacom has periodically sampled fish in creeks near and in Bloomington, Indiana since 1996. These
samples have been taken in association with investigation activities at several sites in the Bloomington
area that received PCBs from a former Westinghouse Electric Corporation (the predecessor to Viacom
Inc.) manufacturing plant located in Bloomington. The sampling described by this plan follows from
previous efforts and continues to support the understanding of PCB levels in fish.
1.1 OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT PROJECT
1.1.1 Objectives
This sampling plan covers the collection of fish, water and sediments in two different stream systems,
Clear Creek and Richland Creek. Clear Creek is the primary drainage system associated with the Lemon
Lane Landfill and the Winston Thomas Plant. Richland ('reek (and Conald's Branch ore ifs
tributaries) is the drainage system associated with Neal's Landfill. Figure 1 shows the general site and
stream locations. All of these sites have been remediated for PCB contamination by Viacom in the last
few years. This sampling effort will generally support the evaluation of PCB levels in fish in the
streams. Specific objectives include:
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To compare PCB levels in fish and concurrently located water and sediments collected this year
with PCB levels from past sampling events at the same locations to evaluate trends. Trend
evaluation is a goal for both stream systems.
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To collect additional data on PCB levels in fish in portions of the Richland Creek system to
support risk assessment. The risk assessment is in process for Richland Creek. Since risk
assessment activities have not begun for Clear Creek, the proposed sampling in Clear Creek is
not designed to support risk assessment activities
1.1.2 Proposed Study Activities
To satisfy the stated objectives, the following specific project activities will be performed:
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Collect fish samples from Clear Creek at four locations for Aroclor PCB analysis. All four
locations have a history of previous samples for use in trend analysis.
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Collect fish samples from Richland Creek, and also Conard's Branch, at three locations for
Aroclor and congener PCB analysis. Two of the proposed locations have a history of samples for
trend analysis. One of the proposed locations has not been significantly sampled in the past and
is to be sampled now to allow for a more complete evaluation of risk near the site.
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Collect limited water and sediment samples at each fish sampling location.
1.2 PLANNING DOCUMENTS
This plan has been developed based upon a review of available site information, prior site visits and past
data that is available for trend analysis and risk assessment.
This plan presents the overall approach and describes project activities that will be used for this project.
Section 2 of the plan provides additional background information concerning the site. A discussion of
the Data Collection Plan is provided in Section 3. It outlines the rationale underlying the number and
location of sampling points and analytical parameters. Field sampling procedures have been provided in
previously approved project QAPjPs. Lab analytical procedures for fish analyses are attached. Lab
procedures for water and sediment analyses have been previously approved. The lab selected for PCB
analysis in fish is Paradigm Analytical of Wilmington, NC. This is the same lab which USEPA used for
their fish analyses conducted in 2001 at Richland Creek.
2.0 BACKGROUND
2.1 SITE LOCATION AND SETTrNG AND HISTORY
2.1.1 CLEAR CREEK
The City of Bloomington is primarily drained by the Clear Creek system to the south. Clear Creek has
it's headwaters in two branches that both originate within the city (see Figure 2). The west branch
originates at Illinois Central and Quarry Springs. Lemon Lane Landfill is approximately 2000 feet
northwest of Illinois Central Spring and has been shown to impact groundwater emerging at this spring.
The east branch originates at Indiana University. The east and west branch join approximately 1.7 miles
(straight-line distance) from Illinois Central Spring just south of Hillside Drive. The Winston Thomas
Facility is located along Clear Creek about one mile south of the confluence of the east and west
branches. Clear Creek continues south approximately 11 miles (straight-line distance) where it joins Salt
Creek just south of the outlet of Monroe Dam.
Major tributaries to Clear Creek include Jackson Creek, which drains the eastern side of Bloomington,
the Dillman Road Sewage Treatment Facility, Bowen Hollow Creek, Little Clear Creek and the Judah
Branch.
In 1985, Viacom and the government agencies entered into a consent decree to remediate PCB sites in
and around Bloomington, including both Winston Thomas and Lemon Lane Landfill. Included in this
settlement was a provision to remove certain sediments within Clear Creek. These sediments were
removed in 1987.
In 1997, PCBs were discovered on the West Side of Clear Creek adjacent to the Winston Thomas Site
and this area was remediated in late 1997. In 1997, the remediation of Winston Thomas began and was
completed in the summer of 1999. The Lemon Lane Landfill was remediated in 2000.
The USEPA built a spring water collection and treatment facility at the headwaters of Clear Creek at
Illinois Central Spring in 1999/2000. This facility can continuously treat about 1000 gpm and can store
up to 4 acre feet when flows exceed the treatment capacity. This facility began treating water in May
2000, and has operated continuously since that time. In August 2001, the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management took over operation of the spring treatment facility at Illinois Central
Spring.
2.1.2 RICHLAND CREEK
Richland Creek is a tributary to the West Branch of the White River. It originates in several small
branches within a few miles of the Neal's Landfill site. Figure 3 shows Richland Creek near Neal's
Landfill. The landfill drainage is contained in springs to the northwest of the site at the headwaters of
Conard's Branch. Conard's Branch flows to the north-northwest and joins the main stem of Richland
Creek a little more than a half mile (straight line distance) from the site. Richland Creek from this point
flows to the southwest.
In 1985, Viacom and the government agencies entered into a consent decree to remediate PCB sites in
and around Bloomington including the Neal's Landfill site. Included in this settlement were provisions
to remove all the sediments and most of the immediate bank soils from Conard's Branch and a portion of
Richland Creek and to capture and treat the spring waters emanating northwest and south of the site.
In 1987 and 1988 the sediment and bank soil removal was completed. The spring water collection and
treatment system was completed in 1990. This system collects up to 500 gpm, treats the water for
removal of PCBs and then discharges the water back to Conard's Branch. This system has been in
continuous operation since 1990.
2.2 RESULTS FROM PREVIOUS STUDIES
Surface water, sediments and fish have been sampled on several occasions in both creeks. References a,
b and c list the historical data available.
3.0 SAMPLE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
This investigation is designed to evaluate the PCB concentrations in the fish in these creeks.
Concurrent with fish collections, limited surface water and sediment samples will be taken in each
location. This section describes the types of field and analytical chemistry data that will be collected for
this project.
SURFACE WATER SAMPLING
The objective of the surface water characterization is to create a record of the Aroclor PCB content of
the surface water at the fish sample location. One surface water sample at each fish location will be
taken. At all locations except Conard's Branch, it is expected that the PCB level will be below the
standard limit of detection used for the Bloomington project (.1 ppb). Therefore, at these locations a
modification will be made to the standard sampling technique and the standard lab analysis to allow a
lower limit of detection. Grab samples will be taken. Specifically, two 1 liter jars (per grab sample) will
be filled at each sample site. Both bottles will be extracted at the lab and the extracts combined.
Additionally, the combined extract will be concentrated to 1 milliliter versus the standard 5 milliliters.
This should afford a limit of detection of approximately .01 ppb. Apart from these modifications, all
other procedures for the collection of surface water will be per Field Procedure No. 4: Surface Water
and Sediment Sampling (WEC, 1995).
3.2 SEDIMENT SAMPLES
At each sample site, three surface sediment samples will be taken. Each sample will be analyzed for
Aroclor PCBs and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) both on a dry basis. The exact sediment sampling
locations will be field selected to best represent the character of the sediments at that area. For example,
if the reach of the stream is comprised mostly of sandy sediments, then the samples at that location will
be chosen in the sandy sediments. A detailed description of the sediment sample location will be made
in the field notebook relative to local landmarks.
The procedures for collecting surface water samples are presented in the relevant sections of Field
Procedure No. 4: Surface Water and Sediment Sampling (WEC, 1995). Stainless steel scoops or other
comparable equipment will be used to collect the sediment samples. The field technician will visually
inspect the sample to provide qualitative descriptions of color, texture, odor, presence of plants or
animals, or other relevant field observations, and denote them in the field logbook.
Each sediment sample will be transferred to a four ounce pre-cleaned bottle that is labeled in accordance
with Section 3.4, and prepared for shipment to the laboratory.
After the collection of samples, all sampling equipment which has come into contact with sediment
(scoops, spatulas, mixing pans, etc.) will be thoroughly cleaned to avoid cross contamination. The
decontamination procedure is described in Section 3.5, and waste handling procedures are described in
Section 3.6.
3.3 FISH SAMPLING
Fish will be collected from a total of four stations in Clear Creek and 3 stations in Richland Creek, as discussed below.
3.3.1 CLEAR CREEK
Four locations are to be sampled. See Figure 2.
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In the IC/QS branch of Clear Creek between Allen and Second St. This is annotated as location
1 on Figure 2. This location was last sampled in 1996. Target species and type at this location
are 10 creek chub whole body samples. Target size should be 63 to 130 grams.
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Country Club Road (Location 2 on Figure 2), representing a station upstream of the Winston
Thomas Facility and within 3 miles (straight line distance) of Illinois Central Spring. This
station was last sampled in 2000. Target species, type and numbers are 5 creek chub whole body
samples and 5 green sunfish whole body samples. Target size is 20 to 70 grams.
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Fluckmill Road (Location 3 on Figure 2) representing a station downstream of the Winston
Thomas Facility. This location was last sampled in 2000. Target species, type and numbers are
5 creek chub whole body samples and 5 green sunfish whole body samples. Target size is 12 to
60 grams.
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Strain Ridge Road (Location 4 on Figure 2) representing a station significantly downstream of
both sites. This location was last sampled in 2000. Target species, type and numbers are 5
longear sunfish whole body samples and 5 green sunfish whole body samples. Target size range
is 30 to 100 grams.
The procedures for the collection of fish are presented in relevant sections of Field Procedure No. 23:
Protocol For Evaluating Fish Populations and Sampling Fish Tissue (WEC, 1997). All fish samples
will be analyzed for Aroclor PCBs and percent lipids at Paradigm Labs in Wilmington, NC in
accordance with SOPs submitted for approval with the sampling plan.
For whole body analyses, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract will be removed from the large fish that are
collected to remove contaminated material from the analysis that have not been assimilated into the body
of the organism. Similarly, the creek chubs and smaller specimens of sunfish and rock bass that are
collected from each location will have their gut contents purged by placing the organisms in a holding
tank filled with water from the source water body for 24 hours prior to analysis.
3.3.2 RICHLAND CREEK
Three stations are to be sampled. See Figure 3 for the locations.
In Conard's Branch approximately midway between the landfill and the confluence with
Richland Creek. This station corresponds with that sampled by Viacom in 1998 and the USEPA
in 2001. Target species, sample type and numbers for this event are eight whole body creek
chubs. Sizes of interest are the same as those collected in 1998 and 2001, which ranged from 10
to 36 grams. All eight samples will be analyzed for Aroclor PCBs and four of the samples will
be analyzed for both Aroclor and congener PCBs. For the four congener samples, a composite
sample (multiple fish per sample) of approximately 60 grams will be needed for the dual
analyses.
In Richland Creek downstream of the confluence with Conard's Branch. This station
corresponds with that sampled by Viacom in 1998 and the USEPA in 2001. Target species,
sample type and numbers for this event are: creek chubs six whole body, longear sunfish six
whole body, white suckers six whole body, longear sunfish three fillets, and white su |
