Global InformationCapitol City Plume Superfund site information
| Capitol City Plume (also referred to as Capital City Plume) | |
|---|---|
| Superfund site | |
| Geography | |
| City | Montgomery |
| County | Montgomery |
| State | Alabama |
| Coordinates | 32°22′55″N 86°18′22″W / 32.382°N 86.306°W |
  Capitol City Plume Site location shown within Alabama. | |
| Information | |
| CERCLIS ID | AL0001058056 |
| Contaminants |
|
| Progress | |
| Proposed | May 11, 2000 |
| List of Superfund sites | |
The Capitol City Plume, which also is referred to as the Capital City Plume, is an area of contaminated groundwater located beneath the western downtown area of Montgomery, Alabama. The contamination was discovered in 1993 by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) which was investigating soil contamination at the Retirement Systems of Alabama Energy Plant in the city.[1] After assessment by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) it was proposed for inclusion in the National Priorities List (NPL) in May 2000.
The City of Montgomery managed to keep the site off of the NPL, eliminating the possibility that it could be labeled a superfund site, by taking fiscal responsibility for the site and its cleanup. The mayor of Montgomery called for a creation of the Downtown Environmental Alliance (Alliance), which would be responsible for planning and undertaking the cleanup costs of the contaminated site.[2] The agreement between the City of Montgomery and the EPA is historically significant and groundbreaking because the parties who are going to pay for the cleanup costs have voluntarily joined the Alliance. The city of Montgomery serves as a model to other cities when faced with similar situations.[2] The site does not affect drinking water. The ongoing assessment will evaluate the potential for soil vapor intrusion.[3] From October 1, 2015, to November 15, 2015, nominations were being accepted for 10 membership spots in a Community Outreach Group (COG). COG will work with the Alliance and the local community as changes continue to be discussed and implemented. The 10 members of the COG will attend community meetings and aid in generating ideas on how to move forward with the plume site.[4]
- ^ "NPL Site Narrative for Capitol City Plume" (PDF). United States Environmental Protection Agency. May 11, 2000. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
- ^ a b Moon, Josh. "After Decades, cleanup may begin on downtown plume". Montgomery Advertiser. A Gannett Company. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
- ^ "Technical Work Plan - Downtown Environmental Assessment Project, Montgomery, Alabama". ADEM and Downtown Business Alliance. January 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
- ^ "Capital City Plume Community Outreach Group Membership Nomination Form". Community Outreach Group. Montgomery Alabama, USA. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.