Cleburn Street Well

Overview

The Cleburn Street Well site sits in Grand Island, Nebraska, and takes its name from a municipal drinking water well that was found to contain tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) above safe drinking water limits. The contamination came from three former dry cleaning facilities and a former solvent distribution company, now owned by Union Pacific Railroad. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in October 1992 and divided cleanup into five operable units (OUs), each targeting a specific source area or contamination zone.

Contaminants at the site include TCE, PCE, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, benzene, and several other volatile organic compounds found in both soil and groundwater. These chemicals affected the aquifer supplying drinking water to Grand Island, leading to the shutdown of the Cleburn Street well and two nearby public supply wells. The greatest health risks come from ingesting or contacting contaminants in soil and groundwater. EPA's most recent five-year review, completed in August 2023, found the remedy protective of human health and the environment.

Cleanup has moved at different rates across the five units. The former One Hour Martinizing facility (OU1) and Ideal Cleaners (OU4) have met their cleanup goals and received partial deletion status from the NPL. At the Union Pacific property (OU5), a soil vapor extraction and air sparging system ran from 2004 to 2007, followed by a permanganate injection program starting in 2006 to break down volatile organic compounds in groundwater. Most monitoring wells there have met cleanup goals, though PCE and TCE levels in a few wells remain above targets. Vapor intrusion contamination was found at nearby buildings in June 2013, and mitigation systems are currently operating at those locations. A Grand Island city ordinance enacted May 7, 2024 prohibits new drinking water wells in the affected area through April 2049, unless EPA confirms groundwater is safe for drinking water use.

Active work continues at the site. Quarterly groundwater monitoring is ongoing, and a pilot study at OU2 is planned for summer 2026. That study will test whether injecting amendments into the aquifer can reduce contaminant concentrations, followed by monitoring from on-site wells. The next five-year review is scheduled for August through October 2028.

Community members can join the site mailing list to receive updates and learn about future participation opportunities. Two assistance programs are also available. The Technical Assistance Services for Communities (TASC) program offers free expert review of environmental science and EPA actions. Technical Assistance Grants (TAGs) provide up to $50,000 to qualified community groups to hire their own technical advisors. Site records are available for public review at the Grand Island Public Library at 1124 W. 2nd Street, Grand Island, Nebraska 68801.