FRANKLIN, Ind.–An Indianapolis-based consulting firm performed environmental testing at a former East Franklin industrial site in late June. The Franklin City Council heard the results of the tests and the findings were not good.
Mundell & Associates, Inc. says that the source of the contamination is likely from the former Bendix Connector Corporation facility on Hurricane Road, which operated on the premises from the 1960s through the 1980s. During that time, hazardous industrial waste such as metal hydroxide sludge, volatile organic compound solvents and thinners, and cyanide solutions leaked into surrounding soil, groundwater, and surface water due to leaky sewer drains.
The scope of the survey was constrained to 14 homes that range from 0.3 to 5.6 miles away from the building. They tested for radon, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. In six of the homes, radon levels were found to exceed levels set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Elsewhere, two other homes also had high levels of other contaminants in the indoor air that exceeded federal standards. The only residence affected by outdoor contamination was located 3,276 feet southwest of the former facility.
Mundell & Associates next wants to retest the previously-sampled homes to eliminate external factors or anomalies. The firm also recommends expanding future testing to include homes closer to the old Bendix/Amphenol building.
