HomeMy WebLinkAboutRemonstrance ltr - Hamilton County Emergency Mgmt AgencyHamilton County
January 12, 2011
HAMILTON
COUNTY
Emergency Management Agency
18100 Cumberland Rd.
Noblesville, Indiana 46060
Phone (317) 770 -3381 Fax (317) 770 -3384
R. David Bice Executive Director
Carl E. Erickson Deputy Director
.t
City of Carmel Plan Commission
Department of Community Services
ATTN: Mike Hollibaugh
One Civic Square
Carmel, IN 46032
RE: Legacy PUD Turkey Hill Minit Market
Dear Mr. Hollibaugh,
I am writing to express my concern regardin the proposed Turkey Hill Minit Market Gas Station within the Legacy
Development at the southwest corner of 146 Street and River Road.
This proposed gas station, and the underground fuel storage tanks associated with it, fall within the 1 year time of
travel for the City of Carmel wellheads, the 1 year time of travel of an Indianapolis Department of Water Works
wellhead, and is within 3 different 3,000 foot buffer zones for 3 public water supply wells for Graylan Place and
Hamilton Estates trailer parks. This site sits upon very porous soil with sand and gravel beneath the soil and has a
very high seasonable ground water elevation.
On August 23, 2008 an equipment failure on an underground fuel storage tank at the Marathon gas station at 808 W.
Main Street in Carmel caused approximately 8,000 gallons of gasoline to leak in the city's downtown area. Cleanup
costs for this release were approximately $1.6 million dollars. A release of that magnitude inside a wellhead
protection area would have the potential to contaminate a water supply that serves not only residents of Carmel, but
also residents of Westfield and Noblesville.
I know the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has made a recent change to allow underground
storage tanks with certain standards in wellhead protection areas, but please also take into consideration of the
potential for above ground leaks occurring from an unattended hose with someone filling their vehicle or, even
worse, a spill caused by a tanker truck filling the underground storage tanks.
There are 4 phases in Emergency Management: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery. The definition of
Mitigation is taking specific actions that will reduce the possibility of a disaster occurring. By not having a gas
station in a wellhead protection area you are mitigating against the potential of contaminating a valuable resource in
Hamilton County.
Because of these concerns, I recommend against the approval of this project. I can be reached at (317) 770 -3381
should you have any further questions.
R. David Bice, PEM
Executive Director
Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency