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Fact Sheet

November 2005

Removal Action and Investigation Begins - Administrative Record Available for Public Comment, Garvey Elevator Site, Hastings, Nebraska

INTRODUCTION

EPA Region 7 and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) will begin overseeing removal and investigation activities at the Garvey Elevator Site performed by Garvey Elevators Inc. Garvey recently entered into an administrative order on consent with EPA to address the immediate threats posed by carbon tetrachloride contamination from the site and perform additional investigation of soil and ground-water contamination.

The site is in Adams County one-half mile southwest of Hastings. The facility covers 106 acres of land, 22 of which have been used for operations. The facility was sold Oct. 7, 2005, to AGP Grain Marketing LLC. EPA, AGP and Garvey Elevators recently entered into a separate agreement that will allow proceeds from the sale to be used for investigation and site cleanup.

BACKGROUND

The Garvey Elevator facility, 2315 W. Highway 6, has stored and processed grain since 1959. Carbon tetrachloride, a common fumigant, was used at the facility until the mid-1980s. Past releases of carbon tetrachloride have contaminated ground water near the facility that is used for drinking water.

THE CONTAMINATION

Carbon tetrachloride has been found at high levels (29,943 micrograms per liter) in ground water at the facility and has previously been detected in Municipal Well 13 northeast of the facility. EPA’s drinking water standard for carbon tetrachloride is 5 micrograms per liter. Carbon tetrachloride has also been found in several private drinking water supply wells. EPA estimates that the plume of contaminated ground water extends east from the facility for several miles.

ACTIVITIES TO DATE

Garvey applied in 1995 to participate in the NDEQ Remedial Action Plan Monitoring Act Program to address the contamination. Garvey has collected ground water and soil samples since then to determine the extent of contamination. The company has also provided residents and businesses with alternate water supplies and connections to the municipal water supply and operated a soil vapor extraction and ground-water recovery system to reduce the soil and ground-water contamination.

NDEQ asked EPA to help with the investigation and cleanup activities at the site beginning October 2002. NDEQ asked EPA to: 1) provide alternate water supplies for residences and businesses with contaminated drinking water wells; 2) evaluate the effectiveness of Garvey’s soil vapor extraction and ground-water recovery systems; 3) further define the extent of the ground-water plume; and 4) evaluate potential cleanup alternatives. In response, EPA and Garvey entered into an administrative order on consent to perform this work.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE ADMINSTRATIVE ORDER ON CONSENT

Garvey will perform the following activities:

FUTURE REMEDIAL ACTIONS

EPA’s remedial process is designed to find a long-term solution for contamination at a site. Garvey will perform the remedial investigation to fully define the extent of the contamination and conduct a feasibility study to evaluate different alternatives for cleaning up the contamination. EPA will ultimately present this information to the community and ask for comments on EPA’s proposed actions before making decisions on the cleanup.

ADMINSTRATIVE RECORD

EPA invites the public to review and comment on the administrative record file for the Garvey Elevator Site. A 30-day public comment period will be held from November 21, 2005 to December 22, 2005. The file is available for public review during normal business hours at the following information repositories:

Hastings Public Library
Fourth and Denver Streets
Hastings, Nebraska

EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, Kan.

Comments on the administrative record file, questions and requests for additional information can be addressed to:

Jan Lambert
Office of External Programs
EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: (913) 551-7003
Toll Free: (800) 223-0425
lambert.janette@epa.gov

 

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