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Fact Sheet

October 2006

Proposed Cleanup Plan Released for Public Comment - Former General Electric Facility, West Burlington, Iowa

INTRODUCTION

EPA Region 7 invites the public to comment on the proposed cleanup plan for the former General Electric (GE) facility in West Burlington, Iowa.  The public comment period will start October 27, 2006, and end November 27, 2006. The public record is available at Burlington, Iowa city hall. See page 3 for more information.

EPA will hold a public availability session so the public can learn about the proposal.  EPA will be available to answer questions one-to-one. All members of the public are welcome to attend anytime from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and ask questions about the proposed cleanup plan. See detailed information below.

PROPOSED CLEANUP PLAN

The proposed cleanup plan covers the areas formerly occupied by the General Electric facility, which is currently occupied by the Burlington Basket company located at 1418 West Mount Pleasant Street, in West Burlington, Iowa.

EPA proposes monitored natural attenuation (MNA) for groundwater contamination and institutional controls for soil contamination. Monitored natural attenuation is the monitoring of natural processes that reduce contaminant concentrations by adsorption, degradation, dilution, and/or transformation.

Institutional controls will be used in conjunction with the MNA to minimize the potential for human exposure to contamination and to restrict other actions to protect the integrity of the remedy. Institutional controls are non-engineered instruments, such as administrative or legal controls. Institutional controls will be used to restrict access to contaminated groundwater for domestic purposes and restrict excavation and construction activities which might interfere with the operation of the remedial actions. Also institutional controls will require that appropriate steps be taken to insure that subsequent property owners are notified that groundwater contamination exists in the subsurface.

This work is addressed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

BACKGROUND

In September 1990, EPA issued a consent order to GE about the former switchgear manufacturing facility. The consent order requires GE to conduct a comprehensive investigation, called a RCRA Facility Investigation, to determine the nature and extent of contamination. It also requires GE to identify and evaluate alternatives for the corrective action necessary to prevent or control migration or releases of contaminants from the facility.   

THE CONTAMINATION

GE operated a facility that manufactured medium voltage switchgear and switchboard apparatus in buildings known as Assembly Plant #2 and Assembly Plant #3. A fenced concrete pad north of Building #3 was used to store solvent in 55-gallon drums and in one 350 gallon aboveground storage tank. A storm sewer pipe runs from the northeast corner of Building #3 to the northern edge of the property. Operations in buildings #2 and #3 included painting and degreasing processes.

Investigations detected the presence of the following contaminants in the groundwater:

Nearly all soil with contamination exceeding 1 milligram per kilogram was removed from the facility and the remaining groundwater contamination has been reduced to two locations on-site. Also, the risk assessments concluded there is no unacceptable risk to human health and the environment.

How to Submit Your Comments

Please submit your written comments on the proposed cleanup plan to:

Gayle Hubert
EPA Region 7 ARTD/RCAP
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7439 or
Toll free: 800-223-0425

Written comments will be accepted from October 27, 2006, to November 27, 2006.

How to Learn More - Attend the Public Availability Session

EPA will be available to answer questions one-to-one. The public is welcome to attend anytime from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and ask questions about the proposed cleanup plan:

For Whom: West Burlington community and other members of the public
When: November 14, 2006, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Burlington, Iowa City Hall, 400 Washington Street (Council Chambers)
Who: EPA will be available to answer questions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EPA encourages the public to review the Administrative Record and comment on the proposed cleanup plan. Comments or requests should be submitted by November 27, 2006.

Guidelines for Commenting:

The administrative record is available at the following locations:

Burlington City Hall
400 Washington St.
Burlington, Iowa  52601
(319) 753-8120
Hours of Operation:
Mon. – Fri., 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

EPA Region 7 Records Center
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7166
Hours of Operation:
Mon. – Fri., 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wallace Building
502 E. 9th Street
Des Moines, Iowa  50319
(515) 242-5818
Hours of Operation:
Mon. – Fri., 8am to 4pm

Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Field Office #6
1023 W. Madison
Washington, Iowa  52353
(319) 653-2135
Hours of Operation:
Mon. – Fri.,  8am to 4:30 pm

A formal public hearing has not been scheduled but will be held if there is sufficient public interest.

Requests for a public hearing must be made in writing to the EPA contact at the address listed on Page 1 and must state the nature of issues to be raised at the hearing.  EPA will evaluate any request and hold a formal hearing if it finds that a hearing will contribute to the decision-making process by clarifying significant issues affecting the cleanup remedy.

EPA will make a final cleanup decision only after the public comment period ends and all comments are reviewed. EPA may modify the proposed remedy or choose another one based on any new information and comments from the public.
 
Individuals may write to the EPA contact on page 1 to join the mailing list. Joining the mailing list will allow an individual to receive any updated information directly throughout the cleanup process.

If you have questions or want to receive further information, please contact:

Shawntell Martin
Office of External Programs
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7003
Toll free:  1-800-223-0425
martin.shawntell@epa.gov

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