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Fact Sheet
November 2008
Class III Permit Modification and Determination of Corrective Action Complete without Controls at the Iowa State University (ISU) - Chemical Waste Handling Facility, Ames, Story County, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 invites the public to review and comment on the tentative decision to approve ISU’s Class III permit modification request to terminate the permit early and to issue a determination of Corrective Action Complete without Controls for the ISU- Chemical Waste Handling Facility (CWHF), EPA ID IAT200010601, located at 1916 N. Scholl Road in Ames, Iowa.
Corrective Action Complete without Controls means that corrective action objectives have been met and that the areas subject to the determination do not require any additional action or measures to ensure the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. In this case, site-specific media cleanup objectives, which were selected based on current and reasonably expected future land use, including the most conservative scenario of residential use, have been met.
EPA has decided that terminating ISU’s permit is appropriate since ISU has closed the CWHF, the only regulated unit, and ISU no longer conducts any remaining hazardous waste management activities requiring a permit. EPA understands that ISU intends to continue to operate as a conditionally exempt small quantity generator and will accumulate and manage its hazardous waste in accordance with the requirements of 40 Code of Federal Regulations Section 261.5.
Background and Actions
The CWHF was constructed in 1979 to process, treat, and store hazardous wastes generated by university researchers, staff, and students. In 1985, a 3,750 foot addition was built for the drum storage of hazardous waste, polychlorinated biphenyls, and radioactive wastes. The CWHF also received chlorinated hydrocarbons, liquid and solid pesticide wastes, ketones, alcohols, and other laboratory chemicals. Treatment activities at the CWHF consisted of metal precipitation, solvent distillation, elementary neutralization, and outdoor evaporation in a tray located adjacent to the CWHF building. From 1983 to 1987 unstable wastes were detonated in an open field north of the CWHF building, and waste solvents from the CWHF were transported off-site to the ISU Fire Training Facility on the main campus.
The CWHF Closure Plan addressed the entire CWHF complex, which included the original CWHF building, the CWHF building addition, and the associated wastewater lift station sump located outside the CWHF. All chemical and radioactive wastes were removed from the facility and disposed of according to applicable Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Department of Energy, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations. All the areas were thoroughly cleaned, and samples were collected to verify clean-closure. Drums containing wastewater from cleaning activities were either disposed of at the publicly owned treatment works plant or at appropriate off-site disposal facilities. The closure of the CWHF was approved and certified as clean-closed on April 19, 2007.
The EPA is also proposing a “Corrective Action Complete without Controls” determination for the facility. This proposal is based upon information presented in:
- The RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Permit, Issued September 30, 1993, Effective Date November 29, 1993
- The Closure Certification for Iowa State University SWMU #6- Old Detonation Area, dated June 26, 1995
- The RCRA Facility Investigation Work Plan, 12 Solid Waste Management Units, Iowa State University, dated August 1996
- The RCRA Facility Investigation Report, 12 Solid Waste Management Units, Iowa State University, dated June 1997
- The Closure Report, Chemical Waste Handling Facility, Iowa State University, EPA ID# IAT200010601, dated March 24, 2006
Send Comments to:
Ruby Crysler
EPA Region 7
AWMD/RCAP
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: (913) 551-7409
Toll free: (800) 223-0425
Additional Information
EPA encourages the community to review the Administrative Record and comment on EPA’s tentative decisions. It is available at these locations:
Ames Public Library
515 Douglas Avenue
Ames, IA 50010-6215
(515) 239-5656
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7166
M–F: 7-5
A formal public hearing has not been scheduled for these actions, but will be held if there is sufficient public interest.
Requests for a public hearing must be made in writing to Ruby Crysler, 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 permit termination and determination of corrective action complete without controls.
The comment period begins November 20, 2008 and ends January 26, 2009.
Comments or requests should be submitted prior to January 26, 2009.
EPA will approve or deny the permit modification request and determination of corrective action complete only after the public comment period has ended and all comments have been reviewed.
Questions or requests for information can be submitted to:
Fritz Hirter
Office of Public Affairs
EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Toll free: (800) 223-0425
e-mail: hirter.fritz@epa.gov
