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Fact Sheet

July 2005

REMEDIAL TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION REPORT AVAILABLE
Chemplex Superfund Site, Clinton, Iowa

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this fact sheet is to announce the availability of the Remedial Technology Evaluation for the Chemplex Site. Information in the Technology Evaluation will be used in the Focused Feasibility Study (“Focused FS”) to evaluate potential changes in the Chemplex ground water remediation. In the April 12, 2005 Chemplex Site Public Availability Session, the community expressed a desire to review the technologies being considered prior to preparation of the Focused FS.

Copies of the Technology Evaluation have been placed in both of the following locations, and can be viewed during normal business hours –

Clinton Public Library
306 8th Ave. S.
Clinton, Iowa

Camanche Public Library
102 12th Ave.
Camanche, Iowa

The document has been placed along with the Administrative Record for the Chemplex Site. Although this is not an official public comment period, EPA invites your suggestions and comments on the Technology Evaluation.

SITE BACKGROUND

Due to past waste disposal practices, ground water and soil at the Chemplex Site were contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). EPA divided cleanup activities at the Site into two phases, called operable units. Operable unit (OU) 1 addressed ground water on a site-wide basis and OU2 addressed sources of ground water contamination in the Landfill Area.

The OU1 remedy included a ground water extraction and treatment system, which was intended to contain contaminated ground water within a defined area. The ground water extraction and treatment system has been in operation for over 10 years now.

The OU2 remedy included capping the landfill and installation and operation of a soil vapor extraction (SVE) system to remove contaminants from soils in the Landfill Area. Construction activities associated with the OU2 remedy were completed in 1998 and the SVE system operated until 2003, when the specified performance standards were met.

Because contaminants remained on-site EPA periodically reviews the remedies to make sure they remain protective of human health and the environment. These reviews, which are generally conducted every five years, are commonly called five year reviews. The Second Five Year Review was completed in June 2004. In the Second Five Year Review, EPA concluded that, although the remedy remained protective, a plan was needed to address the inability of the current ground water pump and treat system to contain contaminated ground water in the designated area.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

EPA has been working with Citigroup and ChevronTexaco (known as ACC/GCC), the parties conducting the Chemplex Site cleanup, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to develop a plan to address the ground water remedy. EPA requested that ACC/GCC prepare the Focused FS to look at potential alternatives to the existing extraction and treatment system. The Technology Evaluation is a review of various cleanup technologies which might be components of remedial alternatives considered in the Focused FS. EPA will make the Focused FS available for public review when it becomes available.

EPA’S REMEDY SELECTION PROCESS

If changes are made in the remedy similar to those discussed above, EPA would consider them to be significant changes from the existing remedy. In the case of significant changes, EPA would amend the existing remedial action decision using a formal process EPA calls a ROD amendment. The basic steps in a ROD amendment process for this site would be:

• ACC/GCC will submit a final Focused FS;

• EPA will then prepare a Proposed Plan which will summarize the information from the Focused FS and describe EPA’s preferred alternative;

• EPA will make the Proposed Plan available to the public for review and comment for a period of at least 30 days;

• After EPA reviews comments from the public and consults with the IDNR, it will decide on any changes in the ground water remedy in what is called an amended Record of Decision.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

If you have questions or comments, or need further information, please contact:

Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 7
Office of External Programs
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
1-913-551-7003
Toll-free-1-800-223-0425
E-mail address: himes.beckie@epa.gov

 

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