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NPL Site Narrative for Lee Chemical
LEE CHEMICAL
Liberty, Missouri
Federal Register Notice: June 10, 1986Conditions at proposal (October 15, 1984): The Lee Chemical Site is near the southern edge of Liberty, Clay County, Missouri. During a drinking water study in 1980, EPA sampled the city's water wells, which serve about 23,000 people. Analyses indicated the presence of trichloroethylene (TCE). Since then, the most contaminated wells have not been used for drinking water. The water from the remaining wells is treated to remove TCE.
Investigations by the city and the State identified the source of the TCE contamination as the abandoned Lee Chemical Site, which is within 2,300 feet of the wells. Lee Chemical packaged a variety of chemicals on the site from about 1966 to 1974. As a result of bad housekeeping practices, soil in an area of less than 1 acre is contaminated with TCE.
The city, which owns the property, has removed the building and visible chemicals from the site and taken soil samples. The analyses indicate TCE is still on-site.
The State anticipates the need to excavate soil, as well as purge the aquifer.
Status (June 10, 1986): A multisite cooperative agreement between EPA and the State covering five sites, including Lee Chemical, was approved on September 9, 1985. Initial funding provides for planning activities. The City of Liberty is pumping the most contaminated well and disposing of the contaminated water under a permit issued by the State under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.
For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.