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Fact Sheet
December 2010
Public Availability Session Scheduled, Former Chamberlain Manufacturing, Waterloo, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), has been working with the former site owner to complete the preparation of Work Plans to characterize and mitigate potential vapor intrusion in homes located near the former Chamberlain Manufacturing facility in Waterloo.
Preliminary investigations conducted by EPA indicate there may be increased long-term risk if contaminant vapors, possibly beneath basement slabs of some homes adjacent to the facility, were to enter homes through cracks in the floors. Additional sampling is needed to determine whether contaminants are entering indoor air spaces, and the number of homes affected.
BACKGROUND
The former Chamberlain Manufacturing facility is located at 550 Esther Street in Waterloo. The facility manufactured metal washer wringers, aluminum awnings, refrigerator shelves, and metal projectile parts at the 23-acre site. The former owner ceased operations at the facility in the 1990s.
In 2003, the city of Waterloo assessed the facility under EPA's Brownfields program. The city received Brownfields Cleanup grant funding in 2008, for the sampling and removal of asbestos from the dilapidated buildings prior to demolition. EPA's Brownfields Program encourages redevelopment of abandoned and former contaminated waste sites.
In 2005, the city of Waterloo purchased the site, and since that time has been working cooperatively with EPA, IDNR and the former owner to complete the investigation, cleanup, and redevelopment of the site.
You Are Invited
EPA, IDNR, and the city of Waterloo will hold a public availability meeting Tuesday, December 14, 2010, at 6:00 p.m., at St. Paul's Church, 207 W. Louise Street, Waterloo. Neighborhood residents and businesses interested in the investigation and redevelopment of the former Chamberlain Manufacturing Site are invited to attend. If you have questions about the meeting, please contact
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
913-551-7253 or 800-223-0425
himes.beckie@epa.gov
EPA Region 7 is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting, please notify the EPA Reasonable Accommodations Coordinator, Jonathan Cooper, 800-223-0425 or at cooper.jonathan@epa.gov. Speech or hearing impaired individuals should e-mail or call using the local relay service.
ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION
The city and the former site owner have conducted sampling of ground water beneath the facility and surrounding neighborhood. Sampling results indicate trichloroethene (TCE), chloroform, tetrachloroethene (PCE), 1,1,2-trichloroethane, and vinyl chloride were found to exceed health risk-based screening levels for drinking water. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are suspected to have been released to ground water through spills.
EPA used the ground water sampling data to assess the potential for the VOCs to move from ground water into indoor air through soils and concrete/block foundations. The assessment concluded that there is a potential for movement of TCE into indoor air spaces. To verify the results of the assessment, EPA conducted sampling below basement floors in some of the homes adjacent to the facility in 2008 and 2009.
The sampling results indicate there is potentially increased risk if 1) contaminant vapors beneath the basement slabs of some homes adjacent to the facility entered those homes, and 2) exposure to these vapors occurred over a long period of time.
Further sampling is needed to determine if contaminant vapors are moving from beneath basement slabs to indoor air spaces of homes. The data will be used to assess the need for ventilation systems that prevent contaminant vapors from entering the home.
Work Plans to conduct additional sampling for potential vapor intrusion and mitigation have been drafted. EPA will provide a presentation to describe the proposed work in the Work Plans.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The public is encouraged to review the Work Plans and EPA's investigation reports and other historic information regarding the facility. This information is available at the following locations during normal business hours:
City of Waterloo
Community Planning & Development
715 Mulberry Street
Waterloo, Iowa 50703
319-291-4366
EPA Region 7 Records Center
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
913-551-7166
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have questions, you may contact the following:
Bruce Morrison
Project Manager
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7755
Toll-free: 800-223-0425
morrison.bruce@epa.gov
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7253
Toll-free: 800-223-0425
himes.beckie@epa.gov