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Fact Sheet
November 2009
Public Availability Session Former Chamberlain Manufacturing, Waterloo, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the City of Waterloo, Iowa, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), has been working with the former site owner to complete the investigation and cleanup at the former Chamberlain Manufacturing facility in Waterloo.
Preliminary investigations conducted by EPA indicate there may be increased long-term risk if contaminant vapors 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 has 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 and cleanup, and redevelopment of the site.
YOU ARE INVITED
EPA, IDNR, and the city of Waterloo will hold a public availability meeting Tuesday, November 12, 2009, at 6:00 p.m., at St. Paul's Church, 207 W. Louis 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
800-223-0425
himes.beckie@epa.gov
ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION
The city and the former site owner have conducted sampling of the ground water beneath the facility and surrounding neighborhood. The sampling results indicate that 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 or 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 ten residences adjacent to the facility to the west and southwest.
In November 2008 and April 2009, EPA sampled vapors beneath basement slabs. Two rounds of samples were collected to account for variations that could be caused by increased/decreased outdoor temperature and the depth of the water table, which is affected by rainfall.
The November 2008 and April 2009 results indicate there is potentially increased risk if contaminant vapors beneath the basement slabs of some homes adjacent to the facility enter those homes, and the exposure to these vapors were to occur over a long period of time.
Further sampling needs to be conducted to verify whether contaminants are moving from beneath basement slabs to indoor air spaces.
The data will be used to assess whether additional measures are needed to ventilate any residences that are found to be impacted.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The public is encouraged to review EPA's investigation reports and other historic information regarding the facility. This information is available at the following locations:
City of Waterloo
Community Planning & Development
715 Mulberry Street
Waterloo, Iowa 50703
319-291-4366
General hours: Mon. – Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. or by appointment
EPA Region 7 Records Center
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
913-551-7166
Hours of Operation: Mon. – Fri.
7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have questions, you may contact any of the following persons:
Stephanie Doolan
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
913-551-7719 or 800-223-0425
doolan.stephanie@epa.gov
Chris Western
City of Waterloo
Community Planning & Development
715 Mulberry Street
Waterloo, IA 50703
319-291-4366
chris.western@waterloo-ia.org
Dan Cook
IDNR Land Recycling Program
502 E. 9th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-4171
Dan.cook@dnr.iowa.gov
If you have questions on the meeting or this fact sheet, please call
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
913-551-7253
800-223-0425
himes.beckie@epa.gov