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Fact Sheet

March 2012

Consent Order for Groundwater Remedy Implementation, Harcros Chemicals Site, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 invites the public to review and comment on the Consent Order for implementation of the groundwater corrective action remedy for the Harcros Chemicals facility (Harcros), 2040 W. River Drive, Davenport, Scott County, Iowa. Groundwater contamination at levels above “unrestricted use” cleanup levels still exists in onsite and offsite groundwater.

The Consent Order requires Harcros (current owner of the facility) and Elementis Chemicals Inc. and TH Agriculture & Nutrition LLC (former owners/operators of the facility) (Respondents) to treat and monitor contaminated groundwater on and around the site, and to restrict access to the property and prevent use of and exposure to contaminated groundwater.

The public comment period runs April 2 to May 2, 2012, to enable the public to comment on the Consent Order. Written comments should be mailed or emailed to:

Ruby Crysler
U.S. EPA, AWMD/WRAP
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Email: crysler.ruby@epa.gov

Comments should be received no later than May 2, 2012.

Comments received will be summarized in a Response to Comments, and responses will be provided to those individuals providing the comments. The Response to Comments will be drafted at the conclusion of the public comment period and incorporated into the Administrative Record. EPA may modify the Consent Order based upon new information and comments from the public.

A public hearing is not scheduled at this time. If the public requests a public hearing in writing with a statement of issues to be raised at the hearing, EPA will conduct a public hearing and receive both oral and written comments.

BACKGROUND

The Harcros Chemicals facility is located at 2040 W. River Drive, Davenport, Iowa. The facility has served as a storage and distribution center for various types of agricultural, commercial, and industrial chemical products. Raw materials for these products were delivered to the facility by railway, tanker truck, or tractor trailer, and were stored primarily in bulk storage tanks and drums. A RCRA Section 3013 Administrative Order on Consent was negotiated between EPA and Respondents in March 2001 for site investigation.

Investigation of the Harcros facility was conducted in two phases to assess environmental impacts of historical operations. Surface, subsurface, and stockpiled soils; shallow and deep groundwater; indoor air; and potential non-aqueous phase liquids in the subsurface were evaluated.

The following corrective action activities have been completed: removal and off-site disposal of stockpiled soil; excavation and treatment of contaminated on-site and off-site soils; injection of sodium permanganate to treat contaminants in groundwater; and indoor air sampling. The facility is continuing groundwater monitoring of onsite and offsite wells to monitor contamination.

Groundwater beneath and adjacent to the Harcros facility is still impacted by contaminants. The primary constituents of concern requiring remediation are tetrachloroethene (PCE) and its degradation products [trichloroethene (TCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-1,2-DCE), and vinyl chloride (VC)], toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. An assessment of health risk determined that the above listed contaminants present in groundwater at the facility pose a threat to human health if the contaminated groundwater is used as a drinking water source.

CONSENT ORDER

The Consent Order requires the following:

On-Site Groundwater:

  1. Injection of sodium permanganate within the former source areas that will break down contaminants
  2. Use of natural processes to further degrade contaminants to achieve drinking water standards throughout the area of groundwater impacts; and
  3. Institutional controls to maintain industrial site use, prevent contaminated groundwater from being used as a drinking water source, and prevent the installation of any unauthorized groundwater wells

Off-Site Groundwater:

  1. Use of natural processes to further degrade contaminants and work with other remedy components to achieve drinking water standards throughout the area of groundwater impacts; and
  2. If necessary, injection of chemicals to stimulate microbial activity and form below-ground treatment areas to break down contaminants in groundwater

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The public is encouraged to review EPA’s investigation reports and other historic information regarding this facility. This information is available at the follow locations during normal business hours:

Davenport Public Library
321 Main Street
Davenport, IA 52801
(563) 326-7832

EPA Library
901 N. Fifth Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7979

If you have questions, or want to join the mailing list, please contact:

Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA, Region 7, Office of Public Affairs
901 N. Fifth Street
Kansas City, KS  66101
Toll-free at (800) 223-0425, x7253
Email: himes.beckie@epa.gov

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