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Fact Sheet
June 2009
Post-Closure Permit to Be Issued to Cyprus Specialty Metals Company/Roquette America Railways, Inc./City of Keokuk, Keokuk, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to issue a post-closure hazardous waste management permit (Permit) under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for the Cyprus Specialty Metals Company, a subsidiary of Cyprus Amax Minerals Company (owner and operator of two closed hazardous waste landfill cells); and Roquette America Railways, Inc. and the City of Keokuk, owners of the remaining facility property located at 2301 Twin Rivers Drive, also known as One Commercial Street, in Keokuk, Iowa.
The draft Permit is at the Keokuk Public Library, 210 N. 5th St., Keokuk, Iowa. A public comment period will be held from June 15 to July 31, 2009, to give the public an opportunity to comment on the draft Permit.
The Permit will be issued for the following purposes:
- To require monitoring of the integrity of two hazardous waste landfill cells using ground water sampling and analysis and inspection of the landfill covers.
- To conduct necessary cleanup of ground water resulting from releases of hazardous wastes from the landfill cells.
- To conduct all necessary activities to investigate and respond to releases of hazardous waste from areas at the facility other than the two landfill cells that are identified to have the potential for such release.
BACKGROUND
The Facility has existed since at least 1917. Electric arc furnaces produced pig iron, steel castings, and ferrosilicon alloys. Plant production was discontinued in 2001. Past operations generated hazardous waste streams, including spent solvent (1,1,1-trichloroethane) and a sludge that is hazardous due to the elevated concentration of lead. The sludge (with elevated lead) was the hazardous waste that was disposed of on site in the two hazardous waste landfill cells and that was left in place after closure.
Mark Your Calendar
EPA will hold a public availability meeting, in order to give the community the opportunity to comment on the proposed post-closure hazardous waste management permit.
When: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 6:00p.m.
Where: Keokuk Public Library
Lower Meeting Room
210 N. 5th Street
Keokuk, Iowa
All comments must be submitted in writing and postmarked no later than July 31, 2009, and be sent to:
Mary Grisolano
EPA Region 7 (AWMD/RCAP)
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
E-mail: grisolano.mary@epa.gov
The term post-closure refers to the period of time and work required after closure of a unit where hazardous wastes are left in place. The two hazardous waste landfill cells, known as the East Sludge Disposal Area and the West Sludge Disposal Area, are subject to the post-closure requirements of the Permit. Approximately 91,000 cubic yards of mixed material are in place in the West Cell, and approximately 87,000 cubic yards of mixed material are in place in the East Cell.
The closure of the two landfill cells included placement of a clay cover with vegetation over the landfill cells and installation of monitoring wells to allow for evaluation of ground water conditions.
The Permit establishes the requirements to sample and analyze the ground water around the two landfill cells, and to inspect and maintain the caps and associated equipment. The Permit also requires response to a release of hazardous waste from the landfill cells to the ground water.
During the post-closure period, the ground water will be monitored, and the well system will be inspected and maintained. In addition, the landfill covers will be inspected and maintained, including maintenance of the vegetative cover, and any actions necessary to prevent or correct erosion of the covers will be implemented. The fence and any warning signs which are provided to limit site access will also be inspected and maintained.
In addition to requirements that apply to the landfill cells, areas have been identified at the facility where hazardous waste were managed and might have been released. This Permit requires completion of sampling and analysis to determine if hazardous wastes were indeed released at the facility and response to address or cleanup any release determined to have occurred.
The Permit requires submittal of a Current Conditions Report (CCR) that summarizes all known existing soil and water analytical data. Based on the information in the CCR, EPA will determine additional investigation and/or actions that need to be taken at the facility.
PUBLIC COMMENT
EPA encourages the public to become familiar with the documents leading to this proposal. The documents can be found in the Administrative Record file at the following locations during normal business hours.
Keokuk Public Library
210 N 5th St.
Keokuk, Iowa
Hard copy of documents
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Washington Field Office #6
1023 W. Madison
Washington, Iowa 52353
Electronic copy of documents
EPA Region 7 Records Center
901 N. Fifth Street
Kansas City, Kan.
Electronic copy of documents
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have comments on the action or need more information regarding the post-closure permit, please contact -
Mary Grisolano
EPA Region 7 (AWMD/RCAP)
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
grisolano.mary@epa.gov
For more information on the meeting or the Site, please contact -
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA, Region 7, Office of Public Affairs
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7253
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
E-mail: himes.beckie@epa.gov