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Fact Sheet
August 2015
EPA Announces a Public Availability Session, Beatrice Former Manufactured Gas Plant, Beatrice, Nebraska
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is holding a Public Availability Session to provide information related to the Beatrice Former Manufactured Gas Plant (FMGP) Site, located in Beatrice, Neb. EPA will present historical site information, as well as information pertaining to the National Priority Listing (NPL) process. The NPL is the list of national priorities among known releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants throughout the United States and its territories.
SITE BACKGROUND
The Beatrice FMGP is located southwest of the intersection of South First and Market streets in Beatrice, Neb.
Until pipelines were constructed in the early part of the 20th century, natural gas was not available in many parts of the United States. In areas where natural gas was not available, manufactured gas was used as a clean-burning fuel for lighting and heating in homes and businesses.
A succession of companies, including Iowa-Nebraska Light & Power Co., manufactured gas at the site from the early 1900s until the gas plant went out of operation in the late 1920s.
During the gas manufacturing process, wastes and by-products, such as coal tar residues and sludges, spent oxide waste and ash materials, were generated and left on-site in a below-ground gas holder. The below-ground gas holder is still there, resulting in soil and groundwater contamination. Some of these wastes and by-products are hazardous materials and can cause health and environmental problems if handled improperly.
The primary contaminants associated with the site are benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and total xylenes, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, including naphthalene. Previous investigations detected soil and groundwater contamination above health-based standards requiring additional response actions.
REMOVAL ACTION
A removal action is planned for 2016 that will consist of surface soil removal and off-site disposal, removal of the below-ground gas holder contents and off-site disposal, sediment cap installation and monitoring, and groundwater monitoring.
Groundwater remediation is a long-term response action that will not be addressed under the removal action. Groundwater contamination associated with the site is migrating to the west, toward the Big Blue River. Groundwater remediation can be addressed if the site is placed on the NPL.
PUBLIC AVAILABILITY SESSION
EPA will hold a Public Availability Session to provide information and answer questions about the Beatrice FMGP site and the NPL process. This session will be held:
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Southeast Community College
4771 W. Scott Road
Beatrice, Nebraska 68310
EPA Region 7 is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the public availability session, please notify EPA Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator Jonathan Cooper at 800-223-0425 or by email at cooper.jonathan@epa.gov at least 7 days prior to the Public Availability Session. Speech or hearing impaired individuals should email or call using the local relay service.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Site documents are available for the public to review at the following locations:
EPA Region 7
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, Kansas 66219
Beatrice Public Library
100 North 16th Street
Beatrice, Nebraska 68310
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:
Pamela Houston
Community Engagement Specialist
Enforcement Coordination Office
U.S. EPA, Region 7
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, Kansas 66219
Phone: 913-551-7699
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
Email: houston.pamela@epa.gov