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Fact Sheet

March 2013

Proposed Interim Measure Released for Public Comment, John Deere Des Moines Works, Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 invites the public to review and comment on the proposed interim measure at the John Deere Des Moines Works Site, located at 825 SW Irvinedale Dr., Ankeny, Iowa 50023 (EPA ID # IAD069624500).

The public is encouraged to review the Interim Measures Work Plan for Solid Waste Management Unit 25, the investigation reports, and other historic information regarding the John Deere Des Moines Site. This information is available at the following locations during normal business hours:

Kirkendall Public Library
1210 NW Prairie Ridge Dr.
Ankeny, Iowa 50021
(515) 965‑6460

EPA Region 7 Records Center
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, Kansas 66219
(913) 551-7166

The public comment period runs March 29 to April 27, 2013, to enable the public to comment on the proposed interim measure as outlined in the Interim Measures Work Plan for Solid Waste Management Unit 25. Written comments should be mailed or emailed to:

Patricia Murrow
U.S. EPA, AWMD/WRAP
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Email: murrow.patricia@epa.gov

Comments should be received no later than April 27, 2013.

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 interim measure based upon new information and comments from the public.

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

BACKGROUND

In 1998, EPA negotiated an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) requiring John Deere Des Moines Works to perform a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Facility Investigation and a corrective measure study.

The site, as defined in the AOC, is located on approximately 454 acres of land. The site is surrounded by residential, light commercial, light industrial and agricultural properties. John Deere Des Moines Works is a diversified farm equipment and machinery manufacturing company that produces primary and secondary tillage, planting, cotton-picking, and cotton-stripping equipment.

In 1993, EPA performed a RCRA Facility Assessment (RFA) that included a visual site inspection. The purpose of the RFA was to identify solid waste management units and areas of concern, and identify known and potential releases. Based on the findings of the RFA, several units and areas require further investigation. One such unit is the stormwater runoff ditch and catch basin.

The stormwater runoff ditch is located on the east side of the site. A catch basin, which was constructed in the 1940s, is located near the southeast corner of the site. Periodic releases of oil and grease were made to the ditch and captured in the catch basin. Samples of surface water, sediment and soils in and around the stormwater runoff ditch and catch basin have been collected and analyzed. Sediment and soil samples collected from on-site showed low-level concentrations of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exceeding EPA's screening levels. No PAHs have been detected in the surface waste samples collected. Arsenic was also detected in the soil and sediment samples collected, but concentration levels were within the range of background.

In accordance with the 1998 AOC, John Deere Des Moines Works may implement an interim measure at the site to attempt to reduce contamination in source areas. This interim measure for the stormwater runoff ditch and catch basin is part of the investigation work being conducted under the 1998 AOC. The Interim Measures Work Plan submitted by John Deere Des Moines Works has been tentatively determined by EPA to be approvable.

THE CONTAMINATION

The following contaminants have been detected:

In Soil and Sediment:

PROPOSED INTERIM MEASURE

The interim measure for the stormwater drainage channel area and catch basin is intended to address the PAH contamination, and will include: additional delineation of PAH contamination; excavation of impacted areas; placement of impacted sediment and soil into the isolated catch basin; establishing institutional controls for the drainage channel and catch basin to prevent exposure to on-site contaminated soil; and engineering controls consisting of a soil cap and vegetative cover over the catch basin. This interim measure is part of the stormwater management improvements being undertaken in coordination with a facility expansion project currently underway at the site. As part of the stormwater management improvements, the drainage channel will be rerouted to a new channel and basin west of the current catch basin, leaving the current catch basin isolated from continuous flow of surface water.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Toll-free at (800) 223-0425, ext. 7253
Email: himes.beckie@epa.gov

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