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Fact Sheet

August 2015

Public Comment for Proposed Final Remedy and Draft Hazardous Waste Permit Modification, Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. Service Center, 3035 West 73rd Street, Davenport, Iowa

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 invites the public to comment on the proposed final remedy decision and draft Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste permit modification for the Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. Service Center facility in Davenport, Iowa. The public comment period will run from August 7, 2015 through September 21, 2015.

Written comments on the proposed final remedy decision and draft permit modification should be mailed or emailed no later than September 21, 2015, and should be sent to:

Patricia Murrow
EPA Region 7 (AWMD/WRAP)
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Email: murrow.patricia@epa.gov

BACKGROUND

Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. has been operating a branch service center at 3035 West 73rd Street, Davenport, Iowa, since 1983. The facility encompasses approximately 2.2 acres, is zoned for light industrial/manufacturing, and is situated in the northwest part of Davenport, south of Interstate 80 and approximately one-quarter mile west of Highway 130.

The facility operates as a service center for the distribution of mineral spirits and storage/transfer of spent mineral spirits, paint wastes, dry cleaning waste, and other parts-cleaning solvents. Used oil and oily wastewater are also temporarily stored on-site prior to being transported off-site for treatment and/or disposal. No treatment or disposal facilities are located on-site.

EPA issued a RCRA permit for management of hazardous waste to Safety-Kleen in March 1992 and reissued the permit in September 2011. The permit also requires Safety-Kleen to address corrective action for all releases of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents from any current or former solid waste management units (SWMUs) and other areas of concern (AOCs).

Pursuant to the permit, Safety-Kleen has been working with EPA to address and further characterize historic soil and groundwater impacts at the facility. As a result, considerable work has been conducted to close units and identify possible impacts to soil and/or groundwater quality.

The initial RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Permit, issued by EPA to Safety-Kleen in March 1992, identified the following SWMUs at the facility:

  1. Solvent Return/Fill Station
  2. Spent Solvent Storage Tank
  3. Wet Dumpster for Used Oil
  4. Used Oil Storage Tanks/Former Waste Antifreeze Storage Tank
  5. Explosion Proof Shed
  6. Former Spent Solvent Storage Tank
  7. Former Return/Fill Station
  8. East Warehouse Container Storage Unit
  9. Former Northwest Warehouse Container Storage Unit

The former Northwest Warehouse Container Storage Unit (SWMU 9) and the former Waste Antifreeze Storage Tank (SWMU 4) were closed by Safety-Kleen under EPA oversight in 1994-1995. The Solvent Return/Fill Station (SWMU 1), Spent Solvent Storage Tank (SWMU 2), and the East Warehouse Container Storage Unit (SWMU 8) remain active but are subject to an EPA-approved closure plan when use of the hazardous waste storage units cease.

CONTAMINATION AT THE FACILITY

Pursuant to the permit, Safety-Kleen has investigated soil and groundwater to determine the extent of contamination and potential for migration.

SOIL: Numerous soil samples were collected on-site from 1989 through 1993 and again in 2014. In general, volatile organic compound (VOC) soil impacts were limited to the Former Spent Solvent Storage Tank area (SWMU 6). Evaluation of laboratory results indicated total petroleum hydrocarbons-mineral spirits (TPH-MS); 1,1,1-trichloroethane; 1,1-dichloroethane (1,1-DCA); and ethylbenzene were present in soil samples. Based on the soil data collected in 2014, the only compound that exceeded the EPA Industrial Regional Risk-Based Screening level was TPH-MS in one sample. Total arsenic was detected in several samples at concentrations above its screening level, but are within the naturally occurring background ranges.

GROUNDWATER: Low concentrations of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), VOCs, and metals in on-site groundwater are decreasing and/or stable. From November 2010 through September 2014, VOCs or SVOCs were not detected above EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for drinking water standards. Tetrachloroethene and cis-1,2-dichloroethene were detected above MCLs in the 1996 samples, but not detected above current screening levels since November 2010. Only 1,1-DCA, which lacks an MCL, was detected above the screening level (EPA Tap Water Standard) during the September 2014 sampling. Metals detected in groundwater are attributed to naturally occurring background concentrations.

CONTAMINANT RISKS: The soil and groundwater contaminants at this site have potential adverse health effects. The known water supply at the facility and within the facility’s vicinity is municipal. Potential current soil and groundwater exposure scenarios on-site are limited to direct contact with a construction worker and/or gardener. EPA has determined that, if not addressed, the contaminants at this facility present a current and future potential threat to human health and the environment.

PROPOSED REMEDY

The proposed remedy for the facility consists of the following:

FOR MORE INFORMATION: EPA encourages the public to review the Administrative Record and comment on the proposed cleanup plan and draft permit modification. Comments or requests should be submitted by September 21, 2015.

Guidelines for Commenting:

The Administrative Record is available at the following locations during normal business hours:

Davenport Public Library
Main Street Branch
321 N. Main Street
Davenport, IA 52801
Phone: 563-326-7832

EPA Region 7 Records Center
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66210
Phone: 913-551-7166

A public hearing has not been scheduled, but will be held if there is sufficient public interest. Requests for a public hearing must be made in writing to the EPA contact at the address listed on Page 1, and must state the nature of issues to be raised at the hearing. EPA will evaluate any request and hold a formal hearing if it finds that a hearing will contribute to the decision-making process by clarifying significant issues affecting the proposed remedy.

EPA will make a final decision on the draft permit modification and proposed remedy only after the public comment period ends and all comments are reviewed. EPA may modify the draft permit and proposed remedy based on any new information and comments from the public.

Individuals may write to the EPA contact on Page 1 to join the mailing list. Joining the mailing list will allow an individual to receive any updated information directly throughout the remedy selection process.

If you have questions or want to receive further information, please contact:

Brendan Corazzin
Enforcement Coordination Office
EPA Region 7
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Phone: 913-551-7429
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
Email: corazzin.brendan@epa.gov

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