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Fact Sheet

April 2013

Public Comment for Draft Hazardous Waste Permit and Proposed Final Remedy for Cleanup, Heartland Cement Company dba Buzzi Unicem USA, Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas

INTRODUCTION

EPA Region 7 invites the public to comment on the draft Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste permit for the Heartland Cement Company dba Buzzi Unicem USA (Heartland). The public comment period will run from April 24, through June 8, 2013.

Written comments on the proposed permit renewal should be mailed or emailed no later than June 8, 2013, and should be sent to:

Ken Herstowski
EPA Region 7 AWMD/WRAP
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Email: herstowski.ken@epa.gov

BACKGROUND

Heartland owns and operated a cement manufacturing plant at 1765 Limestone Lane in Independence, Kansas. Production of portland cement ceased at the facility in 2008.

In 1989, Heartland received a RCRA permit for storage and blending of hazardous waste into a fuel stock to be burned in the cement kilns. The RCRA permit was later expanded to include increased capacity and capability for fuel blending.

Heartland ceased hazardous waste management in 2001 and completed closure of the hazardous waste management facilities and equipment in 2002. Since 2008, Heartland has been dismantling equipment, structures and other items at the facility.

EPA has prepared a draft permit requiring completion of the final remedy and to maintain and monitor the cleanup.

CONTAMINATION AT THE FACILITY: EPA requires the investigation of Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs), which are areas where hazardous constituents have been released or have the potential to be released into the environment. At Heartland, the following SWMUs were investigated by completing a RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI) required by the 1989 RCRA permit:

SWMU 3 Three Settling Ponds
SWMU 4 Former Waste Fuel System
SWMU 5 Ditch Sewer System
SWMU 9 Electric Shop Parts Cleaner
SWMU 10 Industrial Landfill
SWMU 11 Kiln Dust Landfills
SWMU 13 Heavy Crude Tank
SWMU 15 Water Treatment System

SOIL: Contamination in soil was found at the Three Settling Ponds, the Heavy Crude Tank, and the Frog Pond.

GROUNDWATER: Contaminated groundwater was found at the Old Kiln Dust Landfill, which is part of SWMU 11. Groundwater monitoring has occurred on a regular basis since 2003 for the Industrial Landfill and Kiln Dust Landfills.

INDOOR AIR: Based on the soil contamination identified, investigation of indoor air was not performed.

CONTAMINANT RISKS: EPA compared the soil contamination levels to risk-based screening levels to evaluate potential human health risks. Soil contamination at SWMUs 10 and 11 exceeds screening levels that would allow for unrestricted use. Soil contamination at the Frog Pond and the Heavy Crude Tank exceeded non-residential use screening levels (industrial use in this case) prior to interim corrective actions. The soil contaminants found were polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). To protect human health until the RFI could be completed and corrective measures proposed, an Interim Measure was completed to dig up contaminated soil from the Frog Pond and the Heavy Crude Tank.

The Kiln Dust Landfills hold waste-containing lead above the unrestricted use screening levels. Groundwater at the Old Kiln Dust Landfill exceeds EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level for drinking water.

INTERIM MEASURES: During Heartland’s RFI, soil contaminated with PAHs was identified at the Frog Pond and the Heavy Crude Tank. EPA required Heartland to dig up contaminated soil as an interim measure. The soil removal was completed in 2001.

CLOSURE ACTIVITIES: Heartland’s various environmental permits have certain “closure” requirements that must be implemented when the facility ceases operating under those permits.

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. Comments or requests should be submitted by June 8, 2013.

Guidelines for Commenting:

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

Independence Public Library
220 E. Maple St.
Independence, KS 67301
(620) 331-3030

EPA Region 7 Records Center
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
(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 cleanup remedy.

EPA will make the draft permit and proposed remedy final 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 cleanup process.

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

Beckie Himes
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. EPA Region 7
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Phone: 913-551-7253
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
Email: himes.beckie@epa.gov

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