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Fact Sheet
December 2010
Public Comment Period for Administrative Order on Consent, Sidney, Nebraska
INTRODUCTION
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 announces a public comment period for an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) between EPA and Marathon Oil Co., Sidney, Nebraska. The comment period runs from December 1 through December 31, 2010.
Under the AOC, Marathon will conduct a study to propose a remedy for the West Sidney Gas Plant which is protective of human health and the environment, Marathon must then implement the remedy selected by EPA with input from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the public.EPA will consider all comments on the AOC submitted during the public comment period.
A formal public hearing has not been scheduled, but will be held if there is sufficient public interest.Request for a public hearing must be made in writing to the EPA contact listed below 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 AOC.
Written comments should be postmarked no later than December 31, 2010, and should be sent to:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
Office of External Programs
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Himes.beckie@epa.gov
BACKGROUND
Marathon Oil Co. began operating the West Sidney Gas Plant as a natural gas processing plant in 1954. Processes included separation of water and liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas wells. The water and liquid hydrocarbons had to be removed before the natural gas could be used.
Marathon Oil Co. operated surface impoundments at the facility from 1964 to1982. Wastes placed in the surface impoundments include waste products that were created during the removal of the water and liquid hydrocarbons from the raw natural gas.In 1997, Marathon excavated these surface impoundments and treated the soils onsite.
THE CONTAMINATION
The historical waste handling practices resulted in contamination of groundwater and subsurface soils in the area. In September 2003, EPA issued a unilateral order to Marathon to investigate the extent of contamination. During these investigations a groundwater contaminant plume was identified along with an oily layer, known as a light, non-aqueous phased liquid layer, on top of the groundwater. EPA has not identified any drinking water well that has been impacted by this contamination.
Under the new AOC, Marathon Oil Co. will take the data from the investigation and conduct a study to propose a remedy for site related contamination. Based on this study, EPA, in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality will select a preferred remedy to address the contamination. This proposed remedy will then be made available to the public for consideration as the final remedy and accept public comment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have questions about this fact sheet or need additional information, please contact:
Robert Aston
RCRA Corrective Action and Permitting Branch
Air and Waste Management Division
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7392 or
Toll Free: 1-800-223-0425
Aston.robert@epa.gov
Or
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
Office of External Programs
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7253 or
Toll Free: 1-800-223-0425
Himes.beckie@epa.gov