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Fact Sheet
January 2014
EPA Site Assessment, Heartland Plating, Inc. Superfund Site, Bettendorf, Scott County, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will conduct a site assessment at the former Heartland Plating, Inc. (HPI) Superfund Site during the week of January 13, 2014. The site is a 43,000-square-foot building that sits on a 1.67-acre lot. The site is located at 3900 Elm Street in Bettendorf, Scott County, Iowa.
The investigation and assessment are being done to determine the extent of hazardous waste stored on-site that presents a threat of release to the environment.
BACKGROUND
During the 1970s, a company named Prime Plating constructed the facility. From 2003 until operations ceased in 2011, the facility was operated by HPI.
In 2010, EPA Region 7 conducted a compliance evaluation inspection at the facility under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Following the inspection, EPA determined that HPI had created an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health and the environment by its mismanagement of hazardous wastes at the facility, and issued a RCRA Order to the facility owners. The Order required the owners to inventory and conduct hazardous waste determinations on all solid wastes at the facility; formulate plans for management and/or disposal of all hazardous and solid wastes; appropriately manage all chemicals stored at the facility; restrict access to areas where releases of hazardous waste have potentially occurred; and conduct site characterization activities and cleanup of any contaminated areas at the facility.
Although the owners submitted several reports and plans required by the Order and engaged in disposal of some of the hazardous waste, they failed to adequately manage or dispose of a significant amount of the waste at the facility.
EPA issued Letters of Warning in November 2010, December 2011, and March 2012 for failure to comply with the terms of the Order, including failure to properly manage and dispose of thousands of gallons of waste chromic acid, chromium-containing solutions, corrosives, wastewater treatment sludge, anodizing solutions, cyanide, and other hazardous wastes or substances, which to date remain on site.
MOST RECENT FINDINGS
In July 2013, EPA conducted a site visit at the facility and found that the site was unsecured and appeared to have transients living there. Its physical structure was compromised with holes in the roof, and the facility power was turned off.
At least several hundred 55-gallon containers, large totes, and other containers labeled with hazardous waste stickers were being stored at the facility. The containers appeared to be the same containers observed by the Agency during a September 2012 facility visit.
In August 2013, a fourth Letter of Warning was sent to the owners, noting a failure to restrict access to the property and to complete the off-site disposal of wastes as required by the previous Order.
Due to lack of a substantive response from the owners, EPA will be conducting a site assessment under the EPA Superfund Program to determine the extent of contamination and next steps to address hazardous waste at the former Heartland Plating, Inc. facility.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:
Belinda Young
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. EPA Region 7
11201 Renner Blvd.
Lenexa, KS 66219
Phone: 913-551-7463
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
Email: young.belinda@epa.gov