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Fact Sheet
July 2006
EPA Announces Proposed Plan and Public Meeting - Iowa City Former Manufactured Gas Plant Superfund Site, Iowa City, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a Proposed Plan for a remedial action to address contaminated soils and ground water at the Iowa City Former Manufactured Gas Plant (FMGP) Superfund Site in Iowa City, Iowa.
The Proposed Plan recommends actions that will protect human health by eliminating exposure to contaminated soils and ground water, and potential future exposure to contamination in indoor air and sediment in Ralston Creek.
EPA is asking for your comments on the Proposed Plan. Although EPA, in consultation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), is recommending an action to address the contamination, a final decision will not be made until EPA reviews comments from the public.
A 30-day public comment period will run from July 28, 2006 until August 27, 2006. A public meeting will be held Wednesday, August 9, 2006, starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Iowa City Public Library. The community is invited to attend and present comments at the meeting. Written comments will be accepted until August 27, 2006. After all comments are evaluated, EPA will make a decision, which will be published in a Record of Decision (ROD).
The ROD will also include a summary of EPA's responses to the comments received during the public comment period.
THE CONTAMINANTS
Coal tar contaminants, such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs);
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene and toluene; and
cyanide have been identified in samples taken both onsite and offsite.
ALTERNATIVES FOR REMEDIATION
EPA's recommendation includes actions to prevent exposure to the contaminated soils and ground water, and prevent future air and sediment contamination. The alternatives for remediation include:
Alternative 1 – No Action
- To comply with guidance, no action is required to be considered as an alternative.
- The title defines this alternative: no action would be taken to address the contamination at the site.
Alternative 2 – Institutional Controls (ICs)
- Local ordinances and state rules governing ground water would be enhanced by environmental covenants to restrict land use at the site and in Ralston Creek. Indoor air and sediment monitoring would be conducted.
Alternative 3 – ICs and Ground Water Monitoring
- All of the actions in Alternative 2 with the addition of ground water monitoring.
Alternative 4 – ICs and Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA)
- All of the actions in Alternative 3 but the ground water monitoring would include analysis to ensure that bioremediation of ground water is occurring.
Alternative 5 – ICs with Biosparging
- All of the actions in Alternative 3.
- Biosparging in the shallowest ground water aquifer to enhance removal of contamination.
Alternative 6 – ICs with Ground Water Extraction and Treatment
- All of the actions of Alternative 3.
- Extraction and treatment of ground water.
Alternative 7 – ICs and LNAPL Recovery with MNA
- All of the actions of Alternative 4.
- Removal and off site disposal of light nonaqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) contamination from ground water.
PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE
EPA's preferred alternative is Alternative 7.
EPA and IDNR will hold a public meeting to give the community the opportunity to make public comments on the Proposed Plan for the Iowa City FMGP Superfund Site.
The meeting will be held August 9, 2006, starting at 7:00 p.m. at the
Iowa City Public Library
Meeting Room A
123 S. Linn Street
Iowa City,
Iowa.
Written comments must be postmarked no later than August
27, 2006, and should be sent to:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
himes.beckie@epa.gov
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Proposed Plan and other related documents provide details of the nature and extent of contamination and the work that has been completed at the site. These documents are part of the Administrative Record, available during regular business hours at the following locations:
Iowa City Public Library
123 S. Linn Street
Iowa City, Iowa
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 7
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
913-551-7003
Toll-free 1-800-223-0425
E-mail: himes.beckie@epa.gov
