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Fact Sheet

March 2005

Five-Year Review Begins
LaBounty Superfund Site
Charles City, Iowa


Introduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts regular five-year reviews on Superfund sites where cleanups have been completed. These reviews are required by the Superfund law [42 U.S.C. § 9621(c)]. EPA Region 7 and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) have initiated their third five-year review of the LaBounty Superfund site in Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa.

Site Background

The site is located in Charles City, Iowa, on the Cedar River flood plain.

From 1953 to 1977 Salsbury Laboratories (later Solvay Animal Health, Inc.), a manufacturer of veterinary pharmaceuticals, disposed of sludges containing various compounds and metals on the site. This has resulted in the contamination of a shallow ground water aquifer that connects to the Cedar River.

Investigations by the EPA and IDNR in 1977 and 1978 revealed that waste components were being leached and transported from the disposal site by ground water to the Cedar River.

In 1977 IDNR issued an Administrative Order that required the owner, Salsbury Laboratories, to prevent runoff, cease operations, and submit a plan for the removal of the wastes.

The parties potentially responsible for the site contamination installed a groundwater monitoring system in 1979 and a clay cap in 1980. In 1983 the site was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL).

The capping has reduced the leaching of wastes located above the water table. However, capping was not effective in reducing pollutant leaching where wastes were placed below the water table. In 1985 the EPA and Salsbury entered into an Administrative Order on Consent. Between 1985 and 1986 under EPA oversight, the potentially responsible parties installed an upgradient ground water diversion wall. The wall diverted ground water around the fill material into the Cedar River. In 1989 Salsbury Laboratories, Inc. merged with Solvay Veterinary, Inc. to form Solvay Animal Health, Inc. (Solvay). Solvay later became known as Fort Dodge Animal Health, a division of American Home Products Corporation, and is currently called Wyeth. This company continues to sample monitoring wells and the Cedar River. The site was deleted from the NPL in 1993.

Five Year Review

Five-year reviews were conducted on this site in 1992 and 2000. These reviews determined the remedy remained protective of human health and the environment. In this five year review it will be determined if the remedy continues to be protective of human health and the environment. We encourage the community to tell us about site conditions or any concerns.

Additional Information

The site Administrative Record is available at the following locations:

Charles City Public Library
106 Milwaukee Mall
Charles City, Iowa

EPA Records Center
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas

If you have questions or need more information on this site or the five-year review process, please contact:

Fritz Hirter
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7003
Toll Free: (800) 223-0425
E-mail:hirter.fritz@epa.gov

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