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Fact Sheet
October 2006
Record of Decision Issued - Railroad Avenue Superfund Site OU2, West Des Moines, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a Record of Decision (ROD) that addresses ground water contamination at the Railroad Avenue Superfund Site Operable Unit 2 (OU2) in West Des Moines, Iowa. This action is being taken under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund law. The ROD was signed on September 11, 2006.
A public comment period ran from July 25 – August 24, 2006. EPA was available to take public comments on the Proposed Plan at a public meeting on August 7, 2006. EPA recommended specific actions in the Proposed Plan to address ground water. EPA and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources concurred on the preferred alternative in the Proposed Plan.
After the comment period closed, EPA selected a remedy, as documented in the ROD. The ROD includes a summary of EPA's responses to comments received during the public comment period.
ABOUT THE CONTAMINATION
Ground water under the site is contaminated with tetrachloroethene, trichloroethylene and their breakdown products including dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride.
SELECTED REMEDY
The selected remedy is the preferred alternative in the Proposed Plan, which includes actions from previous interim remedial actions:
- Added treatment capabilities at the West Des Moines (WDM) water plant in November 2004, which allows beneficial use of previously unused water wells by the WDM water plant.
- Added air sparging wells at the Delavan facility, which treats the water in the soil with the greatest contamination, reducing the total amount of contaminants in the soil and ground water, therefore reducing the likelihood that contaminants can reach the WDM water wells.
In addition, the selected remedy includes:
- Monitored Natural Attenuation, which relies on the aquifer's ability to lower contaminant concentrations through natural processes.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Record of Decision and other site-related documents provide details of the nature and extent of contamination and the work that has been completed at the Railroad Avenue Superfund Site OU2.
These documents are part of the Administrative Record, available during normal business hours at the following locations:
West Des Moines Public Library
4000 George M. Mills Civic Parkway
West Des Moines, Iowa
EPA Region 7
Records Center
901 N. Fifth Street
Kansas City, Kansas
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 7
Office of External Programs
901 N. Fifth Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
913-551-7253
Toll-free 1-800-223-0425
E-mail: himes.beckie@epa.gov
