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Fact Sheet
June 2007
Proposed Permit Renewal and Final Remedy Out For Public Comment, Equistar Chemicals, LP, Clinton, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 invites the public to comment on the proposed permit renewal and final remedy selection for the process sewer system at the Equistar Chemicals facility in Clinton, Iowa.
The public comment period will start on June 18, 2007, and end on August 2, 2007. All written comments must be sent to the address below. EPA will hold a public availability session so community members can ask questions about the proposed permit renewal and final remedy selection. See section below for details.
BACKGROUND
Equistar Chemicals is located approximately five miles west of Clinton in a predominately agricultural area south of Highway 30 and west of Route 67. Equistar Chemicals currently owns and operates a 230-acre high-density and low-density polyethylene manufacturing plant on the 700-acre Chemplex Superfund site. The plant, enclosed by a fenced area, has been in operation since 1967. Originally, the City of Clinton owned the plant and the land on which it is located. ACC Chemical Co. and Getty Chemical Co. operated the plant until 1984 and are the current owners of the seven-acre landfill area on the western portion of the site. Equistar Chemicals currently operates the plant and owns the plant property, excluding the landfill area. Equistar Chemicals is the same facility involved in the groundwater involved cleanup activities at the Chemplex Superfund site. Equistar Chemicals' facility is a part of the Chemplex Superfund Site groundwater cleanup activities. EPA has been working with the community to evaluate possible changes in the groundwater remedy. EPA will have a separate public comment period to address any proposed changes in the groundwater remedy.
PROPOSED CLEANUP PLAN
EPA is proposing to reissue a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste permit to Equistar Chemicals. The permit will allow Equistar to continue operating a hazardous waste container storage unit, which was previously authorized in the permit in 1994. Equistar stores hazardous wastes in containers on a concrete pad with curbing for containment prior to shipping the wastes off-site.
As part of the RCRA permitting process, EPA also has requested that Equistar prepare and submit plans to reduce and control release of hazardous wastes from the facility process sewer system. This plan, known as the proposed final remedy selection, is outlined in a document called a Statement of Basis. The proposed final remedy selection is grouped with the proposed permit renewal and released for public comment period at the same time.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONEPA encourages the public to review and comment on the proposed permit renewal and final remedy selection for the process sewer system. Written comments should be submitted by August 2, 2007. The administrative record is available at the following locations:
Clinton Public Library306 8th Ave. South
Clinton, Iowa 52732
(563) 242-8441
Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Fri. - Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Field Office #6
1023 W. Madison
Washington, Iowa 52353
(319) 653-2135
Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
EPA Region 7 Records Center
901 N. 5th St.
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
(913) 551-7166
Mon. - Fri. 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
EPA has not scheduled a formal public hearing. One will be held if there is sufficient public interest or to clarify relevant issues. Request for a public hearing must be made in writing to the EPA contact listed on page 1 and must state the issues of concern. EPA will make a final decision only after the public comment period ends and all comments are reviewed. Individuals may write to the EPA contact on page 1 to join the mailing list. Joining the mailing list will allow an individual to receive any updated information directly throughout the permit renewal process and the life of the permit.
PUBLIC AVAILABILITY SESSION
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Camanche Fire Station
917 3rd Street
Camanche, Iowa 52730
EPA will be available to answer questions about the proposed permit renewal and final remedy selection for the process sewer system. Members of the public are welcome to attend any time between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Equistar representatives also will be available.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Please submit your written comments to:
EPA Region 7 (ARTD/RCAP)
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
Phone: 913-551-7657
Toll free: 800-223-0425
Email: grisolano.mary@epa.gov
All written comments must be submitted by August 2, 2007.
If you have questions or want to receive further information, please contact:
Shawntell Martin
Office of External Programs
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7003
Toll free: 1-800-223-0425
martin.shawntell@epa.gov
