![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Fact Sheet
September 2006
Public Comment Period Announced - Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, Middletown, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) have entered into a Federal Facility Agreement (FFA) to investigate and clean up contamination from the Nation's early atomic energy program at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant (IAAAP) near Middletown, Iowa. The FFA is currently available for public review and comment. Others signing the agreement are the State of Iowa, which will provide additional oversight of the cleanup work and identify appropriate state environmental laws, and the U.S. Department of Energy, which will provide long-term stewardship, operation, and maintenance reviews.
FEDERAL FACILITY AGREEMENT
The new FFA is entered into pursuant to Section 120(e) of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA),
commonly referred to as the Superfund Law. The FFA describes
the process by which the COE will investigate and address any remaining
radioactive or hazardous wastes from the former nuclear weapons
program at the IAAAP, and defines the roles and responsibilities
of the signatory parties.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
EPA is now accepting comments from the public for a period of forty-five (45) days beginning September 1, 2006. Comments must be received by October 15, 2006. Upon completion of the public comment period, the agencies will review all comments and determine whether any modification to the FFA should be made.
AVAILABILITY
The new FFA is available on the Internet at: http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/eng-con/expertise/fusrap-IAAAP.html. Copies are also available at the Burlington Public Library, the Danville City Hall, the Lee County Health Department, and at EPA's Record Center in Kansas City. Addresses to these locations are provided below.
BACKGROUND
The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) conducted weapons assembly operations on 1,630 acres of the 19,000-acre plant from the 1940s to the 1970s as a tenant at the site. These operations involved research, development and production of materials and components as part of the U.S. early atomic energy program. The Army continues to operate the ammunition plant and is conducting cleanup work at the site separate from the COE to address contamination associated with past Army operations.
A program called the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) was created to provide funding and authorization to address areas of contamination associated with past AEC activity.
The FUSRAP cleanup agreement at the IAAAP with the COE is the second such agreement in place to address contamination at this Superfund site. The Army, under a separate agreement with EPA, has been conducting significant investigation and cleanup work at the site since 1990. Under the Army agreement, over 175,000 cubic yards of contaminated soils have been addressed. Ground water cleanup work is also beginning.
The FUSRAP agreement covers seven (7) distinct areas of past AEC activity at the IAAAP. An aerial survey of the entire 19,000-acre plant (conducted in October 2002) showed that radioactive contamination was present at the testing area where depleted uranium components were detonated by the AEC. Soils contaminated by explosives and metals have also been identified due to past AEC operations.
FFA LOCATIONS
Burlington Public Library
501 North 4th Street
Burlington, IA 52601
(319) 753-1647
Danville City Hall
105 West Shepherd Street
Danville, IA 52623
Lee County Health Department
2218 Avenue H
Fort Madison, IA 52627
EPA Record Center
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
COMMENTS
Written comments on the FFA should be submitted to:
Scott Marquess
Project Manager
U.S. EPA – Region 7
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
marquess.scott@epa.gov
Debbie Kring
Community Involvement Coordinator
U.S. EPA – Region 7
901 North 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
kring.debbie@epa.gov
