Former Chamberlain Manufacturing Site, Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa - Fact Sheet, June 2020

Public Comment Period for Proposed Final Remedy

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 invites the public to comment on the Proposed Final Remedy (Proposed Final Corrective Measures) for the former Chamberlain Manufacturing Site, 550 Esther Street, Waterloo, Iowa.

PROPOSED FINAL REMEDY

The Proposed Final Remedy entails the removal of contaminated soil and implementation of land use controls for the site. Areas of the former facility property with surface soil contaminated with several metals and semi-volatile compounds will be excavated and disposed off-site. The land use controls will prohibit the use of groundwater and require future buildings to be constructed with vapor intrusion mitigation systems. Use controls will also require that soils disturbed at the facility be characterized for potential contaminants prior to handling and removing from the property.

EPA encourages the public to review this Proposed Final Remedy and the Administrative Record, which contains documents supporting the Proposed Final Remedy.

The public comment period runs from June 10, 2020, through July 10, 2020.

Written comments on the Proposed Final Remedy should be mailed or emailed no later than July 10, 2020, and sent to:

Bruce A. Morrison
EPA Region 7 (ROAG/LCRD)
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219
Email: morrison.bruce@epa.gov

CONTAMINANTS

Environmental investigations have identified elevated concentrations of arsenic, lead, cadmium, trichloroethylene, and several additional semi-volatile organic compounds in soils. Extensive groundwater contamination is primarily attributable to trichloroethylene and its breakdown compounds.

BACKGROUND

The former Chamberlain Manufacturing Site was a manufacturing plant for metal washer wringer and projectile metal parts from approximately 1919 until 1996. During operations, certain solvents were utilized for degreasing finished metal products and were released to the environment. From 2004 until recently, environmental investigations have characterized the contamination at the site. Vapor intrusion of trichloroethylene into nearby homes has been identified, with some of the homes receiving mitigation systems to address the potential health risks associated with exposure of this nature.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The Statement of Basis and Administrative Record are available for public review during normal business hours at:

Waterloo City Hall, 2nd Floor
Planning and Zoning Department
715 Mulberry Street
Waterloo, IA 50701

If you have questions or want to receive a CD with the Statement of Basis and Administrative Record, please contact:

Ben Washburn
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 7 (ORA/OPA)
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219

Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
Email: washburn.ben@epa.gov

After consideration of all comments received, EPA will make a final remedy decision. If the decision is made to select a final remedy that is substantially unchanged from the Proposed Final Remedy, EPA will notify all persons submitting comments or requesting a notice of the final decision. If the Proposed Final Remedy is substantially changed, EPA will issue another public notice indicating the changes.