EPA Region 7 to Host Public Availability Session

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is holding a Public Availability Session to provide information related to the PCE Former Dry Cleaner Superfund Site in Atlantic, Iowa.

The session will be held:

Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Atlantic Municipal Utilities
15 W. 3rd Street
Atlantic, IA 50022

EPA will present historical site information, and provide plans for addressing the source area and containing the groundwater contaminant plume. EPA will implement electric resistivity heating (ERH) to reduce the tetrachloroethylene (PCE) contamination at the source area. EPA will implement groundwater extraction and treatment by air stripping to prevent additional impacts to the municipal supply wells.

For additional information regarding in-situ thermal treatment, including ERH, visit EPA’s website.

BACKGROUND

The site contains a groundwater plume of PCE first detected in the 1980s. EPA completed a site investigation to determine the potential source areas and trace migration pathways to define the vertical and horizontal extent of the PCE groundwater plume.

The removal action will consist of the use of ERH technology to treat contamination in the source area, which is planned to begin in early 2017 and will take approximately one year to complete. A separate Removal Action will consist of installing two groundwater extraction wells and an air stripper to remove PCE contamination from the groundwater. Construction of this system is planned to begin in mid-2017.

ABOUT THE CONTAMINANT

PCE is a chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent commonly used in dry cleaning operations, and as a degreaser in manufacturing plants. PCE is characterized by EPA as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans” by all routes of exposure. Additional information is available online.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EPA assessed the ability of the public to access documents for the site through an Internet-based repository and determined that the local community has this ability. Documents for the site are available online for anyone with an Internet connection, and also at the Atlantic Public Library by Internet connections. Please visit EPA’s website.

CONTACTS

If you have questions or need additional information about any aspect of the site, please contact:

Pamela Houston
Community Engagement Specialist
Enforcement Coordination Office
EPA Region 7
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219
Toll-free: 1-800-223-0425
Email: houston.pamela@epa.gov

Susan Fisher
On-Scene Coordinator
Response and Removal, North Section
Superfund Division
EPA Region 7
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219
Phone: 816-718-4285
Email: fisher.susan@epa.gov

Bo Hull
Remedial Project Manager
Site Remediation Branch
Superfund Division
EPA Region 7 
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219
Phone: 913-551-7226
Email: hull.owens@epa.gov