Summary

Proposed Final Remedy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7, 11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219, is providing public notice regarding the selection of a Final Remedy, pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), for the Quinn Machine & Foundry Corporation Facility, located at 1518 East 12th Street in Boone, Iowa (EPA ID No. IAD042192807).

The 5-acre Quinn Foundry facility began operations in 1907 and was used for the manufacture of steel forms. Sludge from a venturi scrubber was a hazardous waste, based on the exceedance of extraction procedure (EP) toxicity for lead. This sludge was placed in two surface impoundments (SIs) on land directly south of the facility, now owned by Boone County. The sludge was removed from the SIs in 1983. Lead was detected in a composite soil sample from the bottom of the west SI pit at 1,620 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), which is above a risk-based level of 800 mg/kg for industrial property use. No additional excavation was conducted from the west SI pit, and the excavated SIs were both backfilled with non-hazardous foundry sand and soil. Groundwater sample results indicated impact by metals, primarily arsenic.

EPA is proposing a Final Remedy in the Statement of Basis that an institutional control be imposed to prohibit residential use and use of groundwater, and precautions be taken to protect against exposure to contamination in soil.

A copy of the Statement of Basis and the Administrative Record (AR), which includes other documents used to develop the Statement of Basis, is available for public review during normal business hours at the following locations, if open: EPA Region 7 Records Center, 11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219 (phone: 1-800-223-0425); and Ericson Public Library, 702 Greene Street, Boone, IA 50036 (phone: 515-432-3727). Due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation, these repository locations may not be fully open to the public. If public access is unavailable at either location, you can contact EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Ben Washburn at 1-800 223-0425 to request the Statement of Basis, AR index, and/or an electronic copy of the AR.

Comments on the Final Remedy proposed in the Statement of Basis should be directed in writing to Mary Grisolano, EPA Region 7 (LCRD/ROAG), 11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS 66219; or via email to grisolano.mary@epa.gov. The 30-day public comment period begins Nov. 2, 2020, and ends Dec. 2, 2020. Comments must be submitted before the end of the public comment period.

EPA has not scheduled a public hearing or public meeting, but will schedule a hearing/meeting if there is sufficient public interest. Requests for a hearing/meeting must be made in writing to Mary Grisolano at the address listed above and must state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised at the hearing/meeting. EPA will evaluate any request and hold a formal public hearing or public meeting, if EPA determines that a hearing/meeting will contribute to the decision-making process by clarifying significant issues affecting the remedy.