1.1.1    Incident Category

Inactive Production Facility

1.1.2    Site Description

1.1.2.1 Site Location

The PCE Chestnut Site is located in Cass County, Atlantic, Iowa (41.407881 latitude, -95.013053 longitude).  The Site is located in downtown Atlantic, Iowa, and consists of at least four former dry cleaning operations.

The Site borders the East Nishnabotna River.  Approximately 7,000 people reside in Atlantic, Iowa.

The suspected sources of contamination are former dry cleaning operations, including 317 Chestnut Street, 500 Chestnut Street, 320 Chestnut Street, and 410 Poplar Street.  Research of the city of Atlantic, Iowa, was conducted, including reviewing former city directories available in the Cass County Genealogical Society office of the Atlantic Public Library.  Results of the search are:

317 Chestnut – A dry cleaning operation at 317 Chestnut began to advertise dry cleaning services starting in 1946 and operated into the 1990s.

500 Chestnut – It appears that dry cleaning operations began at this site in the late 1990s and closed sometime before 2014. 

320 Chestnut – Dry cleaning operations began in the early 1990s and ended in a fire in the late 1990s.

410 Poplar – Advertisements for dry cleaning operations at this site were from 1972 to 1991. 

These sites are surrounded by business and residential properties.  

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat 

The contaminants of concern at the Site are tetrachloroethene (PCE) and its degradation products. These contaminants are hazardous substances as defined by Section 101(14) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), and are designated as hazardous substances in 40 C.F.R. § 302.4. 

During a vapor intrusion assessment conducted in March 2015 by the EPA for the PCE Former Dry Cleaners Site, the EPA discovered another former dry cleaner site (PCE Chestnut Street) to the west of the PCE Former Dry Cleaners Site.  The levels of PCE vapors found in buildings at the Site present a significant health threat due to inhalation hazards.

1.1.3 Removal Preliminary Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results 

On March 30, 2015, the EPA collected subslab soil gas and indoor air samples from three properties along Chestnut Street in downtown Atlantic, Iowa.  Samples were collected during a vapor intrusion assessment for the PCE Former Dry Cleaner Site.  Locations for the sampling were determined from past dry cleaners operating in the area.    

On Scene Coordinator (OSC) Susan Fisher met with Keith Wilken, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) from the Atlantic IDNR field office, during the week of March 30, 2015.  The meeting was to explain to Keith how vapor intrusion samples were collected. 

2.0    Current Activities

2.1    Operations

2.1.1    Narrative

2.1.1.1       Current situation

The levels of PCE vapors found in buildings at the Site present a significant health threat due to inhalation hazards. (See POLREP #1 for more detailed site information).  The EPA conducted vapor intrusion sampling in this reporting period.
 

2.1.2    Response activities to date

June 24, 2015
OSC Fisher collected access agreements from property owners in downtown Atlantic, Iowa, for subslab soil gas and indoor air sampling. Access was given to 63 properties.

July 13 - 15, 2015

On July 13, 2015, EPA and START personnel mobilized to Atlantic, Iowa.  Vapor intrusion subslab ports were installed in approximately 35 basements and 30 indoor air samples were collected with summa canisters. 

2.1.3    Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

PRP’s have not been identified.

3.0    Participating Entities

3.1    Unified Command 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

3.2    Cooperating and Assisting Agencies

Iowa Department of Natural Resources
City of Atlantic, Iowa

    

6.0    Source of Additional Information

PCE (Tetrachloroethylene):           

•       A man-made chemical that is widely used for dry cleaning clothes

•       It evaporates easily into the air

•       A colorless liquid with a mild, chloroform-like odor - has a sharp, sweet odor. 

TCE (Trichloroethylene):

•       Remove grease from fabricated metal parts and in the production of some textiles.

•       PCE degrades to TCE under certain circumstances

•       A colorless or blue liquid with a chloroform-like odor - has a sharp, sweet odor.

For more information about these chemicals go to: http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation