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.

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 500 Chestnut.  Research of former and current dry cleaners in 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.  It appears that the dry cleaning operations at 500 Chestnut (formerly known as Cass County Cleaners) began at this site in the late 1990s and closed sometime before 2014. 

Currently the main floor of 500 Chestnut is vacant; floors above the main floor are apartments. 

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 by the EPA at the PCE Chestnut Site, the EPA discovered that the previous owner operated a dry cleaning operation on the main floor.  The operator of the dry cleaner left listed hazardous subsatances in the building when he sold it to the current owner.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

During the removal assessment, the following listed hazardous substances were left on site:

Trichloroethene – approximately 3–5 gallons of product.

Tetrachloroethene  - approximately 35 gallons of solvent – some new, some used.

Various caustics – Several containers of caustic material have been left in the building.  The material was screened at a pH of 14.

2.1.1 Narrative

The levels of PCE vapors found in buildings at 500 Chestnut during removal assessment present a significant health threat due to inhalation hazards. Therefore, a time-critical removal action and 12-month emergency exemption action memorandum was signed on September 17, 2015.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

On October 5, 2015 a removal action was begun at the Site.  

The following materials were found in the building:

• Two 15-gallon poly drums labeled “Builder C NP”, a liquid with pH of 13 to 14.  This product was labeled corrosive.  Also noted were solid crystals forming on top of the container and falling to the floor of the building.

• One half-full 50-lb bag of white solid powder labeled Tri Kovar Alkali (an ingredient is sodium hydroxide) with a pH of 13.

• A large drycleaning machine containing 21 gallons of amber liquid in the east tank and 13 gallons of clear liquid in the west tank (both reported to be PCE-containing).

• A basement room had ~30 to 40 small containers, some labeled, some not.  They contained spot cleaners and other drycleaning-related chemicals.  One container was labeled “Picrin”, which is TCE. 

Other drycleaning chemicals, detergents, etc., remain inside the building.

PCE, TCE and materials with a pH above 12.5 are listed hazardous substances as defined in 40 CFR 261.1.

On October 9, 2015, the hazardous substances were collected and prepared for off-site disposal.  The dry cleaning machine left on site had several gallons of PCE still in the machine.  The PCE was removed and placed in a metal 55-gallon drum for preparation for disposal.  All chemicals were packed in appropriate containers.

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

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

Conduct vapor intrusion sampling inside the building to confirm TCE and PCE have been removed.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

4.0    Personnel On Site and Off Site

Susan Fisher, EPA OSC and Project Manager

Jeff Pritchard, EPA OSC

Ann Jacobs, EPA Risk Assessor

Dan Nicoski, EPA Hydrogeologist

Demetra Sallisbury, EPA Site Attorney

Pamela Houston, EPA Community Engagement Specialist

5.0    Definition of Terms

µg/m³ -  Micrograms per cubic meter
PRP   -  Potential Responsible Party

ND     -  Non Detect

SS     -   Subslab

IA       -  Indoor Air
PCE   -  Tetrachloroethene
TCE   -  Trichloroethene
APA   -  Abbreviated Preliminary Assessment
OSC   -  On-Scene Coordinator
ATSDR  -  Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
IDNR  -  Iowa Department of Natural Resources

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):

•       Used to 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