U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
General Motors-SC - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region VII
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Subject:
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POLREP #1
Initial Pol/SitRep
General Motors-SC
Sioux City, IA
Latitude: 42.4930130 Longitude: -96.4321280
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To:
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From:
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Randy Schademann, OSC
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Date:
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2/11/2014
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Reporting Period:
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April 2011 to January 2014
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Time-Critical |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
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Start Date: |
4/7/2011 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
IAD00068699 |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Time-critical removal action.
1.1.2 Site Description
The site consists of approximately 26 acres in the Sioux City, Iowa, Tri-View Industrial Area. The site includes a 221,000 square foot warehouse that is connected to a 19,000 square foot office building. The site is currenlty being utilized as a distribution hub by Bomgaars, a home improvement and hardware chain.
1.1.2.1 Location
The site is located at 1805 Zenith Drive in Sioux City, Iowa.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
A number of chlorinated compounds, including tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene (TCE), have been detected in monitoring wells and on-site soils. TCE has been detected in a nearby public water well field at levels above the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL).
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
In 1965, Zenith purchased the parcels making up the Site and constructed a radio manufacturing facility. There were no industrial facilities on the Site before this time. Zenith constructed six underground storage tanks to store acetone, isopropanol, white gas, lacquer thinner, 1,1, 1-trichloroethane (1, 1, 1-TCA), and gasoline.
In 1980, General Motors (GM) purchased the Site and began testing throttle-body injection fuel systems at the Site. As part of its operations, GM used an above-ground Stoddard solvent tank farm, but did not use Zenith’s underground storage tanks. In 1984, GM removed the underground storage tanks. GM stopped production at the Site in 1993, and removed the tank farm in 1994. The chemicals known to be used on Site by Zenith and GM do not coincide with the chemicals making up the groundwater contamination, except for the 1,1,1-TCA.
In 1993, the Site underwent Phase I and II assessment by GM in preparation for its sale. These assessments identified the existence of CVOCs on Site, which GM then reported to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). After completing a preliminary assessment, EPA deferred the site to the IDNR for cleanup oversight in 1996. Under IDNR, a remedial investigation and feasibility study were completed. These investigations revealed levels of CVOCs in the groundwater above the EPA-established maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for drinking water. They also revealed an area of contaminated soil that could be the source for the groundwater contamination. The soil contamination was not found at levels that pose a risk to human health from direct exposure.
In 2001 a state record of decision (ROD) was signed. In accordance with the state ROD, GM operated Municipal Well 3 (MW-3), and constructed a hydraulic capture system (HCS) and a butane biostimulation system. These systems were operational by the end of 2006. The HCS is a series of pumps designed to keep contamination from migrating off-Site. MW-3 is pumped to waste, and intercepts contamination off-Site before it reaches the rest of the Riverfront wellfield. It was formerly used as a municipal drinking water well, but was disconnected from the water supply when it was found to be contaminated. The butane biostimulation system was meant to bioremediate contaminated soil and groundwater on-site. A butane biostimulation pilot study for groundwater in the source area was initiated and showed some concentration reductions. However, the pilot study was not conducted for the source area soils and ended when GM declared bankruptcy.
In 2009, GM declared bankruptcy and sold its assets to General Motors, LLC, a separate and independent entity. At this point, GM became Motors Liquidation Company (MLC), which is responsible for settling the company’s liability. MLC reached a settlement with the Department of Justice for the liability associated with the GM Sioux City Site for $6.5 million, to be disbursed as soon as the bankruptcy order is filed. The state was unable to ensure use of the funds for the cleanup, so the money will be administered by the EPA.
GM had not maintained the HCS since it declared bankruptcy. The system was not functioning as designed, which may have allowed contamination to migrate off-Site.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
Actions at the site have been a collaboration of the removal and remedial programs.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
In 2011, significant repairs to the HCS were implemented under the Action Memorandum through the remedial program. The HCS has been in operation since that time. Currently, maintenance, utility payments, and weekly checks (made by the city water department personnel) are being conducted under the removal program.
In 2012 an assessment of ground water and soil impacts was conducted. Although conducted simultaneously, the ground water portion was conducted under the remedial program and the soil under the removal program (the reports for those assessments are included in the Documents section of this website). Previous investigations had been conducted at the site but these efforts were required to fill data gaps and produce more current information.
In 2013, based partially upon the sampling activities in 2012, it was initially decided that source removal may reduce the impact of the site to the ground water over time. The EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) was, concurrent to Region 7 developing soil removal strategies, evaluating the data to assist in the determination of action levels. Ultimately, ORD modeling indicated that soil source removal would produce only limited impacts to down gradient ground water concentrations.
Also at this time, the current owner of the facility indicated they were developing plans to expand their warehouse facility. The expansion is to occur sometime in 2014. Also, the city will be improving Zenith Drive. Currently, the combined plans will require the abandonment of some 30 monitoring wells. None of the extraction wells of the HCS or the treatement building will be impacted. Abandonment of the wells will be conducted under the removal program.
The water from the HCS is being discharged--untreated--to the city's municipal wastewater treatment system. The EPA is being charged approximately $5,000 per month. Efforts were made to develop an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to allow treated water to be discharged to the Missouri River. Those efforts hit an impasse due to the high iron content.
Samples have been collected on an irregular basis from the city's well field. Samples from the past several years have indicated very limited CVOC concentrations--the most recent (in December 2013) had no CVOCs above the method detection limit.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Because of the settlement, no further PRP activities are planned.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics
The removal of chlorinated solvents represented below is based on biannual combined effluent samples from the HCS and generalized pumping rates and operation of the HCS since September 2011. The concentrations of all chlorinated solvents were combined (the highest concentrations were from 1,2-dichloroethane, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, and trichloroethene, respectively).
| Waste Stream |
Medium |
Quantity |
Manifest # |
Treatment |
Disposal |
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22gpd |
None |
None |
168 lbs |
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
The HCS will most likely require long-term operation. Some of the monitoring wells being abandoned will need to be replaced. The expansion of the facility warehouse and Zenith Drive may be done in 2014 however, the nearby Interstate 29 is scheduled for an additional lane in the near future. It would be prudent to wait until all construction is complete before installing any wells. Both the long-term operation of the HCS and installing monitoring wells will be done under the remedial program.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
Operation of the HCS will be done under the removal program through much of 2014. Abandonment of the monitoring wells will be completed under the removal program in the spring of 2014.
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
See above.
2.2.2 Issues
Both remedial and removal program representatives have been in contact with the current owners on expansion issues and with the city on improvements to Zenith Drive.
If the HCS will be operational for years, the NPDES issue may need to be revisited.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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Logistics are being completed by the remedial and removal project managers.
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
The Site Safety Officer position is only staffed when site activities are ongoing. No site safety issues have been identified.
2.5.2 Liaison Officer
The Liaison Officer position is unfilled.
2.5.3 Information Officer
A Community Involvement Corridinator (CIC) has been established for this site.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
A Unififed Command has not been established for this site.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
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4. Personnel On Site
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Personnel on site varies greatly. The site has a functioning warehouse that operates 24/7. No precautionary measures due to on-site contamination is required by the employees.
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5. Definition of Terms
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CIC Community Involvement Coordinator
CVOC Chlorinated volatile organic compounds
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
GM General Motors
gpd Gallons per day
HCS Hydraulic Capture System
IDNR Iowa Department of Natural Resources
lbs Pounds
MCL EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Ellimination System
ORD EPA's Office of Research and Development
PRP Potentially Responsible Party
START Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team
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6. Additional sources of information
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6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
6.2 Reporting Schedule
A SitRep will be developed as significant activities occur.
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No information available at this time.
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