REGION VII
ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
REPORT
— 1983 —
-------
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
DATE: May 19, 1983
SUBJECT Region VII Environmental Management Report (EMR)
FROM: John L. Arendale, Assis
for Policy and Management
T0' Sherron H-iemstra _
Chief, Environmental Results Branch (PM-222A)
Enclosed is Region VII's final EMR. If you have any questions, contact
Gene Ramsey (758-2921).
Enclosure
EPA Form 1320-4 (R«». 3-76)
-------
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
-1983-
PART I
Introduction
Page
I. REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE 5
A. Socio-Economic Base 5
B. Environmental Characteristics and Landmarks .... 5
C. Impacts on Air Quality 8
D. Surface Water Quality 17
E. Assessment of Drinking Water 25
F. Assessment of Ground Water 26
G. Impacts on Land 34
II. INDEX OF REGIONAL PROBLEMS 37
PART II
I. EMERGING PROBLEMS 43
A. Missouri Dioxin Sites including Times Beach, Mo. 43
B. S02 Transport 51
C. Inhalable Participates 54
D. Toxic Air Pollutants 55
E. Indoor Air Contaminants 56
F. Asbestos 57
G. Farmers Chemical Co., Joplin, Mo. 62
II. INTERMEDIA PROBLEMS 64
A. Tri State Mining Area - Cherokee County, Kansas 64
(Tar Creek)
B. Contamination of Cedar River and Alluvial Aquifers 68
III. AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS 72
A. St. Louis, Mo. - TSP, CO, 03 72
B. Missouri Lead Mining Area 90
C. Des Moines, la.- TSP 94
D. Wichita, Ks. - CO 96
E. Omaha, Nebr. - CO, Lead 98
IV. WATER QUALITY 104
A. Shellrock River, North la. - NH3 104
B. Iowa River below MarshalItown, la. - NH3 106
C. Kansas Water Bodies 108
D. Lower Meramec River near St. Louis, Mo. - D.O.
and Toxics Ill
E. Little Sac & Dry Sac - Spgfld., Mo. - D.O. & NH3 113
-------
Table of Contents (Con't)
Page
IV. WATER QUALITY (Continued)
F. Perche-Hinkson Creeks, Columbia, MO - D.0 114
G. Turkey Creek at Joplin, MO - D.0 115
H. ELkhorn River at Waterloo, NE - Zn & Cu 117
I. Elkhorn River at West Point, NE - NH3 118
J. Big Blue River at Beatrice, NE - Zn & Cu 119
K. Long Pine Creek, Ainsworth, NE - S.S... 120
L. Reglonwide Bacterial Contamination 121
V. HAZARDOUS WASTES 123
A. Aidex Site, Council Bluffs, la 123
B. Arkansas City Dump, Kansas 123
C. Doepke Disp. Site, Johnson Co., KS 124
D. John's Sludge Pond, Wichita, KS 125
E. N.I.E.S., Inc. Furley, KS 125
F. Ellisvllle, MO Site 126
G. Minker/Stout Site, Imperial, MO 127
H. Arena 1, Shenandoah Stables, Moscow Mills, MO .. 128
I. Fulbright Landfill, Spgfld, MO 128
J. Syntax Agribusiness, Verona, MO 129
K. Neosho Digester-Wastewater School, Neosho, MO .. 130
L. Amoco Oil Refinery, Sugar Creek, MO 131
M. Conservation Chem. Co., K.C., MO 132
N. Phillips Chem. Co., NE 132
VI. PESTICIDES 134
Pesticide Drift & Residue in Bootheel of Missouri .. 134
ATTACHMENT "A"
I. AIR MEDIA 143
II. WATER MEDIA 149
III. LAND MEDIA 158
A. Hazardous Waste 158
B. Pesticides 165
-------
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
INTRODUCTION
This Environmental Management Report (EMR) was developed to assess the
environmental quality of Region VII and discuss the most significant
problems facing us at present or which are expected to emerge in the near
future. In light of limited resources, we have directed our attention to
geographic-specific, documentable problems. Conversely, we have avoided
the application of generic, program-wide problem descriptions. However,
to give the reader a better idea of the many Region VII programs, we have
also included brief discussions of important, but not as relatively urgent
problems curently being addressed by the Region.
with these objectives in mind, the EMR contains three major parts: Part I:
Regional Perspective; Part II: Highest Priority Environmental Problems;
and Attachment A: Listing of Lower Priority Problems by Media. Part I discusses
the regional environment and how that environment has resulted in the various
types of pollution sources we must address. Part II discusses the highest
priority regional problems while Attachment A identifies lower priority problems.
The major goal of the EMR is to assess the regional environmental problems
to determine the possible, high priority problems and assure that actions
are realized by State, Regional and Headquarters planning efforts. The
high priority problems discussed in Part II contain requests for assistance
from Headquarters and other recommendations for resolving these problems.
It is EPA Region VII's objective to incorporate the findings of this EMR
in its decisionmaking processes and planning during this and future years.
-------
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
-1983-
PART I
Introduction
Page
I. REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE 5
A. Socio-Economic Base 5
B. Environmental Characteristics and Landmarks .... 5
C. Impacts on Air Quality 8
D. Surface Water Quality 18
E. Assessment of Drinking Water 26
F. Assessment of Ground Water 28
G. Impacts on Land 36
II. INDEX OF REGIONAL PROBLEMS 40
PART II
I . EMERGING PROBLEMS 44
A. Missouri Dioxin Sites including Times Beach, Mo. 46
B. SC>2 Transport 53
C. Inhalable Particulates 56
D. Toxic Air Pollutants 57
E. Indoor Ai r Contaminants 58
F. Asbestos 59
G. Farmers Chemical Co., Joplin, Mo 64
11 . INTERMEDIA PROBLEMS 67
A. Tar Creek, Kansas and Oklahoma 67
B. Contamination of Cedar River and Alluvial Aquifers 71
III . AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS 75
A. St. Louis, Mo. - TSP, CO, 03 75
B. Missouri Lead Mining Area 94
C. Des Moines, la.- TSP 98
D. Wichita, Ks. - CO 100
E. Omaha, Nebr. - CO, Lead 102
IV. WATER QUALITY 107
A. Shellrock River, North la. - NH3 107
B. Iowa River below Marshalltown, la. - NH3 110
C. Kansas Water Bodies 112
D. Lower Meramec River near St. Louis, Mo. - D.O.
and Toxics 115
E. Little Sac & Dry Sac - Spgfld., Mo. - D.O. & NH3 117
-------
Table of Contents (Con't)
Page
IV. WATER QUALITY (Continued)
F. Perche-Hinkson Creeks, Columbia, MO - D.0 118
G. Turkey Creek at Joplin, MO - D.0 119
H. Elkhorn River at Waterloo, NE - Zn & Cu 121
I. Elkhorn River at West Point, NE - NH3 122
J. Big Blue River at Beatrice, NE - Zn & Cu 123
K. Long Pine Creek, Ainsworth, NE - S.S 124
L. Regionwide Bacterial Contamination 125
V. HAZARDOUS WASTES 127
A. Aidex Site, Council Bluffs, la . 127
B. Arkansas City Dump, Kansas 127
C. Doepke Disp. Site, Johnson Co., KS 128
D. John's Sludge Pond, Wichita, KS 129
E. N.I.E.S., Inc. Furley, KS 129
F. Ellisville, MO Site 130
G. Minker/Stout Site, Imperial, MO 131
H. Arena 1, Shenandoah Stables, Moscow Mills, MO .. 132
I. Fulbright Landfill, Spgfld, MO 132
J. Syntex Agribusiness, Verona, MO 133
K. Neosho Digester-Wastewater School, Neosho, MO .. 134
L. Amoco Oil Refinery, Sugar Creek, MO 135
M. Conservation Chem. Co., K.C., MO 136
N. Phillips Chem. Co., NE 136
VI. PESTICIDES 138
Pesticide Drift & Residue in Bootheel of Missouri .. 138
ATTACHMENT "A"
I. AIR MEDIA 147
II. WATER MEDIA 154
III . LAND MEDIA 162
A. Hazardous Waste 162
B. Pesticides 169
-------
1983
REGION VII
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
PART I
I. REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
-------
PART I. REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE
A. Socio-Economic Base
Region Vll's states, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, are
primarily rural in character and are part of the nation's "bread
basket." However, many parts of the four states are urban and
industralized. Two-thirds of the almost 12 million people in the
four states live on less than five per cent of the land area.
Urban centers, such as St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, Des Moines and
Wichita, offer jobs in industry.and commerce, particularly in the
agri-business sector. The St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan
areas have much heavy industry, including automobile assembly
plants, steel, chemical, and metal working plants, and computer
based, high-tech industries. These areas experience environmental
problems which commonly result from high concentrations of people
and', industry. However, environmental problems are not limited to
the large metropolitan areas. Hundreds of communities with a
population of less than 5,000 have many of the same problems, but
lack the resources to deal with them.
The four Region VII states are among the leading corn, wheat, and
soybean producing states of the nation. They also produce a
sizable share of the nation's fat cattle, finished hogs and grain
sorghum, major.portions of which are exported to foreign markets.
Cattle from the many feed lots in the Region are sold to modern
meat packing plants which have sprung up in rural areas of the
Midwest. Sales from farms totaled over $26 billion in a recent
year for Region VII states. Agri-business is by far the most
influential.and important segment of the regional economy.
B. Environmental Characteristics and Landmarks
The western part of Region VII is part of the great plains. This
area is characterized by almost constant winds which may cause
air quality problems due to windblown dust. This may damage
agricultural crops and pose a threat to public health. Rainfall
in the western part of Region VII is about one third the amount
that falls in the eastern part. Formerly dry-land western wheat
farmers and ranchers have become irrigators, many using center pivot
irrigation systems which can cover up to about 600 acre plots.
They predominately pump water from the Ogallala aquifer
which is being depleted-rapidly in the Great Plains region.
Eastern Kansas and Nebraska, all of Iowa, and most of Missouri
support farms and ranches. There is considerable small and feed
grain production in these areas, with a consequent potential of
heavy erosion when it rains. Western Iowa, Northwest Missouri
and Eastern Kansas and Nebraska are areas of the highest farm
land erosion in the United States. The U. S. Department of
-------
Agriculture will place extra emphasis on these areas of Region
VII in order to forestall the heavy erosion which has grown worse
over the past several years.
The Missouri Ozarks dominate in Southern Missouri. These Ozarks
are signified by woodlands and hills which provide an excellent
area for cattle raising. Missouri is one of the foremost states
in beef cow-calf operations. The Ozarks are an area also known
for recreational and retirement communities. The Current River,
Jack's Fork, and Eleven Point River have high water quality and
have been designated as National Scenic Rivers. Due to Ozark
streams drawing so many visitors in the spring and summer,
there is constant danger of water quality degradation. The
pollution 'loading comes from many sources, including inadequately
treated sewage from some communities; oil and chemical spills;
animal wastes; fertilizers; salts; sediments; and pesticides from
farms.
Region VII is bisected by the Missouri River, one of the longest
rivers in the world which drains about 338 million acres in ten
states. The region also is bordered on the East by the Mississippi
River. These are important sources of water for the urban
population. Nevertheless, many people in Region VII obtain their
drinking water from groundwater supplies. Groundwater sources
are in a more precarious position today than ever in history.
Waste materials are constantly being disposed in unauthorized
places, threatening the quality of surface and ground water
supplies near them. Farmers are presently applying more fertilizer
and pesticides than ever before. This affects both the stream
quality from run-off and the underground water supplies from
leaching into the ground. Hence drinking water is more susceptible
to pollution today than it ever has been.
Hazardous waste disposal is becoming more of a problem for
industries and most communities. People are concerned about the
location of hazardous waste sites and disposal techniques. They
are constantly vigilant against having such sites and facilities
placed near them. This poses a real current and future problem
for disposing of hazardous wastes. An example of organic
contamination is the much publicized dioxin contamination in
Times Beach and other Missouri sites. Burying the contaminated
dirt would be very expensive, while relocating it could be
dangerous to future generations unless it were stored in a properly
constructed disposal site.
Missouri has been a major producer of lead for over a hundred
years, and it is currently producing over 90% of the metal in the
United States. East Central Missouri has a rich lead belt in the
Mark Twain National Forest which is the source of Missouri's
riches. The many mines in that area support three smelters
where the lead is refined. There is considerable potential for
inorganic pollution of air and water as a result of lead smelters.
-------
Mine tailings produce acidic leachate which can reach the surface
and groundwater. The air is high in lead-contaminated particu-
lates around the smelters. Each mine refines the ore from about
6% lead through an air bubbling and coke burning process, purifying
the lead to about 65% pure before sending it to the smelters
which make 99.9% pure ingots.
-------
C. Impacts on Air Quality
The objective of the EPA's air pollution control program is to meet the
requirements of the Federal Clean Air Act by achieving and maintaining
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Those standards were
established after careful review of scientific evidence on the results
of specific pollutants on public health and welfare. For a detailed
discussion of the areas encountering the most severe problems associated
with meeting these standards, refer to Part II of this report.
The Region's primary concern is the effect of the air quality on public
health. Commonly known health effects of air pollution include respiratory
aggravation and cardiovascular stress. The fatality rate is also generally
higher in areas plagued by air pollution. The primary standards were designed
to protect against such human health concerns. Moreover, air pollution
threatens crops, forests, fish, lake ecosystems, and property values. The
secondary standards were designed to protect such public welfare considera-
tions.
The many sources of air pollution range from natural sources, such as
dust, to the daily emission of thousands of tons of pollutants from
industrial smokestacks and automobile exhausts.
State Implementation Plans
The EPA required that all states have an approved State Implementation
Plan (SIP) by 1972. The plans were to detail the state's program for
achieving and maintaining the NAAQS and the regulatory mechanisms for
accomplishing that goal. When monitoring shows that a particular pollu-
tant exceeds the standards, an inadequacy in the original SIP is indicated.
The area where this occurs is declared a nonattainment area.
Revisions to the SIP must be submitted to EPA for the nonattainment area
and pollutant standard being violated. The revised SIP must indicate
additional controls for existing and new sources and the supporting
regulatory mechanisms. As part of the control program, all existing
point sources must apply Reasonably Available Control Technology. All
new point sources must apply the more stringent Lowest Achievable
Emission Rate control.
The improvements in the air quality of many areas in Region VII are at
least in part attributable to these SIP controls and provisions. Table 1
compares the status of nonattainment areas in 1978 and early 1983.
The table clearly points out improvements throughout the Region. Non-
attainment areas which have shrunk in geographic size since 1978 are
not included, however. In other words, if an entire area changed classifi-
cations since 1978, e.g., from primary to secondary nonattainment, or
from nonattainment to attainment, it is shown on the table. If only part
of a non-attainment area changed classification, it is generally not shown.
Therefore, the table somewhat understates improvements in Region VII's air
quality.
-------
COMPARISON OF CURRENT NONATTAINMENT AREAS WITH THOSE ESTABLISHED ON
MARCH 3, 1978
Area
Iowa
Fort Dodge
Sioux City
Council Bluffs
Keokuk
Dubuque
Polk County
Pottawattomie County
Scott County
Linn County
Kansas
Topeka
Sedgwick County
Kansas City
Missouri
St. Louis Chambers Area
St. Ann
*Herculaneum
•Kirksville
Me xi co
March 3, 1978
Nonattainment
Primary TSP
Primary TSP
Primary TSP
Primary TSP
Primary SO2
Ozone
Ozone
Ozone
Ozone
Primary TSP
Ozone
CO
Secondary TSP
Secondary TSP
Secondary TSP
Primary TSP
Primary TSP
Change
Redesignated to Secondary Nonattainment
Redesignated to Secondary Nonattainment
Redesignated to Secondary Nonattainment
Redesignated to Unclassified
Redesignated to Attainment
Changed to Attainment Due to Change
in Standard
Changed to Attainment due to Change
in Standard
Changed to Attainment due to Change
in Standard
Changed to Attainment After Meeting
New Standard
Changed to Secondary Nonattainment
Changed to Attainment
Changed to Unclassified
Redesignated to Attainment
Redesignated to Attainment
Redesignated to Attainment
Redesignated to Attainment
Redesignated to Unclassified
-------
Area
Columbia
New Madrid
St. Louis
Bixby
Nebraska
Douglas County
Douglas County
Sarpy County
Cas s Coun ty
March 3, 1978
Nonatttainment Change
Secondary TSP Redesignated to Attainment
Primary TSP
Primary S02
Primary SO2
Ozone
Primary TSP
Primary TSP
Primary TSP
Redesignated to Secondary TSP
Redesignated to Attainment
Redesignated to Attainment
Redesignated to Attainment
Two sites in Omaha primary nonattainment ,
but remainder of Omaha redesignated
secondary nonattainment and remainder of
county redeignated to attainment.
Bellevue redesignated to secondary non-
attainment and remainder of county
redesignated to attainment.
Louisville and Weeping Water remain primary
nonattainment but remainder of county
redesignated to unclassified.
*Redesignated on the basis of the fugitive dust policy, not better air
quality.
NOTE: There have been additional changes to the size or shape of some
designated nonattainment areas which did not affect the control
strategy in the SIP and thus, have not been included in this
list.
10
-------
In the interim period before the SIP revision is approved by EPA, no new
point sources can be built unless emissions from other sources are
correspondingly reduced. After the SIP is approved, every new point
source must be evaluated to demonstrate that its proposed emissions will
not cause a violation of the applicable air quality standard.
Standards have been written for six criteria pollutants: Total suspended
particulates (TSP), ozone (03), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (S02),
lead (Pb), and nitrogen oxides (NC^). Primary standards are written to
protect public health, and secondary standards are written to protect
public welfare.
The State determines compliance with NAAQS (by monitoring air quality)
and acts as the primary enforcement agent.
In addition to the six criteria pollutants for which ambient standards
have been established, EPA also has listed a special group of hazardous
air pollutants for emissions limitations under the National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutant (NESHAP) program. These are asbestos,
vinyl chloride, mercury, benzene, beryllium, and radioactive particles.
Some of these have been shown to cause cancer in humans. There are 37
Region VII sources subject to NESHAP regulations. All of these sources
are currently in compliance.
11
-------
Mr Quality Trends
Air quality varies greatly over time and over space. Extensive-air
quality data have been gathered in some locations for the criteria pollutants
(pollutants for which NAAQS have been established).
Over the years, monitors have been established by state and local agencies
where various monitoring needs were perceived. Those needs include, but
are not limited to: measuring naturally occurring (background) pollutant
concentrations; determining peak concentrations for an urban area; measuring
typical concentrations in areas of high population density; and determining
the impact of point sources of pollution on ambient air quality.
As the monitoring needs have changed, and as specific monitor siting
criteria have been formalized in the Federal regulations, monitors have
been added to or deleted from the networks. Because localized changes
may have significant effects on the air quality monitored at a given
site, diverse trends in air quality may be observed at different monitoring
sites. As a result, any Region-wide generalization of air quality trends
runs the risk of bias, or of slighting significant site-specific trends.
Various methods can be used to compute and present trends. While other
methods maybe equally valid, we have chosen two methods for trend presenta-
tion which summarize the specific conditions in Region VII and seek to
minimize bias and distortion. Both are based on comparisons of monitoring
data with the NAAQS.
The first of these trend presentations focuses on exceedances of the
NAAQS for long-term average concentrations, and is illustrated in Figures
1(a) through 1(c). Figure 1(a) shows the annual geometric mean concentra-
tion for TSP observed at the various monitoring sites in Des Moines.
(Des Moines was chosen to illustrate the calculation process because it
has enough sites to demonstrate the complexity of the evaluation, yet
few enough sites to be understandable.) The variation over time and
the variation among sites is evident in the figure. For example, data
from monitor #3 show recent concentrations which meet ,the NAAQS, with
neither increasing nor decreasing trends apparent. By contrast, data
from monitor #7 show recent concentrations which greatly exceed the
NAAQS, and an apparent increasing trend. (The area around that monitor
will be discussed later in this report as one of the problem areas in the
Region.)
Since a graph similar to Figure 1(a), including all monitors in the
Region, would be illegibly complex, a summary is prepared by counting,
in each year, both the number of sites exceeding the primary standard,
and the total number of sites. That summary is shown in Figure 1(b) for
monitors in Des Moines. The derivation of Figure 1(a) can be readily
followed. For example, in 1980 there were five TSP monitors, of which
three observed annual geometric mean concentrations exceeding the primary
standard. Figure 1(c) presents the summary for the entire Region, again
showing the total number of sites and the number of sites whose annual
12
-------
Flflur, 1
TSP Data - Annual Geometric Mean
Flgur* 2
TSP Data — Short Term Observations
(a) Des Moines — Individual Sites
(a) Des Moines — Individual Sites
cr '*°~
t~
|-
• 100-
5
c 10-
O i
• 3
0 «0t
E 40-
j
•5 10-
3
1 0
11
6-
5-
V)
.£ 4-
° 31
XI
3 2-
1-
1!
300-
280-
260-
240-
£ 200 J
£> ISO-
'S 160-
fe 140-
| 120-
3 100-
2 »°:
60-
40-
20-
f ^ -'"' XX»
X Legend
* * A SITE 1
/ ^~^~^~~-^ /^\ x SITE 2
/ ,-\ ^--'^s — ^^ X>^ ^ \i D SITE 3
/ B-'5*^--''' >s^'-^*' ^^^^fi B SITE 4
I ^B "*
asm s
* SITE 6
• SJTE_7_
* SITE J
172 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
YEAR .
(b) Des Moines — Summary
N /~ " \ ^\ /^
/ \ / X\ / \ / \
/ Xv7 \/ V \
/ Legend
/ A TOTAL SITES
/ X SITES OVER PRI. STD.
172 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
YEAR
(c) Region 7 — Summary
S~-^\^_^
Legend
A TOTAL SITES
/\ x SITES OVER PRI. STD.
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
Obenervatlons Over Sec. Std. by Site
t v o 5 o 8 !S S
1
50-
45-
40-
35-
30-
20-
e-
10-
1
«
1100-
1000-
900-
800-
700-
600-
500-
400-
300-
WO-!
s>
r--^.S' \
/ \ Legend
/ ^ x SITE 2
''•B ;' Q SITE 3
•^ y B SITE 4
' ^^~— ^ 4 A H SITE 5
^\ / \ ** SITE 6
R\ ^' "" X\^ \ »sntZ _
^-^-X"'^>« ... «^IX^ ®SITEB._
m 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
YEAR
(b) Des Moines — Summary
/\ ,/\
Legend
A TOTAL srrrs
X OBS. OVER PHI. STD.
/ \ /~^\^ D OBS. OVER StC.STP.
^ ""^/ -X
(72 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
YEAR
(c) Region 7 — Summary
/\ Legend
/ \ A TOTAL SITES
/ "X/ \ x OBS. OVER PRI.STD.
.-'' \ D OBS. OVER SEC.STD.
' X ~
"'^' \
_ \
— s~- ^. ,— rt
- — x
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
YEAR
YEAR
-------
geometric means exceed the primary standard. While different conditions
in different years produce some spikes in the graph, a general improvement
in TSP conditions is noted in the Region since the mid-1970's. -
Similar graphs could be presented for annual average concentrations of SO2
and N02- However, since no monitors in Region VII measured exceedances
of the annual standards for those pollutants, the graphs were not prepared.
A similar graph would be applicable to quarterly average concentrations
of lead. Lack of sufficient data precludes that presentation.
The second type of trend presentation focuses on exceedances of the
NAAQS for short-term average concentrations, and is illustrated in
Figures 2(a) through 2(c). Figure 2(a) shows the times the 24-hour
secondary standard for TSP was exceeded (the number of exceedances) in
each year at each monitoring site in Des Moines. (Note: The short-term
NAAQS permits one exceedance per year at each site. Violation of the
standard begins with the second exceedance.) The temporal and spatial
variations in air quality are again evident in that figure. Site 7 shows
numerous exceedances, and an apparent increasing trend in the number of
exceedances. Other sites generally show decreasing numbers of exceedances
since the mid-1970's.
Figure 2(b) summarizes the data from Figure 2(a), presenting
the total number of exceedances of the 24-hour secondary standard observed
in Des Moines each year. The total number of monitoring sites is also
shown, as is the number of exceedances of the 24-hour primary standard each
year. As before, the data presented in Figure 2(b) can be readily verified from
Figure 2(a). For example, 1981 shows a total of 24 exceedances of the secondary
standard (21, two and one, respectively, at three different sites, and no
exceedances at two other sites). Figure 2(c) summarizes the data for the
entire Region, presenting for each year the number of exceedances of the
primary standard, the number of exceedances of the secondary standard and
the number of monitoring sites. Since the number of exceedances of the
standards has decreased substantially since the mid-1970's, general
improvement in TSP conditions is again indicated by Figure 2(c).
Similar summary graphs are presented for short-term average concentrations
of CO (Figure 3), 03(Figure 4) and S02 (Figure 5). While these graphs
again illustrate year-to-year variations in meteorological conditions,
they show general improvement in air quality in recent years.
The overall improvements in air quality noted above do not, however,
constitute an absence of air quality problems in the Region, nor do they
preclude increasing trends in pollutant concentrations at specific
monitoring sites. Specific problem areas are discussed in later sections
of this report.
In summary, although the above analysis concluded that air quality has
improved in Region VII, based on data from numerous monitoring sites, it
would also be possible to conclude that air quality has deteriorated,
14
-------
FlQur.3
CO Data - Short Term Observations
Region 7 — Summary
4CO-
350-
300-
250-
200-
150-
K>0-
50-
OJ
A Legend
/ \ A TOTAL SITES
.' \ /"^ X OBS. OVER Bhr
' V >^ DOBS. OVER Ihr
/ \
/ \
\_
X
X
^"*
PKI.STD.
PRI.STp.
1972 1973 ig?4 W75 1076 1977 1978 1979 1960 1981
YEAR
figure 4
03 Data — Short Term Observations
Region 7 - Summary
1601
MO
120-
100-
80-
60-
40-
20
0
Legend
TOTAL SITES
x OBS. OVER 1hr PRI.STD.
\
I
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 197B 1979 1980 1981
YEAR
ngur.5
S02 Data - Short Term Observations
Region 7 — Summary
WOn
Legend
TOTAL SfTES
X OBS. OVER 24hr PRI.STD.
D OBS. OVER Jhr SEC.STD.
1 1 1 1 T r
1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
YEAR
-------
based on data from selected problem areas. In evaluating the results of
any trend analysis, it is important to identify which data were used in
the analysis.
Air Toxics
Region VII continues to have a need to determine whether or not significant
concentrations of toxic pollutants are present in the ambient air near a
known or potential source. In recent years these requests have involved
metals (Be, Cd, As, Ni, and others) in dust from solid waste materials
found abandoned in an urban area, 2-Chloroethylether and other volatile
organics from an industrial complex, phenols from materials released
during a railroad accident, hydrocarbons from a fuel truck accident,
unknown organics from hazardous waste sites, unknown odorous materials
from specific industrial stacks, and hexavalent chromium in dust released
during air pollution control equipment malfunctions.
The region has also been requested to perform the analyses of air samples
for dioxin which is discussed in more detail in Part II of this report.
Common to each of these activities is the fact that the region is expected
to respond in a timely manner (days), that the region must select and
defend use of sampling and analytical methods which are not approved by
the agency, and that the region must determine and defend whether or not
the ambient air concentrations are significant.
16
-------
D. Surface Water Quality
Following are discussions, by State, of the quality of surface waters in
Region VII.
IOWA
Statewide, the water quality of 74 streams, 107 lakes and four major
major reservoirs were evaluated. Thirty-seven of the rivers were found
to have water quality problems at one or more locations. Forty-nine
problem areas were identified. The probable cause of the problem was
identified at 25 locations. Point source discharges are thought to be
responsible for 22. Fifteen of these point sources have received Construc-
tion Grants funds to improve their wastewater treatment facilities.
Three other point sources are undergoing remedial action of some kind.
Forty-two streams and all four reservoirs were identified to have no
water quality problems and/or are showing improvements at one or more
locations.
Of the 10,651 observations made at stream and reservoir locations, only
2.4% or 255 values, violated applicable Iowa Water Quality Standards
established to protect the stream's beneficial use. Trends analysis was
performed at 41 locations. At 16 locations concentrations of both Bio-
chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and ammonia remained stable for five or
more years. Trends in increasing ammonia concentrations were observed
at three locations, decreasing trends were found at eight locations.
Increasing trends in BOD concentrations were found at two locations,
decreasing BOD was observed at 15. On 12 of 14 streams where biological
data were collected, the results showed healthy diversities of aquatic
life present.
Evaluations of discharge monitoring data showed that 68 wastewater
treatment facilities were consistently in violation of their permit
limitations and thus posed a substantial threat to water quality.
Twenty-four fishkills were investigated and 38 spills or accidents threatened
surface waters.
KANSAS
Long term average of water quality data from major rivers in Kansas yields
the following general characterization: turbid streams, moderate mining,
high nutrient levels, and high bacterial levels. Water quality trends
since 1967 on nine major Kansas rivers indicate that 68 key parametric
averages have shown water quality improvement or no significant change,
and 22 key parametric averages have shown water quality deterioration.
Water quality in Kansas streams in the last two decades has been primarily
influenced by non-point sources, point source contribution having had
their greatest impact during the period of the 1930's through the 1950's.
17
-------
At present, instream quality is determined almost entirely by fiow regime.
During low flow periods, the most significant quality influence is the entrance
of mineral inflow from natural sources. During high flow periods, most
Kansas surface waters display their poorest quality, with significant increases
in BOD, nutrients, bacterial numbers, and turbidity from non-point source
contributions.
Monitoring programs for toxic substances in Kansas have accelerated in
recent years due to increased concern over these substances in our waters.
Iron, zinc, copper and lead are found to varying degrees in small tributaries
of southeastern Kansas streams which drain the coal and ore mining areas.
No significant concentrations occur in mainstem streams. Nc significant
concentratons of pesticides have been found in Kansas streams at standard
detection levels during normal surveillance, nor during special studies
of irrigation return flow. New criteria for monitoring pesticides at
much lower standard detection levels were adopted late in 1977. The
surveillance program is being expanded and more sophisticated laboratory
equipment is now available to better monitor these proposed, lower pesticide
standards.
Biological quality in Kansas is monitored through two programs: the
stream biological network with 47 sampling stations; and the lake network
at 65 major lakes. Accounts of the organisms collected at biological
sampling network stations and river basin survey stations over the five
years of program operation, indicate that virtually all streams and rivers
in Kansas support adequate populations of stream-dwelling organisms.
Limiting factors in streams are usually unsuitable substrate or velocity
patterns. It is generally found that where a diversity of substrate is
present the river supports a well-balanced macroinvertebrate-community
containing organisms typically associated with clean water.
Water quality problems associated with advanced eutrophication are not
common in Kansas lakes. Excessive growths of aquatic macrophytes are
restricted to a few small lakes; algae bloom and oxygen depletion, when
they occur, are but ephemeral conditions lasting only several days in
most cases. The major water quality characteristic of Kansas lakes
appears to be generally high levels of inorganic turbidity due to periodic
high suspended silt loads.
It appears that the general shallowness of the lakes coupled with the
frequent, moderate velocity winds and high turbidity of feeding streams
will continue to make high levels of suspended solids the major limiting
factor in productivity of Kansas lakes in the future.
18
-------
MISSOURI
The quality of Missouri streams and lakes is monitored at many locations
by various government agencies and certain other organizations. The most
comprehensive monitoring is done by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS),
which maintains 13 stations across the state that are sampled every two
months, and by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which
cooperates with USGS in monitoring 15 stations across the State on a
monthly basis.
Low infiltration rates and correspondingly high surface runoff volumes
cause water quality problems in the Des. Moines - Salt River basin. Surface
runoff is responsible for soil erosion, which, in turn, causes high fecal
coliform counts as well as high levels of nutrients, pesticides, and
sediment in streams. Low dissolved oxygen concentrations are also a
problem associated with surface runoff and high flows. Between rains,
flows can become very low. When low flows occur, streams are less able to
dilute discharges of pollutants and low dissolved oxygen levels are a
common problem.
High levels of iron and manganese occur throughout the basin. Soil
erosion during high stream flows and baseflow (subsurface f]ow) discharges .
to streams during low flows are two major sources of iron and manganese.
Levels of pesticides in fish flesh are high in the Salt River Basin.
Sampling in 1980 showed an average concentration of chlordane of 0.3999
mg/kg in flesh taken from fish in the Salt River (Littell, 1980). The
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard for both pesticides is 0.3 mg/
kg.
Most of the St. Louis - Cape Girardeau basin, is characterized by much forested
land, good infiltration of precipitation, minimal surface runoff, and
well-sustained baseflows. No significant basinwide problems exist.
The Lower Missouri Basin has contrasting topographical features and con-
sists of streams quite different in character. Streams in the northern
and western part of the basin have chronic problems with low dissolved
oxygen, excessive surface runoff, and erosion. They almost always are
turbid and have mud or sand bottoms. In the eastern part of the basin,
streams are shorter, generally of steeper gradient, and surrounding
lands have less row crop agriculture than the western part. Thevstreams
are turbid less frequently and generally have coarser stream bottom
materials, therefore providing better aquatic habitat.
19
-------
Low infiltration and high surface runoff rates cause common water quality
problems in the Grand-Chariton River Basin. During high flows,- high
fecal coliform counts, high levels of nutrients, pesticides, and suspended
sediment, and low dissolved oxygen concentrations are typical. Low flows,
which occur frequently between rains, lessen the streams' abilities to
dilute discharges of pollutants. Low dissolved oxygen levels are also a
common problem at low flows. Lack of shade and low flows in summer often
cause water temperatures in channelized stream segments in the basin to
exceed the 90° F standard.
The western part of the Osage-Gasconade Basin drains the Osage Plains of
western Missouri. Common water quality problems of streams draining
this area during high flows are high fecal coliform counts as well as
high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, and suspended sediment.
Low dissolved oxygen levels are a common problem at low flow. The eastern
part of the basin is within the Ozark Plateau. Because local relief is
greater, almost all of the land is under permanent vegetative cover
(forest or pasture). Therefore, no extensive water quality problems
exist in this part of the basin.
To the southwest within the Grand-Neosho Basin, the North Fork Spring
River which drains the southern edge of the Osage Plains, has problems
with high fecal coliform counts, high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus,
pesticides, and suspended sediment, and low dissolved oxygen. Low base
flows cause low dissolved oxygen levels. The other streams in the
Grand-Neosho Basin, generally spring-fed, have higher base flows and no
basinwide water quality problems.
With the exception of the Black and Little Black River drainages lying
south of Poplar Bluff, the entire White River basin falls within the
Ozark Plateau. Regional water quality in the Ozarks is excellent. Those
sections of-the Black and Little Black Rivers lying in the Southeastern
Lowlands are high in turbidity, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticides.
They also frequently have low dissolved oxygen.
The St. Francis River above Lake Wappapello is an Ozark-type stream with
generally good water quality. The remainder of the St. Francis-Little
River Basin lies within the Southeastern Lowlands, an area of intensive
row-crop agriculture. Typical water quality problems of this area include
high turbidity, and high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticides.
Low dissolved oxygen levels can be a problem.
NEBRASKA
A statewide summary of water quality criteria violations and beneficial
use evaluations based on 1980 and 1981 water quality data collected from
the State ambient network is presented in Table 16. Although PH criteria
were violated on numerous occasions, the vast majority of the violations
20
-------
were between 8.5 and 9.0, and are not considered indicative of a water
quality problem. Multiple ammonia (non-ionized) criteria violations were
noted in two streams, Salt Creek (Lower Platte River Basin) and the Snake
River (Niobrara River Basin). There appears to be a potential for the
fisheries of these streams to be impacted. By far the most frequent
violations of water quality criteria involved fecal coliform levels.
Fecal coliform violations were noted in all 13 river basins, and most
streams within these basins. The most probable sources of bacteria (fecal
coliform) are runoff from pastures, rangeland, and confined animal lots,
and .from sewage treatment plants where disinfection may not be required.
According to EPA guidelines, the present bacteria levels make many streams
unsuitable for full and partial body contact recreation.
There are additional benefits which could be added to most stream segments
throughout Nebraska. In most basins the benefits of water supply,
industrial use, and full and partial body contact recreation could be
assigned. The streams of the State appear to possess water quality
capable of supporting both water supply and industrial uses, provided
proper treatment is exercised. Only a few streams not assigned partial
or full body contact uses appeared of suitable quality, as defined by EPA
fecal coliform guidelines, to safely support either of these uses. The
quality of water occurring in the South Platte River and the South Loup
River may be able to safely support a partial body contact recreational
use, while the lower Niobrara River and the upper White River may be able
to safely support full body contact recreation.
Fecal coliform criteria are associated with the recreational use of water
to safeguard the health of potential users. Fecal coliforms are enteric
bacteria that are found in the feces of humans, livestock, and wildlife.
Fecal coliform in themselves are not considered harmful to humans, but
are used as an indicator of the possible presence of human waste. If
human wastes are present, there is a probability that human pathogenic
organisms are also present. Fecal coliform organisms are therefore used
as an indicator of the possible presence of human pathogenic organisms.
If fecal coliform criteria are met, the possibility of a person contracting
a water-borne disease during recreational pursuits is minimal.
Fecal coliform criteria have been questioned regarding their reliability
for assessing the actual threat which water poses to human health. The
problem arises from the fact that fecal coliform bacteria present in
surface waters may be due to nonhuman sources (livestock and wildlife).
If the bacteria are due to nonhuman sources, the threat to human health
may be misrepresented, since the probability of human pathogenic organisms
being present is minimal. It appears in Nebraska that many of the fecal
coliform violations can be attributed to nonhuman sources. Thus, even
though fecal coliform criteria are being violated, many streams may be
suitable (safe) for recreational use. Since it appears that the major
source of fecal coliform contamination in many Nebraska streams is nonhuman,
the current fecal coliform criteria seem too conservative, and are
seemingly impossible to meet in all but the most pristine environments.
21
-------
Toxic pollutant concentrations were analyzed based upon EPA criteria for
the maximum allowable concentrations to protect the aquatic life use category
in surface streams which should not be exceeded at any time.
The toxicity of most heavy metals is dependent upon the hardness of the
water. Most Nebraska streams have an average hardness of 200 mg/1 or
greater; therefore, the toxic pollutant criteria of most basins were
based on a hardness of 200 mg/1. Exceptions were the Elkhorn, Loup, and
Niobrara River basins.for which criteria were based on average hardness
values of 150, 100 and 100 mg/1, respectively.
Copper violations of national criteria for the protection of aquatic life
occurred in the Big Blue, Elkhorn, Little Blue, Lower Platte, and North
Platte Rivers. The highest copper concentration was measured in the
North Platte River near McGrew. Cadmium violations occurred in the
Elkhorn and Platte Rivers. The highest cadmium concentration was measured
in the Platte River near North Bend. Lead and zinc concentrations in
excess of EPA criteria occurred in the Elkhorn River near Waterloo.
Violation of national criteria for chromium occurred in the North Platte
River near McGrew. EPA criterion for dissolved iron was exceeded in the
Big Blue River at Beatrice. Heavy metal violations may be attributed to
industrial or municipal discharges withun the basins.
The pesticides 2,4,5-T, 2,4-D, dieldrin, lindane, parathion, diazinon,
and silvex were detected in various river basins throughout the State.
Parathion and lindane were the only pesticides with concentrations sampled
in excess of national criteria for the protection of aquatic life. These
violations occurred in the Lower Platte River Basin. In addition five
lindane samples from the Lower Platte River Basin were equal to the
criterion established for the protection of aquatic life. Lindane
concentrations in fish flesh from the Lower Platte River Basin were also
found to be at least four times higher than the lindane concentrations
present in fish flesh from any other basin in the State.
In the Big Blue River at Beatrice, DDT, ODD, and DDE were each present in
bottom sediments in concentrations 0.20 ugAg of mud. Bottom sediments
in the North Platte River at Lisco contained DDE concentrations of 0.10 ug/kg
of mud. The persistence, bioaccumulative properties, and carcinogenic
potential of DDT and its metabolites are important considerations to be
taken into account in determining the beneficial uses of water containing
measurable amounts of DDT. Concentrations of DDT were not detected in
any water samples; therefore,, the few instances of measurable amounts of
DDT in bottom sediments do not warrant any immediate concerns in Nebraska
surface waters.
There were either no data or insufficient data on heavy metals and pesticides
in the following river basins to accurately assess potential water quality
problems: Loup, Middle Platte, Missouri Tributaries, Nemaha, Republican,
South Platte, and the White/Hat Basins. The Niobrara River Basin also
had insufficient data to accurately assess potential pesticide problems.
22
-------
Forty-six fish kills occurred in 1981, attributed to killing from very
few to several thousand fish per episode. These fish kills can" be caused
by either natural or man-induced conditions.
Trophic state indices (TSI) were calculated for 21 publicly owned lakes
in Nebraska. All but two of these lakes, Mormon Island and Lake C.W.
McConaughy, were classified as eutrophic. Standing Bear Lake, Memphis
Lake, and Holmes Lake were identified as being highly eutrophic or
hypereutrophic. In general, medium sized reservoirs were more eutrophic
than sand pit lakes and large reservoirs.
Water Quality Programs
All four Region VII States issued permits under the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). All point source discharges are
required to obtain an NPDES permit that stipulates the amount and/or the
concentration of contaminants within wastewater which can be discharged.
Table 2 compares present compliance rates for Region VII to compliance
rates in 1979 for major municipal and nonmunicipal sources. These data
indicate that compliance rates have improved over the past three years.
Many of the municipal facilities.unable to meet NPDES permit limits suffer
from overloading, poor maintenance, inadequate equipment, or poor operation.
The Construction Grants program (predominantly administered by our States)
coordinates the planning, funding, and design of new sewage treatment
systems, as well as improvements to existing collection and treatment systems
The Region is currently working with the States to develop and implement
a pretreatment program for industrial discharges into publicly owned
treatment systems.
Other water quality programs ongoing in the Region are the Statewide
Water Quality Planning efforts.
23
-------
Table 2: Comparison of 1979 and 1982 Compliance Percentage
Rates for Major NPDES Discharges
Iowa
Municipal
Non-municipal
tt Majors
1979
64
45
1979
% Compliance
42
44
# Majors
1982
62
33
1982
% Compliance
62
78
Kansas
Municipal
Non-municipal
32
29
53
86
19
15
90
86
Missouri
Municipal
Non-municipal
69
71
58
58
70
51
65
74
Nebraska
Municipal
Non-municipal
42
32
90
91
43
26
97
88
24
-------
E.
Assessment of Drinking Water
Generally, water supply systems in Region VII exhibit a high degree of
compliance with monitoring/reporting requirements and with established
MCLs. Emphasis in Region VII is placed on compliance with bacteriological
monitoring requirements, and on tracking and follow-up of persistent
bacteriological MCL violators. Iowa has traditionally placed less emphasis
on monitoring and reporting, focusing on other priority issues instead.
This is exhibited in a higher percentage of monitoring non-compliance.
In returning primacy to the State in FY-82 it was emphasized that a
continuation of the improvement (of the past year or two) in the area of
monitoring compliance must be a high State priority.
Preventing and correcting bacteriological contamination of public water
systems is our highest priority. We are particularly concerned with
community systems and certain high use non-community systems, such as
schools and rest areas. Figure 6 shows the number of community Systems
in Region VII that were persistent bacteriological violators during FY-82
and the population exposed to the contamination. Tracking of bacteriological
violations to determine persistent violators is an important first step
toward reducing bacteriological contamination. After persistent violators
are identified, necessary follow-up actions must be taken to ensure the
bacteriological problems are eliminated. All states in Region VII agree
with this approach and have given persistent bacteriological violations
their top priority.
Figure 6 - FY82 Persistent Violators of Bacteriological MCLs
Community Systems
4000-
3000-
2000-
1000-
500-
3,792,000
(48 Systems)
(0 Systems)
692,000
(12 Systems)
82,000
(2 Systems)
I I
Kansas
Missouri
Iowa
Nebraska
Less Than One (1) Percent: The person-days of exposure reflected in the above
bar-graph represents, for each state,
-------
Assessment of Ground Water
Ground water sources play a major role in serving the drinking water
needs of Region VII. As shown in Table 5, 92 percent of the rural and
57 percent of the municipal population depend on ground water. Table 6
shows the number of systems receiving water from surface and ground
water sources.
Several areas in Region VII have geophysical features, such as the karst
areas of Iowa and Missouri, which may be easily contaminated by surface
runoff and improper waste disposal practices.
A "world class" find of uranium was recently discovered in the northwestern
part of Nebraska. Solution mining of this mineral is anticipated and
could have a potential for deterioration of water quality in the area.
Increased irrigation in western Kansas is resulting in declining water
tables in portions of1 western Kansas. These depletions will affect water
quality in this area.
1
Region VII currently does not have any aquifers of regional axtent with
known contaminaton that require immediate abatement. Most contamination
problems are limited in scope and usually traceable to uncontrolled sites
or point sources of discharge. When contamination is identified, surveys
are made to locate the specific source of contamination and address how
to alleviate the problem.
26
-------
Table 5 Region VII Ground Water Use
Total
Population
% of municipal
population
relying on
Ground water
% of rural
population
relying on
Ground Water
IOWA
82
100
KANSAS
MISSOURI NEBRASKA * REGION VII
2,825,000 2,249,000 4,677,000 1,484,00 11,235,000
62
93
31
74
86
100
57
92
Table 6 Number of Public Water Systems in Region VII
Community Systems
Non-Community Systems
Surface-Ground-Total
Kansas
Nebraska
Missouri
Iowa
329
18
317
77
638
701
927
1,128
967
719
1,244
1,205
Surface-Ground-Total
37
0
41
17
304
757
1,679
1,823
341
757
1,720
1,840
27
-------
Major Aquifers
The major significant aquifers utilized in Region VII, are shown in
Figure 7.
1. Ogallala formation - This aquifer covers a major portion of six states
and is the major source of supply for irrigation in Nebraska and western
Kansas. It also supplies water for municipal and industrial use.
2. Jordan aquifer - This aquifer is the major supply for municipal and
industrial use in Iowa.
3. Ozark "dome" aquifer - This aquifer serves as the major source of
supply for municipal, industrial, and private water supply in a major
portion of Missouri.
4. Dakota sandstone aquifer - This aquifer serves as a source of supply
for municipal, industrial, and private water supply in eastern Nebraska
and the northwestern portion of Iowa.
28
-------
ERA-REGION 7
Ozark Dome"
Aquifer
Flint Hills
Aquifer [
-------
Depletion Of The Ogallala Aquifer.
As previously mentioned, the Ogallala aquifer is a major source of water
for irrigation, municipal, and industrial water use in the eight state
area of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota,
Texas, and Wyoming. Extensive irrigation developments utilizing this
aquifer have rapidly dewatered portions of the aquifer in western Kansas,
parts of Nebraska, and in the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas.
These declining water tables are changing the hydrostatic equilibrium
between the aquifers and are allowing upward movement of water from
underlying formations. The underlying formations, predominately the
Permian aquifer, generally have water which is of poorer quality which
moves up into the Ogallala formation and in turn, lowers the quality of
water. In addition, as water tables decline, irrigators are drilling
deeper for additional water supplies, and wells are developed in both the
Ogallala formation and the underlying formations. This can allow for
migration of water between formations causing degradation of water quality.
30
-------
Water Quality Trends
In this four state region, water quality varies from pristine trout
streams in northeastern Iowa and the Missouri Ozarks to the intermittent
and saline conditions of western Nebraska and Kansas. Because of this,
each state has developed its own water quality standards and water
monitoring networks. The standards, which are based on beneficial water
uses, assign criteria on a stream segment by stream segment basis. For
example, beneficial uses for the Iowa trout stream might include public
drinking water, cold-water aquatic life, and recreation, while those for
the intermittent Nebraska stream could be limited to agricultural purposes.
Each beneficial use may have different water quality standards parameters.
The monitoring activities at a particular site are also linked closely
with the state standards. In many cases, as the number of assigned
beneficial uses increases, so does the parameter coverage and frequency
of monitoring. Oftentimes, the number of agencies involved in sampling
and analysis also increases such that both state and Federal agencies are
involved.
Although it is impossible to develop standards for every parameter it is
preferable, when dealing with water quality data and trends, to determine
a numerical standard or criteria to be used for comparison purposes.
While state standards, developed using the actual conditions, are the
ideal, not all of the Region VII states have determined a fixed-number
criteria for all parameters. In fact, in Kansas, only five parameters
have specific number criteria. Even in Missouri, where over 30 parameters
are included in the standards, far more potential pollutants are monitored.
In our analysis of water quality data and trend information, our primary
standard for every assigned beneficial use is the state water quality
standards for that location. For those parameters not included in the
state standards, we rely on the national criteria for priority pollutants
published in the Federal Register Volume 45, No. 231 and the supporting
documents .
Water quality data do not lend themselves to a generalized review of trends
over a large geographical area. In fact, combining data of measurements
of many different pollutants from an area larger than a stream segment
will likely produce erroneous conclusions. On a site-by site basis,
however, the water quality data can be used for assessing stream changes.
One of the best uses of this type of data is reviewing stream quality
before and after construction of a municipal or industrial wastewater
facility or after an enforcement action. The following are examples of
water quality improvement from the construction of municipal wastewater
treatment facilities.
31
-------
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri, obtained a $30 million dollar grant to improve
its waste water treatment plant in the early 1970's. Also, since
January 1, 1978, three construction grants totalling over $14.7
million were completed on the Springfield Wastewater Treatment Plant
which discharges to Wilson Creek. Just below the confluence of Wilson
Creek, the USGS operates a fixed station monitor on the James River near
Boaz. The Springfield discharge is the only major effluent affecting the
monitoring site. The first of three grants received final inspection on
October 18, 1979. Table 3 compares the averages of data from certain
parameters collected January 1, 1975, to October 17, 1979, with
the information collected after completion of the first stage.
Table 3: Comparison of Average Discharge Quality for Springfield,
Missouri, Treatment Plant
PARAMETER
Dissolved
Oxygen
(d.o.)
COD
Total
Suspended
Solids
Ammonia
Avg . in mg/1
BEFORE
1/1/75 - 10/17/79
7.2
18.5
23.5
1.81
AFTER
10/18/79 - Present
9.5
17.5
14.2
0.05
% IMPROVE-
MENT
+ 31.9
+ 5.4
-1-39.6
+97.2
Abilene, Kansas
More than $1.9 million, in two separate construction grants, have been
spent to upgrade the Abilene Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant. About
seven miles downstream on the Smoky Hill River, the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment has a fixed station monitoring site. Table 4
compares the averages of certain water quality parameters before and
after completion of the first and smallest of the two construction grants
on October 29, 1979. Abilene is the only major point source on that
portion of the river.
32
-------
Table 4: Comparisons of Average Discharge Quality for Abilene, Kansas
Treatment Plant
PARAMETER
Dissolved
Oxygen
(d.o.)
BOD
COD
Total
Suspended
Solids
Ammonia
Avg . in mg/1
BEFORE
1/1/75 - 10/17/79
9.1
3.6
39.6
232.2
0.31
AFTER
10/18/79 - Present
9.7
2.9
32.5
189.9
0.17
% IMPROVE-
MENT
+6.6
+19.4
+ 17.9
+18.2
+ 45.2
33
-------
G. Impacts on Land
Region VII's major emphasis on the protection of the quality of-land, as
well as resulting impacts to surface and groundwater, is its efforts to
^deal with hazardous wastes. In particular, the Region is concerned about
the production, handling, and disposal of these wastes.
The organic contaminant "dioxin" is a specific example of the hazardous
waste problem. The substance has been shown to be toxic and carcinogenic
to laboratory animals at very low concentrations. It is unintentionally
produced as a by-product during the production of other organic substances;
e.g. the bacteriocide hexachlorophene; the herbicide "2,4,5-T," and the
wood preservative 2,4,5-TCP.
The State of Missouri has experienced the effects of dioxin production
and improper disposal. The southwestern part of the State was the site
of a manufacturing facility which produced dioxinladen wastes. The area
was defiled by improper disposal of the substance, as were areas in the
eastern part of Missouri, e.g. Times Beach. For more details on these
problem areas, see Part II.
The programs available to deal with dioxin, as well as any other hazardous
waste, include Superfund and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA) provisions. Superfund is a Federal funding source for cleaning
up high priority hazardous waste sites. These sites in Region VII are
shown in Figure 8. The figure also shows the only four facilities
currently approved for the disposal of hazardous waste pursuant to RCRA.
The fact that large amounts of hazardous wastes are produced annually in
Region VII points to the urgent need for proper disposal techniques
and adequately designed disposal facilities. This will remain one of
the Region's highest priorities within the foreseeable future.
Toxics Substances and Pesticides.
Nationwide more than 40,000 individual products are produced from more
than 1,200 different chemicals which pose unreasonable adverse effects to
the environment when not used in accordance with labeled directions
and precautions. Iowa, Kansas and Missouri carry out these responsibilities
under state plans, cooperative agreements and grants in aid. The Region
is responsible for the Nebraska program.
In FY 82 there were approximately 675 incidents involving pesticide use in
the Region. Almost 70% of these incidents were related to agricultural
use and the remainder primarily involved incidents related to business
and domestic pest control. Human exposure was a factor in 30 of the
incidents and involved 50 individuals. One death was recorded.
Approximately 188 incidents involved some type of damage to non-target
34
-------
• Major City
®State Capital
• Proposed Superfund Priorities List Sites
AHazardous Waste Disposal Sites
ERA-REGION 7
Figure 8
-------
plants such as agricultural crops, ornamentals, and gardens. Seven
incidents were related to wildlife, with fish kills the most prevalent
problem at five. About 13 incidents involved contamination or potential
contamination of food, feed, and water.
Investigations of products at the producers and in the marketplace resulted
in 85 violations involving either improper labeling, adulterated ingredients
or improper sale of restricted use 'pesticides.
36
-------
II. INDEX OF REGIONAL PROBLEMS
PRIORITY I
MOST SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS - (INCLUDED IN PART II)
Emerging Problems
-Missouri Dioxin Sites including Times Beach, Mo.
-S02 Transport
-Inhalable Particulates
-Toxic Air Pollutants
-Indoor Air Contaminants
-Asbestos
-Farmers Chemical Co. - Joplin, MO
Intermedia
-Contamination of Cedar River and Alluvial Aquifers, Charles City, la.
-Tar Creek, Kansas
Air Quality
-St. Louis, Missouri TSP, CO, and 03
-Des Moines, Iowa TSP
-Wichita, Kansas CO
-Lead Smelters, Missouri
-Omaha, Nebraska CO and Pb
Water Quality
-Shell Rock River between Albert Lea, Minn, and Northwood Iowa - NH3
-Iowa River down stream from Marshalltown, Iowa - NH3
-Kansas Water Bodies
-Lower Meramec River near St. Louis, Missouri - D.O. and Toxics
-Little Sac & Dry Sac R. North of Springfield, Missouri - D.O. & NH3
-Perche & Hinkson Creeks at Columbia, Missouri - D.O.
-Turkey Creek below Joplin, Missouri - D.O.
-Elkhorn River at Waterloo, Nebraska - Zn & Cu
-Elkhorn River at West Point, Nebraska - NH3
-Big Blue River at Beatrice, Nebraska - Zn & cu
-Long Pine Creek, Ainsworth, Nebraska - S.S.
-Persistent Bacteriological Contamination
37
-------
Hazardous Waste
-Aidex - Council Bluffs, Iowa
-Arkansas City Dumpsite - Arkansas City, Kansas
-Doepke Disposal Service Holiday Site - Johnson Co., Kansas
-John's Sludge Pond - Wichita, Kansas
-National Industrial Environmental Services - Furley, Kansas
-Ellisville Area Site - Ellisville, Missouri
-Minker/Stout/Romaine Creek - Imperial, Missouri
-Arena 1 (Shenandoah Stables) - Moscow Mills, Missouri
-Fulbright Lanfill - Springfield, Missouri
-Syntex Agribusiness - Verona, Missouri
-Neosho Digester/Wastewater School - Neosho, Missouri
-Amoco Oil - Sugar Creek, Missouri
-Conservation Chemical, Missouri
-Phillips Chemical Co. - Beatrice, Nebraska
Pesticides
-Pesticide Drift & Residue in Bootheel, Missouri
38
-------
PRIORITY II
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS - INCLUDED IN ATTACHMENT A
I. Air Media
Des Moines, la. - CO
Cedar Rapids, la. - TSP
Mason City, la. - TSP
Davenport, la. - TSP
Wyandotte/Johnson CO. Kan. - 03
Kansas City, Kan. - TSP
Kansas City, Mo. - TSP
St. Joseph, Mo. - TSP
Jackson/Clay/Platte counties, Mo. - 03
Lincoln, Neb. - CO
Douglas County, Neb. - TSP
Cass County, Neb. - TSP
II. Water Media
Des Moines, la. - TCE & Vinyl Chloride
Big Sioux River, la.. - DO & NH3
Marmaton R. below Fort Scott, Kan. - D.O., NH3 & Fecal Coliform
Arkansas R. below Dodge City, Kan. - D.O., NH3 & Fecal Coliform
Kaw R. at Bonner Springs, Kan. - D.O.
Marias Des Cygnes R. below Ottawa, Kan. - D.O. & Fecal Coliform
Little Blue R. near Hollenburg, Kan. - Cu s Zn
Shunganunga Creek, Kan. - D.O.
Flat River Creek at Flat River, Mo. - D.O.
Lake of the Ozarks - Fecal Coliform, Aesthetics
Roarke Creek at Branson, Mo. - Solids & D.O. %
Missouri & Mississippi R. - D.O. & toxics
Big River at Desloge, Mo. - Zn, Pb & Solids
Center, Grove, and Short Creeks in Southeast Mo. - Zn S NH3
Liberty, Mo. - TCE
Oil Field contamination - Kan.
Occurrence of Nitrates
Persistent Chemical/Radiological MCL Violators
III. Land Media
A. Hazardous Waste
Midwest Manufacturing at Kellogg, la.
Alcoa - Davenport, la.
39
-------
R.V. Hopkins - Davenport, la.
Kuhlman Diecasting - Stanley, Kan.
Baldwin Park Dump - Aurora, Mo.
Syntax Agribusiness Holding Ponds --Springfield, Mo.
Wheeling Disposal - Amazonia, Mo.
City Landfill (Pigeon Hill Site) - St. Joseph, Mo.
City Landfill (Rosecrans Site) - St. Joseph, Mo.
ARMCO - Kansas City, Mo.
Farmers Chemical - Joplin, Mo.
W.R. Grace - Joplin, Mo.
Willis Pyrolizer - Jackson, Neb.
B. Pesticides
Pesticide Drift in Iowa
40
-------
PART II
Region VII has identified, with our state environmental agencies, the most
significant environmental problems in the region. The criteria we used
to make this determination includes protection of public health, -emergencies,
and environmental degradation and protection. The problems included in
this section impact one or all of these criteria.
The region and the four State Directors are concerned over the impact of
concentrating on specific geographic environmental problems. When we
focus attention and eventually resources on specific environmental
problems, the activities that we must perform under federal and state
laws and regulations are impacted. The resource pools in the regional office
and the state offices are finite. , We cannot address specific projects
and continue current levels of base program operations. The resources
in the region and states are already spread very thin, and additional
new areas of activity cannot be added unless some other on-going program
activities are dropped, or we have additional resources. Our experience
with dioxin in Missouri has demonstrated how resource intensive environ-
mental problems can be. Requests for assistance to alleviate problems must
be satisfied if we are to deal effectively with problems identified in this
report.
The problems discussed.in this section are arranged by media. All problems
listed in this part are considered to be the most significant in Region VII.
41
-------
1983
REGION VII
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
PART II
I. EMERGING PROBLEMS
-------
I. EMERGING PROBLEMS
Problems identified in this section are known to exist in the region, but
data to confirm their scope and significance has not been completely collected
and analyzed. The region and states continue to work together on problem
definition.
A. Missouri Dioxin Sites (including Times Beach, Mo.)
Background
Between 1969 and 1972, the Hoffman-Taff Chemical Company leased a portion of
its Verona, Missouri, manufacturing facility to the North Eastern Pharma-
ceutical and Chemical Company (NEPACCO). This facility was later acquired
by Syntex Agribusiness. At this facility, NEPACCO manufactured hexa-
chlorophene from tetrachlorobenzene, producing 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,
5-TCP) as an intermediate. When the Food and Drug Administration restricted
the use of hexachlorophene in the early 1970's, NEPACCO ceased operations.
Dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) was sometimes produced in trace
quantities during the production of 2,4,5-TCP. A distillation process was,
therefore, used to remove the dioxin and other impurities from the TCP. As a
result the dioxin concentrated in the distillation and filtration re-
sidues.
Mr. Russell Bliss, a Missouri waste oil reclaimer, was contracted in 1971,
to remove the distillation residues from NEPACCO. These residues were combined
with waste oil and applied by Mr. Bliss to control dust and insects. The
waste oil containing the residues were applied in many locations in the State
(primarily in Eastern Missouri). The following 30 sites (shown in the figure)
have been confirmed to contain dioxin.
1. Minker Residence Site:
This site is located near Imperial. The known concentrations of dioxin at
the site range from .3 to 300 ppb. The contaminated soil at this site
originated at the Bubbling Springs Stables. MDNR geologists indicate that
this site is in a very poor geological setting. EPA personnel have conducted
intense sampling at the site. Contaminated soil from this site has eroded to
three (3) adjacent properties. This site along with Romaine Creek and the
Stout Residence Site is included on the Natinal Priorities List. A State
Superfund contract has been signed with the State for these three sites.
The contract covers relocation and a Feasibility Study for the sites.
2. Romaine Creek:
Drainage to Romaine Creek comes from Minker and Bubbling Springs areas. The
known concentrations of dioxin in the creek sediment range from .3 to 272 ppb.
EPA is conducting future sampling and investigation. Ihis site along with
Minker and the Stout Residence Site is included on the National Priorities
List. A State Superfund contract has been signed with the State for these
three sites. The contract covers relocation 'and a Feasibility Study for
the sites.
43
-------
LOCATION MAP
CONFIRMED DIOXIN SITES IN MISSOURI
4/27/83
MOSCOW
MIUS
f'O
ST. LOUIS
27-29
JEFFERSON
CITY
12. Kjhi)linij Springs Ranch
11. Minker
14. ?r.nui
IS
S/nt<.'x-^^rit\jsin«;.ss F.ici I ity I**. Oshel
t. Spring Rw*?r
4. Rjsha Farm
5. rrwin Fan*
fi. Bill Rjy
SPRINGFIELD
[*». «hss Farm
20.
21. Sf\jih**n rr-fs
24. fit is<; T^ih Pri|»'it y.
-------
3. Stout Residence Site:
This site is located near Imperial. The known concentrations of dioxin
at this site range from 2.1 to 21 ppb. The contaminated soil at this
site orignated at the Bubbling Springs Stables. EPA is presently investi-
gating this site and conducting additional sampling. This site along with
Romaine Creek and the Minker Residence Site is included on the National
Priorities List. A State Superfund contract has been signed with the State
for these three sites. The contract covers relocation and a Feasibility
Study for the sites.
4. Spring River:
This river flows along the property line of the Syntex plants and runs west-
ward. EPA, Missouri Department of conservation (DOC) Division of Health, and
MDNR have combined efforts to investigate the dioxin problem in the river.
Sediment samples analysis indicate dioxin levels in the river sediment
range from '.004 to .087 ppb. Sampling of the fish in the river indicates
dioxin levels in the fish flesh range from .019 to .04 ppb. The DOC has
issued a warning to the people of the area to limit their fish consumption.
A continued sampling effort is being conducted to determine if seasonal
trends develop.
5. Denny Farm Site:
This site is located near Verona. This site originally contained levels
ranging from 50,000 to 2,000,000 ppb. These high levels are from drum
samples buried at the site. EPA and syntex are working to complete the
clean-up of the site. This site has been fenced and buried wastes have
been dug up and secured above ground. Syntex has accepted responsibility
for this site. The remedial work has been conducted by Syntex under the
terms of a Consent Decree.
6. Shenandoah Stables Site:
This site is located near Moscow Mills. The known levels of dioxin at
this site range from 1.4 to 1750 ppb. This is another site that was
investigated by both EPA and CDC in 1974. The higher concentrations at
the site are in the slough area adjacent to the arena. Some of the
contaminated material was used as fill material along Highway 61 near
the stables. Recent investigations have been unable to confirm dioxin in
the fill material. The site is included on the Natinal Priorities List.
An Administrative Order to close the arena has been sent to the owner for
signature.
7. Bliss Farm Road Site:
This site is located near St. James. The known levels of dioxin at this
site range from .1 to 382 ppb. These concentrations are much lower than the
concentrations of the samples taken by CDC in 1974.
45
-------
8. Bubbling Springs Ranch Site:
This site is located near Fenton. The known concentrators of dioxin
at this site range from 1.4 to 95 ppb. The site was originally in-
vestigated by both EPA and CDC in 1974. Contaminated scila- have been
excavated over the years and used as fill material at the Minker Stout,
Sullins, and Cashel properties. An Administrative Order to close the
arena has been sent to the owner for signature.
9. Neosho Digester, Trench, Tank, Spill Area, and Wastewater School:
This site is located near Neosho. The known levels of dioxin at the
tank and spill area range from 62 to 1900 ppb. The known levels of
dioxin at the digester and trench range from .49 to 60 ppb. EPA, the
City of Neosho, and the Receiver of the defunct Wastewater School are
negotiating the permanent capping and clean-up of the site. This
capping will protect the public from contact until EPA determines an
allowable amount of dioxin in the soil. Hopefully, action at this site
will be completed by January 1, 1983.
10. Timberline Stables:
This site is located near New Bloomfield. The known levels of dioxin at
this site range from .7 to 53 ppb. This is another site that was investiga-
ted by both EPA and CDC in 1974. Some of the contaminated soil was supposed
to have been disposed of at the Jefferson City Landfill on Highway 94.
Investigations thus far have not located any dioxin at the landfill. An
Administrative Order to close the arena has been sent to the owner for
signature.
11. Erwin Farm sire:
This site is located near Verona. The known levels of dioxin at the site
range from .006 to .83 ppb. The higher concentration is from a composite
sample of drums being stored at the site. EPA has been working with
Mr. Erwin & Syntex to accomplish the clean-up of the site.
12. Rusha Farm Site:
This site is located near Aurora. The known levels of dioxin at the site
range from .4 to 8 ppb. The higher concentration is from a sample of one
drum of filter cake material being stored at the site.
13. Syntex Facility:
This site is located near Verona. It consists of several disposal areas on
the Syntex Plant property. EPA has been working with Syntex to clean up the
site. Syntex has accepted responsibility for this site and is conducting a
field investigation under the terms of an Administrative Order to determine
the extent of contamination. The level of dioxin in wastes stored on site is
about 500 ppb.
46
-------
14. Billy Ray Farm Site:
The site is located near Verona. It consisted of eighteen (18 drums)
removed from the NEPACCO (Syntex) property. Investigations indicate
fifteen (15) drums are empty, one (1) drum contained no detectable
amounts of dioxin, and two (2) drums with detectable amounts of dioxin.
EPA has negotiated with Syntex to return the two (2) drums to the Syntex
property.
15. Times Beach Site:
This site consists of the twenty-eight (28) miles of roads in Times Beach
and the city park area. The known levels of dioxin range up to 300 ppb.
EPA and MDNR are investigating solutions to the problem. CDC has recommended
evacuation of the town. The City is included on the National Priorities
List.
16. Ruth Sullins Property:
This site is located near Imperial. The known concentrations of dioxin at
the site range up to 100 ppb. The contaminated soil at this site originated
at the Bubbling Springs Stables and covers the corner of her three quarter
acre lot. EPA expects to combine this site with the Minker/Stout/Romaine
Creek site.
17. Southern Cross Lumber Company Site:
This site is located in Hazelwood. The known concentrations of dioxin at the
site range up to 27.3 ppb. The site was sprayed by Bliss from 1970-76. The
site is now covered with gravel.
18. Saddle and Spur Club Site:
This site is located in northern Jefferson County. The known concentrations
of dioxin range up to 15 ppb. Investigations indicate the area was oiled by
Bliss late '71 or early '72. The stable property is approximately five.(5)
acres. The arena floor has been covered with sand. An Administrative Order
to close the arena has been sent to the owner for signature.
19. Hamill Transfer Company Site:
This site is located in south St. Louis. The known concentrations of dioxin
at the site range up to 15.6 ppb. The site was oiled by Bliss on May 27,
1972, using 8,000 gallons of waste oil. Since that time, the site has been
"sealed" with a five (5) inch tar and gravel mixture.
20. Overnite Transfer Inc., Site:
This site is located in north St. Louis. The known concentrations of dioxin
at the site range up to 9.2 ppb. The site was oiled by Bliss annually between
1962 and 1976. The site is now a five (5) acre graveled parking lot.
47
-------
21. Jones Trucking Lines Site:
This site is located in north St. Louis. The known concentrations of
dioxin at the site range up to 22 ppb. The site was oiled by Bliss in
the early '70's. Since that time, the site has been paved-with asphalt
and is now being used as a 4-5 acre parking lot.
22. Methodist Church Site:
This site is located near Ellisville. The unknown concentrations of dioxin
range up to 3.5 ppb. The site was oiled by Bliss in the early 70's. Since
that time the site has been paved with asphalt and is now being used as
parking for the church.
23. Cashel Residence Site:
This site is located across Romaine Creek Road from Bubbling Springs Stables.
The known concentrations of dioxin range between 10 and 100 ppb. The con-
taminated soil at this site originated at the Bubbling Springs Stables. EPA
expects to combine this si'te with the Minker/Stout/Romaine Creek site.
24. Wall Property and Piazza Road Site:
This site is located near St. James. The known concentrations of dioxin range
between 5 and 100 ppb. The site is adjacent to the Bliss Farm Road Site.
Piazza Road was oiled by Bliss at the same time Bliss oiled his own road.
25. Russell Bliss Oil Company (Frontenac) Site:
This site is located in Frontenac. The known concentrations of dioxin range
up to 100 ppb. The site was used by Bliss to store and mix waste oil until
1977.
26. Quail Run Mobile Home Park:
This site is located near Gray Summit. The known concentrations of dioxin
range up to 30 ppb. EPA's investigation indicates that Bliss oiled the
roads at the Mobile Home Park.
27. Sontag Road Site:
This site is located in Castlewood. The known concentrations of dioxin at
the site range from 1 to 60 ppb. This site was oiled by Bliss to control
dust. This road has since been paved.
28. Syntex Agribusiness Facility:
This site is located in Springfield. Test results taken by Syntex showed dioxin
to be present in a waste lagoon on the plant's property. Actual levels have
not been determined.
48
-------
29. Mid-America Horse Arena:
This site is located near Ellisville. It was formerly owned by Bliss.
Seven out of 73 samples taken from the arena were positive -for dioxin
contamination, six of which ranged from 1.3 to 9.3 ppb, while the highest
was 78 ppb.
30. Lacy Manor Development:
This site is located in rural Jefferson County. Seven confirmed samples
showed dioxin contamination ranging from one to 24 ppb. The higher levels
were found along the driveway of a mobile home and near an easement road
west of the mobile home. The driveway and road reportedly were oiled several
times in the early to mid-1970's. More sampling will be needed. However,
CDC has sent a health advisory to possibly affected individuals.
49
-------
Recommended Actions
The next steps at the Times Beach site include an EPA engineering study
to determine the scope and costs of cleanup alternatives for Ti-mes Beach.
EPA will investigate the best ways to limit human exposure to the dioxin
in Times Beach streets to protect public health. CDC will continue its
health questionnaire and examination, and is working with EPA to refine
cleanup levels for dioxin in the Times Beach case.
On February 22, the Administrator announced a $33 million pledge from Super-
fund to purchase the Times Beach property. Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) is currently developing a feasibility study on how to implement the
purchases .
EPA has also announced it has approved the permanent relocation of eleven
families in the Minker/Stout/Romaine Creek area. Specific details for this
permanent relocation are being worked out by the Federal Emergency Management
Administration and the State.
There is a critical need for Headquarters R&D to start a major objective of
developing methods to detoxify dioxin. This effort should be directed toward
the decomposition of dioxin in place, where it is found in the environment. It
will be too costly and impractical to move the large quantities of material that
are contaminated in Missouri to another treatment site. R&D needs to begin
immediately since other sites in the country will also be found.
50
-------
EMERGING AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS
B. Sulfur Dioxide (S0?) Transport
Background.
Over the past several years there have been a number of developments
that now threaten to emerge as a serious problem for the Regional Office
with respect to SO2.
The most time consuming of these has been the problem with the SO2
emission limits for the major fuel burning industries in Iowa. It began
when the state decided to relax the SO2 limits so that more coal mined
in Iowa could be burned. Unfortunately, Iowa coal is very high in sulfur
content so the resulting SO2 limits could not be approved by EPA. Since
the state decided at that time to revise its limits, EPA modeled every
major fuel burning source in Iowa with the intention of federally pro-
mulgating SO2 limits. Upon discovering what limits were being considered,
the state reversed its decision and did not adopt new rules.
The state conducted its own modeling study, supported by EPA to at-
tempt to develop more acceptable limits that would be approvable by EPA.
EPA supported the state effort with supplemental grant funding, technical
guidance, meteorological input data and computer access. However, the
first series of evaluations using EPA-approvable methods produced results
that were not acceptable within the state. The state staff then adopted
other techniques, notably the "terrain adjustment factor", hoping to
produce more acceptable limits. The technical documentation for those
techniques is not yet complete. It is possible that the state may
decide that the modeling results are too stringent or that the technical •
support is too weak and not submit the new limits. Or, the state may
submit them, and EPA may disapprove them. In either case, it is still
fully possible that EPA may need to promulgate limits for some or all
of the major fuel burning industries in Iowa. Development of such a
rulemaking with its technical effort, support materials and impact
analyses would require a major effort.
A similar developing problem is in Kansas, where state officials
are concerned that their 'state may not be as attractive to new industry
because of SO2 limits that are more stringent than those in neighboring
Missouri. The state staff feels it would be only fair if Kansas sources
were evaluated by the same methods used in Missouri five years ago.
Doing this could be expected to result in a substantial relaxation in
the emission limits for several major sources.
EPA has explained to the state staff that the methods of several
years ago are no longer adequate. The possibility remains that Kansas
will move to revise its SO2 limits. If the state chooses to use cur-
51
-------
rently approvable methods, it would probably request substantial EPA
assistance in the form of technical guidance and computer resources.
Should the state choose to use obsolete techniques, the EPA commitment
of resources would be much greater. A close evaluation to determine
which, if any, of the state developed limits were approvable would be
followed by disapproval of the others and EPA promulgation of federally
developed limits. Although this would not be as large an effort as to
do the same thing in Iowa, it would be a very time consuming exercise.
The problem in Kansas has focused attention on the SC>2 limits in
Missouri. These limits were developed in 1977 and submitted in 1978
and were deemed adequate for that time. Since then the field of com-
puterized simulation modeling has progressed to the point that the
techniques used by Missouri would not be approvable. The limits in
Missouri seem high by comparison with those in effect in Kansas and
those to be adopted in Iowa. To apply the methods being required cur-
rently by EPA would result in lower SC>2 limits but would call for
substantial EPA involvement in data gathering, computer modeling and
high level support during the public hearing process. And, of course,
it is not certain that the state staff would agree to undertake this
unpopular project. In that case, the additional major burden of
actually performing the technical effort would fall on the EPA staff.
An additional area of interest begins with the national concern
about acid rain. Until recently, all SC>2 pollution problems were
thought to occur due to the ground level impact of SO2 near major
sources or industrial complexes. It now appears that SO2 can travel
long distances and transform into sulfuric acid and related compounds.
These sulfurous compounds are now thought to move at high altitude for
hundreds of miles in a generally easterly and north-easterly direction
before coming to earth in the northeast U.S. and southern Canada where
the rocky soil does not have sufficient buffering capacity to counter
.the effects of acidic precipitation. This acid precipitation is
thought to damage plant and animal life directly by'its acid nature
and indirectly by releasing poisonous metals from the soil to run off
into the streams and lakes.
It is possible that sources in this region may contribute to this
process. Major fuel burning sources in Region VII emit an estimated
2 million tons of SO2 per year, much of it from sources in the indus-
trialized Mississippi River Valley. A study by the province of Ontario
cited Union Electric's Labadie plant as the 9th largest SO2 source in
the U.S. and ranked Associated Electric's plant in New Madrid, Missouri,
as the 15th largest. Other large major sources include UE's Rush Island,
Portage de Sioux and Meramec plants, all near St. Louis; Kansas City
Power and Light's Hawthorne, Montrose and La Cygne plants and Missouri
Public Service's Sibley plant, all near Kansas City; Associated Electric's
Thomas Hill plant in north central Missouri, the Nebraska Public Power
52
-------
District Gentleman plant in Central Nebraska, the Omaha Public Power
District North Omaha station, Iowa Public Service's Neal complex near
Sioux City and the Iowa Power stations at Des Moines and Council Bluffs.
Additional SO2 comes from power plants in and near Springfield,
Joplin and St. Joseph, Missouri; Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas; Lincoln
and Omaha, Nebraska; and Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown, Davenport, Clinton,
and Burlington, Iowa; three major lead smelters in Missouri's lead mining
area; and smaller point sources throughout the Region.
Actions
While there are large sources of SO2 in this Region, more investi-
gation is needed to determine the extent of the Region's contribution to
the acid precipitation problem when compared to areas with larger emis-
sions that are closer to the susceptible areas. More research is also
needed to determine if the rocky, soil-poor Ozark region is being dam-
aged. Federal support will be needed as it is beyond the state and local
resources to determine what SO2 is going out, what is coming in and what
the effects of each are.
53
-------
EMERGING AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS
C. Inhalable Particulates
Promulgation of the PM.J standard will allow urban areas to show
attainment of the particulate matter standard. However, at the same time
the EPA Rural Fugitive Dust Policy will be eliminated
Some rural areas in each of the Region VII states were classified
attainment using the Fugitive Dust Policy. If this policy is eliminated,
these rural areas may become classified nonattainment. Thus, the states
would be required to develop control strategies for those rural areas.
Existing particulate matter monitors wwould have to be replaced with
equipment capable of monitoring for PM-|Q
54
-------
D. Toxic Air Pollutants
Background
There can be little doubt about the public's increasing concerns about
the potential threats of exposure to virtually any unfamiliar chemical
substance. While the major point of focus of national attention on the
problem, at least at the present time, is in relation to the potential
presence of these compounds in surface or ground waters, there continues
to be a fair amount of concern that some of these substances may also
be prevalent in the atmosphere as well. The Environmental Protection
Agency continues to remain subject to criticism by the Congress,
environmentalists, and many state agencies because of "perceived"
delays in its dealing with this issue.
Actions
Public attitudes regarding this matter are usually volatile. Since
1980 the states and EPA have attempted to implement a systematic approach
in handling this problem area. This approach, logically, is based upon
the three following activities:
1. identifying and quantifying potential sources of toxic air contaminant
emissions;
2. estimating and/or measuring the potential effects of these emissions
on ambient air quality, in terms of resultant pollutant concentrations
in the atmosphere; and
3. identifying and evaluating any potentially harmful effects of the resultant
atmospheric concentrations on the public's health.
So far, mos£ states have been implementing only the first phase of
this assessment program. During the last two years, about 15 potential
sources of harmful air contaminants have been subjected to engineering
staff reviews and analysis. These analyses have indicated that various
"problem" contaminants are emitted from the processes involved. At the
present time, however, it is considered unlikely that they are being
emitted in sufficient quantities to produce concentrations which would
cause adverse health effects. Unfortunately, this hypothesis can
not be "proven" without an actual ambient air sampling program designed to
identify and quantify (i.e. to the extent possible) the presence or
absence of the contaminants around the plant sites. If measurable
concentrations of these contaminants are found, the next phase of the
program will be implemented, i.e. the evaluation of any potential
hazards. The agency's recent improvements in its toxicological assessment
capabilities should make this phase practical, once the monitoring
activities are completed.
It is probable that many of the toxic air pollutants being discharged
in the region will not be of national significance as defined by current
55
-------
EPA strategy for dealing with air toxics. The agency does not appear
to have plans for dealing with the numerous site specific problems that
will result in practical solutions in the next several years. -
Recommendation for Headquarters Action:
That the National Strategy for dealing with air toxics be reevaluated
and the Regions be given a significant part in developing a revised strategy,
Indoor Air Contaminants
Background
The presence of numerous and, on occasion, highly concentrated air contami-
nants within the indoor environments of both worksites and residential
dwellings has long been recognized as sources of significant inhalation
exposures to substances recognized as capable of causing both acute and
chronic illnesses. Exposures to selected occupational air contaminants
are currently regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
via P.L. 91-596 enacted in 1970. Although the subject of increasing
public awareness and concern, exposures to air contaminants in commercial
buildings and residential dwellings have, by and large, received only
sporadic attention at the national level by environmental policy
formulators. One such issue involves the potential exposure to school
age children (below grade 12) to airborne asbestos in their public
schools. In response to this problem, a mandatory surveillance program
has been developed by the U.S. EPA to require local schools to identify
and report (but not necessarily to control) findings of friable asbestos
materials in these schools. Other concerns for which meaningful
environmental policies have not been established includes a) the
exposures of thousands of residents of new mobile and conventional
homes containing particle board and other building materials to
formaldehyde levels which sometimes approach or exceed recommended
occupational standards; b) the exposures of private residents to
persistent organochlorine termiticides (and other pesticides) as a
result of improper application or inappropriate labeling; c) the exposure
of private residents to the products of combustion resulting from the
increased use of woodburning stoves or unvented petroleum heat sources;
d) the exposure of private residents to radon gas from both natural and
man-made sources within the residential environment; and e) the exposure
of private residents to airborne dusts, molds and other respirable
particulate which can be carried into the home from the workplace or be
generated within the home.
Implications
1. Indoor air pollutant levels are increasing as energy conservation
programs are implemented and indoor ventilation rates are reduced.
2. Concentrations of recognized indoor air contaminants (carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, nitric oxide, nitrogen
dioxide, organic hydrocarbons, radon and progeny, and total and
56
-------
respirable particulates) are usually substantially greater than
corresponding concentrations in outdoor air.
3. The most severely exposed populations (the elderly and infants) are often
the most susceptible to the development of symptoms and illnesses related to
exposures to indoor air contaminants.
4. The sources and effects of indoor air contaminant exposures are currently
unknown to most residents and their attending physicians and significant
exposures can 'occur unknowingly.
5. The potential toxicological endpoints of exposures to many indoor air con-
taminants e.g. aldrin, chlordane, asbestos, formaldehyde, polycycic aromatic
hydrocarbons, and others, are often more severe (increased cancer incidence,
respiratory sensitization, and allergic responses) than those associated
with the more formally regulated outdoor air contaminants.
6. Existing resources committed to measuring and evaluating exposures to indoor
air contaminants are largely located in state and local health and environ-
mental agencies and are extremely limited.
Recommendations for Future Action:
1. Consideration should be given to the formal recognition of the general
issue of indoor air exposures (not just asbestos) as a significant national
environmental concern and additional resources allocated to providing tech-
nical assistance and support to those state and local governments which are
responding to the increasing public demands in this area.
2. Coordination of the health and environmental issues involved in the evalua-
tion of indoor air problems should be improved at the federal level. Con-
flicting reports of the regulatory activities of the Consumer Product Safety
Commission, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Occupa-
tional Safety and Health Administration in regard to formaldehyde; the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Army in
regard to termiticide exposures; and others; has created confusion as to the
source of these potential problems and their ultimate health impact. The
uncoordinated response to source - related complaints has resulted in a
failure to recognize these concerns as a central and related indoor air
environmental matter.
F. Asbestos
Background
Between 1946 and 1978, millions of tons of asbestos-containing insulation was
sprayed into buildings for purposes of fire protection, thermal insulation and
absorbing sound. Some city codes actually required the spraying of asbestos
on structural steel during building construction. At this time, it is
unknown how many public and private buildings exist in Region VII which
contain asbestos. The greatest danger exists in those buildings where
remodeling or demolition is occurring or contemplated and no one knows that
57
-------
asbestos is present. Remodeling and demolition activities disturb the
asbestos resulting in the liberation of large quantities of asbestos fibers.
Even in those buildings where the asbestos insulation is not being disturbed,
hazardous situations can exist because the asbestos-containing material
has deteriorated to the point where it is falling apart and releasing fibers.
Region VII has been conducting a voluntary asbestos-control program for
the past 4 years. During that time, we have assisted building owners
upon request in evaluating the hazard, identifying asbestos control
options and in developing remedial specifications. Over 40 such requests
for technical assistance have been responded to by on-site evaluations
and include insurance buildings, municipal auditoriums and convention
centers, hospitals, coal fired and nuclear power plants, restaurants,
bowling alleys, jails, universities, TV studios, churches, airports,
libraries, shopping centers, military installations and federal as well
as state office buildings and private homes.
In addition, technical advice has been provided in response to over
2,500 telephone inquiries regarding such buildings. Approximately 50%
of the Region VII asbestos resources are currently being utilized to assist
public and private building owners resolve asbestos exposure problems.
Demand for assistance has steadily increased for asbestos abatement
options in single family homes since the publication of the manual "Asbestos
In Homes" in August" 1982 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
and EPA. CPSC is referring home owners to EPA since they have no
expertise in asbestos abatement.
Health effects
Asbestos is a known human carcinogen. No safe level of exposure to
asbestos fibers has been identified. Inhalation of asbestos fibers
increases cancer risk at such sites as the lungs, esophogus, stomach,
colon and rectum. In addition, inhaling asbestos fibers increases the
risk of mesothelioma, a rare form -of cancer associated only with asbestos
exposure and not found in the general populaton. Epidemiologic research
has provided reasonable assurance of a cause and effect relationship
between these cancers and exposure to asbestos.
A study by Peto (1978) provides data that show that 10% of asbestos workers
exposed to levels of 2 fibers per cubic centimeter of air (the current
OSHA standard) for 20 years, will die prematurely from cancer.
Dr. Irving Selikoff, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, (in a draft report
entitled "Disability Compensation for Asbestos-Associated Disease in the
United States") concluded after reviewing epidemiologic studies that ex-
posures over 40 years to asbestos concentrations allowed by the current
workplace standard may lead to doubling of risk of lung cancer and increase
total mortality by 10%.
Mesothelioma, a rare disease caused by asbestos, has been observed in persons
who lived in the same house as asbestos workers as well as in persons who
lived near asbestos mines or manufacturing plants.
Population Exposed.
58
-------
No estimates can be made at this time on number of people exposed to
asbestos in buildings. A few examples can be cited which demonstrate
the magnitude of the problem. Two major Region VII airports contain
asbestos insulation to which approximately 35,000 people are exposed to
asbestos daily. Six state office buildings exist in which approximately
7,000 employees and 10,000 visitors are exposed to asbestos datly.
Recommended Actions
EPA should develop regulations addressing asbestos in public and private
buildings. EPA has recognized that asbestos exposure represents
unreasonable risk to people occupying school buildings and has prepared
guidance materials which states or local agencies may use for reducing
and eliminating exposure to asbestos in schools. The situations encountered
in schools are often repeated in public and private buildings. If asbestos
represents a potential hazard in schools that need to be regulated, then
asbestos is also a hazard in other buildings and needs to be regulated.
Regulations take a long time to develop, yet hazardous asbestos exposure
situations are occurring now. While new regulations are developed, EPA
should conduct a voluntary asbestos control program for public and
private buildings. In the absence of regulations, the Region still has
an obligation to respond to requests and provide technical assistance which
protects the public health from a known carcinogen. Such an advisory
program is similar to the guidance we provided to.schools before a
schools regulation was written. The type of program that addresses
both school and non-school buildings would require 3 work/years of
effort in the Region.
Funding and Other Resources
A program to help public and private building owners resolve asbestos
exposure situations is currently not funded. Limited Regional resources
are already being used to assist building owners. Lack of human
resources and no travel funds for this activity severely limit the
assistance the Regional Office can provide.
Regulations/Policy
/
Headquarters is considering developing a regulation for asbestos in
public buildings, nothing for private buildings. A contract has been
let to determine how extensive was the use of asbestos in U.S. public
buildings. This contract is an effort to define the size of the problem.
Congressional pressure, employee concern, news media scrutiny and
recommendations from the medical community are all responsible for
forcing EPA to address the problem of asbestos in non-school buildings.
Some state governments and environmental groups have asked EPA to set an
indoor air quality standard for asbestos.
Region VII's policy has been not to refuse assistance to anyone requesting
it. Therefore, those building owners who want assistance can get it from
the Regional Office. On the other hand, the Region is not actively
pursuing the identification of asbestos-containing non-school buildings.
We currently cannot respond adequately to requests and are not searching
for additional projects.
59
-------
Research
Asbestos abatement techniques need further development. Region VII
worked with private industry in Kansas City to develop latex paint
guidelines for use in encapsulating certain types of asbestos-containing
material. Headquarters has been advised of five additional short/term
research projects the Region needs. To date, the Region is aware of
only one of these research efforts being funded. The Region may once
again have to turn to private industry for research assistance. In
addition, asbestos abatement guidance developed for schools is often
not: appropriate for multi-story buildings. Therefore, the Region must
develop its own non-school building guidance materials.
State Relations
All four Region VII states are painfully aware of asbestos exposure
situations in non-school buildings, particularly in their own state
office buildings. None of the four states has resources for asbestos
control in non-school buildings. In spite of these limitations, Iowa
and Kansas are well trained and equipped to respond to public and
private building owners and will do so. Their efforts and .advice are
very similar to EPA's. State cooperation is crucial to meeting the
demands of building owners. At this time, all four states work with
the Regional Office as partners in dealing with this problem. Iowa and
Kansas have been able to devote more resources to this effort than
Missouri and Nebraska. Each state is willing to participate to the
limits of its resources. Some state legislatures have recognized the
potential hazard of asbestos in public buildings and are requesting
statewide surveys of all state-owned buildings.
Projects
Currently the public buildings listed below are the most visible and
possibly controversial in which exposure of people to airborne asbestos
fibers is occurring and in which the Region is providing technical assistance:
1. St. Louis International Airport - 5 1/2 acres of 40% asbestos to which
approximately 100 employees and 25,000 passengers are exposed daily.
Remedial measures could cost several million dollars and require closing
the airport for several months.
2. Missouri State Office Building, Kansas City, Missouri - 260,000 square feet
of 15% asbestos. Approximately 1200 state employees and 400 visitors are
exposed daily. Remedial measures estimated to cost between $6 and 12
million, building would have to be closed for 2 years and temporary office
space rented for 2 years.
3. Century II Convention Center, Wichita, Kansas - 10 acres of 20% asbestos.
30 employees exposed daily and 15,000 visitors exposed at every performance.
Remedial measures cost prohibitive.
4. Lucas State Office Building, Des Moines, Iowa - 200,000 square feet of from
50% to 98% asbestos. Approximately 400 state employees exposed daily. In-
60
-------
adequate remedial measures have resulted in a worse situation than if no
action had been taken. Financial resources lacking.
5. KCPT, Channel 19 Building, Kansas City, Missouri - 10,000 square feet
of 20-50% asbestos in two sound studios. 52 employees occupy the
building plus public auctions are held in one of the studios which
are attended by up to 300 people. Remedial action will strain the
financial resources of the firm.
Request for Headquarters Assistance
1. Region VII strongly recommends that Headquarters develop a regulation which
addresses exposure of people to asbestos in public, commercial and private
business buildings. Such a regulation would allow the Regions and states
to take needed action to reduce and eliminate the danger to human health
from exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. We believe a regulation address-
ing asbestos in homes is not feasible.
2. Additional resources are needed to respond to the requests Region VII is
already receiving. Currently Region VII has one 32 hour per week AARP
contractor and 1 FTE devoted to the asbestos program. Rather than recog-
nizing the need for asbestos resources. Headquarters has reduced the
Region VII FTEs from .9 in FY 83 to .7 in FY 84. Region VII requests that
the FTEs be increased from .7 to 1.0 and that one additional AARP contractor
be provided for the asbestos program. The additional contractor cost is
estimated to be approximately $45,000 plus an increase of $5,000 in travel
funds is needed to conduct on-site hazard assessment and abatement option
evaluations.
61
-------
G. Farmers Chemical Company Site, Joplin, Missouri
Background
This site is one of two in the area which contain large quantities of
phosphogypsum as tailing from the manufacture of phosphoric acid. The
site contains about 1.7 million tons of phosphogypsum waste on 70 acres
of land. The waste was produced between 1954 and 1971.
The site is located in extreme western Jasper County, Missouri, with
the western boundary of the company's property coinciding with the
Kansas-Missouri border. The region, including this site was mined
extensively for lead and zinc beginning in the late 1860's. There are
piles of lead and zinc tailings on the property, including one under-
lying the phosphogypsum disposal area.
Short Creek, which runs along the edge of the waste pile, where it
collects leachate and/or runoff from the pile, flows into the Spring
River about five miles downstream. Baxter Spring, Kansas, takes
drinking water from the Spring River about five miles further down-
stream .
Kansas and Missouri have collected stream quality data from Short
Creek as far back as 1973. EPA visits to the site were conducted in
1981 and 1982. Surface water samples downstream of the pile exceed
EPA Water Quality Criteria or Drinking Water Standards for cadmium,
fluoride, iron, manganese, nickel, total phosphorous and zinc.
Phosphate ores typically contain high quantities of uranium radium
and other naturally-occurring radionuclides. Samples of the phospho-
gypsum contain gross alpha levels from 103 to 173 picocuries per gram
and gross beta from 35 to 94 picocuries per gram. One available
radionuclide analysis indicated 22 picocuries per gram radium, 152
picocuries per gram Thorium and 285 picocuries per gram uranium. The
latter value is much higher than expected for phosphogypsum. The
analysis for nine additional samples are expected to be completed
shortly.
Radon sampling was conducted in the air over the pile. The results
indicate levels of 6 and 8 picocuries per liter compared to a back-
ground of 0.03 picocuries per liter. The nearest point of human
exposure to the radon is the manufacturing plant adjacent to the
waste pile.
The health and environmental effects which may result from this site
include effects of chemicals and radioactivity at the downstream
water supply, radiation health effects of radon from the pile and
possible radiation exposure from use of the phosphogypsum.
62
-------
Actions
Additional studies will be needed to fill out the data base on this site,
Additional air sampling data will define the scope of radon exposure.
Ground water studies will be needed to determine possible effects from
that pathway. It will be necessary to study this site in its context
as one of many tailings disposal sites in the area.
Remedial actions, if required, must be based on the results of the
additional studies noted.
A similar pile at the W. R. Grace Company site will be subjected to a
full field investigation in the near future.
63
-------
1983
REGION VII
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
PART II
II. INTERMEDIA PROBLEMS
-------
II. Intermedia Problems
A. Tri State Mining Area - Cherokee County, Kansas (Tar Creek)
Background
Picher Mining District extends from Commerce, Oklahoma, northward into
Kansas and covers approximately 60 square miles. The Picher Mining
District is only a small portion of a larger lead and zinc mining region
known as the Tri State Mining Area which covers over 500 square miles in
Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
The State of Oklahoma has taken the lead to investigate problems related
to the past mining activities regarding the extent of contamination of
water resources and air contamination, and to recommend a plan for
implementing remedial actions. The Kansas Department of Health and
Environment (KDHE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region
VII also play important roles in assessing these environmental impacts.
The Oklahoma "Superfund" studies are focusing on water quality impacts
in the Tar Creek watershed, ground water contamination, and on health effects
in the Oklahoma portion of the Tar Creek basin.
KDHE has initiated epidemiological studies in Cherokee County to identify
and evaluate health effects (lung cancer, etc.). Air contamination problems
in Cherokee County are also being evaluated. A cooperative field investigation
by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and KDHE are analyzing the hydrologic and
chemical water quality of mines, wells, and streams in Cherokee County.
Recommended Actions
Study alternatives for remedial action.
Investigate studies by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in the Oklahoma
portion of the Tar Creek site indicate high levels of heavy metals, very
low PH levels, and fish kills. Feasibility studies need to be conducted
to provide alternative solutions and recommendations for remedial action.
Other investigative studies nearing completion in Oklahoma and Kansas will
determine the ground water quality for the Boone and Roubidoux formations
and determine the extent of contamination to the ground water. These studies
should provide the background necessary for additional studies which will
evaluate alternative solutions for controlling the ground water contamination.
EPA HQ. Resource Requests
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is planning to proceed with feasibility
studies for solutions and make recommendations on remedial actions. These
studies will cost approximately $212,000.
The KDHE is awaiting completion of a report by the USGS before making a
decision on future actions.
64
-------
Close liaison between all water agencies In Kansas, Oklahoma, and EPA
Regions VI and VII will be needed to resolve this problem. Cooperation
will also be required between several federal agencies, particularly
the agencies involved in mining related programs.
Federal and State financial support of their health and water quality
assessment needs to be recognized and continued If the ground water
contamination is to be controlled, contained and cleaned up. Additional
epidemiologlcal studies are necessary to determine the extent and magnitude
of subsequent public health Impact. A media surveillance program is needed
to obtain data over a period of years to track changes in ground water
quality.
65
-------
FOTCNTIOMCTMIC
O
c:
GEOLOGIC PROFILE - PJCHEP MINING DISTRICT
(Tar Creek Area)
-------
ERA-REGION 7
_ Tar Creek
• Mining District
TITLE: Groundwater Contamination - Picher Mining District
-------
Contamination of Cedar River and Alluvial Aquifers
Background
Approximately 6,400,000 cubic feet of arsenical sludge and organic wastes
were disposed on the floodplain of the Cedar River by Salsbury Laboratories.
Leach ate contaminated groundwater discharges into the river.
Salsbury Laboratories of Charles City is engaged in the production of
veterinary biological preparations, pharmaceutical preparations, veterinary
feed additives and intermediate organic chemicals. From 1953 to 1977, Salsbury
Laboratories disposed of their process wastes on property leased from Mr.
Duane LaBounty. Disposal at the site was halted by Salsbury Laboratories
in December 1977, pursuant to an Administrative Order issued by the Iowa
Department of Environmental Quality.
EPA Issued an Administrative Order to Salsbury Laboratories on July 6, 1979.
In response, the company has undertaken a remedial program. This program
has consisted of the installation of the comprehensive groundwater monitoring
system, placement of a clay cap over the site, construction of surface water
diversion structures and rerouting of a storm sewer.
Leachate from the site contains 36 Identified compounds and metals (including
Arsenic). Those of most concern are benzene, chloroform, trichloroethane,
phenol, arsenic and orthonitroaniline. Benzene is a known carcinogen to
humans. Chloroform, phenol, and 1,1,2-trichloroethene, are known to be
carcinogenic to animals. Arsenic is bioaccumulative and orthonitroaniline
has a high toxic hazard rating via the oral route.
This site appeared on the National Priorities list.
68
-------
CHARLES CITY
AREA
ttlNDUSTRIAL
WASTE SEWER
Salsbury
Laboratory
-------
Four fixed monitoring stations are located on the Cedar River. The station
furthest downstream is located near Palo, Iowa, upstream of the City of
Cedar Rapids. The second station is located at Cedar Falls, Iowa, to
determine the water quality in the Cedar River upstream of major municipal
discharges. The third station is located at Carville, Iowa, and was
established in 1978 to determine the effects of Salsbury Laboratory's
LaBounty disposal site at Charles City on the water quality. The fourth
station at Floyd, Iowa, is for background Information above the Charles
City area.
The October 1976 survey in the upper reaches of the Cedar River cited
slightly elevated levels of arsenic. Since the time that survey was
performed, EPA and UHL have conducted sampling in the Charles City area
which show elevated levels of arsenic as well as traces of ortho-
nitroanillne. Two suspected contributors (Charles City Wastewater
Treatment Plant and the LaBounty Disposal Site used by Salsbury Labora-
tories located in the flood plain) were the basis for this survey.
Salsbury Laboratories is located in Charles City and produces chemicals
used in veterinary Pharmaceuticals. The liquid waste materials from
Salisbury are processed in the Charles City WWTP and their solid waste,
which contains several hazardous materials, were buried in the LaBounty
site. The Charles City WWTP has also shown relatively high (1.0 mg/1)
arsenic levels in its discharge. The area sampled is all classified B(w),
with two impoundments that are classified A: Nashua and Charles City
impoundments. The Charles City WWTP and the LaBounty site are between
these impoundments. The Charles City WWTP and the LaBounty site are
between these Impoundments. The twenty-four hour profile for arsenic
showed the highest values occurring near the LaBounty site which is up-
stream from the Charles City WWTP. A transect study of the stream was also
performed to further pinpoint the source of the arsenic contamination. The
arsenic appeared to be coming from the right bank near the site of the land-
fill. No runoff was present at the time of the survey. A twenty-four hour
orthonitroaniline profile was also collected and produced results very similar
to the arsenic profile. Values ranged as high as 12 ug/1 with the October
sampling being higher in concentration than September. All other water
quality parameters were within normal background levels.
Recommended Actions
The 1979 Order has been substantially compiled with. Future activities on this
site will include revising the July 1979 administrative order to reflect the
current status. The revised Order will generally require Salsbury to continue
prepetual maintenance on the site as well as design and implement any additional
required remedial work. EPA is currently nearing the decision point in regard
to these revisions.
Few or no data were collected at the Carville or Floyd quarterly monitoring
station in the 1977 and 1978 sampling period. Trends, therefore, cannot be
assessed for these stations. Limited data collected at Carville indicate an
organic waste pollutant is entering into the stream between Floyd and Carville
as BOD, COD, and ammonia nitrogen values were higher at Carville. Data will
continue to be collected at these fixed monitoring sites.
70
-------
REGION VII
1983
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
PART II
III. AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS
-------
III. AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS
A. St. Louis, Mo. - TSP, CO 03
Background
The St. Louis area is not attaining the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for three criteria pollutants; total suspended particulates
(TSP), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (03). There are three nonattainment
areas in the St. Louis area - one for each of these pollutants. The
standards were set in 1971 by the agency to protect human health.
Under the Clean Air Act, the individual states have been given the
primary responsibility for the resolution of air pollution problems.
Most states have, in turn, delegated some responsibility for the control
of air pollution to local agencies. The basic vehicle the states are to
utilize to attain the standards is the State Implementation Plan (SIP).
States are required to inventory all sources of air pollution in those
areas that exceed the standards. Then the state must draft and implement
abatement plans. These plans contain, among other things, state and
local regulations and pollution control strategies to be implemented to
bring all areas into compliance with the standards.
To determine actual air quality, the Act required that states
establish a network of ambient air monitoring stations. Missouri has
established such a network which includes not only the required National
Air Monitoring Stations (NAMS) and State and Local Air Monitoring Stations
(SLAMS) but also a number of Special Purpose Monitoring Stations (SPMS)
designed to address short-term monitoring needs or special situations of
interest to the state.
The nonattainment areas for TSP, CO, and 03 in St. Louis are shown
in figures 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Figure 4 shows County names.
Health Effects
Air pollution can cause human health problems and sometimes
premature death. People of all ages can be affected, but the danger
is greatest for the very old and the very young.
Total suspended particulates (TSP) are solid particles or liquid
droplets small enough to remain suspended in air. They range widely
in size, from particles visible as soot or smoke to those too small
to detect by sight. TSP includes a wide range of non-toxic materials
72
-------
Missouri
Tl
Primary NAAQS
Not Attained
Secondnry f«AAQS
I.is! of TSP Non - \tt aiuing (Ounlics -
-------
Missouri
Primary NAAOS
No* Attorned
Promulgated List of CO
Counties -
-------
Primory NAAO:
Not Adorned
.\oii-.\ttainini; r,->un!i«-
-------
Missouri
-------
such as dust and dirt, and many other materials that we know or suspect
to be toxic. The effects of particulate air pollution on health are
related to injury to of the respiratory system, that is, the lungs
and threat. Such injury may be temporary or permanent. By weakening
resistance to infection, such pollutants may affect the entire body
adversely. Chemicals carried into the lungs by particulates, for
example, may cause cancer to develop on the lung lining, which then
may spread throughout the body and prove fatal. Eye irritations
from dust particles also can be a problem in many areas.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas
commonly found in our urban atmosphere in concentrations that can be
harmful to people. The greatest single source of this pollutant,
which is a byproduct of combustion, is the automobile. Carbon
monoxide is inhaled through the lungs and enters the blood steam by
combining with hemoglobin, the substance that normally carries
oxygen to the cells. CO combines with hemoglobin much more readily
than oxygen does. The result is that the amount of oxygen getting
to the tissues is drastically reduced in the presence of CO, and
this can have a profound effect on our health. CO also impairs
heart function by weakening the contractions of the heart which
supply blood to the various parts of the body. The effect of this on
a healthy person is to reduce significantly his ability to perform
exercise, but in a patient with heart disease, who is unable to
compensate for the decrease in oxygen, it can be a life-threatening
situation. Carbon monoxide is also harmful to persons who have lung
disease, anemia, or cardio-vascular disease. Carbon monoxide can
also affect mental function at relatively low concentrations.
Visual perception and alertness can be affected.
Ozone is a poisonous form of pure oxygen and the principal component of
modern smog. Ozone is not emitted into the air directly. It is formed
by chemical reactions in the air from two other pollutants, hydrocarbons
and nitrogen oxides. Energy from sunlight is needed for these
chemical reactions, hence the term photochemical smog, and the daily
variation in-ozone levels, increasing during the day and decreasing
at night. Ozone irritates the mucus membranes of the respiratory
system, causing coughing, choking, and impaired lung functions. It
aggravates chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis.
It is also a severe eye irritant.
Population
Table 1, attached, shows 1980 population data for the counties
in the St. Louis nonattainment area. Also included are data for
the Counties on the Illinois side of the nonattainment area.
77
-------
POPULATION
Missouri
St. Louis City
St. Louis County
St. Charles County
Jefferson County
Franklin County
1980
453,085
974,815
143,455
146,814
71,233
1,789,402
Illinois
Madison County
Monroe County
St. Clair County
247,671
20,117
265,469
532,257
Regional Total
2,321,659
Table 1
-------
Reactive hydrocarbon emissions in the St. Louis area come from the
following sources: highway traffic, 36%; industrial uses, 26%; consumer
and commercial use, 23%; other transportation, 10%; and gasoline and oil
sales, 5%. The largest individual sources of reactive hydrocarbon
emissions in the nonattainment area are as follows (reported in kg/summer
weekday): Monsanto Company-Queeny, 13,430; CMC Chassis Side, 8,788;
American Can Company, 7,304; Chrysler Corporation - Auto Plant, 6,111;
Chrysler Corporation - Truck Plant, 4,466; McDonnell-Douglas, 3,158;
Orchand Corporation-Reco, 2,709; Union Electric - Labadie, 2,180; Dow
Chemical-Riverside, 2,103; Orchard Corporation-Chesterfield 1,727; Reynolds
Metal, 1,710; Kellwood, 1,650; Mallinckrodt Chemical 1,556; American Car,
1,458; Crown Zellerbach, 1,433; Union Electric-Rush Island, 1,080; and
Ford Motor Company,K900.
Data Base
Total Suspended Particulate Matter
There are ten TSP monitoring locations in the City of St. Louis.
All have exceeded the primary annual standard in one or more years
during the period 1979-81. Some have exceeded the primary 24-hour
standard also. For the location of these monitors, see figures 5
and 6, attached.
Carbon Monoxide
There are eight CO monitoring locations in the CO nonattainment
area, see figures 7 and 8, attached. Mobile sources account for most
of the emissions. Recent data at most sites show decreasing trends,
as expected from the automotive emission reductions of the past decade,
From the data at the remaining sites, a reduction of the size of the
nonattainment area is indicated. More complete data might strengthen
the case for the size reduction.
Ozone
There are twelve ozone monitoring locations in the ozone
nonattainment area, see figures 9 and 10. St. Louis continues to
experience days over the standard although the number of days has
declined in recent years. A number of arguments have been presented
regarding the reasons for the decline. A combination of factors is
at work. First, new VOC rules covering major stationary sources are
in effect. Second, there has been a substantial slowdown in the
economy. Third, there have been major reductions in emissions from
mobile sources. Fourth, the weather in 1981 and possibly 1982 was
not conducive to the formation of ozone. St. Louis has probably not
made as much progress as the monitoring data would indicate.
79
-------
Tjr
THE TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATE
NONATTAINMENT AREA AND MONITORING NETWOftK
\ ST. LOUIS AREA
5
F7! H*i Not AtUlnrt Stcondarv 8Un
-------
THE ANN HAL GEOMETRIC MEAN VALUE FOR TSP
RECORDED AT EACH MONITOR IN 1981
SOURCES OF PARTICULATE EMISSIONS
todu**y
MkriotMl kxlner •tort
"r*-^ •/ v - • • i1 ' i • - / •• -/X • !•
vf ^/- v •'' i ••'''/' k'X^-i—« I
"\r=3f-"~.:~ »• •••,'.' "i u- , L .
*A/!L.^-;/\. ,\\\////'\ ••> Li
^^vfO'^v-" IA f'f'S'
vr \-^N • -»U^,..--_ .-. • . I,.7 / / /*
•=J •
llrlp^pgif^^
\
SUndird »0 ug/m
Primary KUtllh SUnd«rd 7S u«Jm'
FIGURE 6
-------
-
THE CARBON MONOXIDE NONATTAINMENT AREA
AND MONITORING NETWORK
1
2
3
4
4
location*
J4 >0 P..ih." 6
r»e«un
CMin 3< HOCM WtM> Sltlwn 7
SI Lou'»
IC267 Si Cnww* Roc* Ro*d 8
Si Ann
£*•••• 4 I '0 9
Si LOu>s
S4 t«u««r
MnXI Ml PC** t Ajphtf
Si Lout
30i Wwdmvi
OuMny PHIL
872' S B'o.o-«y
Si Lout
&M2 S undtrngn
Altion
/
. /
\
ST. LOUIS AREA
Has not attained the Primary Health Standard
-------
NUMBER OF READINGS AT EACH SITE
ABOVE THE 8-HOUR STANDARD
(10 mg/m')IN 1981
FIR1RE 8
-------
THE OZONE NONATTAINMENT AREA
ST. CHARLES
COUNTY
/ JEFFERSON
/ COUNTY
0 10 20 30 40km
ST. LOUIS
CITY
CO. LINE
FIGURE 9
-------
THE OZONE MONITORING NETWORK SHOWING
NUMBER OF DAYS EXCEEDING THE OZONE
STANDARD AT EACH MONITOR IN 1981 *
Location*
1 Highway 94
West Alton
2 3400 Pwanafl
Ferguson
7 dark • Tuchor
St. Louto
6. Rvw dm PWM A Sulphur
St. LoU*
3 Cham of Rocks Water Station 9. 305 Wtadrrwn
St. Louis Quoeny Park
4 10267 S» Cnartes Rock Road 10 6227 S Broadway
SI Ann SI. Louis
5 Srveveal-70
SI Louis
6 55 Hunter
Clayton
11 5962 S Lindbergh
Affton
12. Tenbrook A Arnold Tenbrook
Amok)
\
\
ton Amok) . '*' f I '" . ' '
. '•. '^^' {•»^"\.«jL^y(3exceedances):. "=jt: '^/ •" • I
\/^L,^~"> ^ ^| j/v:s > j-^ -— \ \\ ^ //'"~*" "^ ~" ^) (6 e*ceedances)
' i . < V ' / \ I ,//" y
edances) \ , < -. I ,$ {./*£• ] (\ ./ *
^W^/:^-]///^//;,^/
exceedances)
••* "-^ M/f'/•'>•••'
JSiX •• -'Cf^ (5) (no exceedances)'
'''"•/.' ;'. ••>'-;:--"'V ~%;"t \ '1 • \ ~~- •
KM)'-*' /'^'*'X' ~r v^tv V- V. r
=,.. - , (no exceedances)
8> (no exceedances) HS^Sk: jf
•3T.!*W^Lfc3;5«L2P>" X.
ou«
J- , / ; - L f Lk f JJI IH^jnoBxceeaancesi,.,^^*. jf ^Ps,
^^ui^fr^^
^7'^Ts j-i•qsrt&E.tbv$$l/J-l
•• •>'< ^\>^J.^tZf^-^^/
••^-7r^•^^'.«l/T\^!^.<.^/ -/c
\
'«f^
yt *\^.'**~
O) (3 •xceedances)
o
(A
S
i
]5
7i
3
I
I
•o
o
e>
-------
Emission Sources
Particulate emissions in the St. Louis area come from the following
sources: transportation, 45%; fugitive dust, 43%; industry, 7%; and
municipal incinerators, 5%. The largest individual sources of particulate
emissions in the nonattainment area are as follows: municipal north
incinerator, 784 tons per year (tpy); municipal south incinerator, 784 tpy;
Monsanto Company, 663 tpy; Anheuser Busch, 471 tpy; St. Louis Grain
Corporation, 254 TPY; Carondelet Coke Corporation, 233 tpy; and Washington
University Euclid Power Plant, 208 tpy.
The municipal refuse incinerators, owned and operated by the City of
St. Louis, have been found in violation of the Missouri Incinerator
regulations for particulate emissions. Formal negotiations to effect a
compliance plan were unsuccessful and ended in May 1982. The City was
ordered to test the facilities to demonstrate compliance with the SIP
Incinerator particulate limits. The SIP allows a joint contribution from
both incinerators of 1400 tpy, while tests show the actual contribution.
to be 4200 to 6000 tpy. The facilities were projected to shut down by
December 31, 1982 in the 1979 Part D SIP. The City has for some time
supported the planning of a multi-jurisdictional project to replace the
existing incinerators with new steam-generating incinerators. The date of
completion of this project has been extended from the originally projected
date of 1981 to 1987. There remains considerable doubt whether even this
date will be met.
Carbon monoxide emissions in the St. Louis area come from the following
sources: highway vehicles, 76%; chemical manufacturing, 5%; municipal
and industrial combustion, 2%; and other transportation, residential and
commercial fuel use, and incineration, 17%. The largest individual
sources of carbon monoxide in the nonattainment area are as follows:
Monsanto Company, 22,968 tpy; municipal north incinerator, 3,831 tpy;
municipal south incinerator, 3,701 tpy; Carondelet Coke, 128 tpy; and
Anheuser Busch, 102 tpy.
As was stated previously, ozone is formed by the chemical reaction of
two other pollutants in conjunction with sunlight. These two pollutants
are nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon emissions.
Nitrogen oxide emissions in the St. Louis area come from the following
sources: utility industry fuel use, 71%; highway traffic, 25%; commercial
and residential fuel use, 2.4%; industrial processes, 1.4%; and incineration,
0.2%. The largest individual sources of nitrogen oxide emissions in the
nonattainment area are as follows (reported in kg/summer weekday): Union
Electric-Labadie, 149,916; Union Electric-Sioux, 141,657; Union Electric-
Rush Island, 74,915; Union Electric-Meramec, 46,028; River Cement, 3,291;
Anheuser Bush, 2,339; Missouri Portland Cement, 2,332; PPG Industries,
2,117; Alpha Portland Cement, 1,340; and CMC Chassis Side, 1,041.
86
-------
Recommended Action^
Total Suspended Particulates
EPA's promulgation of a PM^JQ standard may obviate the need for further
TSP control strategies in St. Louis. This will depend upon what level is
selected for the standard.
Absent a PM^ standard, there still appear to be violations of the
primary TSP standard. The Missouri Part D attainment plan for St. Louis
relied principally upon control of fugitive and reintrained dust to meet
the primary TSP standard. The emissions inventory showed that further
control of point sources of particulate matters would provide little if
any further air quality improvement. Thus, a fugitive and reintrained
dust strategy was developed by the City.
The City air pollution control agency began enforcing an existing
ordinance specifying that parking lot surfaces be maintained in a dust-
free condition. A large number of notices of violation of that ordinance
were issued to parking lot owners. This program was successful until
large trucking companies were issued notices requiring their lots be
paved. This City effort was ultimately stopped by the City Council.
Renewal of the parking lot paving program could provide further
reduction of TSP concentrations in the atmosphere.
Fugitive particulate matter emissions are not well quantified if at
all. Thus, it is difficult to estimate the ultimate air quality improvement
feasible by controlling fugitive dust. Cleaning of architectural surfaces
by sand blasting is a common method of cleaning buildings and other
structures in St. Louis, but estimates of emissions which may be expected
from this practice are not available.
It seems likely that controlling fugitive and reintrained dust would
show positive air quality improvements, but it is difficult at best to
estimate how much improvement would be possible.
Carbon monoxide and ozone
Implementation of the in-place program to reduce these two pollutants
would do much to relieve the problem in the St. Louis area. The State's
program consists of the following three parts: (1) regulations to control
emissions of carbon monoxide and reactive hydrocarbons from point sources;
(2) the Federal Motor Vehicle Control Programs; and (3) the motor vehicle
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) program. In addition, the state should place
more emphasis on an anti-tampering and fuel-switching program. If the
implementation of the present program and added emphasis on anti-tampering
and fuel-switching fails to provide decreases in emissions which will bring
the area into attainment, more stringent controls on point sources and a
more stringent I/M program would be indicated.
87
-------
Changes from Existing System
1. Funding and Resources
Continued funding is needed for enforcement of the newly adopted
regulations to control emissions of all three pollutants, and additional
funding could be used to increase enforcement efforts.
2. Regulations/Policy
Total Suspended Particulate Regulations
Existing state and local regulations seem adequate to control
point source and fugitive emissions. The problem seems to be identi-
fication of violating sources and vigorous enforcement of existing
regulations. St. Louis is an economically depressed area; and
there is a fear of industry closing and leaving the City.
Carbon monoxide regulations
Carbon monoxide levels measured in St. Louis have been demon-
strated to be caused by motor vehicle emissions. Transportation
control measures are necessary, if the City is to attain the CO
standard.
Ozone
The state adopted regulations to control major sources of
volatile organic compounds (VOC) in 1979, 1980, and 1982. The state
intends to adopt additional regulations to control all remaining
major sources of VOC emissions in 1983. State adoption of regulations
to control major sources of volatile organic compound emissions has
been a major accomplishment. Prior to 1979 no major sources of VOC
emissions were covered by state regulations. After adoption in 1983
of planned regulations, all major sources of VOC emissions will be
covered by state regulations.
3. Legislation
The basic law for the I/M program is in place, but two additional
pieces of legislation are needed to enable the program to function. One law
would appropriate funds so that the Highway Patrol could hire sufficient
staff to inspect each participating garage each month. The second law would
allow participating garages to charge a sufficient fee for the emission
inspections to recover their costs.
88
-------
4. Research
Total Suspended Particulates
Numerous research studies have been conducted in St. Louis,
but little useful data seem to be available on the results. Future
research supported by EPA should be result-oriented, i.e., identify
the sources of particulate matter, quantify the amount, and propose
solutions.
Carbon Monoxide
No further research seems needed for St. Louis CO problem.
Ozone
Further research is needed to identify compounds which are
photochemically reactive. In addition, more information on the
relationship of VOC emissions to the formation of ozone is needed.
State Relations
The state had adopted controls that are reasonably available.
Mandated implementation and attainment dates do tend to upset
State/Federal relations.
89
-------
B. Missouri Lead Mining Area
Background
Lead has been mined in Missouri since the late 1800's. Lead
smelting was first conducted in the Herculaneum area, which is
on the Mississippi River about 30 miles south of St. Louis. A
primary lead smelter was built at Herculaneum in 1892. That
smelter has been expanded and updated over the years and is now
the largest primary lead smelter in this country. More recently
additional lead deposits were discovered in what is termed the
"new Missouri Lead Belt". Mines were developed in this area in
the 1960's. Two additional primary lead smelters started opera-
tions near the newly discovered lead deposits in 1968. At the
present time/ approximately 90% of the lead ore which is produced
in this country is mined in Missouri, and about 85% of the lead
smelting capacity is located in the state.
Lead is emitted into the air in various chemical forms during the
mining, concentrating, smelting, and refining processes. The
majority of the lead emissions occur during the smelting and re-
fining process and many of these are emitted from fugitive or non-
ducted sources. This makes their capture and control especially
difficult.
Location of Mines and Primary Lead Smelters (See Map)
Scope of Problem
The health effects of lead are most commonly observed in three
body systems; the blood forming, the nervous and the renal sys-
tems. The population groups most sensitive to lead are children >
between the ages of 1 and 5 and pregnant women. There is con-
siderable difference in the tolerance to lead between these groups
and the general population, and in fact, there are great differ-
ences in tolerance within like population groups.
Lead enters the body by ingestion and inhalation and is then ab-
sorbed in the bloodstream. In general, ingestion of lead is the
most important route of entry for small children. The ambient
air quality standard for lead is set at 1.5 micrograms per cubic
meter, quarterly average and is designed to protect small children
against excessive exposure due to inhalation of lead.
The air quality standard was established by EPA in 1978. State
Implementation Plans (SIPs) showing how the lead standards would
be attained were due in 1979. Air sampling data collected near
90
-------
LEAD PRODUCTI ON
I N
EASTERN MISSOURI
-------
all three of the primary lead smelters before that time indi-
cated that the standard was being exceeded. Although severe
health effects were noted in animals which were raised near
some of the Missouri lead smelters, no direct health effects
on the general population were linked to the Missouri lead
smelters.
The state of Missouri and the owners of the smelters set up ambient
sampling networks around all three smelters in 1979 to collect air
quality data for preparation of the lead SIP. These networks
were limited in number of samplers and the duration of the
sampling was short. These short term data indicated one of the
smelters (ASARCO) was meeting the 1.5 ug/M^ lead standard. Two
of the smelters, St. Joe Minerals and AMAX Lead Company, exceeded
the standards, and thus the state was required to develop control
strategies to reduce their lead emissions.
The ASARCO and AMAX smelters are located in areas which are
sparsely populated. The St. Joe smelter is located within
the town of Herculaneum, Missouri, which has a population of
about 2,300 people. There are other small communities within
3 to 5 miles of the facility.
Recommended Actions
The EPA approved SIP for the St. Joe and AMAX smelters con-
tains emission reduction programs which are designed to bring
the lead levels down to the standard at their property line.
Implementation of these control measures are to be completed
in late 1984 and early 1985. Expanded air monitoring networks
have been established around the smelters to check the adequacy
of the control measures. Preliminary results from the monitors
indicate that lead levels have improved, but may still exceeed
the standard. Additional air quality data are needed to deter-
mine if the control measures will reduce lead levels sufficiently
to meet the standard. Additional controls will have to be
identified and implemented if the standards are not met.
Regulations/Policy
The control strategy for the ASARCO smelter was re-evaluated
during 1982 using dispersion modeling. Ambient lead monitoring
is not presently being conducted at this plant. Whereas the
air monitoring which had been done at the plant before the
initial SIP was submitted in 1980 utilized only two monitors,
the modeling predicted air ambient lead levels throughout the
area. Even though ASARCO owns approximately 4,000 acres of
land in the area and the outer bounds of their property lines
are about 3 miles from the plant, there are parcels of land
tot owned by ASARCO which are much closer to the plant. The
92
-------
modeling predicted exceedences of the lead standard on theso
parcels of land. Because ambient air standards must be met
in all areas where the public has access and because ASARCO
cannot exclude the public-from these lands, violations of the
standards are occurring in these areas.
ASARCO and the state of Missouri contend that because the lead
standard is a three month average'Jand because the target popu-
lation group for the standard is children, exceedences in areas
where children do not live should be excluded from consideration
when standard violations are determined. This question must be
resolved and an acceptable control strategy developed to show attain-
ment and maintenance of the lead standard.
93
-------
C. Des Moines, la. - TSP
Background
Ambient air monitoring data in the primary nonattainment area in Des
Moines continues to exceed the primary standards for total suspended
particulates (TSP). While some improvements have resulted from control
efforts since 1968 one TSP site near central Des*Moines is the highest in
the region and among the worst in the nation. Since its establishment
in late 1976 this site has averaged 125 ug/nr Annual Geometric Mean (AGM)
and no trend toward attainment is apparent.
Special studies by the state found only small contributions to the high TSP
concentrations from major stationary sources. Larger contributions come
from transportation-related fugitive dust and from other sources such as
unpaved lots in the industrial area.
Although the attached map shows that the entire city and parts of several
suburbs are secondary nonattainment and parts of West Des Moines and
Ankeny are primary nonattainment, the highest TSP concentrations are found
in the central business and Industrial areas. These areas are heavily
populated with workers during the daytime hours and less heavily populated
at night and on weekends. The exposed population could be estimated as
high as 150,000 to 200,000.
The state's emission inventory shows that five major TSP sources are located
in the central area and that the area could be influenced by four other
nearby major sources. All of these sources are already controlled and,
as mentioned above, the high concentrations are thought to result from
uncontrolled fugitive sources.
Recommended Actions
The solution will be to continue and expand the current efforts to control
the fugitive emissions. The state plans to implement additional measures
later this year but a final determination of what should be done will
probably wait until after the revised particulate standard is adopted.
It is unlikely that the PM-10 standard would result in an attainment
designation but it could influence the extent and stringency of the
measures to be Implemented.
Additional monitoring is currently being arranged in anticipation of the
PM-10 standard and the entire network will be updated when the final
standard is promulgated. Additional funding will, of course, be needed
for the local agency to complete this transition. Additional state or
local resources will also be needed to develop the necessary strategies,
adopt the appropriate regulations and enforce the resulting requirements.
94
-------
.
• ..« ...
• >-». . . ,•-- •»J ^_ _- .o-
.11 .• •«.-.• n i ,
FIGURE 2 Recommended
Kcdesignation for
1'<-•:> Moines
,
^.-._ jt.
'• • • » LJ
,C K| El*?!
. " ; S" :
"^V . ' I J'"^L • S1'
-IJ—^J-'^flWW -«
r "^J I •!-, 0 X' i"!
.",f I I , I
MLLL i:«' 'j/
/?-LM:£ i ? -i"
* -vr' " •>""
1 _j.;;i]f:.|.^-l—
•'V.;i/ V
.. •; i :i.'^' y///.
w/m
•; -» ..- ..
i H i i . •• ;< «-^ . i .•• •
I ..•!»•• ^ ^M»-—^ Uu«* - J -^.w. •w.j.j-v.—-»^ i
--» -•! • •• •• kt«»- .. - t« •••»••-'«
>>.".-;•{. « i '..i.xu '.i;- •. .- -
\.£S^v^v';-
rgiSiCc^vi/.'
^if^K^-^t^-^
v" *;, ji . i^^' >«i ! ' * •
j Current nonattainoent designation for suspended particul.ite. .
Recocmended unclassified area
Reconancnded primary standard nonattalnmenc area
-------
D. Wichita
Background
The carbon monoxide nonattainment area in Wichita is limited to the
central business district. Violations of the carbon monoxide standard
have been found in Wichita since the installation of monitoring equipment
in about 1975. The cause of the violations is attributed to motor vehicle
exhaust emissions.
The Kansas Part D SIP for Wichita included transportation control measures
calculated to reduce CO emission and allow attainment of the ambient
standard. One of these measures is a voluntary Inspection Maintenance
(I/M) program. This program seems to have helped, but is not broad
enough in scope to realize the full potential emissions reductions. A
measure to synchronize traffic signals to improve traffic flow was included
in the plan but has not been
implemented. There seems to be some slight improvement in the measured
CO concentrations in Wichita. The affected population is approximately
279,000 persons.
Recommended Actions:
A mandatory I/M program is believed necessary to attain the CO ambient
standard in Wichita. The state has expressed the opinion that existing
legislation is adequate for a mandatory program. However, there is
strong opposition to a mandatory program and neither the city nor the
state has resources to establish and conduct an I/M program.* The voluntary
program was funded as a contract through the local agency with air grant
funds. These funds are no longer available.
96
-------
;>q JUj
/l™
^- ; ^!r•!fe^:^^•l^^ij!][]L^:LJ!J^IUD[!^!
?' -i ».'« .» I": ri^, |i ii I: |: ,- ;. r:, n |. \\ pii lijHjII II lilt II l!li II |! !' Ii |i I!
'
/;-^-r|l(1nmW:;'L'';[-^!J^!iLi^!JJ:iul]LI[]!i .iJUpmiMM
Ate-;:> l-^Hn&^M^iKMII lijl UUJJJlilUOUfJl«
iiliftWililiSI
ii mi! ^X^^::---;'^:-M- ^'^^ jiuiJDanara- r/ii wijuuui
T^iV^V^
''.^i-^*^^^
SlUTIlJIJUUCIiiiJi
LlUf^iJUUULUuuuniinu^^VH^H^NRhi yUUDUUUU^ I ItlUUiJUiJiiHUUU:
l^iFlf-Hil li --' g£5ifeM l^K^-IRHH'il l^-ii if if n n f? ir ?;£ ?\ J11-iri! Kji njinI! iLiii'.1
I M-, ,K fi^i^B^^a f duUu-jiJui fuL!uuaDi:ijlWra^i^iiB ii 111 -••;
b^^^^QSSR// |: UULJIIULITJU UUUUULi UuUi^. -vfe MI nUr U'i:KI'J
:UauLJlJrjr r Mnobtjp!^// ULiUULf. .ILIUQ 4 JUUGUMLJUFr^-^ Ainn 'n r r i^ . i! MI
i.rJLt?c;;riL JJLluLTrjt'.- /// t JUUUUUf lUuS*1 klLO iiiLnuhM.?N'J IkJui- J'.f. • J'.lllu.
iimLhOTJaVHW^
)3DaatedyHHdHLo:^i luuLBJU'iuij; mi! if i! li ii ii iri»^iai^v/^ji::,i iii-Jils
CENTER CITY AREA WICHITA, KANSAS
AIR OUALITY IMPACT AREA
• ' Non attainment area
•— — Contributing area
-------
E. Omaha, NE, CO and PD
Background
The City of Omaha is not currently attaining the federal air
quality standard of 9 ppm for carbon monoxide (CO). Air moni-
toring indicates the lead standard has also been exceeded during
the past three years in Omaha. The entire city is currently
designated as the nonattainment area for CO. The CO standard
was exceeded a number of times in 1978, with the second highest
measured level being 11.8 ppm. A 23.7 percent reduction in CO
was to be achieved by the end of 1982 in order to attain the CO
standard. The area where lead violations were recorded is ad-
jacent to the central business district on the Missouri River.
Violations have also been recorded across the Missouri River in
Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The state's control strategy to attain the CO standard depends entirely
on benefits derived from the Federal Motor Vehicle Control Program
(FMVCP) alone. The Kansas Air Pollution Package (KAPP) air quality
diffusion model was used to forecast 1982 CO levels based on fore-
casted traffic volumes, the emission rates in the MOBILE I program,
and the meteorological conditions used in the calibration process.
The forecasted increase in vehicle miles traveled is counteracted by
lower emissions resulting in an overall improvement in the CO level.
The projected CO level for the end of 1982 was 7.7 ppm.
The State of Nebraska submitted a lead SIP in 1980, but the control
. strategy for the Omaha area did not show sufficient lead reductions
to show attainment of the lead standard. The major sources of lead
in the area where the standard was exceeded are a lead refinery and
a secondary lead smelter which has shut down. Recent air monitoring
data show that the lead levels have been reduced at monitoring
stations which are located approximately 1/2 mile from the major
lead plant. However, modeling indicates that lead levels in a
railroad yard which is directly adjacent to the plant are 6 to 7
ug/M^, or 4 to 5 times the standard.
In January 1983, there were indications that the City of Omaha had
not attained the CO standard by the end of 1982, the statutory
deadline contained in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977.
Nonattainment Area (See map)
Scope
Existing stationary sources of CO in Omaha contribute less than one
percent of the total emissions in the area and are controlled to an
extent considered to represent reasonably available control technology.
The major stationary source of CO is the North Omaha Power Plant which
emitted 662 tons/year of the 713 tons/year shown in the 1977 Nebraska
98
-------
OMAHA
-------
Department of Environmental Control emission inventory. The impact of
this source will be further reduced because of its conversion from a
production station to a peaking facility to meet extreme power demands
during the summer air conditioning season when CO concentrations are
lowest in the Omaha area. Transportation sources account for over 90%
of CO emissions in Omaha. The 1980 population for the Omaha area is
512,603.
The lead refinery is the remaining significant lead source in the Omaha
area. The secondary lead smelter is not operating at the present time
and there are plans to close the plant permanently to make room for a
river development in the area. Closure of this secondary smelter has
certainly improved the lead air quality in Omaha, but there are still
indications that emissions from the lead refinery alone will cause
violations of the standard.
Air pollution poses a threat to the respiratory system, the heart, the
nervous system and the eyes. Carbon monoxide restricts the ability of
the body to absorb oxygen, thus impairing perception and thinking,
slowing reflexes, and causing drowsiness, unconsciousness and death.
It also impairs the ability of the heart to pump blood efficiently,
limits physical endurance, and may aggravate the symptoms of lung
disease, anemia and circulatory diseases.
&
No obvious decline in CO values has been apparent for Omaha over
the last four years (1979-1982). The city moved its CO monitors
a number of times between 1979 and 1981, so two quarters of data
for two sites were available only at the end of the 1981 and 1982
calendar years. One location shows attainment of the standard
(second highest values of 6.8 ppm in 1980 and 6.4 ppm in 1981),
while the other site has second high values of 10.9 ppm in 1981
and above 10.2 ppm in 1982.
Recommended Actions
There are transportation measures either underway or scheduled for
implementation over the next few years which may bring the area
into attainment before the end of 1984. Because most were in
developmental stages in 1979 and 1980 when the state submitted its
SIP, and would not be totally implemented prior to the end of 1982
(consequently adding an insignificant reduction toward attainment
by December 31, 1982), they were not considered for emission
reduction value. These transportation measures include an ongoing
ride-sharing program, an expanded public transit program utilizing
park-and-ride lots, and computerization of traffic signals for the
City of Omaha. The ridesharing program will be expanded over the
next year from a basic maintenance system to an active promotion
of ridesharing. The transit system has seen considerable expansion
100
-------
over the past couple of years with increases in both the existing
transit services and the addition of new service including regular
transit routes and park-and-ride lots for express buses. Further
expansion over the next year will be limited to increased frequency
on existing routes and possibly additional park-and-ride services.
The computer traffic signallzation in Omaha is being expanded from
the Omaha Central Business District and North 30th Street to include
most of the arterial streets within the city. Other transportation
measures are being considered; however, no schedule for implementa-
tion has been set. Some of these measures include high occupancy
vehicle lanes, variable work hours, and bike lanes.'
The lead control strategy will be re-evaluated during the next year
to determine if it is adequate to meet the ambient standards and
if not, to develop additional controls so that the standards will
be met. Because the lead refinery is the principal lead source in
the area, efforts will be concentrated on it with little attention
directed at mobile sources. Because the secondary lead smelter does
not have adequate controls, EPA will encourage the state to use ad-
ministrative and legal means to prevent that plant from resuming
operation.
The methods to be used to re-evaluate the Omaha control strategy
will include continued air monitoring in the area, inspection of
the lead refinery to determine the accuracy of the emission in-
ventory and dispersion modeling of all sources in the area. If
this exercise shows that the air quality standards will continue
to be exceeded, additional control measures will be identified.
The state of Nebraska will be required to incorporate these control
measures in a State Implementation Plan revision. If the state
fails to develop the revised control strategy, EPA will be required
to promulgate such a strategy.
Other Resources
The re-evaluation of the lead control strategy will require con-
tractual assistance from the state of Nebraska. Funds to support
such a contract are presently available within the Region.
101
-------
REGION VII
1983
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
PART II
IV. WATER QUALITY
-------
WATER QUALITY PROGRAMS
PRIORITY 1
SHELLROCK RIVER ABOVE NORTHWOOD
"~T
-- — -- _A£_ jJBALHOUN J_WE_BSTEJ^!_H£MILT
( ^rr T~ n • T
^-/- |_Oj>CEOLA_J_plcii?lNSON
CEDAR RIVER AT CHARLES CITY
IwiNNEBAGo! WORTH I . ', \f \
f -;—'—-J—:p:—^r!_M^HEj.l Jf HOWARD _J j
IwiNNESHIEKJALLAMAKEd
i . •: I !•=•: ^viV-.-i. i 1 "
\ I LH.^wt2LJ | j \t-*?*-?-A—~—•—j -•—*— T-—-'
'leTAJpqCAHONJASj V j WRIGHT_ IfRANKLIN j _BUTLE_R _j > '.I j j
"vr "^ ^|r~7t v^i"T'n ^,, i r ^
[BLACK HA^KJ^UCHA^Jj3£^WARE_i_OUBUOUE j
r"
"i—r—1
j >l
IS,
RAWFORD /^_CAHROLL J __ GRKiA i BOONE J __ [ _ STORY _ |_MAJISHALLJ _ rAi!Bl>^
' '~ ~ ' '
BENTON i LINN
r / / i M\ i i ^S£
L. / i^Ol^ON^ li ^ !DtUo,N»i ^ j j^^,
R-!S°N-.I eflS-BYJ ,; i GUTHRIE (DALLAS'-,] '"' V. L J*SPER if.OWESMIEI< I IOW* _LJO^1-
JTTAWATTA^E^ ~t H h 1 ^T^ ^7^"]— T' '
JONES
-L,.,,, I i*£KSON
S«.,,,. I CANTON
_JSCOTT
I I
I '<
AIR jX|
n~ v!
l) li
i
I
i
,. /"i——4>- _£$£?_ j fLPAIH TXMADISON ! WARREN ; MARION _^ _ \ J_KKM-r;;_c:r2r;..,»,.i4;,Ji--—
)M'LLS y| J7,~rr' " ' T\ ' ^'1 ' T'TUCAS~T'MONHOE rCwAPELLOl JEFFERSON | HENRY j
•/ ! «f I -1' J/ li i i ! \ '
sjj j '7 -r/ ») I 1 S'qi i ... r-,,,. : I ^,
I
IOWA RIVER
BELOW HARSHALLTOWN
i !
^jS\Kui>il>.» " DAVIS fV^N BUREN~| ! ,
\ ^~-•-*>-:. \ ?AA. r'TE~ "v 1
1 -j •- K* ^\l J
pPA_NOO^EjX;^!_..^,L'
-------
IV. WATER QUALITY
A. Shellrock River Between Albert Lea, Minn, and Northwood, la. -
Background:
The Shellrock River Is not presently meeting the 1983 fIshable-swimmable
goals and will not be until conditions are Improved in Minnesota. The
Shellrock River originates at Albert Lea Lake in Minnesota, and after it
crosses the Iowa border near North-wood, it receives wastes from the towns
of Northwoodi Manley, Nora Springs, Greene, Clarksville, and Shellrock
before It joins the West Fork Cedar River near Janesville.
The most notable water quality problems on the Shellrock River are dissolved
oxygen and ammonia nitrogen concentrations which often violate Iowa Water
Quality Standards and endanger aquatic life. The source of the majority of
the pollution is from outside of the state, at Albert Lea, Minnesota.
Profiles of the river generally show decreasing ammonia, phosphate, fecal
co11 form, and biochemical oxygen demand from the Minnesota border to the
mouth.
Aesthetic degradation, particularly concerning odor, is also a major
problem. Serious odor problems occurred below the Winnebago River at
Marble Rock and Greene in the late 1920s. Today the main odor problem is
in the Northwood area near where the Shellrock enters the state. Numerous
complaints concerning aesthetic degradation have been received by the
Department of Environmental Quality over the past several years.
The Shellrock has the potential of being one of the best recreational
rivers In the state, if pollution can be eliminated. It was probably the
best producer of fresh water mussels in the State of Iowa and was also an
outstanding smallmouth bass, .channel catfish and walleye stream.
104
-------
Scope:
Dissolved oxygen, BOD, and ammonia concentrations are the most serious
water quality problems in the Shellrock River. Measurements concerning DO
and BOD have been conducted sporadically since 1926 by the Department of
Environmental Quality and predecessor organizations.
Extensive sampling was conducted in the 1950s. On the basis of. those
samples, ammonia concentrations decreased, but BOD concentrations increased
slightly. Dissolved oxygen has also increased somewhat, but this may be
due to algal blooms, high flows and less intensive sampling in recent
years rather than actual Improvement.
Data from 1960-1970 Indicates that the mean BOD concentration in the river
has increased since the 1960s rather than decreased. The focus of pollution
today appears to be on Albert Lea in Minnesota. The 1977 and 1978 data
from fixed monitoring stations and the two intensive surveys (July 1977 and
February 1978) have Indicated a continual degradation of the Shellrock
River. During low flow conditions and ice cover conditions values of
ammonia nitrogen and 6005 are very high. Dissolved oxygen experiences a
sag in the extreme upper reach due to the water quality being discharged
from Lake Albert Lea.
Recommended Action
Sixty-five percent of the total outflow from Lake Albert Lea is directly
attributable to discharges going Into the lake. These problems have been
observed for decades. Interstate cooperation between Minnesota and Iowa
is underway to eliminate the pollution problems in this part of the river.
Albert Lea has completed Step 1 of. construction grants and are planning
on discharging to the Shellrock River below Lake Albert Lea. Funds for
construction of new facilities will be available during the fall of 1983.
Upon completion of adequate treatment at point sources on the upper
Shellrock, considerable improvement should be noted.
105
-------
B. Iowa River Downstream from Marshalltown, Iowa -
Background:
1982 Iowa Water Quality Report Identified areas in state where point
sources were having discernable impact on state waters. Among those were
Impacts to the Iowa River by City of Marshalltown wastewater treatment
facility discharge. Monitoring data from sites above and below the
Marshalltown discharge indicate elevated ammonia concentrations (attached
figure). Although 1979-80 data did not show in-stream oxygen problems,
the facility was repeatedly out of compliance with permitted BOD limits
during 1980.
Data from intensive surveys conducted during January and September 1976
and January 1977 Indicated problems with ammonia and dissolved oxygen, but
these problems appear to be limited to critical conditions of cold weather
and low stream flow.
During the January surveys, Increases in ammonia concentrations, from low
background levels to the 1 mg/1 range, were noted below Iowa Falls and
Marshalltown, and being temperature sensitive, the resultant low rate of .
instream nitrification caused the elevated ammonia concentrations to per-
sist for long distances downstream. The reach of 50 miles from Marshalltown
to the Coralville Reservoir was the most seriously degraded. Below Marshall-
town, ammonia Increased to 8.2 mg/1 and could recover to only 2.3 mg/1
before entering the Coralville Reservoir. D.O. sagged to 1.9 mg/1 in the
reach and recovered to only 2.4 mg/1. However, during the warmer weather
survey, moderate Increases in ammonia-nitrogen were found below discharges,
but prompt instream nitrification resulted in very low background concentra-
tions at the next downstream station.
The Iowa River is a major stream with a good many discharges and should be
surveyed as often as resources permit.
The Wapello and Iowa city stations are strategically sited, in that Wapello
monitors the combined Iowa-Cedar basin and Iowa City monitors the lower end
of the Iowa basin and is convenient to the monitoring laboratory. Because
of the influence of the Coralville reservoir on water quality, however, the
Iowa City data are not representative of water quality above the reservoir,
so there should be an intermediate station below Marshalltown, perhaps at
Amana. It would also be desirable to add a station above the major discharges,
perhaps near Belmond, to monitor background water quality, and to install a
station to monitor the English River, perhaps at Riverside.
Construction grants funding for upgrading Marshalltown facility will not be
available until after FY-84.
Iowa FY-82 305(b) list the City of Marshalltown as a facility out of compliance
with its NPDES Permit during 1980. Permit parameter violated was BOD limit.
In addition, legal action was taken by the Iowa Attorney General for Marshall-
town's violation of DEQ administrative order to comply with effluent limitations.
106
-------
Scope;
Impact to the Iowa River is elevated ammonia and decreased instrean dis-
solved oxygen resulting from discharge by City of Marshalltown, Iowa,
wastewater treatment facility. The Facility has, in recent past, been out
of compliance with permit limitations for BOD, and monitoring record shows
Increased ammonia levels below point of discharge (see attached figures).
Recommended Actions
The Iowa River receives a host of point source discharges, several of which
are of major proportions. The data indicate that it has good assimilative
capacity and good warm weather recovery capability, so that at relatively
low flow it can maintain acceptable quality. However, the point sources
do produce an adverse impact, and at critical weather and stream flow con-
ditions, cause severely degraded water quality. The intensive surveys did
not provide nonpoint source information, but the fixed station monitoring
suggests significant nonpoint water quality Impact in the lower part of the
river, but probably less problem in the upper part.
Upgrading of treatment for the major discharges should result in significant
improvement in water quality and provide for maintenance of fishable-
swimmable criteria at all but the most difficult of stream flow and weather
conditions. Nonpoint source effects have not been adequately assessed, but
it is likely that there are significant needs for controls, particularly in
the lower reaches.
Expansion of existing treatment facilities was initiated during 1982 by
the City of Marshalltown. This upgraded facility, when completed, should
significantly decrease impacts of the treatment facility discharge.
Research
An evaluation of the appropriateness of the Iowa criteria for ammonia for
the Iowa River of Marshalltown was conducted as a pilot project testing
proposed EPA guidance for site-specific criteria modification. Preliminary
data from December 1981 - January 1982 field monitoring Indicates no cri-
teria change is warranted at this time; however, definite evaluation of
appropriate criteria is pending completion of the project report.
107
-------
C. Kansas Water Bodies
Background
The current Kansas Continuing Planning Process is an output of the 1976-79
Section 208 Water Quality Management Planning effort and was approved in
1979. Except for special continuing studies specified by the plan, the
Plan has not been reviewed or revised since 1979. While the plan is believed
to remain a viable document, the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Construction
Grant Amendments of 1981 have introduced a number of concepts, especially
site specific water quality standards, which are not adequately addressed
by current State Continuing Planning Process.
The objective of this project is a comprehensive review of the State
Continuing Planning Process enabling Kansas to comply with the letter and
spirit of the Clean Water Act.
The State Continuing Planning Process serves as the framework for making
water quality management decisions. Typical CPP outputs and water quality
management decisions include:
1. Identification of location and parametric coverage of ambient water quality
monitoring activities.
2. Analysis and interpretation of ambient water quality monitoring data to
identify water quality management problems and verify the effectiveness of
pollutant control activities.
3. Allocation of water quality management resources including Federal
construction grants funds, agency technical assistance, and enforcement
activities through operation of a priority setting system.
4. Developing water quality criteria necessary to evaluate attainment of
water uses.
5. Specification of water quality standards considering receiving water
uses.
6. Specification of effluent limitations, waste load allocations and total
maximum daily loads considering receiving water quality standards.
7. Specification and recommendation of nonpoint source pollutant control
programs.
108
-------
Scope;
The Continuing Planning Process will address both conventional and toxic
pollutants. Kansas has operated an ambient monitoring program for over 40
years. All data is placed into STORET and is subjected to a limited qual-
ity assurance program, the ambient monitoring programs has, to a limited
extent, addressed toxic pollutants (primarily metals and pesticides).
Kansas is currently developing a bloassay laboratory to enhance coverage of
toxic pollutants.
Recommended Actions
1. The State Continuing Planning Process will be reviewed and revised to
comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act.
2. Data - The transition to site specific water quality standards will require
a great deal of resources for intensive surveys needed to determine current
conditions.
3. Funding/Resources - KDHE will utilize state, Section 106, Section 205(g),
205(J), special assistance from Region VII EPA SEA Commitments and other
agencies, such as the U.S. Geological Survey and the Kansas Biological
Survey to make the necessary site specific studies.
4. Regulation/Policy - There are no particular regulatory/policy barriers.
5. Legislation - The Kansas Water Quality Management Plan was reviewed and
approved by the 1979 Kansas Legislature through Senate Concurrent Resolution
1640. While this is not a statutory constraint per se, it demonstrates
the interest the Kansas Legislature has in the water quality management
program and the need to recognize the role of the CPP in providing Input
to the policy making process. On this basis, it may be desirable to
institute the concept of a Continuing Planning Process as legislative mandate.
109
-------
•Jj ATCHISON
- _^.._.._..^. T
lfcSS»%-j ;? *
I \ (* j MfAcER I
i 'M ! • ->-•-j
MISSOURI
-j-._.JSCHUYLE« COTL;ND| V ..
^ *Hn AOI/.^.
WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
PRIORITY 1
l~
SULLIVAN i
.
~t IDAVIESS'-j
[ DE KALB 1 i.
*- 1
I
( ! i U^qsjo.^ "CH*niV°N 'yuucoN
BUCHAN^jj | CALDWEIL !" CARROLL \ !rJ»NOOLP
PLATTE f • CUNTON ."""RAY 1 ' : \i ..".;" "*
V W f" CLAY I i *a _;• i
LITTLE SAC RIVER
TURKEY CREEK
i
IKANSAS CITV j j ,
: j ''VHOWARD
! LAFAYETTE : SALINE <
I , 1 i
JACKSON J j
PERCHE/HINKSON CREEKS
I
I 's.
'£'.
'•f. i.r.i°!!Nl0N._. ! PETTIS
CASS •''* ' , HENRY T 1 !
';Uim'_J,.J,y ^ [BENTON I
• ^ .'* '. ^ -.-'.' i
'• - •)•".
•''^
'JASPER
MCDONALD
•—-O.QSAGE o
:.: K-.T-i^A— !T -I"
| JNAS.HINGTpN. ^ S.^ .
' 1 ' FRANCOIS V'V
/'j' ,' !'.-•••-< ••; •i.rv""'">™; <• jMOMits ' m :
! 'VV {•sT-fe.-Ss-^.'.! sH-^: •" ! *.. ISjcpd-foi
r-15^^^ r%-4-<--X.TtER_!._.^.-.-T | ^
\*'-y ^-rV'J "; ICA^EN- ' 1 "^ |
f^' i'~'^--^cK^ip-^--^j .-.-• -;j ^^1
LOWER
MERAMEC RIVER
->! v . I i '-. "•>. L.i._._.T.JS
—r—^_. , w ; . . ,j . I \ ,. i .. v 1U—T .-WAYNET
| /JPBINGFItLO 1 1
I V j i
rn^^^—j ••-. i-——••*-—}..—L
S ','.,• j I _^
| VV .(.-., L.f^w?6NCEJ ' " . j I
L _NEVVTON ! S . SS1^T1*.N L._r._pOOOL«__^
' T & i.<--•,
• 7 JPEMISCOV
<• .
/DUNKLIN j
-------
D. Lower Meramec and Tributaries at St. Louis
Background;
/•
Meramec tributaries in the St. Louis Metropolitan area are affected by
sewerage treatment plant discharges Include Kiefer Creek below ELlisville,
Sugar Creek, Fishpot Creek, Grand Glaize Creek, and all tributaries from
northern Jefferson County.
Sampling in the lower Meramec in 1981 revealed occasional occurrences of
detectable amounts of 1, 1, 1 trichloroethane and trichloroethylene.
Scope:
State criteria values are violated for dissolved oxygen and solids result-
Ing from many subdivision and municipal plant dischargers.
The toxic pollutants found in the lower Meramec are from unknown sources
and consist of 1,1,1 trichloroethane and trichloroethylene. Aquatic life
protection and drinking water are the uses potentially impaired by these
pollutants.
Permanent monitoring stations exist on the Meramec and several intensive
surveys have been conducted.
Recommended Actions
Sewer districts in northern Jefferson County need to be organized and backed
by the county to centralize waste management and remove individual discharges
that are inadequately treating wastewater.
Additional monitoring to detect and identify sources of toxic pollutants is
needed.
A grant for the Grand Glaize Treatment Plant and interceptor is scheduled
for February 1983. Additional interceptors In the Fishpot and Kiefer Creek
areas will be funded in FY 1984. Sugar Creek may not be funded until
FY 1985. These grants will eliminate numerous overloaded lagoons, package
plants acquired by MSD in 1977. A survey of both existing and post-
construction conditions is expected. The survey of existing conditions
will be as part of an intensive survey of the Meramec scheduled for late
FY 1983 or FY 1984.
Additional intensive surveys are necessary to detect priority pollutants and
to possibly characterize "worst" case situation for conventional pollutants.
Ill
-------
201 funding of eligible facilities in Lower Meramec watershed.
State 106/205(j) grants for investigations are needed.
Missouri needs to pass legislation allowing second class counties to allow
sewer districts to regulate septic tanks.
112
-------
E. Little Sac and Dry Sac Rivers North of Springfield, MO - P.O. &
Background:
The Little Sac River receives the Springfield Northwest Municipal Wastewater
Treatment Plant discharge. Because of the low flow of the river, there is
very little dilution of the discharge. In the summer of 1982, a fish kill
of some 4,000 fish was attributed to the plant discharge.
In addition, several land fills in the area appear to be leaching pollutants
into the river during rainfall events.
The river is essential for walleye and white bass spawning from Stockton
Reservoir.
Scope
State criteria values are violated for dissolved oxygen and ammonia levels.
The scope of possible toxic pollutants from the landfills is currently
being evaluated.
No permanent monitoring stations exist in the vicinity of the discharge but
limited surveys have been and are being conducted.
Recommended Actions
Conduct Wasteload Allocation (WLA) to establish necessary treatment levels
(advanced treatment) for planned new plant. Establish project on fundable
portion of priority list for FY-84. Complete land fill sampling program
and Superfund site analysis.
One additional intensive survey to characterize problems and provide additional
information for WLA.
201 funding plus state and local funding to build new treatment plant. Possible
Superfund action.
State 106/205(j) funds for intensive surveys.
113
-------
F. Perche/Hinkson Creeks at Columbia, MO - P.O.
Background:
Presently, several major discharges and many minor discharges from munici-
pal treatment plants impact the water quality of these streams.
Although a regional treatment plant is nearing completion, there still may
be a potential for water quality impacts based on earlier WLA study which
recommended either nitrification or an outfall pipe to the Missouri River,
neither of which is being built.
The degree of improvement resulting from the new plant needs to be monitored.
Scope; i
Criteria values for dissolved oxygen and solids are violated. The use impaired
is protection of aquatic life.
No permanent monitoring stations exist on either creek but several intensive
surveys have been conducted.
Recommended Actions:
Complete regional 201 plant. Monitor impact through an intensive survey.
Conduct WLA if needed. DNR to do intensive survey in FY 1983. State/city
funding needed.
114
-------
G. Turkey Creek at Joplin, Mo. - P.O.
Background:
Joplin's municipal sewage treatment and several industrial dischargers
create impacts in Turkey Creek. Because of the "no" flow situation of
Turkey Creek (discharges make up its flow most of the year), there is no
beneficial use assigned to Turkey Creek due to pollutant levels in discharge
and lack of assimilative capacity.
If the state wants to assign beneficial uses, the situation will have to be
assessed to see what uses can be supported.
Also, the downstream impact in Oklahoma needs to be examined.
Plant funded in September 1982.
Scope;
State criteria values for dissolved oxygen and general aesthetic criteria
are violated although it should be pointed out that no uses are impaired
since none are assigned in Missouri's water quality standards.
No permanent monitoring stations are located on Turkey Creek and only one
recent intensive survey has been conducted in the Joplin area.
Recommended Actions
State could conduct an attainability study to see if beneficial uses could
be assigned. North Joplin Municipal treatment Plant would probably have to
be upgraded.
Intensive survey for water quality physical attainability data.
State 106/205(j) grants. State/local funding for facility.
State water quality standards evaluation.
115
-------
LONG PINE CREEK
SHERIDAN [
\
WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
NEBRASKA
KEVA PAHA j
I SCOTS BLUFF
BANNER
|
i KIMBAI.L
I I
,_BOXJILITTE I 7
j OARDENr
I
! I r"br-» WHOM RIVER
-hcEDAR ! f°rc'TY NEAR WEST POINT
I "1 _ . !-,»«(
MORflPLL ;
.
CHEYENNE
DEUEL
-JS*^
~\ i I i I"* **• iD.cor-c ^' ' w»VNF iTHURSTON
_^rL_B52!!!N_J._22SL.-| S~I J V_l^L-^--^uS!rMO--]_
i i '%rS- ' ! r^^r^~i^''r%f
I J3HANT I HOOKER ]_ THOMAS JBTA^I^^ koUP^'-^ Jft»RFIELD ! WHEELER, L. ".*215SSJ?!*-^.0^-.- * "—I BUR
j- "l •«—-j -V ki-J ^T V f ' I PLATTE jCOLFAKI ^ |
v--~~- i ^. i j ! ! "S!
ii M BOO±.^.L
'I, j\ ! 'NANCE \t»^-\
|\ VALLEY' \ OREELEJM ^-f
j \~^;±:>°WAB1 v.-*C_i>
ELKHORN RIVER
NEAR WATERLOO
: "I '
j PEFIKINS | LINCOLN loAWSON
i ' "V" ' ' 'T
'"• IMERRICK
>• !
_i
| R,^.,,,. |
^-r-
^^Woe,
^.Ml!tf5_ L ^Jif.tlST-1_ ^P^S.
"••AHLAN T ; WEBSTER
.L
-IBUTLEHJ
" SA'HPV'
SAUNOERS
ILANCASJER! ^_OTOE
I I \\
i ! \
I JOHNSONl NEMAHAJ^
1\
IOAOE ^_
PAWNEE j_ RICHARDSON_L
BIG BLUE RIVER AT BEATRICE
-------
H. Elkhorn River at Waterloo, Nebraska - Zn, and Cu
Background;
The Elkhorn River at Waterloo has high values of zinc and copper on a
frequent basis. While no use impairment has been attributed to these high
levels of metals, they are above national criteria for the protection of
aquatic life.
No specific source of the metals has been identified and no bioassay work
has been performed to quantify the impact.
Scope;
Fecal coll form levels are above criteria values fairly frequently but no
significant impact on uses has been identified. Total zinc and copper
has been monitored in the Elkhorn River at Waterloo (0680050) by the U.S.
Geological Survey since 1973. Since Nebraska does not have water quality
criteria for these pollutants, a comparison of the data to EPA criteria
indicates that the chronic and acute zinc criteria have been exceeded 70 and 5
percent of the time respectively; and, the chronic and acute copper criteria
have been exceeded 90 and 35 percent of the time respectively. The designated
beneficial use of warm water aquatic life could be Impaired by the zinc and
copper concentration which have been encountered. Two power plants (L.D.
Wright and Fremont #1) are suspected sources of these pollutants.
Recommended Actions
An analysis of the impact of these violation on aquatic organisms in the
stream segment should be made. DMR reports from industries in the area
should be reviewed and appropriate control actions taken if sources are
identified.
Biological condition above and below Waterloo should be compared. Minicipal
and industrial discharges should be examined for metals levels.
State 106/205(j) grantsd could be utilized.
117
-------
I. Elkhorn River near West Point, Nebraska -
Background;
The large number of small feed lots is believed to cause elevated levels
of ammonia in the middle segments of the Elkhorn River. The impact on
beneficial uses (warm water fisheries, partial body contact, and
agricultural) are unknown.
Scope:
Fecal coliform violation of national criteria have been reported at West
Point but the impact on beneficial uses is not judged to be significant.
The potential ammonia problem has not been quantified but feed lots are
suspected as main sources.
The permanent station at West Point did not show ammonia violations for the
period 1980-81 but state personnel believe problems may exist in nearby
stream segments.
Recommended Actions
Intensive survey to characterize extent of suspected problem and actual stream
Impact in middle segments of the Elkhorn.
Intensive survey should provide chemical and biological data on stream impact.
State 106 grant.
May examine state feed lot permit system's adequacy.
118
-------
J. Big Blue River at Beatrice, Nebraska - Zn and Cu
Background;
The Big Blue River at Beatrice has high levels of copper and zinc. No use
impairment has been identified but the levels are above national criteria
values for the protection of aquatic life.
Possible sources of heavy metals are industries producing steam electric
power, metal products, concrete products, nitrogen fertilizer products,
and sewage treatment plants.
Scope;
Fecal coliform levels were above national criteria levels but were not judged
to result in impairment of beneficial uses.
The total zinc and copper has been monitored in the Big Blue River at Beatrice
(068812500) by the U.S. Geological Service since 1979. Since Nebraska does
not have water quality criteria for these pollutants, a comparison of the
available data to EPA criteria indicates that the chronic zinc criteria has
been exceeded 80 percent of the time and the chronic and acute copper criteria
have been exceeded 95 and 50 percent of the time respectively. The designated
beneficial use of warm water aquatic life could be expected to be Impaired by
the observed concentrations of these pollutants. Although the exact sources
and cause of the problem are unknown, there are several industrial and municipal
discharges which are suspected sources of zinc and copper.
Recommended Actions
Upon completion of the Big Blue metals intensive survey, an analysis of any
source permit changes will be made. This will depend on stream impact
identified.
Future actions will be dependent on results of latest intensive survey.
State/local/industry funds will be needed to implement changes in treatment
to meet any necessary revisions to effluent limits.
119
-------
K. Long Pine Creek near Alnsworth, Nebraska - S.S.
Background;
Long Pine is a unique cold water stream that is being impacted by
irrigation development. It is a naturally reproducing trout stream
that has significant recreational value.
A major protection program is under way to improve landowner farming
practices. This Rural Clean Water Program, administered by USDA, will
reduce the amount of sandy soil being washed into the stream bed and prevent
further physical modification of the stream.
DEC is monitoring quality of water before, during and after this long-terra
pr oj e ct.
Scope
The physical modification of the stream from deposited solids and Increased
suspended solid load are the major problems. The major source is the land
being farmed in the watershed.
No permanent monitoring stations are located on Long Pine but DEC is conducting
a regular monitoring program in conjunction with Rural Clean Water Program.
Recommended Actions
Continue implementation of Rural Clean Water Program and DEC monitoring program.
State 106 grant for monitoring. Federal/local cost-sharing on land practices.
120
-------
L. REGIONWIDE BACTERIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION
Background
Consumption of drinking water is a unique direct exposure route for any and
all contaminants in the water to get inside the human body. In addition,
whereas many chemical contaminants in drinking water pose a chronic health
risk to the consumer, bacteriological contaminants pose a more Immediate,
acute health risk. These factors indicate the importance of reducing all
bacteriological contamination in drnking water. The highest priority in
this regard is dealing with persistent bacteriological MCL violators. For
community water systems, a persistent violator is a system which violates
the bacteriological MCL for four or more months.
Scope
Bacteriological contamination is the result of unsanitary conditions in a
water system (e.g., poor well construction, distribution system in need of
repair, lack of chlorination), which many times can be easily and economically
corrected. Identification of a persistent violator indicates a system that for
some reason has more than an occasional sanitation problem. Aid to these systems
is provided by primacy states in the Region in the form of letters, phone calls,
and on-site visits.
Recommended Actions
EPA's Drinking Water Branch should emphasize to each state the Importance
of closely tracking persistent bacteriological violators. This would be
done at the time of EPA's annual mid-year evaluation of the state 's public
drinking water programs and during subsequent quarterly visits to the
states. It should be stressed that solving the problems of persistent
bacteriological violators should be the state's top priority, and that
resources should be allocated so as to allow sufficient follow-up actions to
reduce the incidence of contamination. Follow-up activities, leading to a
decrease in identified persistent violators, should be documented and
reported. The states should seek our assistance when needed.
121
-------
REGION VII
1983
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REPORT
PART II
V. HAZARDOUS WASTES
-------
V. HAZARDOUS WASTES
A. Aidex Corporation, Council Bluffs, Iowa
Background; Aidex was a pesticide formulating facility which operated
between 1974-1979. Surface soils are contaminated from spills and
leaking drums containing residues and wastes. Wastes are allegedly
buried on site. Also on site, a concrete basin and a buried storage
tank contain wastes.
The Aidex Corporation site appears on the National Priorities List, and has
been designated as the state's number one priority site. It is located
approximately seven miles south of Council Bluffs, in Mills County, in
the 100-year floodplain of the Missouri River.
This facility was used primarily for the formulation of pesticides.
Spills and disposal of pesticide wastes in an underground storage tank,
in above-ground containers, whose condition has deteriorated, and burial
have caused gross contamination of the Aidex site. The Corporation
.ceased operation and declared bankruptcy in 1979.
Organophosphate, organochlorine, and Atrazine pesticides are the compounds
present on the site which are of the most concern. The organophosphates
are of the greatest immediate concern due to their high mammalian
toxicity. Because of the cholinesterase-inhibiting nature of the
organophosphate, a human health hazard will exist at the site in the
form of discarded waste products and contalminated soil until removal
activities are complete. The organochlorine pesticides, while less
toxic, are of greater long term concern due to their persistence in
the environment and tendency to accumulate in biological organisms.
Exposure to Atrazine can cause dermatitis.
Recommendation Action; Under Superfund, the Agency will undertake
initial remedial actions to provide for the safe collection of liquid
and solid pesticide wastes on the site; storage of those wastes in
containers suitable for both longterm warehouse storage and for transport
to an ultimate disposal site; and, decontamination of a 12,000-gallon
burled tank and an open concrete pit. The feasibility study will
identify final remedial options for the site. The State entered
into the State Superfund contract to carryout these activities, for
which EPA has the lead.
B. Arkansas City Dump, Arkansas City, Kansas
Background; The Cowley County site is the location of the former
Mil liken Refining Company which was abandoned following an explosion
and fire in the raid-1920's. Known wastes and contaminants remaining at
the four acre site are:
123
-------
1. Two areas of hardened, asphaltic residues;
2. Areas of ponds containing oily sludges, some covered with earth; and
3. A series of ponds where an oily sheen on the water and oil contaminated
soils were observed.
There have been several changes in ownership of small tracts of land on
the site which formerly were owned/ope rated by the refinery. Although
the plant equipment has been salvaged over the years, the refinery
wastes were spread over an area of about four acres and are still
present on the site. Most of what remains of the former refinery site
now belongs to A.C. Industries, Inc., a local community based industrial
development organization, and the City of Arkansas City. Tracts of
land formerly belonging to the refinery owners have been developed and
sold to several small businesses around the site.
Recommended Action: A report on the preliminary investigation of the site,
funded through a grant from EPA, is expected to be completed by the
State of Kansas. The investigation has found that various polynuclear
aromatic hydrocarbons are on site causing contamination of soils,
surface water, and groundwater. These hydrocarbons are potential
carcinogens if Ingested through contaminated aquatic organisms.
This site appears on the National Priorities List and is the State's
number one priority site.
C. Doepke Disposal Service, Johnson. County, Kansas
Background; The Doepke Disposal Service, a disposal site closed in
1970, is located at the intersection of Holliday Drive and 1-435 in
Johnson County, Kansas.
Since the closure, leachate has been observed leaving the site and
flowing into the Kansas River. There is also concern of possible
groundwater contamination. The ten acre site is located on the southern
bluffs of the Kansas River Valley. During its operation from 1968 to
1970, the site received unknown quantities of a variety of industrial
wastes. A few of the more common wastes included paint sludges, spent
solvents, metal tailings, and fiberglass resins.
To date, only preliminary investigations have been completed. Leachate
samples obtained during these investigations have shown evidence of
phenols, cyanides and metals. This site appears on the National Priority
List.
Recommended Action; Further investigations are under way to define the
scope of the problem.
124
-------
D. John's Sludge Pond, Wichita, Kansas
Background; Prom 1951 to 1970, oil sludges from an oil recycling process ,
operated by the Super Refined Oil Company, were disposed of In pits.
The sludge in John's Sludge Rind was found to contain polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCB's) and heavy metals. The water on top of the sludge
was found to be corrosive.
Groundwater samples in the Immediate vicinity contained concentrations
of heavy metals above background levels; a concentration of 0.43 ppm
of lead was recorded in one sample. No significant concentrations of
organic contaminants or PCB's were detected in the groundwater.
PCB's have been used as dielectric fluid in electrical equipment.
They have become an increasing concern because of their apparent ubiquitous
dispersal and persistence in the environment. They also have a tendency
to accumulate in food chains, with possible adverse effects on animals
at the top of the food web, Including humans. Lead Is bio-accumulative
and tends to concentrate in the food chain.
This site appears on the National Priorities List.
Recommended Action; Negotiations with the City of Wichita are under
way to define a plan assigning responsibilities for site cleanup.
E. The National Industrial Environmental Services, Inc. (NIES)
Background; This hazardous waste landfill facility near Fur ley, Kansas
has demonstrated off-site groundwater contamination. Small quantities
of contaminants have also been found in surface waters, and land is
contaminated as well.
The facility opened in February 1977, under a Kansas Department of
Health and Environment (KDHE) permit. Operations continued, under
interim status, until January 18, 1982, when the site was ordered closed
by KDHE because of possible health hazards. The closure was based on
the discovery of organic contaminants in a spring one-half mile north
of the site. Additional wells drilled near the north property line of
the facility confirmed the release.
In early May 1982, the owner of the facility, Chemical Waste Management,
Inc., submitted a hydrogeological report and remedial action plan to
KDHE. (KDHE has lead review responsibility on this project, and EPA
reviews and comments on all documents.) Both documents were prepared
by Woodward-Clyde Consultants. The plan recommended drainage trenches
to Intercept the flow of contaminants off-site; an underground Injection
well for disposal of liquid cleanup wastes, closure of treatment and
evaporation ponds; capping of existing landfill areas; and, construction
of a new landfill cell with synthetic and clay liners for disposal of
solid cleanup wastes.
Recommended Action; Drainage trench construction and capping of the
existing landfill areas have been completed. The drainage trenches are
125
-------
working and the groundwater pumped from the trenches Is currently being
hauled to an off-site disposal facility. The new landfill cell is under
construction and design specifications have been submitted for pond closures
and the injection wells. Pond closure will begin when the new disposal
well Is completed. Approval of the inject ion well has been delayed and
other alternatives for disposal of pond and trench fluids are currently
being considered.
Thus far, cleanup operations have been limited to the site itself.
Additional monitoring is needed to ascertain the effect of the drainage
trenches before off-site cleanup can be required or rejected. The
off-site contaminants include toxic organic chemicals as well as
known and suspected carcinogens. Public concern about the site has
been repeatedly expressed since 1976, and statements opposing any
reopening or expansion of the site recently have been made. A letter
requesting closure or a Part B permit application was sent to the facility
on March 9, 1983. The Part B will be due on or before September 10, 1983.
F. Elllsville Site, Ellisvllle, Missouri
Background; The site is comprised of three non-contiguous residential
properties which lie within a one mile stretch along the watershed of
Caulks Creek, a tributary of the Missouri River. Preliminary geologic
information indicates that chemical wastes poured on the ground or
buried in the ground in this watershed could enter and contaminate the
groundwater. Approximately 30 households in the area draw drinking
water from groundwater in the Caulks Creek watershed.
Ellisville is the number one priority site for Missouri for Superfund
remedial action, and is on the National Priority List.
This site is comprised of the Rosalie Investment Company property, the
Grover Callahan property, and Russell Bliss property. Composite samples
from the three areas have included phenols, nitrobenzene, naphthalene,
anthracene, phenanthrene, various pesticides, BHC's, phthalates, toluene,
propanol, MEK and other solvents and oily wastes.
The chemicals of most concern disposed at this site are phthalates,
nitrobenzene, Aldrin, DDT, DDE, PCB's, and Heptachlor. Aldrin, Heptachlor
and DDT are insecticides. DDE is a breakdown product of DDT. feptachlor,
DDT, DDE, and Aldrin are potential carcinogens. Nitrobenzene affects
the central nervous system. PCB's have been used as insulation in
electric equipment like transformers. PCB's have become an increasing
concern because of their apparent ubiquitous dispersal and persistence
in the environment. They also have tendency to accumulate in food
chains, with possible adverse effects on animals at the top of the
food web, Including humans.
126
-------
Recommended Action: EPA and the State of Missouri have signed a
Cooperative Agreement for a feasibility study and remedial investigation
of the Ellisvllle sites. The feasibility study and remedial investigation
is being conducted by Black and Veatch and is 54 percent complete.
G. Minker/Stout Residences and Romaine Creek, Imperial, Missouri
Background; Dioxin contaminated/ soil was excavated from the Bubbling
Springs Ranch Arena and used as fill dirt in two residential areas. Since
that time, much of the fill dirt has eroded into Romaine Creek.
Between 1969 and 1972, the Hoffman-Taff Chemical Company leased a
portion of its Verona, Missouri, manufacturing facility to the North
Eastern Pharmaceutical and Chemcial Company (NEPACCO). The facility
was later acquired by Syntex Agribusiness. At this facility, NEPACCO
manufactured hexachlorophene from tetrachlorobenzene, producing 2,4,5-
trichlorophenol(2,4,5-TCP) as an intermediate. When the Food and Drug
Administration restricted the use of hexachlorophene,in the early 1970's
NEPACCO ceased operations.
Dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or TCDD) was sometimes produced
as a waste by-product in trace quantities during the production of 2,4,5-TCP.
A distillation process was, therefore, used to remove the dloxln and other
impurities from the TCP. As a result, the dioxin concentrated in the
distillation and filtration residues.
Mr. Russell Bliss, a Missouri waste oil reclaimer, was contracted in
1971, to remove the distillation residues from NEPACCO. A portion of
these residues was mixed with waste oil and subsequently used for dust
control at the Bubbling Springs Horse Arena near Imperial, Missouri.
Six or seven horses died after exposure to this material.
The soil from the arena was then excavated and used for fill material
at two Imperial, Missouri, residences. The first, designated Fill Area #1,
is the Minker residence where substantial erosion has washed much of the
contaminated soil into Romaine Creek and the surrounding area. The
second, designated Fill Area #2, Is the site of two mobile homes formerly
known as the West Swaller Trailers or the Stout residence. Preliminary
sampling was conducted in May 1982 at the arena, the two fill areas,
and at various locations along Romaine Creek. Analyses for total and
2,3,7,8-TCDD were conducted and the results became available in early
September 1982. These results showed levels of TCDD to be above
background in every sample.
TCDD is the substance of the most concern. TCDD can be absorbed through
the skin or inhaled with dust particles. The effects of exposure include
chloracne. TCDD also has been shown to be mutagenic and carcinogenic.
127
-------
This site appears on the National Priorities List.
Recommended Action; EPA and the State of Missouri are preparing to
enter a State Superfund Contract for initial remedial actions. EPA
will also conduct a feasibility study to select the final remedial action.
H. Arena 1 Dloxin Site, Shenandoah Stables, Moscow Mills, Missouri
Background; In 1969, the North Eastern Pharmaceutical and Chemical
Company (NEPACCO) began producing 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP) as an
intermediate for hexachlorophene in a Verona, Missouri, manufacturing
facility leased from the Hoffman-Taff Chemical Company and later Syntex
Agribusiness. In the manufacturing process, the product stream was
distilled and filtered to remove Impurities. Dloxin (2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodlbenzo-
p-dioxin or TCDD), which was formed as a waste by-product in trace quantities
during the manufacturing process for the TCP, was removed from the product
during filtration and distillation. The filtration and distillation
residues thus became contaminated with dloxln.
Mr. Russell Bliss, a Missouri waste oil reclaimer, was contracted in 1971
to remove the distillation residues from NEPACCO. A portion of these
residues was used for dust control at several horse arenas, one of which
was the Shenandoah Stables near Moscow Mills, Missouri. As a result,
numerous animals, including over140 horses, died. Several children and
adults also became ill. Before the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta,
Georgia, determined that dloxln was responsible for the illnesses and
deaths, the contaminated soil was excavated and used as fill material for
a swamp area and a new highway. Exposure to TCDD can cause chloracne; it
is also mutagenic and carcinogenic.
This site appears on the National Priority List.
Recommended Action; This site will be investigated further. Remedial
action has not been determined to date.
I. Fulbright Landfill, Springfield, Missouri
Background; The Fulbright Landfill is a closed Springfield city landfill
located in the floodplain of a tributary to the Little Sac River, which
drains into Stockton Lake. During its operation by the City from 1962 to
1968, the landfill accepted both municipal and Industrial wastes. The
industrial wastes include such wastes as cyanide, acids, plating residues,
trichloroethylene, plater paint, and pesticide residues. There is inconclusive
evidence that suggests the industrial wastes disposed in the landfill have
contaminated surface and groundwater In the area.
128
-------
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is investigating and working
with the City to sample for contamination associated with the landfill.
The City of Springfield uses groundwater for its municipal water supply.
The heavy metals and cyanides from the plating wastes are the substances of
most concern at this site.
This site appears on the National Priorities List.
Recommended Action; The City maintains groundwater contamination is not
related to the landfill, thus they do not want project assistance under
Super fund nor the Imposed matching funds requirements.
EPA and the State of Missouri are continuing to evaluate this site.
J. Syntex Facility, Verona, Missouri
Background: Several areas of the old North Eastern Pharmaceutical and
Chemical Company (NEPACCO) plant site are believed to have been used for
the disposal of dioxin-laden residues. These areas include the Syntex
trenches, a burn area, a slough area, the site of the former Hoffman-Taff
lagoons, and the former NEPACCO irrigation area. The Spring River runs
adjacent to the plant site, and fish from this river have been found to
be contaminated with dioxin as far as 96 miles downstream.
Between 1969 and 1972, the Hoffman-Taff Chemical Company leased a portion
of its Verona manufacturing facility to NEPACCO. This facility was
later acquired by Syntex Agribusiness. At this facility NEPACCO manufactured
hexachlorophene from tetrachlorobenzene, producing 2,4,5-trichlorophenol
(2,4,5-TCP) as an intermediate. NEPACCO ceased production shortly after
the Food and Drug Administration restricted the use of hexachlorophene in
the early 1970's.
Dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodlbenzo-p-dioxln) was sometimes produced during
the production of the 2,4,5-TCP. A distillation process used to remove
impurities from the TCP resulted in the concentration of dioxin in the
distillation and filtration residues.
This site appears on the National Priority List.
Recommended Action; Syntex is investigating this problem under the terms
of a Consent Order issued under Section 3013 of the Resource Conservation &
Recovery Act.
129
-------
K. Neosho-Digester/Wastewater School, Neosho, Missouri
Background: Dioxin-contamlnated wastes are contained in a tank at the
Water and Wastewater Technical School in Neosho. Some material has leaked
from the tank into the soil.
Process wastewater contaminated with dioxln from the North Eastern
Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company (NEPACCO), a former company producing
hexachlorophene, was given to the Water and Wastewater School for conducting
treatability studies. The Wastewater was contained in a tank at the
school. Some material has leaked from the tank into the soil.
EPA has fenced an area that has been contaminated by the spillage of the dioxin
contaminated wastewater. EPA also has moved the tank into a secured building.
Process wastewater from NEPACCO was also disposed of in a concrete digester
at the City of Neosho's Wastewater treatment plant. The wastewater
contained 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). About half of the
approximately 225,000 gallons of wastewater originally placed in the
digester leaked out. More was spilled when the digester was filled,
causing sludge to be displaced over the top. The displaced sludge was
burled in a trench near the digester.
In January 1981, EPA learned that TCDD was present in the Neosho digester.
Between January and August 1981, EPA made several trips to Neosho for
the purpose of information gathering, sampling, and off-site monitoring.
In April of that year, the City of Neosho put up a 42-inch fence around
the digester, trench, and exposed surface sludge to isolate the area.
The samples of materials from the digester contained 60 ppb of TCDD and
2,500,000 ppb of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP). The trench samples
contained 0.49 ppb of TCDD. No TCDD was found in any off-site samples.
TCDD is formed as a waste by-product when manufacturing hexachlorophene.
TCDD can be absorbed through the skin or its vapors Inhaled. The effects
of exposure Include chloracne. TCDD also has been shown to be mutagenic and
carcinogenic.
Recommended Action: EPA is negotiating remedial actions with the City
Officials.
130
-------
L. Amoco Oil Company, Sugar Creek, Missouri
The Amoco Oil Company is located on the south bluff of the Missouri River
near the confluence with Sugar Creek. The refinery has been in operation
since 1904. Several potentially serious environmental hazards are
present on or adjacent to the refinery site. Amoco is charged with
violating its NPDES permit for the discharge of treated wastewaters and
is involved in litigation with EPA under the Clean Water Act. Also,
numerous oil spills into Sugar Creek and the Missouri River have occurred
in recent years. The disposal of solid wastes, particularly those which
may be classified as hazardous wastes or substances, is now a major
environmental and public health problem.
Several waste disposal sites on or near the refinery property have been
Identified as areas of potential concern to the EPA. Most of these sites
are located on the northeast side of the refinery along the Missouri
River. In this area there are two surface impoundments for sludge storage
and an aerated lagoon for treating refinery wastewaters which are active
facilities. Two inactive land farms for the disposal of sludges are also
located in this area. Groundwater monitoring conducted in the vicinity
of these waste treatment and disposal facilities reveals that groundwater
contamination is occurring. Concentrations of arsenic, mercury, and
lead have been observed to exceed EPA maximum contaminant levels while
levels of chemical oxygen demand, total dissolved solids, odors, and
phenols have exceeded the Missouri groundwater recharge standards.
Other waste disposal sites are found at various locations around the
refinery. On the eastern edge of the refinery property, sludge resulting
from the storage of leaded gasoline is landfarmed. High concentrations
of lead and chromium are present at this site. Also, four areas in the
central portion of the refinery have received indiscriminate dumping of
lead tank bottoms in past years. These tank bottom wastes are hazardous
as defined by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
One waste disposal site of concern is located off the refinery property
to the southwest. This inactive facility is a landfarm where oily
sludges were previously disposed of. High levels of lead and chromium
have contaminated the soil at this site.
Oil seepage from leakage of underground pipes and tank bottoms is an
overall problem which contributes to groundwater degradation. A gasoline
recovery pump is located on the southern boundary of the refinery site
to pump gasoline from the groundwater. Also, oil seeps from several
springs on the side of a bluff on the northwestern edge of the refinery,
causing unsightly stains and overflowing into surface waters during
heavy rains.
Recommended Action: Amoco has been working with EPA to clean up problems
at this refinery in preparation of abandoning the site. Amoco has
submitted a closure plan which is presently undergoing some changes.
Closure will begin upon approval of the closure plan. EPA is presently
evaluating the groundwater monitoring results to determine what additional
remedial actions may be needed.
131
-------
M. Conservation Chemical Company, Kansas City, Missouri
Background: Prom early in the 1960's until 1979, wastes were deposited
in several surface impoundments at this site. These impoundments were
unlined or improperly lined. Arsenic, trichoroethylene, benzene,
dichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, dichloroethane, and trichloroethane
have been detected in the groundwater.
The site is located on the alluvium of the Missouri River. Spills and
disposal of wastes have caused contamination of the groundwater and
have the potential to cause contamination of the Missouri River.
Recommended Action; Two law suits have been filed. The defendants
named included Conservation Chemical Company and Norman Hjersted, and
four of the waste generators whose wastes were transported to this site.
N. Phillips Chemical Company, Beatrice, Nebraska
Background; This is the site of a chemical fertilizer plant operated
by Phillips Chemical Company. There are two parts to this facility, an
active disposal site regulated by RCRA and an Inactive uncontrolled
site. At the inactive site, liquid wastes were disposed mainly without
containers into unlined pits or trenches. There is a potential for the
wastes to migrate from the disposal area.
The site appears on the National Priorities List.
Phillips Chemical Company owns and operates the Hoag Nitrogen Plant,
located 4 1/2 to 5 miles northwest of the City of Beatrice, Nebraska.
The plant commenced operations in 1964 and was initially operated by
the Phillips Petroleum Company. However, in 1980 the Environmental
Protection Agency was notified that Phillips Chemical Company, which is
a subsidiary of Phillips Petroleum Company, was the new owner of the
site.
The facility has continued to manufacture nitrogen fertilizers. Chemical
and hazardous wastes generated in these manufacturing operations have
been disposed on-site. Wastes were burned in shallow pits or trenches,
approximately 10 feet deep, and then covered with porous material. The
pits and trenches were un lined and without leachate collection systems,
and were not otherwise engineered to adequately contain the disposed wastes,
The site is located approximately one mile from the Big Blue River.
Groundwater occurs at a depth of 22-24 feet, allowing a separation of
only 12-14 feet between' the wastes disposed and groundwater. Groundwater
is not being monitored for potential contamination by the wastes disposed
in the pits and trenches.
There are a number of large capacity irrigation wells in the vicinity
of the site. The land surrounding the site is agricultural and rural.
However, there are several residences which, due to the distance from
the city, are likely to be served by groundwater wells.
132
-------
Phillips continues to operate an interim status surface impoundment for
the treatment or disposal of hazardous wastes at the site. EPA and the
State regulate this impoundment under the Federal and State Hazardous
Waste Regulations. Groundwater monitoring for the interim status
surface Impoundment has detected at least three contaminants in excess
of background concentrations. The now inactive pits and trenches
previously used for waste disposal are presently not included in this
monitoring system.
Recommended Action: EPA has begun negotiations with Phillips for the
Company to monitor the site and prepare a hydrogeologlc assessment
under the terms of a Consent Order under 3013 of RCRA.
133
-------
VI. PESTICIDES
Drift and Residue in Bootheel, Missouri
Background: In the late 1930's about 3-4,000 acres of rice were grown
in the Missouri bootheel and only a very small increase was noted until
about 10 years ago when the federal crop allotment requirements were
removed. Since that time the acreage has increased from about 5,000
acres to 75,300 in 1981, or approximately 1.500Z, and is almost entirely
located in a three to four-county bootheel area. During this same rice
growing growth period idle croplands were put back into tillage and
marginal hardwood lands were cleared for the same purpose. The result
is a very intensified cropping system in the bootheel with very little,
if any, idle land from field to field. Agronomists report that rice
growers only began using weed control herbicides such as propanil and
molinate on a large scale in recent years. This is primarily the result
of the high cost per acre for growing rice and a marked increase in the
ma rke t pr ic e.
The timing for applying propanil is a very narrow part of the plant growth
period. Application to a particular field must be made during a two to
three-week period and just prior to flooding the crop. This results In
a scurry of activities to get the rice treated and applications
made when conditions, such as wind, are less than ideal. Applications
are most intense during the month of June, the same period when nearby
non-target crops and plants are at an early growth stage and most •
susceptible to chemical damage. These conditions, combined with the
fact that many non-farm individuals in recent years have constructed
rural residences on lands adjacent to croplands, have amplified the
potential for drift and subsequent chemical damage to non-target plants.
Scope;
1. Health Effects
Propanil and molinate are moderately toxic herbicides and pose a
relatively low oral toxic!ty hazard to humans. However, they are
both eye and skin irritants and propanil can cause severe eye
irritation. There are no known instances of human exposure having
caused health problems in Missouri. Potential for problems is the
greatest with flaggers for aerial application, residents and other
persons in areas adjacent to field where application is taking place.
2. Wildlife Effects
Propanil poses a potential problem when used adjacent to streams and
ponds as it is toxic to fish and a water contaminant.
3. Non-Target Plant Effects
The greatest potential harm when using propanil and molinate is drift
to non-target plants which are susceptible to chemical damage from
these particular herbicides. Damage to nearby crops such as soybeans,
cotton, grain sorghum, family vegetable gardens, shade trees
and ornamental plants have been verified in the past.
134
-------
4. Data Base
There were 113 such complaints in the bootheel area over the past
three years. Combined effort in 1982 resulted in a 66% decrease in
complaints when compared to the previous two year average.
Recommended Action; The best known solution to this problem is
continuation of on-site monitoring and observation during the period
of intensified use of the pesticides. These activities, which were
coordinated by the state with assistance from EPA personnel in 1981
and 1982, resulted in a dramatic decrease In complaints and verified
incidents. When consideration is given to the fact that the potentially
affected farmers and other individuals are now much more informed as
to their rights and to whom they should complain and that the growing
of rice is significantly increasing each year, the figures are even
more meaningful.
Other measures which the state lead agency could Incorporate are
increased awareness through the required training and examining
programs for applicators, presentations at meeting such as the state
aerial applicators annual meeting and encouragement that aerial
applicators participate in Project Safe. This voluntary project,
which is in part funded by EPA and the National Aerial Applicators
Association, results in applicators gathering at a "fly-in" and flying
their craft through a series of demonstrated, applications to check
out pilot methods and equipment. The end result is an analysis of
what resulted and recommended methods for reducing drift through such
things as equipment modifications and changes in the pilot's flying habits.
1. Funding and Other Resources
When negotiating grant awards to the Missouri Department of Agriculture,
which by law has primary pesticide enforcement authority, we will
emphasize prioritizing this activity for enforcement purposes, provide
planning guidance and provide 60 work days of effort toward the actual
on-site monitoring activities to be carried out in 1983. We will
also negotiate increased training activities into pesticide certification
grants.
2. Regulations/Policy
Both federal and state regulations and policies are. established and
are adequate for carrying out the program. The hazards involved with
the application of prop a nil may provide a strong argument for
restricting the use to certified applicators. However, this process
within EPA is extremely slow and fraught with problems. The state
has considered restricting the use of pro pan 11 as well as the herbicide
2,4-D which also has a high propensity to drift. If complaints are
reduced in the future as rapidly as they have over the past two years,
this type of corrective action will probably not materialize at the
state level.
3. Legislation
None needed.
135
-------
4. Research
There are no regional funds and no known Headquarters funds available
for research. Some national organizations are conducting or coordinating
research with universities and others into application methods,
techniques and equipment vrtiich could result in drift reduction when
completed and applied.
5. State Relations
Remains a top priority function. We will continue to maintain a
close liaison with the state agencies Involved and offer assistance
when applicable. Relationship with Missouri Department of Agriculture
has for many years been excellent.
136
-------
ATTACHMENT "A
REGION WIDE PROBLEMS
-------
ATTACHMENT A
LISTING OF OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
This attachment contains brief discussions of lower priority environ-
mental problems ascertained during the development of the Environmental
Management Report (EMR).
Priority II problems are important, but in less need of immediate
attention than Priority I problems. The Priority I problems were
discussed in detail in Part II of the EMR.
138
-------
PRIORITY II
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS - INCLUDED IN ATTACHMENT A
Regionwide
Chemical/Radiological MCL Violators
Air
Des Moines, la. - CO
Cedar Rapids, la. - TSP
Mason City, la. - TSP
Davenport, la. - TSP
Wyandotte/Johnson Co. Kan. - 03
Kansas City, Kan. - TSP
Kansas City, Mo. - TSP
Jackson/Clay/Platte Counties, Mo. - 03
St. Joseph, Mo. - TSP
Lincoln, Neb. - CO
Douglas County, Neb. - TSP
Cass County, Neb. - TSP
Water
Des Moines, la. - TCE & Vinyl Chloride
Big Sioux River, la. - DO & NH3
Marmaton R. below Fort Scott, Kan. - D.O., NH3 & Fecal Coliform
Kaw R. at Bonner Springs, Kan. - D.O.
Arkansas R. below Dodge City, Kan. - D.)., NH3 & Fecal Coliform
Marals Des Cygnes R. below Ottawa, Kan. - D.O. & Fecal Coliform
Little Blue R. near Hollenburg, Kan. - Cu & Zn
Shunganunga Creek, Kan. - D.O.
Flat River Creek at Flat River, Mo. - D.O.
Lake of the Ozarks - Fecal Coliform, Aesthetics
Roarke Creek at Branson, Mo. - Solids & D.O.
Missouri & Mississippi R. - D.O. & Toxics
Big River at Desloge, Mo. - Zn, Pb & So,lids
Center, Grove, and Short Creeks in Southeast Mo. - Zn, NH3
Liberty, Mo. - TCE
Oil Field Contamination, Kan.
Hazardous Waste
Midwest Manufacturing Kellogg, la.
Alcoa - Davenport, la.
R.V. Hopkins - Davenport, la.
Kuhlman Diecasting - Stanley, Kan.
Baldwin Park Dump - Aurora, Mo.
Syntex Holding Ponds - Springfield, Mo.
139
-------
Wheeling Disposal - Amazonia, Mo.
City Landfill (Pigeon Hill Site) - St. Joseph, Mo,
City Landfill (Rosecrans Site) - St. Joseph, Mo.
ARMCO - Kansas City, Mo.
Farmers Chemical - Joplin, Mo.
W.R. Grace - Joplin, Mo.
Willis Pyrolizer - Jackson, Neb.
Pesticides
Pesticide Drift in Iowa
140
-------
Chemical/Radiological Contamination in Drinking Water
While concerned about any water system that exceeds maximum contaminant
levels for regulated chemicals and radionuclldes, Region VII has placed
a priority emphasis on those systems with nitrate and combined radium
levels exceeding exemption guidelines. At the end of FY-82 there were
4,135 community systems and 4,658 non-community systems In Region VII.
Relatively few systems in the Region exceed exemption guidelines for
nitrate and combined radium [The exemption guideline for nitrate is
20 mg/1 and the guideline for combined radium is 10 pc/1 ]. Following
are descriptions of the nitrate and radium contamination in Region
VII.
Radium 226 and 228 occur naturally in the groundwater throughout Region VII
in various geologic formations. Radium contamination in drinking water is
most significantly a problem in Iowa and Missouri. Primary groundwater sources
of drinking water in Iowa are the Jordan Sandstone and Dakota Sandstone quifers,
both of which are known to contain radium. Several different aquifers in
Missouri which contain radium, are used as drinking water sources. There are
two water softening techniques often used to reduce radlonuclide levels in
drinking water. These are zeolite softening and lime-soda softening. Zeolite
softening is most applicable to small systems; however, this treatment technique
increases the sodium content of water which can be undesirable in some diets.
Lime-soda ash sofening Is mainly applicable to larger systems. Where practical,
this treatment technique is more desirable than zeolite softening since it
does not increase the sodium level in the water, and it reduces the water's
overall mineral content. Small systems often cannot afford such technology and
they also lack trained operators to run and maintain the systems.
The nitrate ion is the common inorganic form of nitrogen found in water solu-
tion. In Region VII, the high use of nitrogen fertilizers to increase crop yield
has resulted in unused nitrate migrating down into soils below the root zone
of the crop. Irrigation has Increased the Infiltration rate of nitrate into
the groundwater. Though nitrate contamination of drinking water is not a
critical problem at this time, nitrate levels in many rural towns have in-
creased dramatically in recent years. This trend is very important since the
only feasible source of water supply for most rural communities, is the ground-
water. Though the ion exchange treatment process can be used to remove nitrate
from drinking water, operation costs are high and most small systems lack trained
operators to run the system.
141
-------
ATTACHMENT "A1
I. MR MEDIA
-------
Des Moines, Iowa
Carbon Monoxide
Ambient air monitoring data collected at the YWCA site in downtown
Des Moines by the Polk County Health Center show that the 8-hour carbon
monoxide standard is exceeded.
The apparent cause is vehicular traffic in the downtown area. While
the observed concentrations have been falling as the Federal Motor
Vehicle Control Program is implemented, it is possible that some
additional measures may be needed to assure attainment and maintenance
of the CO standard. It is also possible that the pending revision to
the CO air quality standard might necessitate further controls. In
either case, it would be necessary to devote additional resources to
planning and implementing the additional measures.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Total Suspended Participate Matter
Ambient air monitoring data collected at 751 Center Point Road by the
Linn County Health Department showed annual geometric means of 95, 107,
and 80 ug/m3 in 1979, 1980 and 1981, respectively, and additional,
though smaller, violations of the NAAQS at two other sites (445 1st
Street South, and 14th Avenue at 10th Street). That NAAQS is 75 ug/m3.
Known or potential causes of the elevated concentrations include a
number of industrial point sources (National Oats, the 6th Street Power
Plant, Cargill, Incorporated, and Quaker Oats), vehicular traffic, and,
during 1980 and 1981, construction of Interstate 380. The problem Is
characterized by elevated TSP concentrations in areas where people live
and work.
The local planning agency has conducted studies that indicate what
particulate reductions could be expected if various restrictions were
imposed on vehicular traffic. The local air pollution control agency
conducts a vigorous enforcement program and is evaluating the need for
additional emission limits. It may become necessary for the agency
to move into non-traditional source controls to attain the standards.
Mason City, Iowa
Total Suspended Particulate Matter
Results of ambient air monitoring by the Iowa Department of Environmental
Quality at the water plant in Mason City indicate violations of the
primary air quality standards for TSP. In 1980, both the annual and 24-
hour standards were violated. Major sources in Mason City include two
large Portland Cement Manufacturing plants. The recent lower particulate
levels may result from the more stringent controls on the new kilns at
143
-------
these plants than were on the older kilns that have been retired. The
apparent improvement may also result from the cool, wet summers in the
area the last two years or from reduced production levels due to less
construction activity. It is fully possible that TSP levels may rise
again when the economy improves or when the weather changes. In that
case, EPA and the state would need to take additional control measures.
Dave npo r t , Iowa
Total Suspended Particulate Matter
Ambient air monitoring at two sites in the City of Davenport has shown
that the annual primary TSP standard was exceeded.
The primary 24-hour standard has never been exceeded. There are eight
facilities of 100 ton per year potential located in or near the designated
primary nonattainment area but all are considered well controlled and
in compliance. Recent data suggest that Davenport has attained the
primary TSP standard. Complete data are not available and the State
has not yet requested redes ignat ion.
Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, Kansas
Ozone
These two Kansas counties were Included in the Kansas City ozone
nonattainment area designation required by Section 107 of the Clean
Air Act. The designation included Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in
Kansas, and Platte, Clay, and Jackson Counties in Missouri.
No measured ozone violations were found in the Kansas portion of the
nonattainment area in 1980 or 1981. In addition, measured ozone values
in 1982 do not show air quality standard violations. Measured violations
have been found in previous years in Clay County, Missouri. Clay County
is downwind of areas having ozone precursors (VOC and NOjj). The two
Kansas Counties were included because of sources of VOC and NOX emissions.
Note: Additional air quality monitoring data may show attainment of
the standard. If so, redesignation to attainment could be expected
for this area during 1983.
Kansas City, Kansas
Total Suspended Particulate Matter
The primary TSP nonattainment encompasses approximately the eastern one-
fourth of Wyandotte County.
There are five TSP monitor sites in Kansas City, Kansas. Only two
sites show violations of the annual primary TSP standard. There are no
violations of the 24-hour primary TSP standard. One of these two sites
144
-------
is in an area which includes residential and industrial sources. There
seems to be a trend toward improved TSP values in Kansas City, Kansas.
Complete air quality data for 1982 demonstrate that there have been no
violations of the primary standard in 1982. Part of the measured reduc-
tions of ambient TSP concentrations may be due to reduced Industrial produc-
tion and a resultant reduction of vehicular traffic because of worker
lay-offs in the area.
The anticipated PM^Q standard is expected to allow an attainment status
showing in Kansas City, Kansas without a major or disrupting SIP control
strategy revision. Accordingly, the State of Kansas has no plan to
revise the TSP control strategy prior to EPA's promulgation of the PM^g
standard.
Any new or revised TSP control strategy would have to be control of
fugitive emissions. The extent of fugitive emissions and fugitive dust
have only been crudely estimated. Neither the state nor the local
agencies, have resources which might be required to accurately quantify
such emissions. The PMjg standard would allow the state and EPA to
recognize particle sizes which are more likely to have significant
adverse health impacts and disallow for health purposes large particle
impacts.
Kansas City, Missouri
Total Suspended Particulate Matter
Portions of Jackson, Platte, and Clay Counties are designated nonattainment
for the primary TSP standard in addition to a portion of Wyandotte
County in Kansas. To a large extent, the problem is thought to be due
to fugitive dust. Possible control measures have been studied but firm
conclusions were not reached.
Note: Additional air quality monitoring data may show attainment of
the primary standard. If this is the case, redesignation to
secondary nonattainment only could be expected for this area.
Jackson/Clay/Platte Counties, Missouri
Ozone
These three Missouri counties are included in the Kansas City ozone
nonattainment area designation, in addition to Wyandotte and Johnson
Counties in Kansas.
There have been no measured violations of the ozone standard in the two
quarters of 1982 data available at this time. The highest value in
1981 was just slightly over the standard.
NOTE: Additional air quality monitoring data may show attainment of the
standard. If this is the case, redesignation to attainment could
be expected for this area.
145
-------
St. Joseph, Missouri
Total Suspended Particulate Matter
The St. Joseph primary particulate nonattainment area includes the
central business district and a small industrial area just to the south
of the central business district. The remaining area within the city
limits is designated as secondary nonattainment for particulates. The
city of St. Joseph has made commitments to the state to control fugitive
dust Including such measures as seeding vacant lots, paving of unpaved
lots and streets, and sweeping and flushing of paved streets.
NOTE: Additional air quality monitoring data may show attainment of the
primary standard. If this is the case, redeslgnatlon to secondary
nonattainment only could be expected for this area.
Lincoln, Nebraska
Carbon Monoxide
The City of Lincoln is not currently attaining the federal air quality
standard of 9 ppm for carbon monoxide (CO). Originally, the problem
was thought to be restricted to the Antelope Creek Basin, but recent
data indicate a city wide problem.
No obvious decline in CO values has been apparent in Lincoln over the
last four years (1979-1982) although monitored values were generally
lower in 1982 in either Antelope Creek Basin or the rest of the city.
The second highest 8-hour CO concentration was 10.8 ppm in 1979, 11.4
ppm in 1980 and 20.8 in 1981 at the 22nd and "0" Street site.
Concentrations at the 51st and Colby site were 12.6 in 1979, 8.4 in
1980 and 22.2 in 1981.
Plans for carbon monoxide emissions reduction emphasize implementation
of the computer traffic signalization program which was phased into
operation late in 1982, and benefits derived from newer less-polluting
automobiles. Because both of these control measures demonstrated attainment
of the standard before the end of 1982, the other extensive transportation
control measures (TCMs) which the city had under development and/or
initial operation in 1980 and 1981 were not evaluated to determine their
emission reduction potential. It Is possible that full implementation
of TCMs already in progress may result in attainment of the CO standard
in Lincoln.
Douglas County, Nebraska
Total Suspended Particulate Matter
Ambient air monitoring data collected by the City of Omaha at the llth
and Nicholas site show annual geometric means of 118, 106, and 91 ug/m^
in 1979, 1980 and 1981, respectively. The primary NAAQS is 75 ug/nr*.
Known or potential causes of the elevated concentrations include:
146
-------
several industrial sources (battery manufacturers, an asphalt manufacturer,
etc.); dusty streets; and unpaved truck parking lots. The monitor is
designated as having a middle scale of representativenesss, indicating
that the high concentrations occur in a relatively small industrialized
area of the city, where many people work during the day.
Cass County, Nebraska
Total Suspended Particulate Matter
Ambient air monitoring data collected in Louisville by the Nebraska
Department of Environmental Control show annual geometric means of 106,
113, and 88 ug/m3 in 1979, 1980 and 1981 respectively. The annual
primary NAAQS is 75 ug/m . The elevated concentrations are attributed
primarily to the Ash Grove Cement Company, which is located close to
the monitor. The problem is characterized as high concentrations
resulting from a single plant, in a small town where people live and work.
147
-------
ATTACHMENT "A1
II. WATER MEDIA
-------
Des Moines, Iowa, Water Supply Contamination
Detectable values of trichloroethylene (TCE) were found in the finished
drinking water at Des Moines, Iowa, in 1975. Follow-up sampling and
monitoring has been done since that time and the latest data indicate
TCE values in the range of 20 ppb.
The Des Moines Waterworks obtains part of its water from an infiltration
gallery located on the floodplain on the south side of the Raccoon River.
One branch of the gallery shows high levels of contamination with TCE.
Vinyl chloride was also detected in 1979, but it was not confirmed in the
finished drinking water. The current levels of TCE in the finished
drinking water warrants investigation, but poses no immediate health
hazard. However, the higher levels identified in the intake gallery
and in the adjacent groundwater presents a potential for increased
contamination in the finished drinking water to levels which may cause
some health risk.
Investigations of two abandoned waste sites in the floodplain of the
Raccoon River are in progress in an effort to determine the source of
TCE. Additional monitoring wells were installed in 1982 and a sampling
program has been Initiated to try to identify the location of the contamination.
One of the suspected sources of TCE is the DICO Company, which used an
oil mixture in the company parking lot for dust control. The company
voluntarily ceased spreading this type of oil waste, which contained
TCE. Another potential source is a defunct aircraft reconditioning
company (circa 1940's), located near the two landfills under investigation.
Dissolved Oxygen and Ammonia in the Big Sioux River
Intensive surveys of the Big Sioux River were conducted in 1972, 1973 and
1979 at stream flows ranging from 13 CFS to 400 CFS. During the 1979 survey,
Iowa's dissolved oxygen (D.O.) and ammonia nitrogen standard were violated
for over 160 and 80 river kilometers, respectively. The long term violation
of water quality standards for D.O. and ammonia can be expected to have
seriously prevented the attainment of the Big Sioux River's classification
as a Class B stream. Discharges in South Dakota and specifically Sioux
Falls municipal discharge and the John Morrell facility have been Identified
as the principal cause of water quality problems.
Dissolved oxygen, ammonia and fecal coliform in the Marmaton River below
Ft. Scott
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has sampled the Marmaton
River below Ft. Scott since 1967, making more than 100 observations
of many parameters. When the 56 samples taken since 1976 were compared
with state standards, 28 dissolved oxygen samples were in violation as
were 28 ammonia samples, and 35 samples exceeded the fecal coliform
samples. In the period 1980-1981, seven D.O. violations were observed.
The likely cause of pollution is the Ft. Scott Wastewater Treatment
Facility which has Just received Step 3 construction grants funding.
149
-------
WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
PRIORITY 2
IOWA
BIG SIOUX
RIVER BELOW
SIOUX FALLS
-2-N-/ I_OSCEOLA JOHNSON! I EMMEiN^, UNNEB,(GO! WORTH.J \ \l !
«^7 : -"s. f"Y I"±: 1 ^ '.•A-'tr'lf:; 'T{_^^EJi_}..HOWAnD.J
••••**'- i
.
53Sy.!H • ilAH9^££L j °°22.°_ | \_FLO
'^ N
ViflREME FAYETT
.l 1
BLACK HA^KByCHANij_DELAWAHE__ouBuu _
~ " ~~ ^'"" " ' '
. _
' ;
_C_A.RROLL J GREENB, JBOONE ) STORY MARSHALL TAMA""
••— ~r~J f-=*; %—L_._ ,—l 1
i ^
N! I '• ' OEkHOINESI
S,,,,^1! .N V.-*U
_l°W.i_lJ.°±'S^' ["^^'o.v'i
!^^b^E?^--i-a^M2aiifi^
. -- -ft ARS i ADAIR j
7 r l/rff — rr
. -: ___ -
' '
ko..5§
-------
Dissolved Oxygen in Kaw River at Bonner Springs
The water quality trend since 1967 for the Kansas River at Kansas City,
Kansas, (below Bonner Springs) has shown an improvement in D.O. This
can be attributed largely to the start up of the Kansas City, Kansas,
Plant No. 20. At one time, Bonner Springs was to have connected to
Plant No. 20.
However, samples with D.O. of 3.7 mg/1 have been measured in 1980-1981 indica-
ting that D.O. is still a problem. Also, fecal coliform counts of 100,000
per 100 ml were also collected in 1980-1981. Bonner Springs STP is a
primary discharge facility. The replacement of this plant with a
secondary facility should further improve D.O. in the Kansas River.
Dissolved oxygen, ammonia and fecal coliform bacteria in the Arkansas
River below Dodge City
Since 1974, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has collected
approximately 52 samples on the Arkansas River below Dodge City. When
compared with the state standards, 35 fecal coliform samples and 29
D.O. were in violation, and in the most recent two years of data, five
of 14 ammonia values exceeded the criteria. The two likely sources of
pollution are the Dodge City Wastewater Treatment Plant and Iowa Beef
Processing. Virtually the total flow in the river at this point is
wastewater.
Dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform bacteria below Ottawa, Kansas, on
the Marais Des Cygnes River
Since 1974, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has collected
approximately 80 samples on the Marais Des Cygnes River below Ottawa.
When compared with State standards, seven D.O. samples exceeded the
criteria (with four violations reported in the most recent two years
of data, and 47 fecal coliform samples were in violation. The most
likely source of contamination is the 30-year old Ottawa wastewater
treatment facility.
Copper and Zinc on the Little Blue River near Hollenburg
The USGS has monitored heavy metals on the little Blue River approximately
21 times since 1973. Based on the national criteria for protection of
fish and aquatic life (CFR 45, No. 231) 20 copper samples exceeded
acute criteria and all 21 exceeded chronic limits, 13 zinc samples
exceeded acute criteria and 20 exceeded chronic. No potential causes
for these exceedances have been identified. This river feeds into
Tuttle Creek Reservoir, a highly used recreational facility.
151
-------
i
K i
I CHEVENNE J-
WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
PRIORITY 2 LITTLE BLUE RIVER
NEAR HOLLENBURG
KANSAS f
KANSAS jjT
l~"' iV'"-!"^ NORTONJ^? "THILUPS'1iMITH I JEWEu'! REPUBUC T WASHIN^IN j MARSHALL \ j |U _,
X" .r-T'~ \ \ ! I i ! ! DONIP^NS I
L-r U^"" ! i ! i :-!-; (^ AT
-• ^f^-1" j ,>•- •••! ! • • - ! - ! ' BROWN_[__ / *'
^^^a^^w^ ^j UHAM^M i 19!^!i? ' _9?§.92!?L. _i
OOVE "P^:~::^:~^^~;!c"~'pT1'7t RUSSELL |
^jEAUAc^j.—i£«N__I:±rz^r^j«j£!frti-IL-\2=.' •'"! 11 r_"!
i I ! 1 T' " '"*' !' BARTON '~i
SHUNGANUNGA
CREEK
"i~: i L^
j ! NEMAHA > !
>~p'".Er^r-~~TO~-j j
^ ," '
i j-."1:^—>.j
ATCHISON
i
JACKSON
j"S«««_
[JEFFERSON
_O«EEL£V WICWJA_ i _SCOTT_ j LA^IE_
I F" | FINNEV
' I '
I
io
i:
j RUSH
TPAWNEE I
• ! 5?tLNL^ 219_!_^2.N-| '••••] j '••' " 'r'!""'^P^ifJ
SWOHTH I7""" ' 1 MARION j_ _MORR^S_ "J . j .-.' j ^J
I " ! -,. ] -A-^-'V^-
^.J^NJONj KANSAJ R|yER
! AT BONNER SPRINGS
u.
i HAMILTON j _KEARN£T I
J j GRANT"""] ]
NESS
} J?\ U±^^.S.« L.£«?«2SJ._:-,K..'>'H L.-ii2!i-l
I . i T L._921*SE_.J
! r TGREE
"• ' I , ,....
! \~\L- J
' ^°£G^!iN I 7 ~T ! .j HARVEV
T ~\/ L^TAif2?p_.j '"••••"•••• r'-"'^'66'"1"
r/_EOWAROS_| 1 HENjD --i-l ^ i
"TG«JENWOOD i5.°lfl.Y.
• i uwnnn*
ANDERSON
ALLEN
UNN j HARAIS DES CYGNES
~^^\ RIVER
BELOW OTTAWA
L-«2*.r_.i/..±qRo I j pRATT j "L'x>j!^l_l-i--~-"-J i "•'-.•'
lELLf MEADEyTr CLARK |_ _KIOWA_ _ [""' ' ' j_ KIN GM AN _ J" ' '+\ \ > H L"^0.^-.^
1 / I T 1* h"Mi "
L..«0«10N_..L..STEV1NS_.LSEWARpNg /_ | _ j^^j^COMANCH J _ BARBER _i..^AR^R_ L..^^^.._':^-.^VE1.UH^A^JJl X.L.L*-2-E™...
/ .....^_- --_-.,...
ARKANSAS RIVER BELOW DODGE CITY
HARNATON RIVER
;nAWFOfloj
SSRoiTE] BELOW FORT SCOTT
j
-------
Dissolved Oxygen in Topeka's Shunganunga Creek
The 1982 Kansas 305(b) report indicated that three specific violations
of the D.O. Standard were observed during the period 1980-1981. These
violations most likely result from surcharging sewer manholes in the area.
Flat River Creek
DO problems due to municipal discharges from the towns of Flat River
and Elvins and drainage from tailing ponds and piles are main problems.
Flat River Mineral Belt regional treatment plant funded in FY-82.
Lake of the Ozarks
The large number of septic tanks and the characteristics of the soil
and geology in the lake area combine to create potential water quality
problems in the lake. Additional studies are needed to identify current
problem areas, if any, and identify potential problem areas. Lake
Ozark grant expected in FY-84.
Roarke Creek (Branson)
Municipal sewage effluent is suspected of causing DO and solids problems
in Roarke Creek as it flows through the Branson area. Interceptor
funding is expected in third quarter FY-83.
Missouri and Mississippi Rivers
Permanent monitoring stations and intensive surveys have found D.O.
violations and elevated toxic substances in both the Missouri and
Mississippi River. The St. Joseph and Hermann stations on the Missouri
have recorded low D.O. levels and PCB's have been found in fish flesh
analyses in both Kansas City and St. Louis.
Big River (Old Lead Belt Drainage) at Desloge, Mo.
Problems with elevated levels of zinc, lead and suspended solids are
associated with tailing piles drainage and leachate. Fish flesh analysis
has shown high levels of lead.
Center, Grove, and Short Creeks in Southeast, Mo.
The large amount of past mining activities has created drainage and
leachate containing high levels of zinc which enter these creeks. In
additional high ammonia levels due to industrial sources have been
found in Cedar Creek.
153
-------
~™""^7r~rri
-%-i f »
(!i I J MBHCER I
, , -I I t->-~l
,NOOAW«Y i '. I HARRISON 111 ( ;
k .1 1 ^| j'^(
MISSOURI
} i • • ! \
: PUTNAM S ! >,
' V-k^L4sCOTLANo!
r (CLARK >
I ! ~
WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
PRIORITY 2
HOLT '
X
L .S.^ii'y*.'!- j
.....
_A2*'!
'
I
'!
I
PLi
~~^~[oE KALB L-D-A-^ISlj- , '
--1 j ^••L_--rJ i—,
L»™qSIPjO CHAR'T°" i^ACON _
filANDOLPH
, .CLINTON I" HAY"
J .1—CLAY-|
S(?§i?^i_.-r--'---^s
_, MONROE | \_
;.:.M-' /\
• KANSAS CITY
*\ ^'' i "" " i -- V..--1
S --L I -if v<
V '"'^~.i LB----- \
f /"~Bo6NE"l I \^
' • i^.jr~l';'cbTN\"
j___JACKSON J
i !
I LA FAYETTE ! SALINE <
| J ( 1
HOWARD
/""BOONE"!
/ I , -r
' ' AUDRAIN i> \
—•.—;—.• =—!?. I
\ PIKE i LINCOLN^.
TJ \
>LUUI
:OLUUBI«
CALLAWAY
!§ r-
li?
'Is
A.
/^
MISSOURI AND
MISSISSIPPI RIVERS
LAKE OF THE OZARKS
i / /
i COOPER ; r
I 1 ' ; i
j ! MONITEAU .'
jg [WARREN ST CHAHI
:s I
[FRAN
. i yrST LOUIS i",,i?uiS
i ^
r-r'
,, i N-i. r' L-^LOSAGE • jo ^'; i
;'^ A^MORG^ ^ , hOiARiES-" — fy \ ' (
:*H?Sg|jL 'i r !?-^WT~^-«"»>
^ i -SP;-/ VV' ..... __! it ,.-"' ! ii s'*'
CENTER, GROVE
AND SHORT CREEKS
tj^ L .^^?^^^t2iy' '' -JT/TV^(JHIj^ • v'r : -MARIES '~-- 'w5 ' ' I
C^K ^"^Wf^fiit^C i ? !M"-i'-°«T—^A (OID '
fSwrff-iR^-^i^----' i.,< >*^--
I /^ »»"if 1.,™^,.,.^. J^ 'r-L.^ttfOEN ..I , .1'. V j ,' STE TV
r*"^ I ,C- -jHICK
%—r1--—-S-^-V-l 'i -^ , -i pHELPsi i • •Al_^ /
i j 'S *l I . I I ''I ' ! iWASHINGTONJ ^ |^^^^fc.Z
j—-^noN J A \ V j ' I 1V »:i i L~-i lFRANCOis\y '^
! ~'M*v v I i .wVH '! "r5^ ^rr
I „ i ^L'.JfQl-K J; rwiisTET! ±—i \ \_: DENT ] j | \ !? |
|_._BART_ON J Y oTERrH ! ?, ! ;? "-T'-'SHANNOih 1L j> Irf I O»
! 1 OADE i i i i ; •! v - L -,i Li ,.jg i
J^^_, V i .«**-«i--x. i ;^ j ! v^klr-.-.,-^V-J1.;wAYNET i
BIG RIVER
LEAD BEIT DRAINAGE)
RIVER CREEK
_^^i Ky -^j ^ | ._ ^ ^
4^-H^f h~^~'J"'~>~--L--!^-4r--A---H
i ^^j^wRttjcj—-^i | ^ j --^. -
[—NLWTON./^ S /' T^^^-.L.-r.,00.^^...^
j • " j^< ^=^ H,,»SI,,»,I, i ',
|..^>CpONALD_i_ BARRI^jS^N^ ^\TANEYJ V'oZARK !'.
I—,
^ f I J>""J •>'-^l^ T '
\ANEY; ^OZARK \
...—
ROARKE CREEK
X
! '• 1 ;
OREGON .t | RIPLEY j BUTiER
|srpODAnpj ^
BOOTHEEl AREA
/OUNKilN j
-------
Liberty, Missouri, Water Supply Contamination
As part of the 1980 National Ground Water Supply Survey for volatile
organic contaminants, samples were taken at Liberty, Missouri. These
samples showed contamination of volatile organics in the finished
drinking water. Resampling was done and the results showed that three
(3) of the six (6) City wells had high volatile organics present. The
highest values found In the raw water were from well #2 with 440 ppb. tri-
chlorethylene (TCE) along with lower values of other similar organic compounds.
The finished water contains approximately 20 ppb. trichlorethylene. This
level of rnnt.aminnt.inn warrants investigations but poses no critical health
hazard. EPA has determined a chronic Health Advisory (SNARL) value of 75 ppb.
in drinking water for TCE.
f
The information was made available to the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources (MDNR).. The State has held meetings with the City of Liberty,
and efforts are underway to locate the source of the contamination.
The City of Liberty and MDNR have issued press releases on the
contamination. The regulatory agency lead in the investigation is MDNR.
155
-------
Oil Field Contamination - Kansas
A major cause of groundwater pollution has been the migration of mineralized
fluids through abandoned oil, gas, exploratory holes, disposal wells, and
other types of wells. If the well is properly plugged, when abandoned,
the chance of pollution can be minimized. However, in many cases, when a
well was abandoned, the production casing was pulled or the casing became
so corroded that leaks developed. This permitted ready access for fluids
under higher pressure to migrate upward or move downward under gravity through
the abandoned well and pollute adjacent aquifers. In other cases,
improperly cased or cemented wells allowed high-pressure, artesian, saline
water to spread from an uncased or partly cased hole into shallower,
lower-pressure aquifers or aquifer zones, resulting in widespread salt intrusion.
In Kansas, an average of 23 barrels of brine is produced and used to
produce each barrel of oil, one of the highest ratios of brine to oil in
the nation. The total brine handled is about 3.6 million barrels per day
(160 million gallons per day) or roughly eighty percent of quantity
taken out of groundwater reserves for municipal use. The concentration
of salt produced with oil production ranges from 5,000 mg/1 to 190,000 rag/1.
chloride. One gallon of brine at 190,000 mg/1 chloride (salt) could raise
the chloride content of 760 gallons of ctiloride-f ree water to 250 mg/1.
Each barrel of brine represents a potential surface or groundwater pollution
hazard if not disposed of in an environmentally safe manner. Injection
of these fluids back into the producing formation or other deep salt water
bearing formation is considered the safest and only acceptable method of
disposing of this byproduct. However, unless the injection well is
carefully constructed and monitored, fluid can migrate from the casing,
piping, or temporary storage facility and pollute fresh groundwaters.
Kansas groundwater has been degraded in some areas to the extent that
removal of pollutants, if feasible, will require major energy expenditure
for pumping and treatment and return of the decontaminated water to the
aquifer. Areas such as the Gladys Pool in Sedgwick County and the Burrton
Pool in Reno and Harvey Counties are examples of oil producing fields
where oil field brine from former surface brine disposal ponds, improperly
or poorly plugged wells in pressurized water flood areas, and leaking
brine lines have caused moderate to serious groundwater contamination
over a large area and involve many formerly active point sources of
pollution. Use of the state law allowing creation of intensive groundwater
use control area is being considered for the Burrton Pool. Field investigations
are underway for the Gladys Pool.
156
-------
ATTACHMENT "A1
III. LAND MEDIA
-------
A. HAZARDOUS WASTE
Midwest Manufacturing - Kellogg, Iowa
The site was originally Identified as Smith-Jones, Inc. Since the name
change, operations at the facility have not changed significantly. The
plant continues as a manufacturer of flywheel gears and truck lights.
Electroplating-type wastes, high in metals, are disposed on-site in an
unlined surface Impoundment. Current Investigation of this site reveals
the facility should be regulated as an existing TSP facility under the
interim status standards. Apparently, the firm submitted neither a hazardous
waste notification, nor the Part A.
It should be determined if the facility can be regulated as an existing
TSD facility under the interim status regulations.
ALCOA, PCS contaminated Sludge Disposal - Davenport, Iowa
In 1956 a surface Impoundment was constructed at the ALCOA Davenport
works adjacent to the Mississippi River for the storage of waste oil from
the ALCOA manufacturing operation. When ALCOA learned the waste oil in
the lagoon contained PCBs, in 1979 the Company made a decision to eliminate
the impoundment. Thus, in early 1981 approximately 1.7 million gallons
of waste liquids were removed and disposed of at an EPA approved landfill
in Alabama. Removal of the liquids from the impoundment was only a
partial solution, as oily viscous sludge and oil laden soil remained.
The possibility of removal of this material with conventional equipment
was q ue s t io nab le and the size of the site made removal Impractical.
The feasibility of in situ disposal was examined by ALCOA. Laboratory
tests to determine a method for stabilization of the waste were conducted.
Tests showed PCBs were effectively stabilized by cement kiln dust fines.
Thus, in late 1981 stabilization of the 2-1/2 acre site with 17 thousand
tons of cement dust took place.
Even though the cement dust appears to effectively stabilize the PCBs,
the 25 years of oil storage at the site has resulted in migration of oil
with groundwater. The magnitude of this problem has not been defined at
this time.
R.V. Hopkins - Davenport, Iowa
R.V. Hopkins is a drum reclamation facility located in the floodplain of
the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa. Hopkins cleans and reconditions
drums for local industrial users. Leaking drums and areas showing past
spills have been documented. Hopkins has admitted to dumping caustic
sludge on the ground prior to November of 1981. In the rear of the facility
is a triangular-shaped dump site containing paving sludges, batteries, and
other unknown wastes. A ditch has been dug around the dump, presumably
to contain runoff. Different colored layers of material are visible in
the ditch cut. Cables are also visible.
158
-------
A site inspection was conducted by EPA. Soil contamination was apparent.
Any runoff from the site would be contaminated due to the contaminated
soil and standing surface water. The Agency is currently awaiting the
results of sample analyses before determining future actions at the site.
Kuhlman - Stanley, Kansas
This metal treating and fabricating plant in Stanley, Kansas, was inspected
by EPA for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) compliance in August
1982. The facility was found to be generating and storing hazardous
waste without Interim Status.
The hazardous waste sludge is stored in two inactive lagoons, one active
lagoon, and one tank. Storages of sludge in the lagoons has the potential
for groundwater contamination. The facility has not installed groundwater
monitoring wells. The facility has a history of noncompliance with its
water permit and has been uncooperative in its dealings with the Kansas
Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).
EPA plans to issue a Compliance Order which will require the company to
clean and close the surface impoundments and storage tank and to determine
if there has been any groundwater contamination. The company may threaten
plant closure if it has to close its lagoons. One of the lagoons is-
NPDES permitted and the state plans to issue an updated NPDES permit for
that lagoon in the near future. Our order would negate this action.
Baldwin Park Dump - Aurora, Missouri
This dump area is in the southwest corner of the park, where reportedly,
NEPACCO waste was dumped along with municipal trash. It was revealed
that expended clay filter material from NEPACCO'a operation was disposed
of here. Also, approximately 50 drums of an acid (sulfurlc) emulsion
were disposed of in this area.
Region VII has sampled private wells around the park, the Aurora municipal
wells, and have taken two core samples from an area within the park. All
samples to date have proven negative with the exception of some PCB in
the parts per billion range found in the core samples.
Syntex Holding Pond - Springfield, Missouri
Wastewater from NEPACCO went to the Hoffman-Taff lagoon in Verona.
When this lagoon was closed down, the remaining wastewater was taken to the
Syntex holding pond in Springfield.
At the request of the Air and Waste Management Division, Region
VII, this pond was sampled and analyzed for TCDD by the Regional Laboratory,
which reported no dioxin at the detection limit of 8 ug/kg.
•
It was concluded that final disposition of this site is justified. Syntex is
is currently closing this lagoon system and replacing it with a package
wastewater treatment plant.
159
-------
Wheeling Disposal Company - Near Amazonia, Missouri
Wheeling Disposal Company, a 10-acre site, is about one mile southeast of
Amazonia and is on a ridge-top with surface drainage north into a
tributary of Mace Creek and south into Dillon Creek. In operation since
1975, the site now receives only industrial wastes which are placed in
trenches and evaporation ponds.
Organophosphate pesticides and other contaminants have been detected in
groundwater samples. EPA is continuing its investigation because area
ground water discharges as springs where the topographic slope intersects
water-bearing strata.
City Landfill-Pigeon Hill Site - St. Joseph, Missouri
The site is located in the northwest area of Missouri about 10 miles south
of St. Joseph. The area is east of 1-29 about one-half mile and borders the
northeast corner of the Pigeon Hill State Wildlife Area. The landfill
consists of two areas. The first (and older) occupies about 35 acres
immediately north of the Pigeon Hill State Wildlife Area. The newer area
consists of about 155 acres bordering the east side of the Wildlife area.
The older area was closed in 1981. During its operation, this area likely
received heavy metals, pesticides, solvents and various Inorganics. Infor-
mation about the wastes received and their management at the site has
been requested from potentially responsible parties.
A preliminary investigation was performed on November 11, 1980. At this
time leachate seeps were noted at the south end and northeast corner of
the inactive area. Samples of the leachate sediment were obtained. A full
field investigation has been planned for FY-83. This investigation will
include additional surface and groundwater monitoring in addition to more
in-depth study of the site geology.
City Landfill-Rosecrans Field - St. Joseph, Missouri
This landfill is actually two landfill disposal sites. The first consists
of about 56 acres owned and operated by the City of St. Joseph and was
operated from about 1952 to 1978. The site immediately west of the city
landfill was originally owned by Max Murry who operated the site as a
landfill until 1964, when it was then leased to Wheeling Disposal Co.,
who operated the landfill until about 1975.
While the majority of the materials landfilled consisted of municipal
wastes, it is understood that burning of not only paper debris but also
liquid solvents was done initially until banned in about 1972 by the
State of Missouri. It is also understood that local haulers delivered
waste from several Industries in St. Joseph.
160
-------
Leach ate has been observed flowing from the fill area into a surface
water pond on the site. This ponded area drains into a channel leading
to Browning Lake. Samples taken from the ponded water and channel detected
various metals and phenolics.
Performance of a full field investigation for this site has been requested
for FY-83. This investigation will include additional surface water and
groundwater monitoring in addition to more in-depth study of the site geology.
ARMCO - Kansas City, Mo.
Administrative Order Pursuant to Section 3008 of the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) issued to Armco, Inc., Midwestern Steel Division
and Union Wire Rope Division.
EPA and EPA contractor inspections at these two facilities revealed
numerous major and minor violations of federal hazardous waste management
requirements. Included are failure to install adequate groundwater
monitoring wells, failure to conduct adequate sampling program at these
wells, illegal storage of hazardous waste and Illegal disposal of hazardous
waste. Two Administrative Orders (AOs) issued to Armco, Inc. in December
21, 1982 propose $40,000 In penalties.
161
-------
Fanners Chemical Company - Joplin, Missouri
Farmer's Chemical Company is an active facility which produces liquid
fertilizers, mixed fertilizers, and feed grade dicalcium phosphates.
Between 1954 and 1971, waste gypsum sludge from the manufacture of
phosphoric acid waste was disposed of on site. The company also produced
pesticide coated granular fertilizers. From this process, 360 empty
Aldrin pesticide drums were disposed of in an old mine shaft. A considerable
amount of lead and zinc mine tailings are present at this site.
Background: Farmers Chemical Company is a subsidiary of Farmland Industries,
Inc. The plant site is located three and one-half miles west of Joplin,
Missouri.
Between 1954 and 1971, waste gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) from the
manufacture of phosphoric acid was disposed of near the plant. Approximately
70 acres were utilized for disposal of approximately 1.7 x 10" tons of gypsum
Phosphates, fluorides, sulfates, radlonuclides, and metals are present in
the sludge. Several of these contaminants have been detected at elevated
levels downstream of the disposal site in Short Creek. Short Creek forms
the northern boundary of the gypsum disposal area. Approximately five
miles downstream from Farmers Chemical, Short Creek converges with the
Spring River.
Preliminary investigations of the site were performed on February 10 and
March 31, 1981. On July 22, 1982, a full field investigation was begun.
Several samples were obtained from the gypsum pile and the water and
sediment of Short Creek. Thermo luminescent dosimeters were also placed
at the site.
Fluoride, radioactive elements and heavy metals are the substances of
most concern. High dietary intake of fluoride can cause mottling of
teeth and fluorosis (bone disease). Fluoride is also believed to affect
reproductive capacity and growth of animals. Radioactive elements are ;
recognized carcinogens. Heavy metals are toxic to aquatic life and humans
xand some are carcinogenic.
Re commendation/ Act ion: EPA is investigating and evaluating this site.
162
-------
W.R. Grace - Joplin, Missouri
W.R. Grace is an active facility which manufactures sulfuric acid and
phosphate fertilizers. The plant is located near Grove Creek, a tributary
to the Spring River. Between 1953 and 1968, W.R. Grace manufactured
phosphoric acid from phosphate rock for the production of triple
superphosphate fertilizers. In September 1976, the company stopped
production of triple superphosphate. Other products the company has
produced include aluminum sulfate and oleum.
Gypsum was produced as a waste by-product of phosphoric acid production,
along with metal phosphates and fluoros ilicates. These were spread over 40
acres. An intermittent tributary to Grove Creek runs to the south of the
disposal area. The possibility exists for the contaminants to leach from
the disposal area. In addition, phosphate rock typically contains low
levels of radiation. The gypsum produced during the manufacturing process
is, therefore, slightly radioactive. The radioactive components may also
be leach able. Furthermore, radon gas can be generated by the radium in
the gypsum.
In the 1960's or early 1970's one truckload of pesticides was hauled by
W.R. Grace to a site one and one-half miles west .of the plant. The
pesticides are believed to be in five-gallon drums. The type and exact
quantity is unknown.
Also, a site on the northeast corner of the plant grounds was used routinely
as a disposal site for pesticides and used catalysts up until about five
to ten years ago. The type of pesticide and the chemical composition of
the catalysts are unknown.
A site inspection was conducted by Ecology and Environment, which reported
the contamination of Grove Creek. The possibility also exists of groundwater
contamination. A full field investigation is planned for FY-83.
Willis Pyrolizer - Jackson, Nebraska /
Willis Pyrolizer Company of Jackson, Nebraska submitted a timely RCRA
notification form and Part A permit application for container storage and
incineration status which requires compliance with the operating standards
in 40 CFR Part 265.
Since NDEC and EPA determined that Willis Pyrolizer Company should be
given top permitting priority, this facility was included in the first
round of Nebraska call letters dated, 3/1/82 which required submittal of
Part B storage applications by 9/1/82. A timely Part B storage application
was submitted and reviewed for completeness. As discussed in our 11/1/82
comment letter, there were a number of deficiences which the facility
was to have addressed by 1/10/83. We did not have authority to request a
Part B incinerator application on 3/1/82. However, a Part B incinerator
application was requested on 9/27/82 for submission no later than 3/30/82.
163
-------
During an 8/24/82 RCRA compliance inspection by EPA personnel, a number
of violations were discovered. These violations included the following:
1. The original notification form and Part A application did not accurately
reflect either the past or present hazardous waste activities at
Willis Pyrolizer Company. The facility was managing different hazardous
wastes, increasing design capacities, and adding new processes without prior
notification or approval from Federal or State authorities.
2. The incinerator ash, which is a hazardous waste by definition, was being
deposited upon the ground since the facility was unaware the ash was
hazardous.
3. Hazardous waste was fed into the incinerator when the Incinerator was not at
steady-state operating conditions. When start-up occurred, excess waste fuel
ignited and there was a sudden, uncontrolled combustion and liquid hazardous
waste escaped the incinerator presenting a hazard to nearby personnel.
4. The facility was not complying with various operating requirements, including
the requirements for a waste analysis plan, inspections, emergency equipment,
manifests, operating records and financial documents for closure and liability
insurance.
A draft complaint, Compliance Order and Notice of Opportunity for Hearing from EPA
is under review by the Regional Counsel.
Willis Pyrolizer submitted on August 27, 1982, revised notification form Part A
application which added a solidification and tank process, increased the design
capacity for container storage and incineration, and revised the list of hazardous
wastes. It was determined that a part B permit would be necessary for the solidi-
fication process since it could not be added under interim status. Justification
for the other changes has been requested from Willis Pyrolizer company to deter-
mine whether or not these changes can be made during interim status.
U S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Region V, Library
230 South Dearborn
Chicago, Illinois 60604
164
------- |