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Region 7
Fact Sheet

Iowa
Kansas
Missouri

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^ PRO"^

Nebraska
June 2003
Proposed Decision to Re-Issue Hazardous Waste Permit
Black Hawk County Landfill, Waterloo, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) Region 7 invites the public
to review and comment on the proposed
decision to reissue a post-closure permit
for storing hazardous wastes at the Black
Hawk County Landfill. Hazardous wastes
were disposed in the landfill from the time
it was opened in July 1975 until 1985.
The wastes included hazardous
wastewater treatment sludges, baghouse
dust, solvents, and wastes containing
heavy metals. The landfill is located at
1509 East Washburn Road, Waterloo,
Iowa, in the southern portion of Black
Hawk County, Iowa.
BACKGROUND
The landfill originally opened as a state
permitted sanitary landfill on July 1, 1975.
The landfill was owned and operated by
Landfill Services Corporation (LSC) until
December 1984. LSC operated the
landfill for the County until August 6,
1985.
The landfill received the following
hazardous wastes from firms in Iowa and
Minnesota from 1980 through August 6,
1985: sludges containing heavy metals,
solvents, and plating bath solutions.
The facility has two regulated hazardous
wastes management units: the Neutral
Trench and the Co-disposal Area.
In the summer of 1982, Envirosafe, a
subsidiary of III Conversion System and
III International, proposed purchasing the
landfill. The proposed purchase
generated public concern about the
landfill's operation and the way the landfill
was inspected and regulated.
The Black Hawk County Solid Waste
Management Commission held multiple
public hearings on the proposed purchase
and operation of the landfill. Eventually,
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
EPA is seeking comments on the
proposed permit from June 30,
2003 to August 14, 2003. Please
send your written comments to:
Cecil Taylor
EPA Region 7 ARTD/RCAP
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
Phone: (913) 551-7438 or
Toll free: (800)223-0425
Email: taylor.cecil@epa.gov
Guidelines for Commenting:
Explain your views and tell
us why you feel that way.
Tell us if you support or
disagree with the
recommendation. Please be
specific.
Can you provide us
alternatives?

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the Commission purchased the landfill to
prevent expansion of hazardous waste
activities and maintain it as a municipal
solid waste landfill.
The Commission closed the hazardous
waste portions of the landfill on August 6,
1985 and did not accept further
hazardous wastes. Also, the Commission
closed the Neutral Trench in 1988 and
closed the Co-Disposal area in 1989.
The site has remained an active
municipal solid waste landfill under a
permit issued by the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources (IDNR).
PERMIT BACKGROUND
Then...
In March 1990, the Black Hawk County
Solid Waste Management Commission
submitted an application for a post-
closure permit for the Neutral Trench and
the Co-Disposal Area. EPA tentatively
approved the draft post-closure permit,
and it was made available to the public for
comment from July 25, 1990 through
September 10, 1990. EPA issued the
final post-closure permit on March 29,
1991.
Now...
The Black Hawk County Solid Waste
Management Commission has applied for
renewal of the post-closure permit and
requested modification of the
groundwater monitoring plan. EPA has
included conditions for monitoring the
groundwater to detect movement of
hazardous contaminants from the landfill
and actions that must be taken if these
contaminants are detected in the
groundwater. The permit also includes
requirements to inspect and maintain the
cap covering the wastes in the landfill.
The draft permit includes EPA's proposed
changes to the groundwater monitoring
plan.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
The Administrative Record is available
for public review. This document includes
the draft permit, the application, and other
background information. The documents
may be viewed at the following locations:
Waterloo Public Library
Reference Desk
415 Commercial
Waterloo, Iowa 50701
Hours: Mon-Thurs. 9am-9pm
Fri.-Sat. 9am-5pm
Sun. Closed (until the end of Sept.)
IDNR
502 E. 9th Street, Wallace State Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
ATTN: Cal Lundberg
Chief, Land Quality Bureau
Hours: Mon-Fri. 8am-4:30pm
IDNR Field Office Number One
909 W. Main St., Ste. 4
Manchester, IA 52057
ATTN: Joel Sanfilippo
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8am-4:30pm
EPA Region 7 Info. Resource Center
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
Hours: 9am-3pm
EPA encourages the public to review
these documents and comment. EPA has
set a 45-day public comment period from
June 30, 2003 to August 14, 2003. EPA
will finalize a remedy only after the public
comment period ends and all comments
are reviewed.
If you have questions, need additional
information, or would like to provide
comment please contact:
Shawntell Martin
Office of External Programs
U.S. EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-551-7003 or
Toll Free: 1-800-223-0425
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