1 \ Region 7 Fact Sheet Iowa Kansas Missouri % ^ 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? ------- 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 2 ------- 3 ------- |