RED OAK CITY LANDFILL
IOWA
EPA ID# IAD980632509
EPA Region 7
City: 1 mile northwest of Red Oak
County: Montgomery County
Other Names: Union Carbide Disposal
08/27/2002
SITE DESCRIPTION
The 40-acre Red Oak City Landfill site is an inactive landfill located within an old limestone quarry in a
rural setting. Of the 40 acres, 20 acres were used for disposal. The landfill is bounded on the west by
Parkwest Road, now G Avenue, and on the east by the East Nishnabotna River. Quarrying activities at
the site were conducted by strip mining from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. The City of Red Oak
purchased the site property in 1962 and converted it into a municipal landfill. From 1962 until 1974,
municipal waste and industrial waste that included hazardous substances were deposited in the landfill.
There was a thin layer of soil covering the landfill and, at some points, waste materials, including
55-gallon drums, were exposed to the surface. The eastern portion of the landfill, adjacent to the East
Nishnabotna River, was being eroded as a result of river bank undercutting and surface water runoff.
Approximately 7,000 people located within 3 miles of the site depend on ground water as a source of
drinking water. The nearest residence uses a private well located 1,800 feet away from the landfill.
There are 250 people living within a 1-mile radius of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through Federal and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/10/1986
Final Date:
03/31/1989
Deleted Date:

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THREATS AND CONTAMINANTS

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VOCs including toluene and xylene and heavy metals including chromium, lead, and
barium from the landfilling practices have been detected in the soil, ground water, and
surface water at low concentrations. The sediments near the landfill contain toluene.
Ingestion of or direct contact with the contaminated ground water, surface water, soils or
sediments could be hazardous. The landfill is situated in permeable soil, which increases
the chances of the ground water becoming contaminated.
CLEANUP APPROACH
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The flood of 1993 caused significant soil erosion of the landfill banks adjacent to the river.
In consideration of new information, EPA prepared an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) in
January, 1996. Subsequently, EPA conducted negotiations with the Potentially Responsible Parties
(PRPs) to implement the remedy pursuant to a Consent Decree. The PRPs included the City of Red
Oak, local industries, and industries previously located in the community. Negotiations were completed
in August, 1996, and in October, 1996 the Consent Decree was lodged. Pursuant to this Consent
Decree, the PRPs have conducted and/or completed the following activities. In December 1996, the
PRPs reimbursed the government for past costs and provided funding for future EPA oversight. A
group of the PRPs conducted a streamlined remedial design and constructed a landfill cap at the site
during the fall of 1997. Another group of PRPs will conduct the operation and maintenance activities
upon successful completion and approval by EPA of the remedial action. The cap has been declared
operational and placed under the responsibility of the O&M parties, while the slope has not yet been
certified complete and is under the control of the construction parties.
Site Facts:

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS	
After placing the Red Oak Landfill site on the NPL, the EPA determined, after a preliminary
assessment of site conditions, that no immediate actions were required while final site cleanup activities
were being planned. Those final remedial activities were carried out. The landfill cap was installed, with
diversion and drainage structures to control the precipitation falling on the landfill. The river bank slope
was contoured and revegetated to prevent erosion. Access controls, in the form of fences and signs,
were installed, and institutional controls were placed on the site. Ground water monitoring was
instituted, and is being carried out semi-annually. A water well survey was completed of the immediate
area of the site, showing no ground water users will be directly affected by the site.

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SITE REPOSITORY
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Red Oak Public Library	Superfund Records Center
Second and Washington	901 N. 5th St.
Red Oak, IA 51566	Kansas City, KS 66101
Mail Stop SUPR
(913)551-4038
REGIONAL CONTACTS
SITE MANAGER:
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
PHONE NUMBER:
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
PHONE NUMBER:
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
STATE CONTACT:
PHONE NUMBER:
Bob Stewart
stewart.robert@epa.gov.
(913) 551-7654
- BeckieHimes
(913)551-7003
himes.beckie@epa.gov
Robert Drustrup
(515)281-8900
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
STATE:	IA
07X4
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:	04
EPA ORGANIZATION:	SFD-IANE/SUPR
MODIFICATIONS

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