MID-AMERICA TANNING
CO.

IOWA

EPA ID# IAD085824688

SITE DESCRIPTION

The Mid-America Tanning Company site, located south of Sergeant Bluff, covers approximately
100 acres and processed hides under several names between 1969 and 1989. In 1979, the
Mid-America Tanning Company disposed of an estimated 1,300 cubic yards of tannery sludges
containing chromium into two unlined trenches on the property. U.S. Tanning acquired the
operation in 1985. Wastes were treated on site. Solids were settled out in concrete-lined basins
and unlined impoundments, while liquids were chemically treated and then discharged into an
oxbow lake. The site is in the Missouri River flood plain. Approximately 85 people live within
1-mile radius of the site, and 850 people live within 3 miles.

Site Responsibility:

This site is being addressed through Federal and
potentially responsible parties' actions.

THREATS AND CONTAMINANTS

EPA Region 7	06/10/2008

City: 5 miles south of Sergeant Bluff
County: Woodbury County
Other Names:

NPL LISTING HISTORY

Proposed Date:

06/24/88

Final Date:

03/31/89

Deleted Date:

09/24/2004

Soil was contaminated with heavy metals including chromium. On-site


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7TV

impoundment lagoons contain contaminated sludge and water. Elevated levels of
hydrogen sulfide gas were detected in impoundment sludges.

CLEANUP APPROACH

Response Action Status

Initial Actions: In 1990, EPA excavated approximately 1,300 cubic yards of contaminated soil
and sludge from on-site burial pits. This material was immobilized and capped as part of the final
cleanup remedy. Where possible, EPA removed any raw materials found on site and recycled
them. These cleanup actions were completed in late 1991. In the spring of 1995, a potentially
responsible party (PRP) completed the removal of drum wastes, cleaned two buildings, and
secured other buildings on the site.

Soil: Due to financial difficulties encountered by the PRP in early 1990, EPA initiated studies
into the nature and extent of contamination at the site. EPA completed these investigations in late

1991,	and chose on-site immobilization of heavily contaminated soil and sludge, and capping of
contaminated areas as the final cleanup remedy. Design of these cleanup remedies began in

1992,	and was completed in September, 1993. The additional threat of hydrogen sulfide gas
emanating from the sludge was discovered during site investigations conducted in the fall of
1992. Due to potential for release of unacceptable levels of hydrogen sulfide gas, EPA amended
the original remedy to address this threat. EPA revised the design and remedial action and
construction activities began in June 1999, and were completed by December 1999, with a few
minor items completed in May 2000. The site was deleted from the NPL in September 2004,
following a five year review in 2003, which confirmed the protectiveness of the remedy.

Following the deletion of the site from the NPL, two additional responses have taken place to
ensure the protectiveness of the site. A response action in 2005 addressed a leaking pipe. As a
result of the action in 2005, EPA initiated a response action in August 2006, to further reduce
potential exposure to contaminants by solidifying sludges. Cleanup at the site is complete. The
Iowa Department of Natural Resources has resumed responsibility for operation and
maintenance of the remedy at the site. A second five-year review is due in Summer, 2008.


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Site Facts: EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to a potentially responsible party in
late 1989. Due to financial difficulties, the party did not comply with the initial
actions specified in the Order. Another responsible party was ordered to secure
site buildings, remove drummed wastes, and clean two buildings. EPA entered
into a Consent Decree (CD) in 1998, with two of the PRPs for settlement of past
and future costs. As part of that settlement, one of the PRPs agreed to conduct a
ground water study. The study has been completed and showed no ground water
contamination above drinking water standards.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS

In the spring of 2000, EPA completed final cleanup actions to address elevated levels
of chromium, arsenic, barium, and lead by excavating and capping buried sludges and soils, and
by treating contaminated water on the site. A five-year review was conducted in 2003, and was
completed on July 11, 2003. The review determined that the remedy at that time was
functioning as designed and was protective of human health and the environment. The Iowa
Department of Natural Resources assumed responsibility over the operation and maintenance of
the remedial action. In July 2005, a pipe leak at the site caused the release of impoundment
waters from the lagoons. The pipe was plugged as a temporary measure to stop the leak. In
August of 2006, EPA initiated a response action to solidify the impoundment sludges of the
lagoons to further contain potentially harmful contaminants. The response action was completed
in June of 2007. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will again assume responsibility
over the operation and maintenance of the site.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

5/03 - Fact Sheet announcing start of first 5-year Review. Display Ad in newspaper.

10/03 - Fact Sheet announcing completion of first 5-year Review. Display Ad in the Sergeant
Bluff Advocate.

7/04 - Fact Sheet announcing plans to remove the site from the NPL. Display Ad in the


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newspaper. Press Release sent to media outlets.

9/05 - Press Release sent to media outlets announcing deletion from NPL. Display Ad in the
newspaper.

6/06 - Fact Sheet announcing public availability session for time-critical removal action.
Display Ad in the newspaper. Press Release sent to media outlets.

2/08 - Fact sheet announcing start of the second five-year review. Display Ad in the
newspaper.


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SITE REPOSITORY

Sergeant Bluff City Hall	Superfund Records Center

401 Fourth Street	901 N. 5th St.

Sergeant Bluff, IA 54054	Kansas City, KS 66101

Mail Stop SUPR
(913)551-7166

REGIONAL CONTACTS

SITE MANAGER:

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

PHONE NUMBER:

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
COORDINATOR:

PHONE NUMBER:

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

STATE CONTACT:

PHONE NUMBER:

DeAndre Singletary
singletary.deandre@epa.gov
(913)551-7373

Beckie Himes

(913)551-7253
himes.beckie@epa.gov

Robert Drustrup
(515)281-8900

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

STATE:	IA

077M

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:	05

EPA ORGANIZATION:	SFD-IANE/SUPR

MODIFICATIONS

Created by:	Karla	Created Date:	10/02/97 01:04 PM

Asberry/SUPRFUND/R7/U S
EPA/US

Last Modified by: Beckie	Last Modified Date: 06/10/2008 01:41 PM

Himes/R7/USEPA/US


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