LEE CHEMICAL MISSOURI EPA ID# MOD980853519 EPA Region 7 City: 3 miles southeast of Liberty County: Clay County Other Names: Liberty Public Water Supply 08/19/2008 SITE DESCRIPTION The 1-acre Lee Chemical site was used for packaging a variety of chemicals from 1966 until 1974, when Lee Chemical abandoned the facility. City officials found several hundred drums of chemicals on site in 1976, most of which were removed by the City in 1977. The city of Liberty, which owns the property, has removed the building and visible contamination from the site. Soil sample analyses from the site indicate that trichloroethylene (TCE) is still present. During a drinking water study in 1980, the EPA sampled the city's water wells and found TCE. Since then, the most contaminated wells have not been used for drinking water. The water from the remaining wells no longer contains significant levels of TCE. There are approximately 24,000 people living within a 3-mile radius of the site. The nearest residence is located approximately 1/4 mile from the site. The City's drinking water supply wells are located 1/4 mile away from the site. There are several irrigation wells situated near the site. Industrial and commercial facilities near the site use groundwater for cooling or process water. Site Responsibility: The site is being addressed through Federal, State, and City actions. NPL LISTING HISTORY Proposed Date: 10/15/84 Final Date: 06/10/86 Deleted Date: THREATS AND CONTAMINANTS ------- The groundwater, surface water, and soil are contaminated with TCE. Contaminated groundwater, surface water, and soil could adversely affect the health of individuals through direct contact or ingestion. In addition, bioaccumulation of contaminants in fish, water fowl, livestock, and commercial agricultural products may be another exposure pathway. The Town Branch of the Shoal Creek is located approximately 2,000 feet downslope from the site and receives contaminated water discharged from one city well and an on-site extraction well. The creek empties into the Missouri River about 1 mile downstream. CLEANUP APPROACH Response Action Status Immediate Actions: The city of Liberty removed several hundred barrels of chemicals and has cleared the land surrounding the old treatment plant left by Lee Chemical. In 1983, a contractor working for the City demolished the plant, cleared the site, and disposed of the waste material. The City has monitored the drinking water and has managed the use of supply wells to eliminate TCE in the drinking water. The City installed two new supply wells in 1982. Entire Site: The City completed a study of the extent and nature of the contamination in 1990. Following a public comment period, the EPA selected a remedy, which included installation of a more efficient purge well on site and continuation of the interim action requiring discharge of extracted groundwater to a nearby creek. In-place aqueous soil flushing, as selected in the Record of Decision dated March 21, 1991, is being used through three infiltration fields on site. Construction was completed in early 1994 and the system is in full operation. 7TV Site Facts: The state of Missouri and the city of Liberty signed a Consent Order in March ------- 1992. Under the terms of the order, the City is responsible for the implementation of cleanup activities under State supervision. ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS Construction was completed at the site in early 1994. Removing contaminated barrels from the site and monitoring well water have reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous substances at the Lee Chemical site while soil flushing activities are being completed. The first five-year review was completed in the summer of 1999 and a second in 2004. The reviews both show that, although cleanup goals have not been met, significant progress is being made to reach these goals. Although no specific date can be projected at this time, final cleanup goals are anticipated. In the meantime the drinking water supply remains safe and no significant public exposure results from the cleanup process. The third five-year review is scheduled for 2009. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT EPA ensures community members know about and participate in site issues and activities. Region 7 has assigned an EPA Community Involvement Coordinator to the site to answer community member/elected official/media questions and concerns; made the community aware of the Superfund Technical Assistance Grant; conducted community interviews; implemented a community involvement plan; briefed community members, elected officials and the media on site activities; held public meetings and/or public availability sessions; developed/mailed site specific fact sheets; published display ads in local newspapers; and in some cases facilitated the community in forming community advisory groups. The community involvement activities have been on-going since the site was proposed to the NPL. ------- SITE REPOSITORY Liberty Public Library Superfund Records Center 1000 S. Kent 901 N. 5th St. Liberty, MO 64048 Kansas City, KS 66101 Mail Stop SUPR (913)551-7166 REGIONAL CONTACTS SITE MANAGER: E-MAIL ADDRESS: PHONE NUMBER: Tonya Howell howell.tonya@epa.gov (913)551-7589 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Dianna Whitaker COORDINATOR: PHONE NUMBER: (913) 551-7003 E-MAIL ADDRESS: whitaker.dianna@epa.gov STATE CONTACT: Candy McGhee, MDNR PHONE NUMBER: (573) 751-8629 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION STATE: MO 071K CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: 06 EPA ORGANIZATION: SFD-MOKS/SUPR MODIFICATIONS Created by: Karla Created Date: 10/21/97 01:50 PM Asberry/SUPRFUND/R7/US EPA/US Last Modified by: Tonya Last Modified Date: 08/19/2008 03:01 PM Howell/R7/U SEP A/U S ------- |