/*> -r Region 7 Fact Sheet MSBy Iowa Kansas Missouri Nebraska Nine Tribal Nations July 2008 EPA Takes Over Removal Actions Garvey Elevator Site, Hastings, Nebraska INTRODUCTION The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 has taken over on-going removal activities at the Garvey Elevator Site (site). Removal activities are short- term actions that are taken to address releases of hazardous substances. This work was previously performed by Garvey Elevators, Inc. under an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) with EPA. Under the terms of the AOC, Garvey was required to address the immediate threats posed by contamination from the site and prevent further migration of contaminants away from the former elevator. Garvey Elevators, Inc. filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in March 2008. EPA initiated removal actions in May 2008, to: provide alternate water to impacted private well users; continue operating the ground water recovery and soil vapor extraction system; and assess their effectiveness. BACKGROUND The Garvey Elevator facility stored and processed grain since 1959. Carbon tetrachloride, a common fumigant, was used at the facility until the mid 1980s. Past releases of carbon tetrachloride from the facility have contaminated ground water near the facility. The ground water is used as a source of drinking water. The site is located at 2315 W. Highway 6, approximately 0.5 miles southwest of Hastings in Adams County.' The former Garvey Elevator facility covered 106 acres of land, 22 of which have been used for facility operations. On October 7, 2005, the facility was sold to AGP Grain Marketing, LLC. EPA, AGP and Garvey Elevators entered into a separate agreement that would allow proceeds from the sale to be used for investigation and cleanup of the site. CONTAMINATION Carbon tetrachloride has been found at high levels (29,943 parts per billion) in ground water beneath the facility and has previously been detected in Municipal-Well 13 northeast of the facility. EPA's drinking water standard for carbon tetrachloride is five parts per billion. Carbon tetrachloride has also been found in several private drinking water supply wells. EPA estimates that the plume of contaminated ------- ground water extends at least three miles east from the facility. ACTIVITIES TO DATE Garvey Elevators, Inc. entered into an AOC to perform removal actions and a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at the site in September 2005. Under the terms of the AOC, Garvey was required to perform the following work: ¦ Evaluate effectiveness of existing soil vapor and ground water extraction systems to prevent further off-site migration of carbon tetrachloride in ground water. ¦ Perform private well surveys to identify impacted and potentially- impacted residents and businesses, and provide alternate water supplies to impacted residents and businesses. ¦ Conduct an RI/FS, to further assess the nature and extent of ground water contamination and to evaluate potential remedial actions to address the contamination. Once the AOC was signed, Garvey and its contractors began performing activities described in the AOC. Garvey connected several residences to municipal water and performed field investigations at the former Garvey Elevator facility. Garvey attempted to maintain and operate the ground water recovery system. Garvey Elevators, Inc. filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the U.S. District Court for the North District of Texas, Fort Worth Division on March 27, 2008. EPA directed Garvey and its contractors to halt work at the site in April 2008. FUTURE REMEDIAL ACTIONS EPA's remedial process is designed to find a long-term solution to address the contamination at the site. EPA is preparing to perform a remedial investigation to define the nature and extent of the contamination, and conduct a feasibility study to evaluate different alternatives to clean up the contamination. EPA will ultimately present this information to the community and ask for comments on EPA's proposed actions before making decisions regarding the cleanup. ADMINSTRATIVE RECORD The Administrative Record File is available for public review during normal business hours at the following information repositories: Hastings Public Library 4th and Denver Streets Hastings, Nebraska EPA Region 7 901 N. 5 Street Kansas City, Kansas If you have questions or need additional information, please contact: Jan Lambert Office of Public Affairs U.S. EPA Region 7 901 N. 5th Street Kansas City, Kansas 66101 Phone: 913-551-7768 or Toll Free: 1-800-223-0425 lambert.janette@epa.gov 2 ------- |