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Fact Sheet
April 2005
Excavation To Be Suspended For Summer Months
Clinton Coal Gas Site, Clinton, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 has been overseeing the Removal Action addressing coal tar contamination at the Clinton Coal Gas Site in Clinton, Iowa, that is being performed by Interstate Power and Light Company (IP&L) under an Administrative Order. Coal tar excavation will be suspended during the summer months to avoid odor problems and interference with summer activities at the Riverview Park which is adjacent to the Site. Work will resume in January 2006.
The Clinton Coal Gas Site is located on the west side of Riverview Park between Fourth Avenue North and Second Avenue South. IP&L has been conducting the work under EPA oversight.
IP&L will continue conducting work under the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) during this time.
CURRENT ACTIONS
Under the Enforcement Removal Action, approximately 31,000 tons of coal tar-contaminated material has been excavated and treated. The anticipated “hot spots” of contamination have actually been found to be continuous areas of contamination resulting in a greater amount of material to be removed.
Additional test trenches have shown a larger amount of contamination yet to be removed. Current estimate is an additional 100,000 tons of material to be excavated and treated. Additional Geoprobe sampling is being conducted to revise the estimate of material remaining.
Previous work at the site consisted of removing lead and polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) contaminated soils. The coal tar removal started in December
2004, excavation and transportation of coal tar contaminated soils were
stopped on March 31, 2004, and the Site is being prepared for the summer
months. This work includes completing the backfilling of the excavation
holes and general clean up. This work will be completed before the end
of April.
Previous assessment activities indicated approximately 25,000 tons of
material that needed to be removed. The contamination threatens the ground
water. The original estimated cost of the removal actions was approximately
$10.1 million. As a result of the additional estimated 100,000 tons of
coal tar contaminated soil requiring excavation and transportation to
the thermal desorption unit, the estimated removal activities, at this
time, will cost approximately an additional $14.4 million. However, if
the movement of the thermal desorption unit onto the Clinton Site is determined
to be the most cost effective method, project costs could be reduced by
approximately $3 million.
BACKGROUND
The 7.9 acre site includes a former manufactured gas plant (FMGP) and
steel works. The FMGP operated from the late 1800s to 1952. IPL offices
currently occupy the western portion of the site. The former Clinton Bridge
Works/Allied Structural Steel buildings, formerly used for manufacturing
beams for bridge construction, were on the eastern portion of the site.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EPA encourages community members to review the Administrative Record for
the Clinton Coal Gas Site. The Administrative Order on Consent and accompanying
documents are in the Administrative Record File. The Administrative Record
File is available for public review at the following information repositories
during normal business hours:
Clinton Public Library
306 8th Ave. South
Clinton, Iowa
EPA Region 7
Records Center
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas
If you have questions or need more information on the site, please contact:
Beckie Himes
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA Region 7
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66102
1-913-551-7003
Toll-free 1-800-223-0425
Fax: 1-913-551-7066
Email: himes.beckie@epa.gov
