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Fact Sheet
July 2008
Former Chamberlain Manufacturing Company, Waterloo, Blackhawk County, Iowa
INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in cooperation with the City of Waterloo, Iowa, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has been working with the former site owner to complete the investigation and cleanup at the former Chamberlain Manufacturing facility in Waterloo. Additional investigation is needed to determine whether there are potential exposures from the migration of volatile contaminants into indoor air in residences above contaminated groundwater.
Background
The former Chamberlain Manufacturing facility is located at 550 Esther St. in Waterloo. The facility manufactured metal washer wringers, aluminum awnings, refrigerator shelves, and metal projectile parts at the 23-acre site. The former owner ceased operations at the facility in the 1990s.
In 2003, the city of Waterloo assessed the facility under EPA’s Brownfields program.
In 2005 the city of Waterloo purchased the site and has been working cooperatively with the EPA, IDNR and the former owner to complete the investigation and cleanup, and redevelopment of the site.
The city received Brownfields Cleanup grant funding in 2008 for the sampling and removal of asbestos from the dilapidated buildings prior to demolition. EPA’s Brownfields program encourages redevelopment of abandoned and former contaminated waste sites.
Additional Investigation
The city and the former site owner have conducted an extensive sampling of the groundwater beneath the facility and the surrounding neighborhood. The sampling results indicate that trichloroethylene (TCE), chloroform, tetrachloroethene, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloropropane, and vinyl chloride were found to exceed health risk-based screening levels. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are suspected to have been released to groundwater through spills.
EPA used the sampling data to assess the potential for the VOCs to migrate from the contaminated groundwater through soils and concrete or block foundations into indoor air. The assessment concluded that there is a potential for TCE to migrate into indoor air spaces in neighborhood residences on the west and southwest of the facility.
To determine if contaminants are volatilizing to indoor air space in residences, EPA needs to access these homes and conduct sampling. Sampling will consist of allowing EPA personnel to access residences during day time hours to set up and take down sampling equipment and containers. Sampling will need to take place at least two separate times to assess the variation in results caused by 1) seasonal temperature changes and 2) the depth of the water table, which is affected by rainfall.
Results will be reported to residents in writing. The data will be used to assess indoor air conditions and if additional steps are needed to ventilate any residences that may be found to be impacted by volatilized contaminants.
Additional Information
The public is encouraged to review the EPA’s Vapor Intrusion Study report, investigation reports, and other historic information regarding the facility. This information is available at the following locations:
City of Waterloo
Community Planning & Development
715 Mulberry St.
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 291-4366
M – F 8 - 5 or by appointment
EPA Region 7 Records Center
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS
66101
(913) 551-7166
M – F 7 – 5
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have questions, you may contact any of the following persons:
Stephanie Doolan
EPA Region 7
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
(913) 551-7719 or
Toll free: (800) 223-0425
doolan.stephanie@epa.gov
Chris Western
City of Waterloo
Community Planning & Development
715 Mulberry St.
Waterloo, IA 50703
(319) 291-4366
chris.western@waterloo-ia.org
Dan Cook
IDNR Land Recycling Program
502 E. Ninth St.
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 242-4171
Dan.cook@dnr.iowa.gov
