Jump to main content.

Fact Sheet

September 2008

Vapor Intrusion Study Begins, Carter Carburetor Site, St. Louis, Missouri

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will begin a vapor intrusion study at the Carter Carburetor Site, 2000 to 2840 North Spring Street, St. Louis.  EPA’s Mobile Lab, staffed by EPA contractors, will be on site beginning September 9, 2008 for approximately two weeks.

EPA contractors will collect air samples to determine if trichloroethylene (TCE) vapors are present beneath the floor of the building.  This will help EPA determine if there is a potential for these vapors to intrude and accumulate in this building or future buildings.  This information will be needed to make decisions as to the type of cleanup that will be needed.  Based on the results of this study, additional sampling may be required to determine if vapors are migrating off-site.

BACKGROUND

The Carter Carburetor Site is a former carburetor manufacturing plant.  Gasoline and diesel powered carburetors were made at the site from the 1930s until 1984, when the plant was closed.  EPA site investigations found unacceptable levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the building and some areas outside the buildings. 

In 1997 ACF Industries (former owner of Carter Carburetor) conducted a time critical removal action.  They demolished and properly disposed of three smaller buildings where PCBs were used in the manufacturing process.  EPA has been working with ACF since 2003 to investigate the additional contamination that is under ground and in the larger abandoned building on the site.
 
CURRENT SITE STATUS    

ACF Industries, Inc., the potentially responsible party, is currently performing an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) under EPA oversight.  The EE/CA is a report which evaluates the various cleanup alternatives based primarily on protectiveness and cost.  As part of the EE/CA process, ACF discovered TCE contamination in the subsurface.  TCE is an industrial degreaser used in the carburetor manufacturing process.  TCE can form vapors which can travel through the soil and enter buildings through cracks or other openings in the floor.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Site related documents are available for the public to review at the following locations during normal business hours: 

Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club of America
2901 N. Grand
St. Louis, Missouri 63107

EPA Region 7 Office
Records Center
901 N. 5th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact:

Jeff Weatherford
On-Scene Coordinator
EPA, Region 7
Superfund Division
212 Little Bussen Drive
Fenton, Missouri 63026
(636) 326-4720
E-mail: weatherford.jeffrey@epa.gov

Jan Lambert
Community Involvement Coordinator
EPA, Region 7,
Office of Public Affairs
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
913-551-7768
Toll-free 1-800-223-0425
E-mail: lambert.janette@epa.gov

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.