Second Five-Year Review Completed, Red Oak City Landfill Superfund Site, Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts regular checkups, called five-year reviews, on certain Superfund sites where cleanups have been completed. These reviews are required by the Superfund law [42 U.S.C. Section 9621 (c)]. EPA Region 7 and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) have completed the second five-year review of the Red Oak Landfill Superfund site in Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa.
The site is in Montgomery County, Iowa about 1.5 miles northwest of the city of Red Oak on the west bank of the East Nishnabotna River and on the east side of Parkwest Road. Before the site was cleaned up, some landfill areas had not been adequately covered. The landfill received construction debris, municipal refuse and industrial waste from facilities in the Red Oak area. The site posed a possible risk to the public health through direct contact, slope erosion, and potential migration of contaminants.
From 1962 to 1974, the site was operated as a landfill by the city of Red Oak. The industrial wastes received there included toluene, methyl isobutyl ketone, tetrachloroethylene, mineral spirits, diacetone alcohol, laminated paper containing approximately three percent mercurous chloride from battery production, and drummed filter cake containing lead.
Following EPA guidelines, responsible parties at the site installed an engineered cap on the landfill, with drainage to handle water runoff. The river bank slope was graded and planted to minimize erosion. The area was fenced to protect the cap and deter people from visiting the site. Land use deed restrictions were put in place to control future use of the site. The responsible parties at the site monitor ground water and maintain the landfill cover.
The Second Five-Year Review
EPA inspected the site on April 3, 2007. During this second five-year review they studied the records and reports concerning the monitoring, operation, and maintenance of the site and all other relevant documents and information gathered in the last five years.
This second five-year review concluded that the remedy selected and implemented at the site is functioning as designed and remains protective of human health and the environment.