Cyprus Specialty Metals Company/Roquette America Inc. Facility, Keokuk, Iowa - Fact Sheet, February 2021

Public Comment Period for Draft RCRA Post-Closure Permit

INTRODUCTION

EPA Region 7 invites the public to review and comment on the draft Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Post-Closure Permit, prepared in response to a Class 3 permit modification request by Roquette America Inc. (Roquette), a Permittee for the facility, located at 2301 Twin Rivers Drive in Keokuk, Iowa (EPA ID No. IAD041391772). The 45-day public comment period will run from Feb. 8, 2021, to March 26, 2021.

BACKGROUND

The Post-Closure Permit (permit) under RCRA was issued to Roquette America Inc. and Cyprus Specialty Metals Company on Sept. 18, 2019. The permit requires inspection and maintenance of both landfill cell caps and associated structures, so that hazardous wastes are not released to the environment. The environmental covenants required by the permit have been recorded on the property that require cap maintenance; restrict access to the landfill cells; require protective measures when digging in soil and proper soil management; and prohibit well installation, groundwater use, and property use for residential purposes. The contaminant concentrations in soil and groundwater remaining at the facility are within levels considered acceptable with current site use and consideration of property restrictions imposed by the environmental covenants.

The permit requires that a groundwater monitoring program continue until the corrective action objectives (CAOs – i.e., to meet protective standards in wells along the river) are met to EPA’s satisfaction. Roquette has established that the CAOs have been met to EPA’s satisfaction.

In the Class 3 permit modification request, Roquette asked that its property be removed from the definition of facility in the permit, leaving Cyprus Specialty Metals Company as the sole Permittee to inspect and maintain the two hazardous waste landfill cells.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The public is encouraged to review and comment on the draft, modified RCRA Post-Closure Permit for the Cyprus/Roquette facility.  The permit and other supporting documents are contained in the Administrative Record, which is available at the following locations during normal business hours. If the record is not physically available (e.g., due to COVID-19), an index and/or electronic copy of the record can be provided upon request by contacting Ben Washburn, as described below.

Keokuk Public Library
210 North 5th Street
Keokuk, IA 52632
319-524-1483

Iowa Department of Natural Resources
502 East 9th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-725-8200

EPA Region 7 Records Center
11201 Renner Boulevard
Lenexa, KS 66219
1-800-223-0425

• Only revised, highlighted portions of the permit are available for comment with this notice.
• Explain your views.
• Tell us if you support or disagree with the permit revisions. Please be specific.
• Provide alternatives if you disagree with the permit revisions.
• Submit comments by March 26, 2021.

A formal public hearing has not been scheduled, but will be held if there is sufficient public interest. Requests for a public hearing must be made in writing to Mary Grisolano at the address listed below for receipt by March 26, and must state the nature of issues to be raised at the hearing. EPA will evaluate any request and hold a formal hearing if it finds that a hearing will contribute to the decision-making process by clarifying significant issues affecting the cleanup remedy.

EPA will issue a final, revised RCRA Post-Closure Permit to Cyprus only after the public comment period ends and all comments are reviewed. EPA may modify the permit based on any new information and comments from the public.

EPA CONTACT INFORMATION

You may submit comments or request a public hearing by mail or email to:

If you have questions or want to receive a copy of the Administrative Record or further information, please contact: