Iowa Dress Club Superfund Site, Oskaloosa, Iowa - Fact Sheet, November 2018

EPA Removal Action

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will conduct a removal action at the Iowa Dress Club Superfund Site in Oskaloosa, Iowa. EPA will implement an in-situ, enhanced reductive dechlorination and biodegradation treatment to address the source area, followed by additional sampling of source area groundwater and soils to verify the effectiveness of the treatment.

BACKGROUND

The site is in Oskaloosa, approximately 55 miles southeast of Des Moines. The source area for the site surrounds a hand-dug well where trash, oil and chemicals were previously dumped.

In 2015, EPA conducted a Removal Assessment at the site. Sampling indicated the presence of perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene concentrations, which potentially pose a threat of impacting local groundwater users.

Additional Removal Assessment activities included the collection of off-site groundwater and vapor intrusion samples. None of the groundwater or vapor intrusion samples contained concentrations above detection levels.

ABOUT THE CONTAMINANTS

Perchloroethylene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent commonly used in dry cleaning operations and as a degreaser in manufacturing plants. Perchloroethylene is characterized by EPA as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans” by all routes of exposure. For additional information, visit ASTDR’s website.

Trichloroethylene is a colorless, volatile liquid. Trichloroethylene is typically used as a solvent to remove grease from metal parts and can be used to make other chemicals. For additional information, visit ATSDR’s website.

EPA CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions or site information, contact: