STATE OF IOWADepartment of Natural Resourcs t n . r

COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLANFanner's Mutual Cooperative Company Site

Hospers, Iowa

Plan Overview

This community relations plan identifies issues of community concern regarding the Farmer'sMutual Cooperative Company site in the town of Hospers, Iowa, and outlines communityrelations activities to be conducted during the remedial investigation and feasibility of thesite. This plan seeks to provide the public with timely information relative to public releaseof the remedial investigation and feasibility study, and to continue with an active informationprogram as the Record of Decision is presented for public review.

Site Description

The Farmer's Mutual Cooperative Company site covers approximately six acres and islocated in the northwest corner of the town of Hospers on both sides of State highway 60(see maps on pages 3 and 4). The site does not include the railroad and state highway right-of-ways that run north-south through the property.

The site has been in continuous use an agricultural supply and service business since 1908.It was recently purchased by the Farmer's Mutual Cooperative Company of Sheldon, Iowa.The company stores bulk grain, fertilizers and pesticides at the site location.

In 1984, the Iowa Department of Environmental Quality found 1,2-dichIoroethane, carbontetrachloride, and chloroform and several common agricultural herbicides in two municipalwells adjacent to the site. In 1985, a consultant to the cooperative found some of the samechemicals in on-site soils and groundwater.

Groundwater contamination was confined to wells drawing from the alluvial aquifer. Thetown of Hospers also has wells that draw from the Dakota Sandstone aquifer. Contaminatedwells were closed at direction of the state. Accordingly, the threat to human health from thegroundwater contamination can be characterized as slight. Although total reliance on theDakota Sandstone aquifer water has materially reduced the threat to public health, thissource contains high levels of sulfate which degrades the taste of the water.

The State of Iowa has lead responsibility for oversight of this project. The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is support agency for this site.

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S00090878SUPERFUND RECORDS

DNR - Community Relations Plan - Hogpen, Farmer'1 Co-op Site

Community Background

The town of Hospers was founded in 1891, as a farm-market community in north-east Siouxcounty, which role continues to the present day. The town has a population of about 700.There are, at present, four manufacturing concerns in the town, employing a total of about120 persons. The bulk of the population is employed in direct support to agriculture. Thereis also a small retirement community.

News Media attention to the site has been generally limited to the local newspaper(Siouxland Press), mainly as respects the impact of groundwater contamination on thecommunity drinking water supplies.

Interviews with citizens in the community indicate a general concern with the quality ofdrinking water, which for some of the population is judged by the water's taste. By way ofconfirmation, about half of those interviewed characterized the present drinking water asof less quality than its predecessor.

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DNR • Community Relation* PUn - Hotpcn, Fanner1* Co-op Site

DNR - Community Relation* Plan - Hospen, Farmer*! Co-op Site

Highlights of the Program

This community relations program will address perceived public information needs, at aminimum, by taking the following actions:

S Publishing a public notice announcing the establishment of an administrativerecord and fixing a local records repository for the administrative record, andthe completion of this community relations plan on May 1, 1991.

/ Publishing a public notice, announcing the availability of the proposed plan1,remedial investigation/feasibility study at the records repository, and theavailability of a fact sheet describing the process, conclusions reached andrecommendations made. The completion of this plan will be announced at thesame time. This announcement includes the opportunity for submission of oraland written comments.

/ Issuing a press release, announcing the scheduling of a public meeting for thepurpose of receiving oral and written comments from the public relative tothe proposed plan.

/ Distributing a responsiveness summary which summarizes the DNR responseto received public comment.

S Publishing a public notice, informing the public that the record of decision2

has been signed and of the availability of the final remedial plan selected bythe State of Iowa on July 1, 1991.

This plan was last updated on April 26, 1991.

The propoced plan it a document prepared for public comment which summarises the remedial alternative* presented in thedetailed analytic of the remedial investigation/feasibility study, (dentines the preferred alternative, and provides the rationale for thepreferred alternative.

The record of decision (ROD) if issued as the final remedial action plan. The ROD summari/es the problem* posed by theconditions at the site, the alternative remedies considered, and the selected remedy, including the rationale for that selection.

DNR - Community Relation* Plan - Hocpers, Firmer*! Co-op Site

Contacts and Interested Parties

A. Federal Elected Officials

Senator Charles E. Grassley301 Federal Bldg, 320 6th St.Sioux City, IA51101712/233-1860

Representative Fred Grandy508 Pierce StreetSioux City, IA51101712/252-5860

B. State Elected Officials

Governor Terry BranstadIowa State CapitolDes Moines, IA 50319515/281-5211

Representative Kenneth DeGroot502 Main Street, Box 96Doon, IA 51235712/726-3180

C Local Officials

Mayor

Senator Tom Harkin901 Badgerow BuildingSioux City, IA 51101712/252-1550

Senator Richard P. Vande HoefBox 19Harris, IA 51345712/349-2312

Council

Marlene Schwartz203 - 3rd Ave. NorthHospers, IA 51238712/752-8965

Charles Vande Kamp207 LocustHospers, IA 51238712/752-8831

Pete Barthman304 - 2nd Ave. SouthHospers, IA 51238712/752-8190

John Solsma402 Main StreetHospers, IA 51238712/752-8682

Donald Evink107 Willow Creek LaneHospers, IA 51238712/752-8471

Orville Van Roekel110 Highland Ave.Hospers, IA 51238712/752-8752

DNR - Community RciiiioM PUa - llotpen, Punter'1 Co-op Silt

D. U.S. EPA Region VII Officials

Anne OlberdingRemedial Enforcement SectionWaste Management DivisionU.S. EPA Region VII .726 Minnesota AvenueKansas City, KS 66101913/551-7718

Rowena Michaels, DirectorOffice of Public AffairsU.S. EPA Region VII726 Minnesota AvenueKansas City, IA 66101913/551-7003

E. State and Local Agencies

John A Eure, Ass't. to Dir. forEnvironmental HealthDivision of Disease PreventionIowa Department of HealthLucas State Office BuildingDes Moines, IA50319515/281-4928

F. Communications Media

SiouxJand Press207 Main StreetHospers, IA 51238712/752-8401

KCAU-TV7th & DouglasSioux City, IA 51101712/277-2345

Hattie ThomasCommunity Relations CoordinatorOffice of Public AffairsU.S. EPA Region VII726 Minnesota AvenueKansas City, KS 66101913/551-7003

Jan Cain, RN, AdministratorPublic Health - Home Care of SiouxCountyCourt HouseOrange City, IA 51041712/737-2971

KIWA Radio Station411 - 9th StreetSheldon, IA51201712/324-2597

KTIV-TV3135 Floyd Blvd.Sioux City, IA 51105712/239-4900

Sioux City Journal515 PavoniaSioux City, IA51103712/279-5015

DNR - Community Relations Plan - Hospcrs, Farmer's Co-op Site .

Location of Information Repository & Public Meeting Facility

Information Repository

City Clerk's Office, City HallMain StreetHospers, IA 51238712/752-8593Hours: 9:00 A.M. - 12 Noon, Monday through Friday

Public Meeting Facility

City HallMain StreetHospers, IA 51238712/752-8593

8

STATE OF IOWADepartment of Natural Resourc is

COMMUNITY RELATIONS PLANFanner's Mutual Cooperative Company Site

Hospers, Iowa

Plan Overview

This community relations plan identifies issues of community concern regarding the Farmer'sMutual Cooperative Company site in the town of Hospers, Iowa, and outlines communityrelations activities to be conducted during the remedial investigation and feasibility of thesite. This plan seeks to provide the public with timely information relative to public releaseof the remedial investigation and feasibility study, and to continue with an active informationprogram as the Record of Decision is presented for public review.

Site Description

The Farmer's Mutual Cooperative Company site covers approximately six acres and islocated in the northwest corner of the town of Hospers on both sides of State highway 60(see maps on pages 3 and 4). The site does not include the railroad and state highway right-of-ways that run north-south through the property.

The site has been in continuous use an agricultural supply and service business since 1908.It was recently purchased by the Farmer's Mutual Cooperative Company of Sheldon, Iowa.The company stores bulk grain, fertilizers and pesticides at the site location.

In 1984, the Iowa Department of Environmental Quality found 1,2-dichloroethane, carbontetrachloride, and chloroform and several common agricultural herbicides in two municipalwells adjacent to the site. In 1985, a consultant to the cooperative found some of the samechemicals in on-site soils and groundwater.

Groundwater contamination was confined to wells drawing from the alluvial aquifer. Thetown of Hospers also has wells that draw from the Dakota Sandstone aquifer. Contaminatedwells were closed at direction of the state. Accordingly, the threat to human health from thegroundwater contamination can be characterized as slight. Although total reliance on theDakota Sandstone aquifer water has materially reduced the threat to public health, thissource contains high levels of sulfate which degrades the taste of the water.

The State of Iowa has lead responsibility for oversight of this project. The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is support agency for this site.

S00090878SUPERFUND RECORDS

DNR - Community Relations PUn • Hocpen. Firmer*! Co-op Site

Community Background

The town of Hospers was founded in 1891, as a farm-market community in north-east Siouxcounty, which role continues to the present day. The town has a population of about 700.There are, at present, four manufacturing concerns in the town, employing a total of about120 persons. The bulk of the population is employed in direct support to agriculture. Thereis also a small retirement community.

News Media attention to the site has been generally limited to the local newspaper(Siouxland Press), mainly as respects the impact of groundwater contamination on thecommunity drinking water supplies.

Interviews with citizens in the community indicate a general concern with the quality ofdrinking water, which for some of the population is judged by the water's taste. By way ofconfirmation, about half of those interviewed characterized the present drinking water asof less quality than its predecessor.

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DNR - Community Relation* Plan - Hotpert, Farmer'1 Co-op Site

Highlights of the Program

This community relations program will address perceived public information needs, at aminimum, by taking the following actions:

/ Publishing a public notice announcing the establishment of an administrativerecord and fixing a local records repository for the administrative record, andthe completion of this community relations plan on May 1, 1991.

/ Publishing a public notice, announcing the availability of the proposed plan1,remedial investigation/feasibility study at the records repository, and theavailability of a fact sheet describing the process, conclusions reached andrecommendations made. The completion of this plan will be announced at thesame time. This announcement includes the opportunity for submission of oraland written comments.

/ Issuing a press release, announcing the scheduling of a public meeting for thepurpose of receiving oral and written comments from the public relative tothe proposed plan.

/ Distributing a responsiveness summary which summarizes the DNR responseto received public comment.

/ Publishing a public notice, informing the public that the record of decision2

has been signed and of the availability of the final remedial plan selected bythe State of Iowa on July 1, 1991.

This plan was last updated on April 26, 1991.

The proposed plan to a document prepared for public com me til wtiich tummarires the remedial alternative* presented in thedetailed analytts of the remedial Investigation/feasibility study. Identifies the preferred alternative, and provides the rationale for thepreferred alternative.

The record of decision (ROD) • issued at the final remedial action plan The ROD tummarires (he problem! paced by theconditions at the tile, the alternative remedies considered, and the aeferled remedy, inducing the rationale for that iclenion.

DNR - Community ReUtont Plan - Hccperv Pinner'1 Co-op Site

Contacts and Interested Parties

A. Federal Elected Officials

Senator Charles E. Grassley301 Federal Bldg, 320 6lh St.Sioux City, IA51101712/233-1860

Representative Fred Grandy508 Pierce StreetSioux City, IA51101712/252-5860

B. State Elected Officials

Governor Terry BranstadIowa State CapitolDes Moines, IA 50319515/281-5211

Representative Kenneth DeGroot502 Main Street, Box 96Doon, IA51235712/726-3180

C Local Officials

Mayor

Senator Tom Harkin901 Badgerow BuildingSioux City, IA51101712/252-1550

Senator Richard P. Vande HoefBox 19Harris. IA 51345712/349-2312

Council

Marlene Schwartz203 - 3rd Ave. NorthHospers, IA 51238712/752-8965

Charles Vande Kamp207 LocustHospers, LA 51238712/752-8831

Pete Barthman304 - 2nd Ave. SouthHospers, IA 51238712/752-8190

John Solsma402 Main StreetHospers, IA 51238712/752-8682

Donald Evink107 Willow Creek LaneHospers, LA 51238712/752-8471

Orville Van Roekel110 Highland Ave.Hospers, IA51238712/752-8752

DNR • Community JUUtiooi flu • llotpcrs, Farmer'1 Co-op Site

D. U.S. EPA Region VII Officials

Anne OlberdingRemedial Enforcement SectionWaste Management DivisionU.S. EPA Region VII .726 Minnesota AvenueKansas City, KS 66101913/551-7718

Rowena Michaels, DirectorOffice of Public AffairsU.S. EPA Region VII726 Minnesota AvenueKansas City, IA 66101913/551-7003

E. State and Local Agencies

John A. Eure, Ass't. to Dir. forEnvironmental HealthDivision of Disease PreventionIowa Department of HealthLucas Slate Office BuildingDCS Moines, IA50319515/281-4928

F. Communications Media

Siouxland Press207 Main StreetHospers, IA 51238712/752-8401

KCAU-TV7th & DouglasSioux City, IA 51101712/277-2345

Hattie ThomasCommunity Relations CoordinatorOffice of Public AffairsU.S. EPA Region VII726 Minnesota AvenueKansas City, KS 66101913/551-7003

Jan Cain, RN, AdministratorPublic Health - Home Care of SiouxCountyCourt HouseOrange City, IA 51041712/737-2971

KIWA Radio Station411 -9 th StreetSheldon, IA51201712/324-2597

KTIV-TV3135 Floyd Blvd.Sioux City, IA51105712/239^900

Sioux City Journal515 PavoniaSioux City, IA51103712/279-5015

DNR - Community Re la I ton t PUn - llocpen, Firmer1* Co-op Site

Location or Information Repository & Public Meeting Facility

Information Repository

City Clerk's Office, City HallMain StreetHospers, IA 51238712/752-8593Hours: 9:00 A.M. - 12 Noon, Monday through Friday

Public Meeting Facility

City HallMain StreetHospers, IA 51238712/752-8593

8