City of Kelsey Public Policy

Mayor Perla Musgraves 115 E. Arapahoe Kelsey

Re: Environmental Quality Industrial Overview

Dear Mayor Musgraves:

The State Department of Environmental Quality recently commissioned a study of industrial sites within the state that might adversely affect the environment. Attached is an excerpt from the report listing the sites within Kelsey that present the greatest concerns.

State Department of Environmental Quality

Kelsey

CFB&R operated a commercial fuel blending and recycling plant starting in the early 1980s. The facility accepted liquid wastes from a number of in-state and out-of-state generators of hazardous waste. Waste streams with moderate to high heat content—high BTU value—were emptied in a fuel blending tank and mixed. The mixed fluid was then marketed as fuel for cement kilns. The liquid wastes with low heat content were rerouted to an injection facility at a neighboring state for deep well injection.

Craver Fuel Blending & Recycling (CFB&R)

Government inspections of the facility indicated periodic problems with waste handling issues at CFB&R. In fact, the facility was fined on three different occasions for not following the hazardous waste regulations with respect to waste handling.

In 2009, an explosion occurred at the facility, which was caused by explosive reactions due to blending an incompatible mixture of liquid hazardous wastes. The explosion caused a major release of hazardous waste to a large portion of the facility. A cursory cleanup operation ensued; all visible contamination from the soils at the facility were removed and disposed in a landfill. The facility could not continue normal operations after the explosion.

In 2011, amid lawsuits from injured employees and former business partners, CFB&R filed for bankruptcy and closed its doors.

During a subsequent hazardous waste inspection, state environmental agency staff took several soil samples at random locations throughout the facility. The sampling results indicated high concentrations of certain hazardous constituents in the soil. The following constituents were detected at the surface soils: lead (2500 mg/kg [milligram of contaminant per kilogram of soil]), benzene (500 µg/kg [microgram of contaminant per kilogram of soil]), trichloroethylene (3 mg/kg), and methylcyclohexane (100 mg/kg). There are no groundwater quality data available at this facility.

Sparks operates a dry cleaning service south of downtown Kelsey. For years, the facility used perchloroethylene as the dry cleaning fluid. Currently, Sparks has an impeccable environmental and safety record; however, former employees

Sparks Dry Cleaners

Industrial Overview Kelsey

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have alleged that in the “old days” they routinely “dumped” the spent perchloroethylene outside near the parking lot. Vegetation around the parking lot is stressed. In fact, the new manager’s efforts to grow Bermuda grass around the parking lot have not yielded favorable results.

Per state requirements, Sparks constructed two monitor wells within the facility boundary to monitor the quality of groundwater. The average concentration of perchloroethylene—also known as perc or tetrachloroethylene—in the groundwater has been 10 µg/l (micrograms per liter). As a point of reference, the drinking water standard (maximum contaminant level or MCL) for perc is 5 µg/l. A perchloroethylene concentration of 25 µg/kg (micrograms per kilogram) was detected at the surface soils at the facility.

The concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) at the edge of town is a facility where large numbers of swine are confined. The facility is a major producer of pork in the region. Manure from the facility is land applied by local farmers as a soil additive and fertilizer. Local environmental groups at Kelsey have long alleged that land application of CAFO waste causes nitrate contamination of groundwater. Wastewater from the operation is collected in unlined evaporation lagoons. Surface soils and the groundwater at Sherman Farms have been contaminated with high levels of hormones, organic matter, pathogens, and heavy metals. The concentration levels of ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus are also high.

Sherman Farms Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation

The old Thornton Fertilizer Company, with its dilapidated buildings and equipment, lies dormant at the outskirts of town. After the owners filed for bankruptcy, no one heard from them. The property has been turned over to the county for nonpayment of taxes. As the former plant’s new owner, the county does not have any immediate plans for redeveloping the property. Recently, a metals recycler has contacted the county to lease the property in hopes of dismantling the equipment and marketing the salvaged metal. Negotiations are underway.

Thornton Fertilizer Company, Inc.

Meanwhile, a local children’s advocacy group has lobbied the state to test the soils and groundwater at the site. The group was concerned about potentially high nitrate concentrations and the prevalence of blue baby syndrome in the area. Subsequent soils and groundwater testing at the facility revealed high

Industrial Overview Kelsey

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concentrations of nitrates, phosphorous, urea, ammonia, and cadmium at surface soils and the groundwater. There are no additional state funds allocated for further investigations or contaminant cleanup at this site.