SPENCER, IA

Site Assessment delivers clean report for Goodyear Tire property

Neel-Schaffer performed Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments at the Graham Tire Retread Facility that revealed no recognized adverse environmental conditions for the property.

Goodyear Commercial Tire & Service Centers retained Neel-Schaffer to perform the ESAs. The scope of work included conducting concurrent Phase I and II ESAs that consisted of inspecting waste handling operations, collecting soil and groundwater samples, performing laboratory analyses on soil and groundwater samples, and comparing the laboratory analytical results to Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Statewide Standards.

The nearly 2-acre property was developed with an approximate 19,300-square foot, single story building utilized as Graham Tire Company for office space, tire storage, and retreading old tires.

A review of environmental records indicated that the property has environmental permits relating to air emissions. The Goodyear property and its adjoining building are each subject to Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG) regulations. An inspection of areas containing RCRA hazardous waste materials was important to determine if proper handling practices were followed.

Chemicals typical of tire retreading operations were stored in the building and were identified as paints, cleaners, and rubber solvent. Use of these chemicals appeared to be in accordance with their intended use, and their storage appeared to be in accordance with good housekeeping.

Part of the tire retread process required heating tires inside kilns located inside the facility. Heat for the kilns was generated by two onsite natural gas fired boilers. Chemicals used to treat the boiler influent water were stored in the boiler room. Floor drains in the boiler room received effluent water from the boilers were properly connected a waste collection system, preventing contamination of site property.

Adjoining land to the east and southeast was reported registered underground storage tank (UST) facilities. A review of Iowa DNR records indicated that all USTs were removed from both locations in the 1980s and there were no reports of spills or releases.

In response to former UST facilities on adjoining land, a Phase II ESA was performed concurrent with the Phase I ESA. Five soil borings were drilled, and two temporary groundwater monitor wells were installed on April 30, 2018. One soil sample per boring and groundwater samples were analyzed for volatile organic compounds (VOC) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

The laboratory analytical results were compared to Iowa DNR Statewide Standards. A comparison to Iowa DNR Statewide Standards revealed no significant concentrations of VOCs or PAHs were detected in the soil or groundwater samples.

Based on the results of our Phase I/II ESAs, Neel-Schaffer provided its client with the environmental due diligence needed to protect their interests.