Posted December 1, 2009
Even though Blackhawk Foundry and Machine in Davenport has been sold and will cease operation sometime after January 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it will see that clean up of lead contamination at the plant site is completed.
The foundry agreed in August to remove lead contamination found on the site, but announced November 17 it was selling the business to Citation Corp., a Michigan firm which designs and manufactures metal products.
Blackhawk President James Grafton blamed the sale and upcoming shutdown on the poor economy. The company laid off nearly 100 employees earlier this year and said it currently employs 127 people.
A spokesman for the U.S. EPA Region 7 office in Kansas City said Blackhawk has submitted the required Corrective Measurers Implementation (CMI) work plan in accordance with its August agreement.
"All submissions have been received in a timely fashion," the EPA spokesman said. "The first submission of the work plan had a few minor flaws which needed to be corrected by Blackhawk and resubmitted to EPA. That resubmitted work plan is now under review, but it has not been formally approved.
"Besides being subject to review by EPA's staff, EPA's laboratory staff also reviews and approves parts of the work plan," the spokesman said. "We understand that 2-1/2 months may seem to be a long time for citizens or others unfamiliar with this approval process, but in fact, the progress at this site has moved at a pace consistent with the level of attention it requires."
In addition to the lead contamination issue, the foundry has been the focus of air quality concerns related to fine particulate emissions of 2.5 microns and smaller (PM 2.5).
Because an air monitor near the plant had PM 2.5 levels in excess of federal standards, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) had obtained an agreement with the foundry to undertake additional pollution control measures.
That agreement, however, was voluntary and with the announced sale and closure of the facility, it is moot. The Iowa IDNR, however, said it will continue to monitor the situation at the site even after the sale and closure of the plant.
For the EPA-Blackhawk Foundry agreement, CLICK HERE.
