The Site is an abandoned coal tar distillery which operated from 1924 to 2002. The owner of the property filed for bankruptcy in 2016 and widespread subsurface contamination exists on-site.
The Site is located south of Provo, Utah at the intersection of Mountain Springs Parkway and East 1800 South Street in unincorporated Utah County. Land use in the area is largely industrial. The Ironton Canal constitutes the northern Site boundary and discharges to Spring Creek and then Utah Lake‘s Provo Bay approximately 4 miles west of the Site. There is a seasonal wetland to the south and groundwater tends to flow westward beneath a nearby industrial facility.
EPA is partnering with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) to perform a Time Critical Removal Action and conduct additional assessment activities at the Site. The EPA Removal Action involves:
1: Excavate approximately 2000 cubic yards of contaminated material from along the Ironton Canal at the northwest corner of the Site where the historic outfall was located. Install a flood-resistant liner between the Site and the Ironton Canal, backfill the area with soil harvested on-site and armor the banks of the canal as appropriate.
2: Grade an area along the eastern perimeter of the Site and establish appropriate runoff control berms. Transport the soil excavated from along the Ironton Canal to this location, spread the soil evenly, add amendments if appropriate and till the soil in May, July and September 2018.
3: Collect and dispose of < 1 cubic yard of asbestos containing tiles in the industrial core of the Site. Remove vegetation and grade the area to insure it drains to the south and away from the canal. Reseed and install erosion control features across the disturbed area as appropriate.
UDEQ will be coordinating additional assessment activities including a complete characterization of the Site and development of a comprehensive plan and budget to remediate the Site.
