On Sept. 21, 2021, Holcim (US) Inc./Geocycle LLC submitted a Class 3 Permit Modification request to the department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7, requesting to terminate its hazardous waste permits. After a thorough technical review of the permit modification request, the department prepared a Statement of Basis in support of a proposed final remedy for the Holcim facility, effectively terminating the department-issued permit. The department invites the public to review and offer written comments on the proposed final remedy until Dec. 12, 2022.
During the public comment period, anyone can request a public meeting or public hearing about the proposed final remedy. For more information, please contact Breanon Dowling, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, by telephone at 573-751-8361 or 800-361-4827.
The Holcim/Geocycle facility is located at 14744 Highway 79 North, two miles north of Clarksville. Holcim operated a wet process cement kiln, which produced clinker, the main ingredient in Portland cement. Holcim used mainly coke and coal to heat the kiln system. In 1986, Holcim began using a variety of liquid and solid hazardous waste-derived fuels, such as spent industrial chemical and petroleum-related materials, to supplement its fuel needs. The hazardous waste came from off-site hazardous waste generators or third party hazardous waste blenders or brokers. Geocycle operated the hazardous waste treatment and storage facility. Geocycle received the hazardous waste by both truck and railcar, “blended” the waste with other hazardous waste to meet fuel specifications, and stored the resulting wastes in tanks until they are used as liquid fuel.
Holcim and Geocycle operated under two hazardous waste permits, a department-issued Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Facility Part I Permit and an EPA-issued Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Part II Permit. Holcim/Geocycle closed the hazardous waste management facility in 2009, which included the hazardous waste fuel facility, cement kiln and hazardous waste fuel feed system piping. On Feb. 15, 2012, Holcim expressed plans for permanent site closure, which consisted of site investigation, clean up activities and dismantling operations. Holcim has been performing long-term monitoring and maintenance of the engineered soil caps over the closed landfills and residually contaminated areas.
The proposed final remedy outlined in the Statement of Basis includes property activity and use limitations and continued long-term monitoring and maintenance of the engineered soil caps, to be conducted under an enforceable Environmental Covenant. If approved, the department-issued Part 1 permit will be terminated. EPA anticipates terminating the Part 2 permit after the department terminates the Part 1 permit. All conditions of the existing permits will remain in effect until the permit termination is finalized.
Electronic copies of the permit modification request, Statement of Basis and draft Environmental Covenant are available below. Paper copies of these documents and supporting documents are available at the Bowling Green Public Library, 201 W. Locust, Bowling Green, MO (during normal business hours) or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Elm Street Conference Center, Jefferson City, Missouri. Supporting documents are not available online due to their file size. An Open Records/ Sunshine Law Request will need to be submitted to review or obtain copies of the department's files.
Comments on the proposed final remedy are more effective if they point out legal or technical issues or provide information that is not in the record. Written comments may be submitted by mail to Breanon Dowling, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Waste Management Program, PO Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or by email to breanon.dowling@dnr.mo.gov.