On May 26, 2023, the department prepared a Statement of Basis in support of a proposed final remedy of no further corrective action with institutional controls for the Zenith Electronics Corp. facility. The department also propose to release the facility from regulation as an interim status hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility subject to the permitting and corrective action requirements of the Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Law and regulations and federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to RCRA. The department invites the public to review and offer written comments on the proposed final remedy and regulatory release until June 26, 2023.
During the public comment period, anyone can request a public meeting or public hearing about the proposed final remedy. For more information, please contact Elnaz Siami-Irdemoosa, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, by telephone at 573-751-7969 or 800-361-4827.
The Zenith Electronics Corp., Springfield Division, site is located on 123 acres at 2500 E. Kearney St. in Springfield. Zenith currently is conducting corrective action investigations and remediation activities at the site under the “interim status” portions of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Zenith manufactured portable television cabinets and assembled completed color televisions and monitors in the main production building at the site. A variety of hazardous wastes were produced as part of the facility operations, such as waste hydraulic and other lubricating oils from machinery leaks and oil changes, waste paint thinners and sludge produced as part of cleaning spray painting equipment, and waste solvents such as TCE, PCE, and TCA, used for degreasing.
The wastes were stored in containers in satellite storage areas at the point of generation until they became full. The containers were then transferred to secured, marked and locked storage areas in the main production facility and the hazardous waste was consolidated into 55-gallon drums. From 1978 to 1988, full drums of waste in the secured satellite storage areas were moved outside to an open shed near the southeast corner of the main production facility, where the waste was identified for incineration in an on-site incinerator/boiler or off-site disposal.
In 1992, Zenith decided not to continue the hazardous waste permitting process and to close its hazardous waste management units. In August 1997, the department accepted Zenith’s closure report and certification; however, because hazardous waste remained in place after closure, the former Drum Storage Pad was required to go through a period of post-closure care. As part of the post-closure care, Zenith was required to conduct post-closure groundwater monitoring until the groundwater protection standards had been met for three consecutive years.
The department determined Zenith adequately addressed all issues associated with solid waste management units and areas of concern. The department determined that any contamination remaining on the property did not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, as long as property activity and use limitations are in place, which will help prevent unacceptable exposure. The property activity and use limitations will be established through an enforceable Environmental Covenant. The covenant will restrict the affected area at the property to non-residential land use and prohibit the drilling or use of groundwater beneath that area.
The department prepared a Statement of Basis that summarizes the remedial alternatives and the department’s basis of support for the proposed final remedy of no further corrective action with institutional controls. The department also propose to release the facility from regulation as an interim status hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility subject to the permitting and corrective action requirements of the Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Law and regulations and federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to RCRA. The draft Environmental Covenant has been prepared and would be executed and filed with the Greene County Recorder of Deeds upon approval of the proposed final remedy, but before releasing the facility from regulation.
Electronic copies of the Statement of Basis and draft Environmental Covenant are available below. Paper copies of these documents and supporting documents are available at the Springfield-Greene County Library's Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave. Springfield, 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 Elnaz Siami-Irdemoosa, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Waste Management Program, PO Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or by email to elnaz.siami-irdemoosa@dnr.mo.gov.