News Release No. 488

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
AND UNIVAR USA INC. -- ST. LOUIS
ENTER INTO LETTER OF AGREEMENT

Volume 33-488

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 29, 2005 --- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Univar USA Inc.-St. Louis have entered into a letter of agreement. The agreement is the starting point for carrying out an Expedited Corrective Action Program, or cleanup activities, at Univar's facility located at 8925 Seeger Industrial Drive in Berkeley.

Univar-StL currently stores and sells commercial and industrial chemicals. Univar-StL originally operated a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) interim status hazardous waste storage unit at the site. During interim status, Univar-StL had to file a hazardous waste permit application within a specific time frame. Univar-StL submitted Part A of the permit application on Nov. 19, 1980, and Part B on April 26, 1994. On May 31, 1995, Univar-StL decided not to continue the RCRA permitting process.

Because Univar-StL did not obtain a hazardous waste permit, they were required to start closure procedures. On Aug. 21, 1995, the department approved Univar-StL's revised interim status closure plan outlining how they would remove and clean their equipment, structures and soil. Despite the approved cleanup activities, Univar-StL detected several solvents and metals in soil at the former waste container storage unit.

The agreement describes the roles, responsibilities and expectations of the department and Univar-StL with respect to the continued cleanup activities at the facility. The first step under the agreement will be Univar's submission of a RCRA Facility Investigation Work Plan. This work plan will outline the framework for a sitewide investigation of contaminant releases to the environment.
Univar-StL will then examine the type and amount of any contaminant releases and, if necessary, perform proper cleanup activities to protect human health and the environment.

The agreement is available on the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/permits/notices.htm.

For more information, or to place your name on Univar's mailing list to receive notice on any major cleanup activities at the facility, contact Assem Abdul in the department's Hazardous Waste Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3553.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming events, meetings and hearings, visit our online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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