NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES, INC. EAU CLAIRE, …National Presto Industries, Inc. acquired the facility at Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1948. Prior to acquisition by National Presto, the

PRELIMINARY

NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES, INC.

EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN

EPA NO. WID006196174

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PRELIMINARY HEALTH ASSESSMENTNational Presto Industries, Inc.

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Prepared by:Wisconsin Division of Health '

Madison, Wisconsin

Prepared for:Office of Health Assessment

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Summary

In its wastewater and solid wastes National Presto Industries dischargedvolatile organic compounds (VOC's) and heavy metals into several unlinedfacilities including seven dry wells, two ditches, and four seepagelagoons. All of these facilities are located in very permeable, sandysoils. At peak production, the company pumped about 2.5 million gallonsper day of groundwater. Lagoon #1 contains water and sludge contaminatedwith VOC's and metals.

From 1967 through 1969 the company disposed used forging compound in asix-acre, unlined landfill on the north edge of the site. Used forgingcompound, consisting primarily of asphalt, graphite and mineral oil, wascontaminated with VOC's and metals. In April 1986 the WisconsinDepartment of Natural Resources (DNR) discovered another disposal area atthe east edge of the company property and adjacent to a trailer park.Several fifty-five gallon drums, some with high concentrations of heavymetals, had been partially buried here. The soil at this site iscontaminated with forging compound and waste oils, both containing VOC's.Private wells in a residential area north and down-gradient of the companyproperty contain VOC's. Forty of the 150 wells in this area exceedWisconsin enforcement standards for groundwater.

Background

National Presto Industries, Inc. acquired the facility at Eau Claire,Wisconsin in 1948. Prior to acquisition by National Presto, the plant wasused from 1942 to 1943 to produce .30 caliber incendiary and ballammunition. The plant included facilities for powder storage and mixing,chemical storage and mixing, and primer manufacture and storage. The sitewas used in the mid-1940's to produce radar tubes. National Presto, Inc.used the facility for the production of outboard motors, householdappliances, and aviation parts. In 1954 the company converted the plantto produce 105mm metal projectiles and eight inch shells for the United

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National Presto Industries, Inc.

States Army. Except for a small scale # project in 1984, the companyceased production in 1980 and has operated on a standby status sincethen. In May 1986 National Presto Industries signed a consent order withthe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. ERA) and DNR to conduct aremedial investigation and feasibility study of contaminants onsite andrelated contamination off-site.

Site Description:

The site occupies approximately 320 acres at the north end of the City ofEau Claire (population: 51,500) adjacent to U.S. Highway 53 in ChippewaCounty (see maps in appendix). Alluvial, sandy loam soils, varying indepth from 11 to 155 feet, overlie sandstone and granite. South of theproperty are wooded, sandstone hills. A residential area in the Town ofHallie lies both east and north of the property. U.S. Highway 53, linedwith commercial businesses, is to the north and west. One large buildingoccupies the west central portion of the property. Several smallbuildings are located elsewhere on the site.

Contaminated wastewater from the plant was discharged to seven dry wells,two ditches, and four seepage lagoons in the central portion of theproperty. Seepage lagoons #1 through #4 are 1.9, 14, 3.1, and 3.4 acresin area, respectively. Lagoon #1 is a former gravel pit located south ofthe plant. After plant discharges to Lagoon #1 reduced its permeability,Lagoons #2, #3, and #4 were added from 1967 to 1969. Water from Lagoon #1was pumped to Lagoon #2 and alternately to Lagoons #3 and #4. The companyoccasionally pumps water to Lagoon #2 from lagoon #1 as Lagoon #1 fillswith rainwater from the site. The company dumped used forging compoundfirst in Lagoon #1 and next in an unlined, six-acre landfill (the MelbyRoad Disposal Area) on the north border of the property- Rusted barrelscontaining paint sludge and forging compound were found partially buriedin the East Disposal Area, located on the site's eastern boundary adjacentto a trailer park. The barrels, discovered in 1986, now stand on aloading dock north of Lagoon #1 at the company's main building.

A six-foot, chain link fence surrounds the western one third of the site,including the main factory building, Lagoon #1 and Ditch 3. Access tothis area is severely restricted and is checked by security guardsthroughout the day and night. A four foot wire fence surrounds the EastDisposal Site, and another four-foot wire fence is on three sides of theMelby Road Disposal Area. A dilapidated, four-foot wire fence that hasfallen in many places surrounds the remainder of the property. Securityguards patrol the roads on the site periodically each day.

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Site Visit;

Two representatives of the Wisconsin Division of Health conducted a sitevisit on November 14, 1988 with a representative of DNR-West CentralDistrict and a representative of National Presto Industries (NPI). Theteam observed the site by driving to each lagoon and former disposal areaand then walking around a portion of the perimeter of each area. Lagoon#1 contained black, oily water underlain by sludge. Some game specieswere observed on the site. A rabbit browsed near Ditch 3 inside thesecurity fence, and a white-tailed deer grazed south of Lagoon #2 outsidethe fence. The NPI representative said he often sees deer on the propertyand that hunting occurs on private property south of the site. It ispossible that hunters could enter the part of the site not surrounded bychain link fence.

Surrounded by tall, sandy berms, Lagoons #2, #3, and #4 lie east of lagoon#1. A small, shallow pond of standing water surrounded by black, oilysoil was located at the eastern end of lagoon #2. North of Lagoon #2 andnear the east side of the plant is Ditch 3. Ditch 2 is outside the fencedarea, approximately 600 feet west of Ditch 3. Grassy vegetation grows inand around both ditches.

The Melby Road Disposal Area lies at the northern border of the property.A black, asphalt-like material, which may be forging compound, appears onthe ground surface in patches throughout this area. A four-foot fencepartially encloses the area but is open on the south side. No warningsigns are posted. The team observed a man jogging adjacent to the MelbyRoad Disposal Area and two men walking along the company's main east westroad adjacent to the East Disposal area. Company employees use the roadsfor exercise.

The company representative said that National Presto has not used severalof the small buildings located around the site. At the center of thegrounds some metal barrels were stored in an unfenced area outside abuilding that the company representative said was used as a warehouse.Parts of former foundations and walls from demolished buildings layexposed in and near the berm of Lagoon #4. Scrap metal, rusted steel barsand pipes, and chunks of concrete protruded from the ground near the berm.

The East Disposal Area is adjacent to a trailer park near the eastern sideof the site. A four foot fence surrounds the area, but no warning signsare posted.

Environmental Contamination and Physical Hazards;

A. On-Site Contamination:

Major contaminants on-site include VOC's, and metals (Table 1). Thehighest concentrations of metals are in lagoon water, soil, and waste

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drums from the East Disposal Area. These drums were moved to a loadingdock at the plant. The most substantial contamination from VDC's is inlagoon water, and groundwater. The highest groundwater concentrations ofVOC's occur at the site's northern boundary near the Melby Road DisposalArea. Waste water, sludge, spent forging compound, and waste drums weredisposed in very permeable, sandy soils.

Mercury fulminate is a primer used in the production of explosives.Primer manufactured and stored on the site in 1942 to 1943 may possiblyhave included mercury fulminate, but data were not available on thepresence of mercury on-site. The remedial investigation work plan doesnot address possible mercury contamination on site.

B. Off-Site Contamination:

VDC's have been found in residential well water east and north of NationalPresto Industries. Four chemicals, all of which are carcinogenic inlaboratory animals, were measured in concentrations exceeding Wisconsingroundwater enforcement standards: 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethylene, tetrachlroethylene, and trichloroethylene (Table 2).Of these four chemicals 1 ,1-dichloroethylene and trichloroethylene exceedthe EPA's Maximum Contaminant Levels. The area affected extends at leastone-half mile north if the site. A second contaminated area lies west ofthe site. One of two plumes of contamination at the Eau Claire MunicipalWell Field (also included on the National Priorities List) extends fromthe west side of the National Presto property to slightly more than a milewest.

Table 1:

Groundwater

Chemic

1,2-Dichloroethane+1,1-Dichlorothylene

On-site Contaminants

Low High Units Media

Volatile Organic Compounds

Date

Wisconsin

EnforcementStandard

1,2-Dichloroethylene1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane*Tetrachlorothylene*1,1,1-Trichloroethane*fTrichloroethylene

NDND6.0ND

<2.0NDNDNDND

<1.0ND

292813.01.3

130.01614

1300309.1

18

ug/1ug/1ug/1mg/kgug/1mg/kgug/1ug/1ug/1ug/1mg/kg

dry well wtrgroundwatersurface wtrforge cmpdsurface wtrsoilgroundwatergroundwatergroundwatersurfacesoil

19871982-819831987198319881982.81982.81982.819831988

0.24

1200

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Arcchlor 1260

Arsenicit

* Cadmium

ChromiumCopperLeadiiNickel


Polychlorinated Biphenyls0.19 14 mg/kg dry well soil 1987

forge cmpd 1986soil 1988groundwater 1988surface wtr 1983dry well wtr 1987surface wtr 1983surface wtr 1983waste drums 1987surface wtr 1983waste drums 1987surface wtr 1983

MetalsNA 1.5NA 23.8ND 31

<40 880ND 14

270 360002500 36000

55 3380200 3400013 9150

1400 110000

rag/togmg/kgug/1ug/1ug/1ug/1ug/1mg/kgug/1mg/kgug/1

10

+Concentration exceeds both WI groundwater enforcement standard andU. S. EPA Maximum Contaminant Level.*Concentration exceeds WI groundwater enforcement standard.

NA Not Available.ND Not detected.

Table 2; Drinking Water Contamination: 1982-1988

lemic1 ,2-Dichloroethane1 ,1-DichloroethyleneTetrachloroethyleneTrichloroethylene

ResidentialWell waterConcentrationLow High1.40.10.10.1

2.0181115.5

WisconsinGroundwaterEnforcement

Standard0.50.241

1.8

U. S. EPAMaximumContaminant

Level57None

5

Physical

The eastern two thirds of the site is surrounded by a dilapidated fencethat has fallen in several areas. A NPI representative said that there islittle to prevent people from entering company grounds in this area. Thestanding water in Lagoon #2 poses a physical hazard, especially forchildren from adjacent residential areas. Because Lagoon #2 is surroundedby a tall berm, it is possible for children to play by the pond withoutbeing seen from anywhere outside of the lagoon. Concrete remains of oldfoundations and rusty scrap metal and pipes near the berms are physicalhazards.

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Demographics of population near site;

The site is on the edge of Eau Claire, a city of 51,500 people. The siteis bordered by an unincorporated residential area in the Town of Hallie(population of approximately 5,000) on the north and east and bycommercial development including motels and shops to the west.

Evaluation;

A. Site Characterization:

1. Environmental Media:

The environmental media of concern include groundwater, surface water, andsoils that may be contaminated by spent forging compound, wastewater,sludge, and waste barrels that potentially are buried on the site. Somemunitions wastes may exist on site.

2. Land Use and Demographics:

A trailer park is immediately adjacent to the East Disposal Area. Thenearest residences are approximately 150 feet from the disposal area.Other residences to the north are approximately 1,000 feet from the MelbyRoad Disposal Area. All nearby residences use private wells and drainagefields. An Eau Claire municipal well field is within three miles of thesite.

3. Quality Control and Quality Assurance:

Limited documentation of analytic procedures accompanied the reports datedprior to 1986. The historical data will not be used during the remedialinvestigation because of the limited documentation of sampling andanalytical quality assurance and quality control procedures. There is aproblem with some recent data. Concentration data on tetrachloroethylenein October 1988 samples of private water supplies are difficult tointerpret because of inconsistent sampling results and contaminated fieldblanks. The conclusions of this assessment are based on the dataavailable and largely depend on the quality of the data. Qualityassurance procedures for the remedial investigation are described inAppendix A of the work plan.

Environmental Pathways:

A major environmental exposure pathway for this site is from contaminationof groundwater by seepage of wastes from landfills, lagoons, dry wells,and dumped barrels. Contaminated wastes were disposed and remain inunlined, highly permeable soils where leachate can flow readily intogroundwater and where groundwater can flow readily away from the site.

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Other potential pathways include 1) uptake by plants and animals, 2)volatilization to the air of contaminants from water, soil, and wastematerial, 3) leaching of contaminants from soils into surface waterrunoff, and 4) wind erosion of contaminated soils.

Human Exposure Pathways:

A major pathway for potential human exposure to contaminants is throughcontaminated groundwater. Ingesting drinking water, inhaling vaporsreleased from hot showers, baths, and washing machines, and absorbingcontaminants in bath and shower water through skin are potential exposureroutes. Other potential exposure routes are through contact withcontaminated soils, surface water, and spent forging compound on-site,through consumption of rabbits and deer that forage on-site, andinhalation of contaminated dust in soils. Children who enter the sitefrom adjacent residential areas are especially vulnerable to inadvertentexposure on-site.

Public Health Implications;

There are potential public health concerns associated with this site.Forty private, residential wells in an area downgradient and adjacent tothe site are contaminated with VOC's at levels that exceed Wisconsingroundwater enforcement standards. These contaminants include:1,2-dichloroethane, 1 ,1-dichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, andtrichloroethylene. All four of these compounds are carcinogenic.Children are a potentially sensitive subpopulation in the area. Familieswith children live in this area, and well water at a day care center inthe area was contaminated at concentrations exceeding Wisconsin preventiveaction limits. The remedial investigation is examining whether thesecontaminants are likely to have originated from the site.

In 1986 the Wisconsin CNR informed all residents in this area of thepossibility of well contamination and of the risk associated with exposureto contaminants. CNR notified property owners whether their well watercontained detectable levels of contaminants and, if so, whether theconcentrations exceeded state standards. There has been misinformationabout the risks associated with such exposure. A local newspaper articleand an editorial stated that the state standards were based on theassumption that an individual ingests 7o gallons of water per day for 70years. The editorial commented that such an assumption was unreasonableand that the state was unjustified in upsetting local residents aboutcontaminated water supplies. Wisconsin's groundwater enforcementstandards are based on the assumption that individuals consume two litersof water per day, not 70 gallons per day.

Local public officials informed representatives of the Wisconsin Divisionof Health that they are unaware of any residents in the area who are using

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alternate water supplies. Residential water supplies are being examinedfor contamination as part of the remedial investigation. VOC's occur inwater from production wells on-site, but, because the company has truckeddrinking water to the site for its employees since the late 1970's,on-site ingestion of groundwater is not likely.

While Lagoon #1, Ditch 3, and the barrels retrieved from the East DisposalArea are enclosed inside a six-foot chain link fence in an area with24-hour security, other potentially contaminated areas are accessible tothe public. The Melby Road Disposal Area is only partially fenced.Children from adjacent residential areas could enter here and handle spentforging compound, visible on the ground surface. There was no obviousevidence of children playing in this area at the time of the site visit.

The East Disposal Area is conpletely surrounded by a four foot fence.This disposal area is immediately adjacent to a trailer park. Childrencould climb the fence and enter the area where soils are contaminated witharsenic and VOC's. There are no posted warnings around the fence.

The remedial investigation will explore the site for other possible wastedisposal areas where barrels of waste may have been dumped. Theinvestigation should provide data adequate to determine whether there is apotential hazard from consumption of such animals as deer and rabbits thatinhabit the site.

The shallow pond in Lagoon #2, rusted metal, and old foundations arepotential physical hazards to children who may enter the site.

Conclusions and Recommendations:

A. Conclusions:

The presence of VOC's in residential wells in the area adjacent to thissite is a public health concern. Previous studies indicate that VOC's inforty private water supplies near the site exceed Wisconsin groundwaterenforcement standards.

Standing water in Lagoon #2, rusted metal scrap and pipes, and foundationremnants pose physical hazards to people, especially children, who mayenter the site from nearby residential areas. There is a potential forexposure to contaminants in soil outside the security fence on site.There is a possibility that barrels containing hazardous compounds areburied near the ground surface in areas that have not yet beendiscovered. Mercury contamination may exist near areas where primer wasmixed and stored.

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Recommendations:

1. Renewed efforts should be taken to reduce public exposure tocontaminated groundwater supplies. All residents in areas of potentialcontamination should again be notified of possible health hazards fromexposure to VOC's in their water supplies. All residents and businessowners whose well water is contaminated above standards should be advisedto use an alternate source of water. Alternative water supplies should bemade available to those whose wells exceed enforcement standards until along-term remedy is available.

2. More widespread sampling of private water supplies should be conductedto determine the distribution of contamination and movement of thecontamination plume or plumes.

3. Monitoring of private water supplies where contaminant concentrationsapproach or exceed standards should continue quarterly to determineseasonal variation in concentrations and to inform residents in a timelymanner if their water does not meet the standards. Monitoring shouldcontinue until a long-term source of water is provided.

4. Additional sampling of off-site wells where October 1988 monitoringdetected tetrachloroethylene should be done to define more clearly theconcentrations and distribution of this chemical in groundwater.

5. Access to the eastern part of the site should be more restricted. Theperimeter fence should be repaired and maintained.

6. Test for possible mercury contamination, especially in areas formerlyused for primer manufacture and storage.

7. The remedial investigation indicates high levels of VOC's or metalssuch as arsenic in areas outside the security fence, access to these areasshould be blocked with improved fencing such as that used around the mainplant.

Preparer of Report;

Kenneth M. BroEnvironmental and Chronic Disease Epidemiology Section Bureau of CommunityHealth and Prevention Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services

References;

Bro, Kenneth. 1988. Notes of meeting on November 14, 1988 with RichardNauman, National Presto Industries, Inc. Wisconsin Department of Healthand Social Services, Division of Health.

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____. 1988. Notes of meeting on November 14, 1988 with Zealious Joles,Chairman, and Shirley Sippel, Clerk, Town of Hallie, Chippewa County,Wisconsin. Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services, Divisionof Health.

____. 1989. Notes of telephone conversation on February 15, 1989 withMike Gifford, Remedial Project Manager, U. S. EPA, Region V, regardingJuly - August, 1988 sampling of soils and waste for metals, NationalPresto Industries, Inc. Wisconsin Department of Health and SocialServices, Division of Health.

____ and Denise Jordan-Izaguirre. 1989. Correspondence to Mike Gifford,Remedial Project Manager, U. S. EPA, Region V, regarding October, 1988sampling of private wells north of National Presto Industries, Inc. March6.

Ecology and Environment, Inc. 1984. Potential hazardous waste site:site inspection report. Prepared 3 May 1983 and modified 15 March 1984 byWisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Eder Associates Consulting Engineers, P. C. 1987. Work plan forconducting a remedial investigation and feasibility study, National PrestoIndustries, Inc. November.

____. 1987 - 1989. Remedial investigation/feasibility study/remedialmeasure for National Presto Industries, Inc. Eau Claire, Wisconsin.Progress report numbers 18 - 30. December 1987 - January 1989.

Eigenbrodt, Vanessa. 1984. Preliminary assessment narrative: PrestoIndustries, Inc. January 6.

Gifford, Mike. 1989. Correspondence to Denise Jordan-Izaguirre, U. S.Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Region V, regardinghealth assessment of groundwater data for National Presto Industries.January 30.

Graham, Jeff. 1987. Narrative on sampling of dry well soil and waste drumsfor volatile organic compounds, base neutrals, and PCB's, National PrestoIndustries, Inc. Wadsworth/Alert laboratories, Inc. December 11.

Hanz P. 1987. National Presto Industries case summary. WisconsinDepartment of Natural Resources internal memorandum. October 20.

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. 1988. Final community relations plan,National Presto Industries site, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. EnvironmentalProtection Agency technical enforcement support at hazardous waste sites,EPA Region V, Contract Number 68-01-7351, Work Assignment Number 340.June.

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National Presto Industries, Inc. 1984. Special report to WisconsinDepartment of Natural Resources. March 14.

____. 1984. In response to the second update to the NationalPriorities List as published in the Federal Register on October 15, 1984.December 10.

Rosenkranz, William A. 1952. Investigation of the method of wastedisposal at a metal products manufacturing plant on August 6-7, 1952:National Pressure Cooker Company, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Wisconsin StateBoard of Health. September 8.

U. S. Department of Army, Directorate of Engineering and Construction.1986. Defense environmental restoration account inventory projectreport: National Presto Industries, Inc. (Eau Claire ordnance plant no.2), Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Project No. E05WI009102. December 2.

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region V. 1984. Hazard RankingSystem score report: National Presto Industries, Inc., Eau Claire,Wisconsin. June 19.

____. 1988. Record of decision on remedial action for the Eau ClaireMunicipal Well Field site, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. March 31

Warren, William. 1987. Memorandum to Mike Gifford, Remedial ProjectManager, U. S. EPA, Region V, regarding sampling of monitoring wells #1QA,#1OB and standing water in dry wells #2 and #3 for metals, National PrestoIndustries, Inc. December 3.

____. 1987. Memorandum to Mike Gifford, Remedial Project Manager,U. S. EPA, Region V, regarding sampling dry well soils and waste drums formetals, National Presto Industries, Inc. December 4.

____.1987. Memorandum to Mike Gifford, Remedial Project Manager, U. S.EPA, Region V, regarding sampling of monitoring well #1OA and standingwater in dry well #3 for volatile organic compounds, National PrestoIndustries, Inc. December 7.

____. 1989. Correspondence to Mike Gifford, Remedial Project Manager,U. S. EPA, Region V, regarding July - August, 1988 sampling of soils andwaste for organic compounds, National Presto Industries, Inc. January 11.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 1983. Potential hazardous wastesite: preliminary assessment. December 30.

____. 1984. Samples taken on Oct. 26, 1983 by Sam Spanel - WaterQuality Engineer for Eau Claire County, WDNR. Internal memorandum.January 6.

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____. 1986. Findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order: In theMatter of the contamination of the private water supplies near NationalPresto Industries, 3925 North Hastings Way, Eau Claire, WI, #2A-86-1278.September 16.

Appendices;

A. Map of National Presto Industries site.B. Topographic map of site location.

KB: 3/27/89

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Melby Road 77

Melby Road Disposal Area*v

East Disposal Area :•:•National PrestoMain Plant

Lagoon No. 4

V*-O-s/**^ -».-.?'^T^X* »$£

Lagoon No. 2Lagoon No. 1

LegendWaste Disposal Areas

^sa? roperty line* i 1 1 » Railroad----- Fence

Figure 1Site MapNational Presto IndustriesEau Claire, Wisconsin

NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES, INC. EAU CLAIRE, …National Presto Industries, Inc. acquired the facility at Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1948. Prior to acquisition by National Presto, the

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