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Notice of Construction at Ironton
September 2004

The time to begin construction at Ironton has finally arrived. Stantec Consulting Inc. was retained by Provo City to design the utility and infrastructure plan at Ironton.  Van Con Inc., has been selected as the contractor. 

The majority of the construction work will take place south of the extension of Mountain Vista Parkway and south of the extension of both Ironton Blvd. east of the spur line and the extension of Larsen Parkway.  (See reverse side for map) It is anticipated the first phase of construction will start the week of September 13th and continue until the end of November 2004.  In this first phase the lines for sewer, water and storm drain will be excavated, installed and back filled. The paving, curb, gutter and sidewalk will be completed in Spring of 2005 when the weather allows construction to proceed.

Due to the location of where the construction is taking place, we do not anticipate any interruption of your utility services.  Likewise, we do not anticipate any construction traffic in the residential portion of the neighborhood.  The contractor has been given strict instructions that there are to be no construction related traffic or parking in the residential areas.

If you have questions, concerns or comments regarding this construction project, please call me, Dixon Holmes at 852-6166 or 319-3827.

Ironton Maps are available in .pdf format  Map 1 Map 2

Ironton Update
August 2002

Provo City has hired Stantec, a Salt Lake City based engineering firm, to formalize a site utility and infrastructure plan.  The Economic Development Department has sent the following letter to property owners.

Dear Property Owners

As a follow up to the our December 2001 letter, information packet and subsequent phone conversations, I am providing additional documents for your review. The first document is a draft of the Environmental Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for the development and use of the Ironton Site and property.  The second is a proposed draft of the Certificate of Completion to be issued by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. The United States Steel Corporation (USS), the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) and Provo City Economic Development have been further refining the draft Ironton Site Management Plan, a copy of which you received in December.  As noted, these documents are still in draft form.  Although we believe they substantially near finalization.

These three draft documents, the Environmental Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs), the Ironton Site Management Plan (SMP) and the Certificate of Completion (COC), all play a role in the future development of the Ironton site and potentially your property as well.  Please refer to the attached Exhibit “A”, which is the proposed area for inclusion of these three documents. The following is a summary of these documents that may be helpful in distilling the information provided in each. 

Draft Environmental Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs)

In Draft Form

The CC&Rs will state the current land use permitted for the properties comprising the Ironton site, consistent with the land use specified in the Voluntary Clean up Agreement and COC. 

Groundwater may not be used for drinking, irrigation or bathing    purposes.

Soil may not be removed from the boundaries of the Ironton site, except as provided in the SMP.

In the event that any contamination above the established clean up goals is found on a property, it will be evaluated and if found to come from coke and/or iron-making operations, the Contingency Plan in the SMP will be implemented and residuals managed accordingly.

5. The CC&Rs will be recorded on the property and will run with the land.

• The CC&Rs will reference and incorporate the SMP and the land uses specified in the Voluntary Clean up Agreement and COC.

Violations of the CC&Rs are enforceable by Provo City and\or the Provo City Redevelopment Agency in a civil action in an appropriate court of law.

Draft Ironton Site Management Plan (SMP) In Draft Form

 The Ironton Site Management Plan defines the actions that need to be performed to manage soils known to be impacted but are below the cleanup levels established for the intended land uses and groundwater monitoring.  The SMP principally affects the properties owned by the City of Provo, Argonaut Investments and Novatek.  Properties containing groundwater monitoring wells are affected to the extent the wells must remain functional either in their current location or in a new location approved by the UDEQ.  USS is responsible for ongoing groundwater monitoring. Within the SMP is a Contingency Plan that provides a mechanism to expedite investigation and remediation, if necessary, for any previously undiscovered contaminants resulting from coke and iron production operations within the site boundaries.

Draft Certificate of Completion (COC) In Draft Form

 Within the historical boundaries of the Ironton site, the property located to the south of what is now Ironton Boulevard was undeveloped land in 1995 was defined as the “site.” The properties within the “site” were investigated as part of UDEQ’s Voluntary Cleanup Program. As a result of these investigations and subsequent remediation of the contamination, a Certificate of Completion will be issued by the State for the land use specified in the Voluntary Clean up Agreement. (Please refer to the draft copy that has been included with this letter.) The Certificate of Completion offers protection for  contamination caused by past coke and iron making activities on your property and to future owners and lenders.  This would be beneficial when seeking funding for property development and/or future resale of the property.  To be included as part of the Certificate of Completion, you will need to must accept the CC&Rs placed on your property and abide by the SMP and COC. Once the COC has been finalized, it too will be recorded on your property. It will remain valid so long as you are in compliance with the SMP, CC&Rs and COC.  I draw you attention Please refer to Page 2, Paragraph #3 of the COC for specified land uses .

Provo City Zoning Controls

At present, the zoning for your property is designated as Planned Industrial Commercial.  Residential is not permitted under current zoning.  It is the intent of Provo City to adopt an Ironton Overlay once the COC has been issued by the State. The Ironton Overlay will restrict property use to exclude schools, day care, hospitals, assisted living facilities and resident caretakers.  It will also include language that is similar to the Environmental Conditions, Covenants and Restrictions.  Any changes in the zoning, which might allow residential or similar uses, will require action by Provo City and an amendment to the COC by the UDEQ.  

The Next Step

 As I have indicated in previous conversations and letters, it is only by acceptance of the CC&Rs and the SMP that the COC is available to you as an individual property owner.  Accepting the CC&Rs will be accomplished by your notarized signature on the document. The CC&Rs will be recorded on your property at the Utah County Recorder’s Office and your property will be subject to the CC&Rs and SMP. You will then receive the benefit of the COC on your property.

I know the drafting of these documents appears to be slow in progress. However, once they have been finalized by the City, State and USS, the process will move much faster. The opportunity for inclusion will not be open-ended.  , but there will be a specified limited amount of time for inclusion.   We need an indication from you , as a property owner, that you are in fact interested in being a part of the CC&Rs, SMP and COC, because the site boundaries need to be defined for the SMP and COC.  I am requesting that you sign and return to my office your preference regarding inclusion within two weeks of the date of this letter. I have included a document for you to sign and return in the self-addressed, stamped envelope.  Again, this is only to show your intent for inclusion.  Your signature on the CC&Rs will be required at a later date.

It has been our intent to provide as much information as possible and to answer your questions so you can make an informed decision.  If you do have questions regarding these matters, please contact me as soon as possible at (801) 852-6166.  Representatives from the State and USS are also available for answering questions.  I will also be following up this letter with a phone call to see that you have received this information and to answer any questions you may have

   Ironton Update
   January 4, 2001

The soil remediation project at the Ironton property has been suspended temporarily. Dust coating Inc. (DCI), the remediation contractor, experienced delays due to mechanical problems and  therefore did not commence processing soil as soon as was anticipated. Because of the delays and previous commitments, DCI has temporarily discontinued work on the site. It is anticipated that  the processing equipment will be back on site in mid January and soil processing will commence in early to mid February 2001. Sampling data confirms that the Low Temperature Thermal Desorption (LTTD) process being carried out by DCI is treating the soil to levels well below the established Risk Based Remedial Goals (RBRGs).

Once the soil remediation project resumes, it is anticipated that the work will be completed in the spring of 2001. When remediation is complete, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality will verify that all RBRGs have been satisfied. A Site Management Plan will be prepared by U.S. Steel, and then reviewed and approved by UDEQ and Provo City. An informational open house format will be used to provide public comment on the Site Management Plan prior to approval by UDEQ and adoption by Provo City.

For questions regarding this matter, please contact Dixon Holmes,  Provo City Economic Development at 8018526166; Bill Rees, Utah Department Environment Quality at 801 5364167 or Jim Volanski, U.S. Steel at 4124335904.                           

SITE BACKGROUND

Columbia Steel Corporation built an iron production plan on the 385 acre site in 1923. The first pig iron was produced in May 1924. The Ironton plant was operated by Columbia until 1930 when the company was acquired as a wholly owned subsidiary of U.S. Steel Corporation  (USS). USS continued operations at the property until 1962. Much of the property has been vacant since then.                 

                 Questions?
                 Contact:  Bill Rees - 1-800-458-0145
                 Utah Dept. of Environmental quality
                
                 Leland A. Gamette 852-6175
                 The City of Provo

                 James T. Volanski - (412) 433-5904
                 U.S. Steel
                
The City of Provo received a Brownsfield Grant from EPA in 1996 to explore ways to help bring the site to a beneficial use. USS entered into a Voluntary Cleanup Agreement to investigate and cleanup the site as part of a cooperative effort with the City and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.    

                     ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

A site investigation was conducted to identify and determine the extent of environmental contamination.

         Soil Samples  were collected.
         Ground water monitoring wells were installed.

Semi-volatile organic, including Benzo(a)pyrene and lead were detected in the soil. Benzene was detected in the groundwater. Drinking water is not impacted as a result of the site contamination.
 

The initial cleanup conducted in 1998 and 1999 focused on areas that were above the Risk-Based Remediation Goals, which are designed to protect public health and the environment. The areas and materials that were addressed as part of the initial cleanup included:

Tar and other materials from the former Coke Byproduct Plant Impacted surface soils from the Coke Byproduct area. Lead contaminated soils near the Exhauster Building and the Gas Holder perimeter.

• Asbestos from buildings with in the former plant.       
• A hydrocarbon plume, located down-gradient of the former Coke plant, was further defined and studied.
• Groundwater was monitored to evaluate the water quality.

                   REVISIONS TO THE CLEANUP PLAN

The Ironton Site Remediation work plan Addendum is provided as a supplement to the existing Site Remediation Work plan, dated July 1998.  The Addendum is necessary because certain soils did not meet the Risk-Based Remediation Goals after implementation of the remediation described in the original workplan.  The soils requiring further treatment are currently located on the southern portion of the site and consist of three (3) separate stockpiles totaling approximately 17,500 cubic yards.

The cleanup technology proposed to address the above soils consists of a Low Temperature Thermal Desorption (LTTD) process.

The LTTD transfers heat to the organic-containing soils by raising the temperature within the desorber unit. The heat causes the contaminants to volatilized. The volasnatilized containment are evacuated from the desorber and passed through the air emission control system. The cleaned off gas is discharged to the atmosphere.  Neighbors should not notice any odors from the LTTD process.  Air emission will be managed according to Utah Air Quality regulations. The soil that is treated by the LTTD process will be sampled to ensure that it meets the cleanup goal.

Once the revision to the cleanup approach are approved, following public comment, the remaining cleanup will begin.

                   FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION

Copies of the Ironton Site Remediation Workplan Addendum are available for public review at the following locations:

     Utah Department of Environmental; Quality
     DERR - Superfund Records
     168 North 1950 West, fifth Floor
     Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
                                      
       Provo City Library
       425 West Center Street
       Provo, Utah 84601

OVERVIEW OF THE DRAFT SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN ELEMENTS
IRONTON SITE

THE SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN (SMP) IS A TECHNICAL DOCUMENT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING PREPARED TO GUIDE THE VCP APPLICANTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SITE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RISK-BASED CRITERIA ESTABLISHED FOR REMEDIATION. THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE SMP ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. Controls, Limitations and Restrictions

• Identifies the Controls on Development by Permit, Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions.
• Provo City Zoning and Building Controls.
• Defines Responsibilities of United States Steel LLC (USS), Provo Redevelopment Agency (Agency) and Future Property Owners.

2. Regulated Areas

• Discusses Procedures and Requirements associated with certain limited areas of the property for development. An Excavation Environmental Work Plan will be appended to the Site Management Plan to guide excavation activities where appropriate.

3. Use of On-site Borrow Material

• Defines how and where treated soils on site can be used during property development.
• Defines how and where oversized materials and potentially impacted concrete resulting from soil treatment can be used during development.
• The Provo Redevelopment Agency will be responsible for ensuring proper placement and use of these materials.

4. Groundwater Monitoring

• There are 17 monitoring wells located on site that will be monitored for a period of time.  These wells have been monitored since 1996.
• Constituents of concern include Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes and Naphthalene. With the exception of one internal well, recent groundwater data are below the Federal drinking water Maximum Contaminant Levels.
• USS will conduct groundwater monitoring associated with the SMP.

5. Compliance Inspections

• This section describes the procedures to be followed by the Agency during property development to ensure the actions required by the SMP are followed.

6. Procedures for Contamination found During Future Development

• This section describes the procedures to be followed if contamination is found above the cleanup objectives during development activities. If contamination is discovered during development, USS will be responsible for cleanup of coke- and iron-making constituents to levels below the cleanup objectives. 

7. Revising the SMP

• Over time, modifications to the Site Management Plan may be needed.  This section accounts for this eventuality and describes how the SMP can be modified by USS, Agency, and UDEQ.

351 West Center St., Provo UT 84601
(801) 852-6000
Office Hours:  Monday- Thursday  7 AM - 6 PM
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