Chamberlain demolition ready to start again

WATERLOO, Iowa --- Demolition at the former Chamberlain Manufacturing plant is set to resume after a six-month delay to address health concerns.

Officials with the city and Environmental Protection Agency said contractors could be back on site this week to continue tearing up concrete floors and foundations at the contaminated 22-acre complex at East Fourth and Esther streets.

"EPA is trying to be proactive and let everybody know they're going to be out there working again," said Chris Western, a planner coordinating the city's brownfields program. "We need to get the contractors going."

Vieth Construction was ripping out foundations under a $470,000 contract in March when crews unearthed something that spread an obnoxious odor through the neighborhood. Testing had already uncovered soil and groundwater contamination in and around the Chamberlain plant.

Consequently, federal regulators halted work to evaluate air samples and hold several public information meetings with surrounding property owners.

The EPA reported air samples did not show dangerous levels of contaminants. But a plan was developed to respond more quickly if a similar situation occurs in the future.

"We have measures in place," Western said. "If we do have an odorous smell we have sampling equipment in place to see what it is."

Western said contractors will not work in the area where the original smell escaped.

"We're going to do everything we think is safe," he added. "Chamberlain will need to come in and clean that (spot) up later."

Chamberlain, a former defense contractor, operated on the site from 1919 until 1994. The city acquired the property in 2005 and began using federal grants to tear down buildings and test for contaminants.

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Chamberlain demolition ready to start again