skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Superfund Record of Decision (EPA Region 5): Northern Engraving Corporation, Sparta, Wisconsin (first remedial action), September 1987. Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5245163

The Northern Engraving Corporation (NEC), located in Sparta, Wisconsin, presently owns and operates a manufacturing facility at the site, which produces metal name plates, dials, and decorative trim for the automotive industry. The majority of the land within the Sparta area is zoned for general agriculture which includes livestock raising, nursery, greenhouse and poultry farming. Four separate areas of contamination at the NEC facility have been identified as potential sources of soil, ground water and surface water contamination. They include the sludge lagoon, seepage pit, sludge dump site and lagoon drainage ditch. The chemical constituents found in these areas are from past wastewater treatment and disposal practices employed at the site. Since the 1960s waste rinse waters and by-products of the metal finishing process have been treated onsite. An onsite wastewater-treatment lagoon was installed in 1967. Rinse water from the plant was collected and treated with sodium hydroxide for precipitation to metal hydroxide solids. The treated rinse water was discharged to the sludge lagoon to allow solids to settle. The treated lagoon effluent was discharged to the LaCrosse River by way of a storm-drainage ditch.

Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (USA)
OSTI ID:
5245163
Report Number(s):
PB-88-185731/XAB; EPA/ROD/R-05-87/057
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English