Koos Inc., 4500 13th Court, Kenosha, Wisconsin
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EPA
Region		 Location of facility Type of facility Amount
of ore
received
(in tons)		 Did
EPA
visit
the
site?		 Were
samples
taken?		 Results of
evaluation
5 4500 13th Court, Kenosha, Wisconsin Former exfoliation facility 1,995 Yes-March 9, 2000 Yes According to an EPA database compiled from W.R. Grace shipping invoices, 1,995 tons of vermiculite ore from the Libby mine were shipped to this site between April 1969 and March 1982. In addition, reports published by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1990 indicated that this facility had been a vermiculite exfoliation plant. The site was about 10 acres and was bounded to the north by a street, to the east by railroad tracks, and to the west and south by businesses and residences. At the time of EPA's site visit, IMC Salt, Inc. was operating at the site. The site consisted of an office building, a warehouse and production area, a bulk storage building, and a maintenance shop. According to IMC officials, IMC Vigaro purchased Koos, Inc. in 1995 and all exfoliation equipment was sold at that time. In 1998, IMC Salt, Inc. began salt packaging and warehousing operations at the site. From 1960 until 1995, Koos had exfoliated vermiculite at the facility and sold vermiculite wholesale. Exfoliated vermiculite was sold for use in fertilizer and in fire proof doors. Some of the exfoliated vermiculite waste had been placed in a local landfill. An IMC official said Koos purchased vermiculite ore from American Vermiculite (a South African mine) and from W.R. Grace, but, to their knowledge, none of the ore came from the Libby mine. The ore was shipped to the facility by truck and rail and the exfoliation process was performed indoors. EPA did not see any evidence of vermiculite on the site. On April 3, 2001, EPA collected five soil samples at the site and analyzed them using polarized light microscopy (PLM). None of the samples contained detectable levels of asbestos. On the basis of this information, EPA decided no further action was needed.

GAO-09-6R