Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
LA PORTE COUNTY
MICHIGAN CITY

Congressional District # 2

WASTE, INC., LANDFILL

EPA ID# IND980504005
Last Updated: October, 2006

Site Description

The Waste, Inc. Landfill site, located in Michigan City, Indiana, is composed of 32 acres and is situated on a former wetland area. The site includes the original 16 acre NPL site as well as the immediately adjacent Lin-See site which was added during the RI because the landfilling operations were also conducted on this property.  From 1966 to 1982, the landfill accepted approximately 128,000 tons of industrial wastes. The landfill was unlined, and there were no dikes to control runoff. Originally, the site sloped down to Trail Creek, but now the landfill rises 50 feet above the surrounding terrain. In 1983, the site was sampled by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), and heavy metals, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PNAs), polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs), and other organic compounds were found in the sediment of Trail Creek, which borders the landfill. Approximately 11,300 people live within one mile of the site, and approximately 2,100 people depend on private wells located within three miles of the site for their drinking water. The site drains into Trail Creek, which is used for recreational purposes and discharges to Lake Michigan. The Michigan City Water Works, serving approximately 32,000 people, draws water from intakes in Lake Michigan located less than three miles downstream of the site.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal, state, and potentially responsible parties' actions.

Threats and Contaminants

Groundwater and soils are contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PCBs, PNAs, various phthalates, and heavy metals. Sediments in Trail Creek contain heavy metals, including arsenic, lead and manganese as well as PNAs, PCBs, and other organic compounds. People may be exposed to contaminants by accidentally ingesting or coming into direct contact with contaminated soil, leachate, groundwater, surface water, or sediment. Eating fish, waterfowl, or locally grown vegetables, containing accumulated contaminants, may pose a health hazard. 

Cleanup Progress

In December 1995, U.S. EPA issued a Unilateral Order to a group of potentially responsible parties (PRPs) to perform the Remedial Design and Remedial Action (RD/RA) at the site. Sixteen PRPs complied with the Unilateral Order in a letter dated January 8, 1996. The RD was completed in September 1996. Remedy construction was separated into two phases. Phase 1 construction commenced in September 1996. Phase 1 construction activities consisted of clearing and grubbing activities; waste consolidation; proper abandonment of an onsite water well; removal and disposal of an onsite underground fuel storage tank; placement of fish advisory signs along Trail Creek; slip lining of an active sewer line that ran beneath the western portion of the landfill; and the installation of a leachate collection system to collect shallow groundwater and leachate. The collected shallow groundwater and leachate is being sent to the Michigan City Sanitary District (the District) through a dedicated discharge line under the terms of a permit, signed by the PRPs and the District. 

Phase 2 construction commenced in March 1997 and consisted of the landfill cap and the gas collection system. A pre-final inspection was conducted at the site on September 17, 1997, and a final inspection was conducted on October 15, 1997. All outstanding construction issues have been resolved. A Preliminary Site Closeout Report was signed in December 1998, and the site is now considered construction complete. 

A letter approving the monitoring requirements at the request of the PRPs based on remedy monitoring data was sent in July 1999.  The first five-year review was completed in September 2001 which determined that the site remedy is protective of human health and the environment. Subsequent site inspections have shown the remedy is performing as designed.

The second five year review was completed in September 2006, which also determined that the site remedy is protective of human health and the environment.  The site is eligible for NPL deletion and deletion will be considered during 2007 .  All performance standards for the remedy continue to be met.

Success Story

EPA involvement of the local community in much of the remedy planning resulted in positive interaction and press.  A local environmental group was asked to design the fish advisory signs for Trail Creek, which were adopted and remain at the site today.

EPA was also able to resolve potentially disruptive enforcement activities with the involvement of many local businesses in a positive manner, enabling their support as well as implementing the remedy without delays.

Community Involvement

Community was heavily involved throughout the RI/FS and remedy design and construction-interest has waned as cleanup activities have been completed.

Congressional Interest

Interest was high during the RI/FS due to enforcement efforts and the involvement of de minimis and de micromis parties, many of which were local businesses.  Once EPA was able to settle with most of the parties, the level of interest has waned.

Property Reuse

None-

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
dion novak (novak.dion@epa.gov)
(312) 886-4737

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
stuart hill
(312) 886-0689

Aliases

WASTE INC LDFL

 

Site Profile Information

This profile provides you with information on EPA's cleanup progress at this Superfund site.