Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY
COLUMBUS

Congressional District # 6

COLUMBUS OLD MUNICIPAL LANDFILL #1

EPA ID# IND980607626
Last Updated: February, 2007

Site Description

The City of Columbus operated the 12 acre Columbus Old Municipal Landfill #1 facility without a permit from 1938 until 1966. The landfill reportedly accepted municipal and industrial wastes, including solvents, acids, bases, paints, and heavy metals.  Wastes were deposited on the surface of the landfill.  The closest residence to the site is located less than one-half mile away. Columbus has a population of about 39,000. Private wells were found within one-half mile of the site and public wells for water supply were found within three miles during the remedial investigation.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal, state, and potentially responsible party (PRP) actions.

Threats and Contaminants

Contaminants found in the soil and groundwater included acids, bases, and organic solvents. Geologic conditions at the site made it easy for the groundwater to interact with and contaminate the surface waters in the area.

Cleanup Progress

In 1987, a Consent Order was signed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and three PRPs.  Under the agreement, the parties studied the site to determine the nature and extent of the contamination at the landfill.  Based on this remedial investigation, U.S. EPA concluded in 1992 that a "modified 'no-further-action' remedy" was appropriate for the site. However, because a public road was planned to be constructed across part of the site, a contingency remedy was also selected that included fence installation, cap maintenance and monitoring, development of a contingency groundwater recovery system implementation plan, installation of additional groundwater monitoring wells and implementation of a groundwater monitoring program, and deed restrictions on land and water use at the site.

Construction of the bridge and these remedies has been completed.  Monitoring of the site has concluded.  The second five-year review was completed in September 2005.  The second five-year review showed that the selected remedy was functioning as anticipated and it was protective of human health and the environment in the short term.  However, the review also showed that the remedy is not protective in the long term because some of the institutional controls have not yet been implemented.  U.S. EPA is working with the State and the PRPs to implemented the institutional controls.  

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
bernard schorle (schorle.bernard@epa.gov)
(312) 886-4746

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
janet pope
(312) 353-0628

Aliases

CITY DUMP #1
COLUMBUS OLD MUNICIPAL LDFL

 

Site Profile Information

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