Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
GENESEE COUNTY
OTISVILLE

Congressional District # 05

FOREST WASTE PRODUCTS

EPA ID# MID980410740
Last Updated: November, 2007

Site Description

The Forest Waste Disposal site is located in Forest Township, Genesee County, Michigan.  112-acres was included in the original site area, but the site was expanded to include an additional 80-acre parcel in September 2005.  The disposal areas located on-site include an 11-acre landfill, and nine former lagoons covering a total of one acre. The site is surrounded by low-density residential development, farmland, wetlands, wood lots, a gravel quarry, and a small lake. The site owners received a license from the State of Michigan in 1972 to dispose of general refuse and industrial and liquid waste. Wastes were accepted from 1973 to 1978. Wastes containing PCBs and PBBs are documented to have been disposed of in the landfill. Soils in the former lagoon area were contaminated with metals, PCBs, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The state did not renew the license in 1978 due to operational and other various violations. Residences in this area use private wells for drinking water.  The subsurface groundwater sampling conducted through 1994 defined groundwater contamination as limited to the original site area east of the landfill and in the vicinity of the lagoons. In December 1995, groundwater contamination by volatile organic compounds was detected north of the landfill and outside the original site area.  Later sampling has showed that the groundwater contamination from north of the landfill is mostly below, but extends somewhat beyond an 80-acre parcel that has been added to the site. 

Site Responsibility

U.S. EPA fenced the site in 1984; conducted the sampling to locate the waste, soil, and groundwater contamination from 1983- 1992; and evaluated methods to cleanup the site prior from 1986 - 1993.  Private parties who may be responsbile for the contamination, performed the other work under U.S. EPA and state agency oversight.  Prior to 1994, the private parties removed wastes from the lagoons and landfill, and initiated groundwater sampling.  In accordance with a 1994 agreement, the private parties are responsible for all of the remaining cleanup work, including covering the landfill with a soil cap, treatment of the contamination north of the landfill, sampling groundwater and other monitoring.  Private parties must also reimbursed Federal costs. 

Threats and Contaminants

Wastes, containing PCBs and PBBs, are documented to have been disposed of in the landfill. Soils in the former lagoon area were contaminated with metals, PCBs, and volatile organic compounds. Groundwater is contaminated mostly with VOCs.  A health threat existed due to the potential for contact with contaminants and wastes by trespassers, including children.  This health threat was eliminated by construction of a fence, complete removal of the lagoon contamination, and construction of a cap over the landfill.  A health threat would exist if the landfill or site ground water were developed in the future.  This health threat is being controlled by restrictions on usage of the site.  There is concern about exposure nearby residential well users to groundwater contamination.  Although such exposure is unlikely, this concern is being addressed by treatment of the groundwater north of the landfill, and groundwater monitoring.  A health threat or interference with the groundwater treatment and monitoring could result from new groundwater pumping near the site.  This health threat is being addressed through groundwater treatment, monitoring, and restrictions on installation of new pumping wells using the Genesee County Health Regulations.   

Cleanup Progress

U.S. EPA installed a fence around the site in August 1984.  From 1985 - 1988, U.S. EPA sampled wastes, groundwater, and soil, and evaluated cleanup methods.  In 1988 - 1989, private parties completely removed contamination from the lagoons.  9,140 tons of solidified waste and soil, and 56, 922 gallons of waste liquid were disposed off-site.  In 1990, U.S. EPA dug out and containerized 500 barrels of waste from the landfill.  In 1992, private parties disposed of these barrels off-site.  In 1993 - 1994, the private parties removed 3,188 barrels of waste and 1,977 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the landfill, and disposed of them off-site.  

In September 1994, a group of private parties entered an agreement with U.S. EPA to complete the remaining cleanup work.  From 1990 - 1992, U.S. EPA annually sampled groundwater east of the landfill to assure that contamination was not moving off-site. Starting in 1993, this annual sampling was taken over by private parties. This sampling is continuing and to date no significant groundwater contamination has moved off-site from east of the landfill.  From the fall of 1996 - spring 1997, private parties constructed a cap over the landfill. 

In December 1995, VOC contamination was first detected north of the landfill.  From 1996 - 2007, the private parties conducted a series of sampling events to locate the extent of contamination from north of the landfill.  In 1997, the private parties purchased an 80-acre property north of the landfill.  It was found that most of the contamination from north of the landfill underlies the 80-acre parcel.  In 2000, VOCs were detected in groundwater near the boundary of the 80-acre parcel, and in 2002 it was confirmed that this contamination extends beyond the 80-acre parcel.  Annual sampling of nearby residential wells was initiated in 2001.     

The private parties initiated evaluation of groundwater treatment technologies to treat the groundwater north of the landfill in 2001.  From 2003 - 2007, the private parties conducted sampling and testing for two cleanup technologies.  In September 2005, U.S. EPA decided that the cleanup of the contamination north of the landfill should include: expanding the site to include the additional 80-acre parcel; applying the cleanup standards to the boundaries of the expanded site and using natural dilution and biodegradation to help achieve the cleanup standards; treatment of deep and shallow groundwater contamination near and beyond the expanded site boundaries by injecting chemicals; treatment of shallow groundwater near the landfill by injecting oxygen or by digging a trench through the shallow groundwater and injecting air to remove the contamination; shut-down criteria for the groundwater treatment; and restricting installation of new monitoring wells near the site using the Genesee County Health Regulations.     

From 2005 - 2006, U.S. EPA worked with the private parties, and Genesee County to better define the groundwater pumping restriction areas, and construction requirements for new wells in these areas.  In September 2007, the private parties initiated the chemical injections in accordance with approved plans, but injections near a lake are being delayed because of concern about the chemicals entering the lake.  After review of the most recent data, and modeling results, in November 2007 U.S. EPA decided that groundwater treatment near the landfill is not required at this time because VOC concentrations have significantly reduced near the landfill, and are at very low concentrations a short distance farther from the landfill. 

 

 

Success Story

The private parties have been very cooperative with U.S. EPA and the state in conducting the investigations, and cleanup actions required.  Genesee County was very cooperative in working with U.S. EPA to establish well usage restrictions in the pumping restriction areas. 

Community Involvement

In March 2001, U.S. EPA prepared and distributed a fact sheet to update interested parties on progress and conditions at the site because volatile organic compounds were detected near the boundary of the expanded site.  In June 2005, U.S. EPA prepared and distributed a fact sheet to provide an update on site conditions and present cleanup methods being considered.  U.S. EPA conducted a public comment period from July 10, 2005 -- August 9, 2005, and a public meeting on July 20, 2005.  Nearly 200 people attended the public meeting, including a state representative, and County Commissioners.  U.S. EPA distributed another fact sheet, and conducted a public meeting in August 2007 to update residents on the pumping restriction area, the final design of the chemical injection systems, and other data.   

Congressional Interest

There have been no formal inquiries. 

Property Reuse

All of the site property is under the control of Forest Township.  The site is fenced (except for the additional 80-acres where no disposal occurred), and there is a separate fence around the landfill.  Deed notices on the site property prohibit the following: interference with the cleanup, use of groundwater (other than for monitoring); all access to the landfill area, and excavation, regrading or removal of soil from the landfill area exept as necessary for monitoring and maintenance of the site cap; all construction except as approved by U.S. EPA and the state agency; removal of soil outside of the landfill area except for sampling; and all activities that could result in a health risk.  Forest Township controls usage of the site through a permit system.  To date, permits have been issued for model airplane flying, archery, and paintball.  In September 2005, U.S. EPA decided that it is safe to use the site areas outside of the landfill area for limited recreational activities, such as those permitted by Forest Township.  Installation of new wells near the site is being restricted using Genesee County Health Regulations.      

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
richard boice (boice.richard@epa.gov)
(312) 886-4740

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
cheryl allen
(312) 353-6196

Aliases

FOREST WASTE DISPOSAL LDFL

 

Site Profile Information

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