Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
ASHTABULA COUNTY
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP

Congressional District # 14

LASKIN/POPLAR OIL CO.

EPA ID# OHD061722211
Last Updated: November, 2007

Site Description

The Laskin/Poplar Oil Company site, which covers nine acres, is located in Ashtabula County, Ohio. The site formerly housed a waste oil storage area and a greenhouse. The owners used waste oil to heat the greenhouse, and for road oiling. Some of the waste oil used was contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other hazardous constituents. Later, the owner began collecting, reselling and disposing of waste oils. The operation was shut down by Court Order in 1981. Hazardous liquids stored in tanks and ponds had the potential to overflow or otherwise release contaminants into nearby Cemetery Creek, impact a downstream drinking water supply. Approximately ten residences are within 1,000 feet of the site.

Site Responsibility

Early investigations and emergency actions were federally funded.  Subsequent actions were conducted by PRPs under federal and state oversight.

Threats and Contaminants

The waste oils, contaminated water, and sludge contained PCBs, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenolic compounds and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, trichloroethylene, methylene chloride, tetrachoroethylene, and toluene. The shallow groundwater directly below the site was contaminated with PAHs, and some VOCs. Sediments in the onsite retention pond were contaminated with PCBs, PAHs, some VOCs, and lead. Onsite soils were contaminated with PCBs, PAHs, lead and pesticides. The boiler house was contaminated with PCBs, PAHs, dioxin, lead and zinc. Prior to construction of the cap over the site a health threat existed due to the potential direct contact with contaminated soils and sediments by trespassers, including children. In addition, a health threat would exist if the site or the site ground water was developed in the future. 

Cleanup Progress

In 1981 and 1982, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) took several emergency actions, including draining two ponds, diversion of surface water run off to a retention pond, removal and offsite incineration of 302,000 gallons of waste oil, treatment and discharge of 430,000 gallons of contaminated surface water, and solidification of 205,000 gallons of sludge. In 1985 and 1986, under a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO), private parties removed 250,000 gallons of oil and wastewater from the pits and tanks.

From 1983-1989, U.S. EPA conducted a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study. In 1987, U.S. EPA approved a Record of Decision (ROD) for source removal. Under UAOs, the private parties initiated work on design of the source removal work. Groundwater and soils were contaminated by a large number of contaminants, including PAH, PCB, lead, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin. In 1989, U.S. EPA issued a ROD for the final Remedial Actions (RAs) at the site, which primarily included diversion of groundwater from the site and construction of a low-permeability cap over the site.

In 1989, a group of private parties entered into a Consent Decree with U.S. EPA to implement the 1987 and 1989 RODs. In 1991-1993, the private parties completed the source removal and construction work. The source removal work included onsite incineration of oils, sludge, tanks, drums, boiler house equipment, the boiler house structure and stack, boiler house soils, pit structures, and source soils. In all, 7,500 tons of source material was incinerated. In addition, 164,360 gallons of wastewater was treated and discharged, and 49.5 cubic yards asbestos material from the boiler house were removed; 40 cubic yards of the asbestos material was disposed in an offsite landfill, while 9.5 cubic yards were contained in an onsite vault because of dioxin contamination. The final RA included construction of a groundwater diversion trench and slurry cut-off walls, which have successfully lowered the water table to below the contaminated soil. The soils are further isolated by a low-permeability cap over the site, which has successfully eliminated the direct contact threat and reduced infiltration. Since 1993, private parties have been conducting maintenance and monitoring activities, which has verified that the final RAs have remained effective.

Property Reuse

Astabula County has inquired about potential use of a portion of the Laskin property for parking during the County Fair.  Potential re-use of a portion of the site will be assessed by USEPA and OEPA. 

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
patrick hamblin (hamblin.patrick@epa.gov)
(312) 886-6312

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
susan pastor
(312) 353-1325

Aliases

ALASKAIN GREENHOUSE WASTE OIL
LASKINS WASTE OIL CO
LASKIN/POPLAR OIL
POPLAR OIL CO INC

 

Site Profile Information

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