Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
ASHTABULA COUNTY
KINGSVILLE

Congressional District # 14

BIG D CAMPGROUND

EPA ID# OHD980611735
Last Updated: December, 2008

Site Description

The Big D Campground site is located in Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio, approximately 2.5 miles south of Lake Erie and 50 miles northeast of Cleveland, Ohio.  The site is located south of Creek Road, north of Conneaut Creek, and west of and adjacent to Big D Campground.  The capped former landfill at the site is approximately 1.2 acres in size and approximately 20 feet deep. 

The site is bordered by Conneaut Creek to the south, a former campground to the southeast, open land to the west, and residences with small acreage to the north and northwest.  The southern edge of the landfill slopes sharply towards Conneaut Creek (approximate 32% slope).  The residences are located approximately 500 feet north of the site. 

Olin Corporation (Olin) has acquired the groundwater rights of surrounding property owners.  Additionally, Olin has placed deed restrictions on these offsite properties to prohibit the use of groundwater both currently and in the future. 

The EPA-financed Remedial Investigation began in late 1986 and was completed in mid-1998.   The RI was a study that determined the nature and extent of the site contamination.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through potentially responsible parties' actions via federal enforcement.  Potentially responsible parties (PRP) are parties whom EPA has determined may be legally responsible for the site's contamination.  

Threats and Contaminants

Site investigations conducted between 1982 and 1988, identified drums containing halogenated and non-halogenated solvents; caustic; and oily wastes; bulk toluene disocyanate (TDI); TDI residue contaminated with monochlorobenzene and carbon tetrachloride; monoethylamine; and soils contaminated with many of the above. The initial estimate of volume of hazardous materials was 28,000 cubic yards. Groundwater was found to be contaminated with volatile organic compounds and heavy metals including barium, chromium, and lead. 

Cleanup Progress

A Record of Decision (ROD) for the site documenting the EPA's selected long term cleanup action at the site was signed in 1989. In 1992, Olin initiated Remedial Action pursuant to a design approved by the EPA, under a Unilateral Administrative Order issued in 1990. All source area materials were excavated from the landfill and incinerated on-site between September 1992 and March 1994. Total volume of wastes exceeded the previous estimates by approximately 65,000 cubic yards. The incinerator ash was determined to be safe to be placed back on the site and was placed back into the landfill, along with all non-combustible materials that had been excavated. Two feet of topsoil was placed over the ash and vegetated, and the incineration project was demobilized in October 1994.

A treatment system was constructed to treat contaminated storm water runoff collected from the excavation and from within a bermed area. In 1994, a groundwater extraction system was installed to collect contaminated groundwater that was migrating to the north and to the south. The groundwater was treated by the storm water onsite treatment system. Since February 1995, Olin had been conducting site operation and maintenance for the groundwater remedy. A preliminary close out report documenting completion of major cleanup construction activities was signed on May 9, 1995. The pump and treat system had successfully reduced the concentrations of heavy metals. In November 1997, U.S. EPA approved changes to the groundwater treatment system to help reduce operation and maintenance costs. Portions of the system that are no longer needed to treat heavy metals were eliminated. In February 1999, Olin submitted a proposal to the EPA to allow for monitored natural attenuation (MNA) of the groundwater contamination and to reduce the number of contaminants monitored. The proposal was approved on March 2000 for a two year trial period.  Olin had asked the EPA to review new information that would lead to altering the selected cleanup action.  Potentially Responsible Parties submitted additional information in 2004 to support their request for monitored natural attenuation.

The second five-year review dated August 27, 2004 found that the remedy was constructed in accordance with the requirements of the ROD.  An additional possible exposure pathway had been identified at the site: human exposure to indoor air from volatilized groundwater. U.S. EPA is reviewing information the PRPs submitted regarding indoor air exposure for residences near the site. U.S. EPA continues to evaluate groundwater collected at the site to determine if MNA is a viable remedy for the site.

The third five-year review commenced in August 2008.  The report is expected to be finalized in April 2009.

 

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
howard caine (caine.howard@epa.gov)
(312) 353-9685

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

Site Profile Information

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