Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
DODGE COUNTY
WILLIAMSTOWN

Congressional District # 06

HECHIMOVICH SANITARY LANDFILL

EPA ID# WID052906088
Last Updated: October, 2006

Site Description

The Hechimovich Sanitary Landfill site is situated on 24 acres and is located in Williamstown, Wisconsin, a rural area, located approximately two miles south of Mayville. The site is a former commercial landfill that operated from 1959 to 1986. The owner of the site claims that he placed hazardous waste in unlined pits from 1972 to 1980. Some of the types of wastes disposed of in these pits include paint sludges, cutting oils, and spent organic solvents. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) ordered the pits closed in 1980. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in two wells downgradient of the site in 1984. The owner of the site violated the terms of the landfill's permit by depositing solid waste in areas beyond those previously approved by WDNR. The towns nearest to the site are Mayville with 4,330 residents and Horicon with 3,585 residents. Approximately 5,000 people obtain their drinking water from private wells, located within three miles of the site. 

Site Responsibility

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

Threats and Contaminants

Groundwater in several wells downgradient of the site is contaminated with VOCs, although no residential wells are currently impacted or are expected to be impacted in the near future. On-site soil is also contaminated with VOCs. Direct contact with or ingestion of contaminated groundwater or soil may pose health threats. Local surface waters may be used by residents for recreational activities. If site-related contaminants should migrate into the surface water, residents could be exposed to them when coming into direct contact with these bodies of water. A portion of the Hechimovich Landfill site is a wetland which could be at risk from site runoff.

Cleanup Progress

Through the enforcement of an existing state court order, the PRPs installed a landfill cap and a gas collection system at the site. Because of the success of the initial actions, U.S. EPA determined that no further source control action was necessary in 1994. 

The PRPs completed studies to determine the nature and extent of groundwater contamination in 1994. A final remedy for the groundwater was selected in 1995. The selected action was to continue with the source control actions and determine, through long-term groundwater monitoring, if those actions will remediate the groundwater contamination. Should the groundwater contamination not be remediated by the source control actions, the selected remedy will be revised through a decision amendment to require further actions.  A five-year review was signed on June 21, 2004, and the remedy was determined to be protective of human health and the environment.

In September 2006 the PRP will drill soil borings into the landfill to determine whether it is cost-effective to relocate the landfill waste to another nearby landfill (that they already own) and develop the existing property for other uses. 

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
thomas williams (williams.thomas@epa.gov)
(312) 886-6157

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
bob paulson
(312) 886-0272

Aliases

HECHIMOVICH LDFL
HECHIMOVICH SANINTARY LANDFILL
HECHIMOVICH SAN LDFL

 

Site Profile Information

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