Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
RACINE COUNTY
CALEDONIA

Congressional District # 01

HUNTS DISPOSAL LANDFILL

EPA ID# WID980511919
Last Updated: April, 2008

Site Description

The Hunt's Disposal Landfill, located in southeastern Wisconsin, is 35 acres in area and was originally an abandoned sand and gravel pit. It began operating as an open dump in 1959 and continued to do so until 1974 when the state of Wisconsin denied the license renewal application to operate the landfill. The landfill reportedly accepted a variety of municipal and chemical wastes during this period.  Approximately 40 homes are located within a one-half mile radius of the landfill.  A rural community of approximately 150 homes is located west of the site.  The community uses local groundwater as a drinking water source. Based on the sampling of the residential wells in the surrounding area, the water supply does not appear to be affected by contaminants from the landfill. 

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal, state, and potentially responsible parties' actions.

Threats and Contaminants

Contaminants of concern include organic compounds such as vinyl chloride, benzene, trichloroethene, xylene, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and various metals such as arsenic, chromium, and barium. The total waste volume was estimated to be 168,000 cubic yards. Principal threats identified at the site were contaminated groundwater, soil, sediment in a nearby river, and exposed landfill wastes.  These have been addressed as part of the cleanup progress, described below. 

Cleanup Progress

A record of decision (ROD) was issued by the Agency on September 29, 1990.  A Consent Decree (CD), outlining the implementation of the selected remedial action (RA) as described in the ROD, was entered on April 21, 1992, between the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and the Agency.  The PRPs were held responsible for conducting all remedial design/remedial action (RD/RA) activities for the project with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and state oversight. Construction of the selected remedy was initiated in mid-1995 and was completed in October 1996. The remedy included the following: 1) perimeter fencing; 2) a multilayer landfill cap; 3) installation of an underground slurry wall around the landfill; 4) installation of a groundwater pump and treat system; 5) installation of groundwater monitoring wells; and 6) installation of a landfill gas management system.  A final site inspection was conducted by U.S. EPA and the state on March 11, 1997.  The inspection revealed that all construction activities, required under the approved RD report, were completed.  A preliminary close-out report (PCOR) was prepared for this site on May 7, 1997.  U.S. EPA accepted the RA completion report from the PRPs on October 8, 1997. The project is currently in operation and maintenance (O & M).  The first five-year review was completed for the site in September 2001. 

The second five-year review was completed on September 28, 2006.  No significant issues were identified during the technical assessment at the site that affect the protectiveness of the remedy.  The following issues and follow-up actions were identified:  1)  Minor vegetated rivulets were observed along the landfill permieter fence.  These are being addressed during routine maintenance at the site;  2)  Although the groundwater extraction system is operating, an inward gradient is not being maintained at all locations within the slurry wall.  However, no adverse impacts have been identified as part of the monitoring of the overall system and this situation is being closely monitored;  and 3)  In order for long-term protectivess to be achieved at the site, an institutional control (IC) study and plan should be completed for the site.  An IC study in underway at the site.  Routine operation and maintenance of the remedial system is on-going.

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
linda kern (kern.linda@epa.gov)
(312) 886-7341

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
bri bill
(312) 353-6646

Aliases

HUNTS DISPOSAL
CALEDONIA DUMP SITE

 

Site Profile Information

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