Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
WAUKESHA COUNTY
BROOKFIELD

Congressional District # 05

WASTE MANAGEMENT OF WISCONSIN, INC. (BROOKFIELD SANITARY LANDFILL)

EPA ID# WID980901235
Last Updated: December, 2006

Site Description

Waste Management of Wisconsin (Waste Management), located in Brookfield, Wisconsin, operated a 20-acre sanitary landfill at this site from 1969 to 1981. In 1976, Waste Management received a permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to accept municipal waste. The site was recapped in the late 1980s, and gas extraction is ongoing. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (U.S. EPA) tests in 1985, the groundwater is contaminated with cyanide. Approximately 11,000 people obtain drinking water from public and private wells, located within three miles of the site; the nearest well is located within 1,000 feet of the site. Poplar Creek, located 3,600 feet southwest of the site, is used for recreational activities. A freshwater wetland is located 1,800 feet from the site.

Site Responsibility

This site is currently being addressed through federal and state actions. 

Threats and Contaminants

The groundwater is contaminated with various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including vinyl chloride and cyanide from site landfilling operations. Potential health risks include coming into direct contact with or accidentally ingesting contaminated groundwater. The wetland may also be threatened by site contamination.

Cleanup Progress

Waste Management constructed a new clay cap on the landfill in 1988 to meet current regulatory standards. This cap has been properly graded and vegetated and does not show signs of erosion. Drainage ditches have also been installed to carry excess runoff off the site.

In December 1990 and January 1991 test burns of flared emissions were conducted. Because the site was capped and the gas extraction system has been installed, gas migration to the air onsite has been limited to the emissions from the flare which meet current federal and state air toxic standards. Methane levels and gas pressure are currently being monitored by onsite gas probes, installed on the northern side of the site.

Waste Management completed construction of 18 gas extraction wells which pull 150 to 200 cubic feet per minute continuously from the waste mass. A cap was placed on the site, and construction was completed in 1991. No further construction is planned. The remedy eliminates the principal threat posed by the site by preventing direct contact with contaminated materials, venting landfill gases, and greatly reducing water flow through the waste.

The facility is currently under WDNR Closure Long Term Care Plan. Wisconsin Statute 504.07 par. 9 prohibits any use of a closed facility unless such use is approved in writing by WDNR. Additional onsite gas probes were installed in December 2003 along the western boundary, due to proposed development in that area.

A Preliminary Close Out Report (PCOR) was prepared in June 2001 and it determined that the remedy was constructed in accordance with the Remedial Design (RD) plans and specifications.

Congressional Interest

In September 2003, Congressman Sensenbrenner sent a letter to EPA concerning an inquiry from one of his constituents regarding the construction of a new subdivision in the vicinity of the former landfill.  A response was sent on October 24, 2003, detailing site history and remedial activities to date.

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
erica islas (islas.erica@epa.gov)
(312) 353-7209

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

Aliases

WASTE MGMT OF WI
WASTE MGMT OF WI (BROOKFIELD SANIT LF)
WASTE MGMT OF WIS-BROOKFIELD
BROOKFIELD

 

Site Profile Information

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