Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Virginia
Buckingham County
Virginia Route 640
near Town of Dillwyn

EPA ID# VAD089027973

5th Congressional District

Last Update: January 2009

Other Names

Loves Container Service landfill
Loves Hazardous Waste Site

Current Site Status

On July 31, 2008, the EPA met with the PRP group to discuss moving forward with implementing the contingency remedy based on the findings of the 2008 Five Year Review Report. The 2008 Report found that the remedy currently in place at the Site is not functioning as intended nor as called for in the 1994 Record of Decision (ROD). The remedy does not currently protect human health and the environment because as many as nine Site related contaminants, one of which is 1,4-dioxane, have migrated beyond point of compliance (POC) wells where they have been detected in groundwater samples at levels exceeding action levels identified in the ROD. 1,4-dioxane is a stabilizer found in solvents that was not easily detected in groundwater samples until the recent development of a standard testing method. Dectection of groundwater contamination beyond the POC wells meets the criteria for triggering the contingency remedy specified in the ROD.

Recognizing that numerous technologies have been developed since the finalization of the ROD and because 1,4-dioxane is contaminant that was not considered in selecting the remedy or the contingency remedy, the EPA determined that a comprehensive investigation will need to be performed. Information gathered during the contingency remedy remedial investigation will be used to determine the best available technolgy that is appropriate for use in cleaning up the Site.

The work plan for performing the investigation is currently being finalized and the field work is expected to start in spring 2009.

It is important to note that the two closest downgradient residential monitoring wells have been sampled on a quarterly basis since 1996. Based on all available data, no human or environmental receptors are known to be exposed to Site related contaminants at this time. The EPA will be performing a comprehensive groundwater study in 2009 of several of the closest residential wells to establish the groundwater quality of unimpacted groundwater in the area and to address the concerns of local residents. To view the 2003 and 2008 Five-Year Review Report as well as other related Site information go to the Superfund Documents website.

Site Description

The Buckingham County Landfill Site, located in Buckingham County, Virginia, encompasses approximately 8 acres, including a 2-acre hazardous waste disposal area. Originally, the site was a permitted domestic waste landfill. The permit was modified in 1977 to accept hazardous waste. The primitive waste disposal operation involved emptying solvent and paint waste into a series of three trenches located on the landfill property. The three trench disposal system functioned by letting waste emptied into the evaporation trench volatalize into the atmosphere. Solids and sediment known as still bottoms that were left after the evaporation process was complete were excavated and placed into a disposal trench where they were burried and remain today. The drums that the waste were held in were crushed after being emptied into the evaporation trench and placed in the drum disposal trench were they remain today.

Sampling conducted during an investigation in 1992 indicated that on-site groundwater wells were contaminated with very high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The source of this contamination is hazardous materials buried in the on-site trenches. Potential risks exist if individuals ingest or come into direct contact with this contaminated groundwater. An estimated 1,100 people use wells within 3 miles of the site as a source of drinking water, and approximately 40 people live within a half mile of the site.

The construction of the landfill cap was completed at the Buckingham County Landfill in June of 1998 after initial work began in April of that year by a contractor hired by the Potentially Responsible Parties group. The final design for the landfill cap was approved in July of 1997. Following that approval, the EPA reviewed and approved all cap construction management plans. The pre-final inspection of the cap was conducted on June 26, 1998, and the final inspection of the cap was conducted on September 29, 1998. Additionally, a groundwater study was required by EPA’s Record of Decision (ROD) to effectively design the long-term groundwater monitoring program. This study included five rounds of groundwater sampling which were conducted between May of 1996 and June of 1997. EPA approved the final long-term groundwater monitoring work plan in April of 1998. The first round of groundwater sampling for the long-term monitoring program was completed in September 1998.

Site Responsibility

The site is being addressed through Federal and potentially responsible parties' actions.

NPL Listing History

This site was proposed to the National Priorities List of the most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites requiring long-term remedial action on April 10, 1985. The site was formally added to the list October 4, 1989, making it eligible for federal cleanup funds.

Threats and Contaminants

Sampling during the Remedial Investigation indicated that on-site groundwater wells were contaminated with VOCs from the former disposal practices. The source of this contamination is the hazardous materials buried in the on-site trenches. Potential risks exist if individuals ingest or come into direct contact with this contaminated groundwater.

Cleanup Progress

A Proposed Remedial Action Plan was issued in May 1993. It recommended excavation and off-site treatment and was not well received by the public. In response to concerns voiced by local residents, the preferred alternative was re-evaluated and modified. The ROD issued in September 1994 contained two options: Option 1 consisted of monitoring the groundwater and installing a cap over the hazardous waste disposal area; and Option 2 consisted of monitoring the groundwater, limiting off-site treatment, and installing a cap over the hazardous waste disposal area. If migration of the contamination plume is detected via the groundwater monitoring, the ROD also contains a pump and treat’ contingency remedy.

EPA attempted to negotiate a Consent Decree (CD) with the PRPs for performance of the design and construction of the remedy selected in the ROD. A settlement was never reached. EPA then negotiated with three parties that were responsible for a comparatively small amount of the waste at the site and, on September 8, 1995, entered into a de minimis Consent Decree with these parties to resolve their liability and collect their share of the cleanup costs ($471,042). EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) to the main PRP group on September 29, 1995, for implementation of the remedy selected in the ROD. EPA provided Buckingham County with a draft CD on March 25, 1998, so that the County could begin negotiating the terms of this document in an effort to resolve the County's liability at the Site. The CD identified the services and institutional controls that will be provided by the County and would protect the County from lawsuits brought by other parties with regard to this site. The County broke off negotiations and EPA issued a UAO to the County on March 20, 2000 after spending nearly two years requesting comments on the draft CD. On December 1, 2000, the County finally ensured the protection of the public health by implementing the provisions of the UAO.

EPA met with the PRP group in December 2006 to discuss elevated 1,4-dioxane and VOCs above the current groundwater action levels. The PRPs agreed to sample seven additional monitoring wells and install four additional monitoring wells to further evaluate this issue. Based on the information obtained from the additional groundwater samples the EPA has determined that the remedy currently in place at the site is not performing as intended. The EPA is currently working with the PRPs to evaluate options in accordance with the 1994 ROD to develop a remedy that will address the contamination at the site.

Contacts

Site Contacts

Administrative Record Locations