Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Virginia
Suffolk County
Route 604
City of Suffolk

EPA ID# VAD980917983

4th Congressional District

Last Update: January 2009

Other Names

None

Current Site Status

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded that no further actions were needed at this site. The EPA has deemed that the site cleanup was effective at protecting human health and the environment. Because of this, the site was removed from the list of sites eligible for federal cleanup in 1995.

The City of Suffolk has monitored landfill gas and collected groundwater samples once a year for the past three years. Also the City has collected surface water samples from the stormwater retention basin once a year for the past four years. All of these samples, taken over three years, were analyzed for pesticides and herbicides. EPA completed the first five-year review study in September 1999 and the second five-year review study in January 2005 to make sure the cleanup remains effective. Institutional controls were not included in the Record of Decision for the Site. EPA is trying to determine if a Record of Decsion Amendment is needed to add include institutional controls to prevent contaminated groundwater from the Site from being used. The city is performing a demonstration project to determine if arsenic is naturally occuring or is being relesed from the landfill.

Site Description

The 67-acre Suffolk City Landfill is owned and managed by the City of Suffolk. This now-closed sanitary landfill operated from 1967 to 1985. Municipal solid waste from both the city and Nansemond County were disposed in this unlined landfill. While the landfill primarily accepted municipal solid wastes, on-site disposal of highly-toxic pesticides was the primary concern. In 1970, the Dixie Guano Company disposed 27 tons of chemicals in a portion of the landfill.

In 1983, the landfill operation permit was re-issued. Because a regional landfill was being built, this permit required the city to close its landfill once the regional one became operational. The City designed a closure plan, which was submitted to the State. The city covered, graded, and replanted the landfill in 1988.

The area is rural and agricultural. Approximately 2,500 people obtain drinking water from private wells within 3 miles of the site. Surface runoff from the site discharges into two unnamed tributaries to the Great Dismal Swamp, a major freshwater wetland.

Site Responsibility

Cleanup of this site was the responsibility of Federal State, and Municipal governments, the site owner, and parties potentially responsible for site contamination.

NPL Listing History

Our country’s most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites can be cleaned using federal money. To be eligible for federal cleanup money, a site must be put on the National Priorities List (NPL). This site was proposed for listing on June 24, 1988. The site was added to the NPL on February 21, 1990.
De-Listed:
Once Superfund site work is done, it is evaluated to see if the remedy is effective. If the goal of the work is reached, and EPA determines that nothing else remains to be done, the site is then removed from the list of sites eligible for federal Superfund funding. This site was removed from the Superfund list on January 24, 1995

Threats and Contaminants

The ground water, soil, and liquids in retention basins had been contaminated with various pesticides from former disposal practices. Potential health hazards once included accidentally ingesting or coming in direct contact with contaminated ground water and soil. There was also the potential for contaminated site runoff to impact the Great Dismal Swamp, but this did not occur. Today, the site is safe; there is no threat to human health or the environment.

Contaminant descriptions and associated risk factors are available at: (ATSDR web site).

 

Cleanup Progress

As a part of legal agreement, the City of Suffolk installed a leachate collection and treatment system at the Site. Under orders from the State, the City of Suffolk agreed to conduct an intensive study of soil and ground water contamination at the site to determine its nature and extent and to recommend strategies for its cleanup. The study, completed in 1992, showed that pesticide contamination no longer exists at the site. Scientific information on pesticides has shown that these substances are prone to degrading naturally over time. Therefore, no other actions are required at the site; the area is safe and no other action is needed. EPA has deleted the site from the National Priorities List.

EPA’s 1999 study of the site confirmed that the cleanup was a success. The City’s past work still meets the cleanup goals and continues to protect people and the environment. The City of Suffolk has monitored landfill gas and collect groundwater samples once a year for the past three years. Also the City has collected surface water samples from the stormwater retention basin once a year for previous three years. All of these samples, taken over three years, were analyzed for pesticides and herbicides. EPA completed a second five-year review study in 2004 to make sure the cleanup remains effective. Institutional controls were not included in the Record of Decision for the Site. EPA is trying to determine if a Record of Decsion Amendment is needed to add include institutional controls to prevent contaminated groundwater from the Site from being used. The city is performing a demonstration project to determine if arsenic is naturally occuring or is being relesed from the landfill.

Contacts

Site Contacts

Administrative Record Locations