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Hercules 009 Landfill
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
The top of the landfill cover looking north.
- Additional Site Photos
- Site Video
Additional Resources
- Site Cleanup Terms - can be found in EPA's glossary
- EPA Guides to Cleanup Technologies
- Superfund Community Involvement (PDF) (17 pp, 130K, About PDF)
Site Summary Profile
EPA ID: GAD980556906Location: Brunswick, Glynn County, GA
Lat/Long: 31.204900, -081.485800
Congressional District: 01
NPL Status: Proposed: 09/08/83; Final: 09/21/84
Affected Media: Ground water, Sludge, Soil
Cleanup Status: Construction Complete: physical cleanup activities at the site have been completed
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: In reuse - commercial/retail (portion of site in reuse as a parking lot)
Site Manager: Scott Martin (martin.scott@epa.gov)
Site Background
The 16.5-acre Hercules 009 Landfill site is an inactive industrial landfill located in Brunswick,
Glynn County, Georgia. Land use in the area is predominantly commercial and residential with a shopping mall, shopping centers, a school, and restaurants located within 1,000 feet of the site. A car dealership is directly adjacent to the site to the north and residential homes are located adjacent to the site to the southeast.
From 1948 to 1980, Hercules manufactured toxaphene, an agricultural pesticide used to control boll weevils, ticks, and mites on cattle. Under a permit issued by the State, Hercules used seven acres at the northern end of the site, known as the 009 Landfill, to dispose of wastewater sludge generated from chemical manufacturing processes. The 009 Landfill was constructed as six cells (waste storage areas), each approximately 100 to 200 feet wide (north-south direction) and 400 feet long (west-east direction).
Trucks hauling material to the site reportedly entered the landfill through two entrances, one from Benedict Road (south side), and the other located along Spur 25 (west side). Typically the sludge was placed directly into the landfill. However, sludge was occasionally located near the southeastern corner of the 009 Landfill prior to placement. In addition to the sludge, the 009 Landfill was also used for disposal of empty toxaphene product drums, and toxaphene contaminated glassware, rubble, and trash.
In 1980, as a result of an investigation by the State that revealed toxaphene in soil and water samples from the drainage ditches around the site, Hercules's permit was canceled, and the State ordered the landfill to be closed. In 1982, EPA banned the use of toxaphene and site operations ceased.
All cells in the landfill were closed prior to 1983 in accordance with existing Georgia Environmental Protection Division solid waste management regulations.Threats and Contaminants
Initially, one potential threat identified was the flow of ground water from the site toward several private drinking water wells. To address this, EPA initiated an interim action, connecting the affected residences to Brunswick's municipal water supply. This is described in the Record of Decision issued in 1991.
The discovery of low levels of toxaphene in the front yards of the residences adjacent to the site in 1992 represented another potential threat. To address this, residents were temporarily relocated while their yards were excavated and then backfilled with clean soil. The contaminated soil from the residential area was stockpiled on Hercules's property and later stabilized (i.e., treated) with the rest of the 009 Landfill.
The primary contaminants of concern (COCs) affecting the soil, sludge, ground water, and surface water were determined to be volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), toluene, and xylenes; other organics, including dioxin and pesticides; and metals, including arsenic, chromium, and lead.
Site Cleanup Plan
The Record of Decision, describing the final cleanup plan for the site, was issued in 1993. The areas to be cleaned up included the sludge contained in the landfill cells, the soils in the sludge-staging area (area where sludge is unloaded) on the Hercules property, and the Benedict Road/Nix Lane area outside the Hercules property. Major components of the cleanup approach included:
- Stabilization (i.e., treatment) of subsurface soil, sludge and consolidated surface soil, followed by the installation of a multimedia cover to reduce rain infiltration and direct contact with treated soil.
- Long-term monitoring of ground water as well as surface water and sediment in the on-site pond and the adjacent drainage ditch.
- Operation and maintenance of the landfill cover for a minimum of thirty years.
- Institutional controls for land use and ground water use restrictions.
Minor changes were made to the cleanup plan in 1998, documented in an Explanation of Significant Differences. These included: changing how the cover over treated soils would be constructed, and the depth below ground surface to which contaminated soils and sludges would be treated.
Cleanup Progress
Beginning in October 1994 and ending by July 1995, approximately 8,000 cubic yards of toxaphene contaminated soils were excavated from off site (including residential) locations and stockpiled on site for treatment.
In 1998-1999, landfill soil, sludge, and consolidated surface soil stabilization (i.e., treatment) activities were initiated. In 1999 following stabilization activities, the landfill cover was constructed.
Ground water monitoring continues on a regular basis to ensure that concentrations of COCs in ground water remain below the appropriate standards.
The institutional control, in the form of a Consent Decree, was recorded with the deed in the Recorder of Deeds Office in the Glynn County Courthouse in December of 1993.
All cleanup components have been put in place and continue to operate as intended.Enforcement Activities
In July 1988, Hercules and EPA entered into an Administrative Order on Consent to conduct the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study.
In 1992, the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and EPA agreed to a Consent Decree.
In 1993, the PRP and EPA agreed to a Consent Decree.Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Hercules 009 Landfill site to solicit community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about site activities throughout the site cleanup process. Outreach activities have included public notices and information meetings on cleanup progress and activities.
Future Work
Long term monitoring of ground water, and operation and maintenance of the landfill cover, are still ongoing.
A five-year review will be conducted in 2011.
Site Administrative Documents
Site Repository
For more information or to view any site-related documents, please visit the site information repository at the following location. As new documents are generated, they will be placed in the information repository for public information.
Brunswick/Glynn Co. Regional Library
208 Glouchester St.
Brunswick GA 31523
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.