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Diamond Shamrock Corporation Landfill
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Diamond Shamrock Corporation Landfill site (from site entrance)
- 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: GAD990741092Location: Cedartown, Polk County, GA
Lat/Long: 34.020700, -085.271700
Congressional District: 07
NPL Status: Proposed: 01/22/87; Final: 08/30/90
Affected Media: Ground water
Cleanup Status: Construction complete - physical cleanup activities have been completed
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Currently unused
Site Manager: Charles King (king.charlesl@epa.gov)
Site Background
The Diamond Shamrock Corporation (DSC) Landfill site comprises approximately eight acres of land near the northwest margin of the town of Cedartown, in Polk County, Georgia. The site is located north of West Girard Avenue, adjacent to and east of Cedar Creek. The site is bound to the north by the Cedartown Wastewater Treatment Plant. Land to the south and east is largely residential with some commercial business and light industry. The property is primarily a flat meadow. The site is owned by Henkel Corporation and is unused, except for cleanup operations.
Prior to 1968, the land use of the site area included agricultural activities. In 1972, approximately 1,500 gallons of oil pitch and 600 to 800 drums containing reportedly obsolete, off-specification products and raw materials from chemical plant manufacturing operations were buried in unlined disposal trenches at the site. In 1980, the site owner/operator at the time, Diamond Shamrock Corporation, reported to Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GEPD) that between 600 and 800 drums and approximately 1,500 gallons of material were buried at the site.
Henkel Corporation acquired the site in 1987. The site is currently unused.Threats and Contaminants
Site investigations revealed that actual or threatened releases of hazardous substances from the DSC Landfill site could present an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health, welfare, or the environment if not addressed through cleanup actions.
Contaminants of concern (COCs) include 1,2-dichloroethane, manganese, toluene, trichloroethylene. Manganese and trichloroethene are the only COCs still exceeding their respective performance standards in ground water.Site Cleanup Plan
Following short-term cleanup action in 1990, a long-term cleanup plan for the site was developed to address site source and ground water contamination. The Record of Decision (ROD) for the site was issued in 1994. The cleanup plan for the DSC Landfill site included additional sampling, deed restrictions, completion and maintenance of site access restrictions. Specific components of the cleanup approach included:
- Implementation of deed restriction(s) or restrictive covenant(s) to prevent ground water usage and drilling resulting in exposure to ground water contaminants.
- Completion and maintenance of site access restrictions (fencing and signage).
- Ground and surface water monitoring program to confirm that natural attenuation processes are effective and that contaminants would not migrate. Natural attenuation is the use of natural processes to reduce concentrations of contaminants in ground or surface water.
- Performance of Five-Year Reviews (FYRs) in accordance with the Superfund law to assure that human health and the environment continue to be protected by the cleanup approach, that natural attenuation continues to be effective, and whether ground water performance standards continue to be appropriate.
- Continued ground water monitoring upon attainment of the performance standards at sampling intervals to be approved by EPA. The ground water monitoring program would continue until EPA approves a FYR concluding that the alternative has achieved continued attainment of the performance standards and remains protective of human health and the environment.
In September 1997, EPA issued an Explanation of Significant Difference (ESD) to clarify the ground water cleanup standard for the site. This change did not fundamentally change the cleanup approach, and the cleanup approach remained fully protective of people and the environment.
Cleanup Progress
In 1990, approximately 1,500 cubic yards of waste-impacted soil were treated by bioremediation and approximately 8,400 gallons of liquid waste were incinerated at a licensed Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility.
In 1995, the long-term cleanup approach for the site was implemented.
The site is currently in long-term cleanup action (natural attenuation of contaminated ground water) and operation and maintenance (ground water monitoring).
FYRs were conducted for the site in 2000 and 2005. According to both reviews, the cleanup approach outlined in the 1994 ROD remains protective and should be continued. The 2005 FYR also determined that performance standards for surface water had been met and that surface water sampling was no longer required.
Site cleanup activities are being led by the potentially responsible party, Henkel Corporation, with oversight by EPA and GEPD.
Enforcement Activities
In 1990, Henkel Corporation and EPA entered into an Administrative Order by Consent to perform a removal action at the site. Henkel Corporation also initiated a Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study under the order to determine the nature and extent of any remaining contamination at the site.
In 1995, a Consent Decree was issued in the matter of the United States of America v. Henkel Corporation, which directed Henkel Corporation to conduct the Remedial Design/Remedial Action in accordance with the 1994 ROD.Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the DSC 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 cleanup action (natural attenuation) and operation and maintenance (ground water monitoring) are continuing at the site.
The next FYR for the site is scheduled for 2010.
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.
Cedartown Public Library
245 East Ave.
Cedartown, GA 30125
Administrative Record Index
- OU-1 (PDF) (7 pp, 274K, About PDF)
- ESD (PDF) (1 pg, 60K, About PDF)
- Removal (PDF) (3 pp, 79K, About PDF)
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.