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Caldwell Lace Leather Co., Inc.
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Site photo goes here
- 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: KYD045738291Location: Auburn, Logan County, KY
Lat/Long: 36.872500, -086.746380
Congressional District: 01
NPL Status: Proposed: 06/24/88; Final: 08/30/90
Affected Media: Ground water, Soil
Cleanup Status: Construction complete - physical cleanup activities have been completed
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Portion of site being used for cattle grazing and related agricultural uses
Site Manager: Beth Walden (walden.beth@epa.gov)
Site Background
The Caldwell Lace Leather Co., Inc. site is located along State Highway 1039 (Cemetery Road), approximately 2.5 miles northwest of the City of Auburn, Kentucky. The site is comprised of two areas – a 16-acre landfill and a 41-acre landfarm. The property is in a rural area and is bounded on the north by Cemetery Road and in the other directions by pasture, cropland and woodland. The site is in an area characterized by karst topography which is characterized by sinkholes, caves, underground streams, and caverns. Approximately 600 people obtain drinking water from private wells within three miles of the site.
From 1972 until 1985, the site received sludge and solid wastes generated by the Caldwell Lace Leather tannery facility located in Auburn, Kentucky. Caldwell Lace Leather Company, Inc. (Caldwell), of Auburn operated a tannery from the late 1800s until January 1985, when tanning ceased at the facility and only leather cutting operations were continued. The site and tannery were owned and operated by Caldwell until 1983, at which time they were purchased by a separate company named Lace Leather, Inc. The tannery used a chrome-tanning process to tan cowhides which generated a wastewater sludge containing chromium.
The landfill area was vegetated with a mixture of grasses and legumes, and is currently unused except for vehicular access purposes. The landfarm area was sold to a farmer who now uses the land as a pasture for his cattle and related activities.
Threats and Contaminants
In 1993, EPA determined that no federal action was necessary to protect human health or the environment. The results of the EPA investigation, which included a risk assessment, indicated that there were no current or future risks from exposure to soils, sediments, or surface water.
Site Cleanup Plan
In 1984 an Agreed Order was entered into between Caldwell and the State. The company was ordered to maintain vegetation at the old disposal area in accordance with an approved closure plan which had been submitted by the company in 1983. The closure plan consisted of a three-phase approach involving application of lime and fertilizer, regrading and revegetation, and ground water/surface water monitoring.
A Record of Decision (ROD), describing EPA’s preferred cleanup approach for the site, was issued in 1994. The ROD is considered a “No Action” ROD because EPA determined that no action was necessary at the site to ensure protection of human health and the environment.
Although EPA recommended that no Superfund action be taken, EPA did recommend that the State or the current landfill owner continue ground water/spring monitoring. EPA also recommended future land use restrictions be placed on the landfill property as well as maintenance of the landfill cover to prevent land use activities that would expose subsurface waste.
Cleanup Progress
In 1985, the land owner covered the site with soil and restricted access with a security fence. These actions reduced the potential for exposure to site contaminants.
All phases of the three-phase closure plan were completed in late 1989.
In 2007, the State began the process of placing institutional controls on the site. EPA anticipates delisting the site from the National Priorities List (NPL) once institutional controls are in place.
Enforcement Activities
The State of Kentucky has documented violations of State waste management laws and regulations since 1978.
In 1984, an Agreed Order was entered into between Caldwell and the State.
Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Caldwell Lace Leather Co., Inc. 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
EPA will continue to review information from the State to ensure acceptable health and environmental standards are maintained. In the event that any monitoring indicates unacceptable human health or environmental levels the site could be restored to the NPL without application of the Hazard Ranking Score (40CFR Section 300.425(e)(3)).
EPA anticipates delisting the site from the NPL once the institutional controls are in place.
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.
Logan County Public Library
201 West Sixth St.
Russelville, KY 42276
Administrative Record Index
- OU-1 (PDF) (8 pp, 317K, About PDF)
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.