Caldwell Lace Leather Co., Inc.

• Site Profile
• Administrative Record Index: OU1 (PDF, 8 pp., 317K)
• Additional Site Documents including Five Year Reviews, Records of Decisions (ROD) and Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD).
• For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office (http://www.epa.gov/region4/foiapgs/submit.htm).

Site Background:
Caldwell Lace Leather is located in Auburn, Kentucky. The site is 34 acres, consisting of a landfarm and landfill. The Site received leather tanning wastes - chrome and vegetable tanning wash sludge, fleshings, screenings, and leather and gasket scraps. The Site operated from 1972 - 1985. In 1983, the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection detected chromium in a private well 1,200 feet from the landfill area. This well was taken out of service. Approximately 600 people obtain drinking water from private wells within 3 miles of the site. The site is in an area characterized by karst topography which is characterized by sinkholes, caves, underground streams, and caverns.

Cleanup Progress: Construction Completed
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. 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. EPA plans no other actions at the Caldwell Lace Leather site. EPA will continue to review information from the Commonwealth of Kentucky to ensure acceptable health and environmental standards are maintained.  In the event, any monitoring indicates unacceptable human health or environmental levels, the Site could be restored to the NPL without application of the HRS (40CFR Section 300.425(e)(3)).

In 2007, the Commonwealth of Kentucky began the process of placing institutional controls on the former Caldwell Lace Leather landfill.  EPA anticipates delisting the Site from the NPL once the institutional controls are in place.