![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Distler Brickyard
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Demolition debris at the Distler Brickyard site.
- 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: KYD980602155Location: West Point, Hardin County, KY
Lat/Long: 38.006930, -085.931110
Congressional District: 02
NPL Status: Proposed: 12/30/82; Final: 09/08/83
Affected Media: Ground water, Soil
Cleanup Status: Construction complete - physical cleanup activities have been completed
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Unused - portion of site has been leased for exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas resources
Site Manager: Femi Akindele (akindele.femi@epa.gov)
Site Background
The Distler Brickyard site is located approximately 17 miles southwest of Louisville, just north of mile-marker 36 on the Dixie Highway. The 3-acre former waste disposal site is a portion of a 70-acre farm which is divided by Dixie Highway (U.S. Route 60/31 West), the western boundary of the site. The Dixie Highway runs north-south through the property. The portion of the property west of the Dixie Highway is undeveloped, while portions of the property east of the highway contain some improvements. A railroad track also runs through the site. The Distler Farm Superfund site is located nearby.
The site is a portion of an abandoned brick manufacturing plant operated from the late 1800s to mid 1970s. In 1976, the Kentucky Liquid Recycling Inc. leased and began to use the property for storage of waste. Waste disposal at the site continued until 1979, when the Commonwealth of Kentucky (the State) ordered the operations to cease.
The brick kilns and warehouse that were once on the site have been demolished. The 3-acre site contains the remains of five brick kilns, pump stations, and wells. The balance of the former waste storage facility is an open field covered with grass and shrubs. The surrounding area is primarily forested. Land in the area supports minimal agriculture and low density housing. In 2007, the site was leased for the purpose of exploration and exploitation of the oil and natural gas resources the property may contain.
Threats and Contaminants
During the State’s initial inspection, approximately 2,300 drums were found at the site, most of which contained chemicals in the form of liquid, sludge, and solids. Stressed vegetation, stained soil as well as dead grass, trees and birds were observed during the inspection, indicating the effects of leaking and deteriorated containers on the environment. Soil and ground water were contaminated with volatile organic compounds and heavy metals which potentially could pose human health threats through direct contact with or accidental ingestion.
Site Cleanup Plan
A Record of Decision (ROD) describing the cleanup plan for the site was issued in 1986. Major components of the cleanup approach included:
- Excavation and removal of contaminated soil.
- Disposal of contaminated soil at a permitted hazardous waste landfill.
- Backfilling of the excavated areas with clean soil.
- Grading and revegetation of the backfilled areas.
- Extraction and on-site treatment of contaminated ground water and re-injection of treated ground water into the aquifer.
- Ground water bioremediation (use of natural materials or organisms to break down contamination)
- Operation and Maintenance (O&M)
In 1988, EPA issued an Explanation of Significant Differences which changed the implementation of the cleanup approach from what was originally outlined in the ROD to require excavation of soil and cleanup of ground water to levels set by certain health-based criteria.
Cleanup Progress
In 1979, the State served the operator with an Order to Abate and Alleviate Operations. This action prompted a partial removal of drummed wastes and stopped the illegal on-site storage activities.
In 1982, EPA led a removal action during which 2,310 drums of hazardous waste were removed. Soils contaminated by leaking drums were also removed.
As part of the final cleanup plan implemented for the site, 42 tractor trailers of contaminated soil were excavated and transported to a permitted out of State facility for incineration. Clean soil was brought to the site for backfilling, followed by grading and grass-seeding.
In 1994, a permanent ground water treatment system went into operation.
The first Five-Year Review (FYR) for the site, conducted in 1998, concluded that the cleanup project was progressing satisfactorily as concentrations of several contaminants were at acceptable levels then. The FYR also recommended site re-evaluation and use of supplemental measures to address the contaminants that were still persistent. As a result, an innovative cleanup technology was developed and applied at the site. The technology combined hydraulic fracturing with injection of chitin (i.e., a slurry of shrimp and crab shells) to enhance bio-degradation of the remaining site contaminants. As the first of its kind in field application of the technology, the project received partial funding of $500,000 from the National Science Foundation through the EPA contractor who successfully demonstrated the technology. The pilot application of the technology was initiated at the site in October 2001, and the full scale project was conducted during 2003 and 2004.
The second FYR, conducted in 2003, indicated that the site was stable based on the partial sampling data collected between 1998 and 2001.
The third FYR, conducted in 2008, concluded that the available information was inadequate to determine that the site had completely achieved cleanup goals. Therefore, additional monitoring data was recommended to evaluate site status properly. The State has embarked on a year-long program of data collection, the results of which would be used to determine conclusively if site cleanup is complete by the end of 2009.
As of 2008, no active ground water treatment was taking place.
The cleanup is funded by the potentially responsible parties. The State has been responsible for implementing O&M and Long-Term Remedial Action of the site under a Superfund State Contract.
Enforcement Activities
In 1979, the State served the operator with an Order to Abate and Alleviate Operations.
Between 1979 and 1981, several follow-up Orders were issued to the operator by the State for additional site cleanup but were ignored.
A Consent Decree was finalized in October 1995.
Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Distler Brickyard 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
The State has embarked on a year-long program of data collection, the results of which will be used to determine conclusively if site cleanup is complete by the end of 2009.
The next FYR is scheduled to be completed by September 2013.
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.
Administrative Record Index
- OU-1 (PDF) (20 pp, 497K, About PDF)
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.