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Smith's Farm
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Landfill cap over the unpermitted former drum disposal area
- 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: KYD097267413Location: Brooks, Bullitt County, KY
Lat/Long: 38.037500, -085.733330
Congressional District: 02
NPL Status: Proposed: 10/15/84; Final: 06/10/86
Affected Media: Debris, Ground water, Leachate, Sediment, Soil, Solid waste, Surface water
Cleanup Status: Construction complete - physical cleanup activities have been completed
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Plans are in place to reuse site
Site Manager: Craig Zeller (zeller.craig@epa.gov)
Site Background
The 460-acre Smith's Farm site is a former hazardous waste disposal area located in Brooks, Bullitt County, Kentucky approximately 12 miles south of Louisville. Land use in the area is predominantly rural residential, with areas of deciduous forest around the entire site. The site borders forested hills to the north, east, and west and a residential area to the south. In addition, intermittent streams flow along the north-central portion of the site and drain into the Unnamed Tributary of Bluelick Creek and, subsequently, into Floyd's Fork.
The site includes an 80-acre area that was used for unpermitted disposal of drums containing hazardous waste for a period of approximately 30 years. It also includes a 37.5-acre landfill that was permitted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky (the State) for the disposal of inert industrial waste from 1973 to 1989; however, the landfill had been used for disposal of industrial waste since the 1950s. The disposal activities in both areas of the site have resulted in contamination of on-site environmental media.
In December 2006, S&S Development purchased the entire parcel containing the site from the Smith family. In August 2007, a site development plan was approved by EPA. This site development plan outlines the steps that S&S Development will implement to ensure that future site development work on the property does not compromise the integrity and protectiveness of the existing remedy for the landfills. The initial phases of site development involve logging and timber harvesting on eight parcels of the site located entirely outside of the landfill areas. Logging on the site was initiated in December 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008.
Threats and Contaminants
Spent paint thinners, off-specification paints, paint booth sludges, metal shavings from machining operations, asbestos, off-specification epoxies, waste motor and transmission fluids, are examples of contaminated materials disposed at the site. Contaminants included a wide variety of volatile and semi-volatile organics as well as heavy metals. The leachate flowing from the site threatened the streams which run through the site to the nearby Salt River. Soil and surface water contamination threatened the nearby residential areas.
Site Cleanup Plan
The cleanup plan for contamination at the Smith’s Farm site covered two operable units (OUs): OU-1 (unpermitted former drum disposal area) and OU-2 (formerly-permitted construction debris landfill).
A Record of Decision (ROD), describing the cleanup approach for OU-1, was issued in 1989 and amended in 1991. The cleanup approach addressed containment of contaminated soil, sediment, ground water in the surficial aquifer, and drums in the vicinity of the unpermitted drum disposal area. The ROD, describing the cleanup approach for OU-2, was issued in 1993. The cleanup approach addressed landfill wastes, leachate, leachate sediment, surface soil, ground water, and surface water.
Major components of the cleanup approaches selected included:
- Excavating and consolidating wastes from the small areas of contamination in the landfill.
- Re-contouring and capping the landfill with a cap with surface drainage controls and a gas control system.
- Excavating and extinguishing the subsurface landfill fire (OU-2 only).
- Installing and operating a leachate collection and multi stage treatment system for the shallow ground water.
- Discharging the treated water to the Unnamed Tributary east of the landfill.
- Installing perimeter fencing, lockable gates, and warning signs.
- Monitoring groundwater OU-2 wells semi-annually for five years after construction is complete and thereafter annually for a period of 25 years.
- Implementing institutional controls, including deed, ground water, surface water, and land use restrictions.
In 1995, EPA issued an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) for the site. The ESD documented the installation of the new culvert discussed above and the decision not to restart the leachate collection system.
Cleanup Progress
In 1984, at the request of the State, EPA completed the removal of several thousand drums from the unpermitted drum disposal area, and surfaced the area with clay to mitigate leachate problems.
The cleanup actions for OU-1 were completed in November 1995. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) activities began immediately thereafter. The cleanup activities resulted in the thermal treatment of 21,000 cubic yards of contaminated soils and the construction of an 11-acre capped landfill with a leachate collection system.
The cleanup actions for OU-2 were completed in September 1998 and resulted in the proper consolidation and capping of the 40-acre, formerly permitted landfill, and the construction of a leachate treatment plant.
The leachate collection tanks at OU-1 area were connected to the influent feed to the leachate treatment plant via a force main double- walled pipeline. The connection eliminates the hauling of OU-1 leachate by truck to the OU-2 leachate treatment plant or to an off-site disposal facility.
In 2003, significant erosion damage from excessive rainfall was corrected by the contractor for Ford, a potentially responsible party (PRP).
The third Five-Year Review (FYR) for the site was completed in September 2006. This review found that the on-site leachate treatment plant continues to operate satisfactorily and the site remains fully protective of human health and the environment.
Site cleanup activities are being led PRPs with oversight by EPA.
Enforcement Activities
In 1989, General Electric signed an Administrative Order by Consent for a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study of the formerly permitted landfill (OU-2).
In 1989, EPA, through the Department of Justice, filed a cost recovery suit against General Electric, Ford, AKZO, and Hoechst Celanese for the cost of the 1984 removal action.
In 1990, EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order for the Remedial Design and Remedial Action (RD/RA) for the OU-1 area to 34 parties, including General Electric, Ford, AKZO, and Hoechst Celanese.
In 1994, a Unilateral Administrative Order for the Remedial Design and Remedial Action for OU-2 was issued to 10 parties.
Cost allocation and O&M are enforced through two 1997 Consent Decrees and a 1998 Administrative Consent Order.
Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Smith's Farm 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
O&M activities are ongoing.
The next FYR is scheduled to be completed by 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.
Ridgeway Memorial Library
2nd and Walnut Street
Shepherdsville, KY 40165
Administrative Record Index
- Explanation of Significant Differences (PDF) (7 pp, 2.5MB, About PDF)
- OU-1 (PDF) (16 pp, 645K, About PDF)
- OU-2 (PDF) (4 pp, 168K, About PDF)
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.