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North Hollywood Dump
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Abandoned dredge pond and the North Hollywood Dump 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: TND980558894Location: Memphis, Shelby County, TN
Lat/Long: 35.185550, -089.979160
Congressional District:09
NPL Status: Proposed: 12/30/82; Final: 09/08/83; Deleted: 12/31/97
Affected Media: Ground water, Sediment, Soil, Solid Waste
Cleanup Status: Deleted from the NPL Physical cleanup activities have been completed.
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Potential for Commercial/Light Industrial
Site Manager: Randy Bryant (bryant.randy@epa.gov)
Site Background
The 70-acre North Hollywood Dump site, located in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, was used as a municipal dump from the 1930s until the City closed it in 1967. In the late 1940s, the Hayden Chemical Company used the dump to dispose of wastes generated in the production of sodium hydrochloride. Hayden later was bought out by Velsicol Chemical Corporation, which continued the practice of dumping at the site. At one time, pesticide-contaminated sludge from a closed sewer line leading to the Velsicol plant was removed and buried in a small area at the site. The dump was also used for the disposal of other industrial wastes from plants in the Memphis area.
Threats and Contaminants
Site investigations found that surface soil, ground water, and pond sediments on the dump site were contaminated with pesticides and heavy metals, including lead, copper, and arsenic. Due to high community concerns in the early 1980s, the State of Tennessee recommended this site as the State's highest priority hazardous waste site.
Site Cleanup Plan
The Record of Decision for the site was issued in 1990. Major cleanup elements for the site included:
- Excavation of buried drums located north of the west sector, characterization of contents, and consolidation of all solid contents beneath the final landfill cover.
- Excavation of contaminated surface soil and consolidation of all excavated material beneath the final landfill cover.
- Off-site disposal of liquid wastes in accordance with Federal and State standards.
- Off-site disposal for any drum contents exceeding acceptable on-site landfill contaminant levels.
- Dredging of sediments from the adjacent 40-acre "Abandoned Dredge Pond" and consolidation beneath the final landfill cover.
- Placement of a low permeability sanitary landfill cover consisting of a 2-foot clay cap over the landfill area, as well as grading and re-vegetation of the cover area.
- Removal of contaminated fish and re-stocking of the pond.
- Implementation of institutional controls, including restrictions on future site uses, and access controls including completion of a full site perimeter fence.
Cleanup Progress
In 1980, EPA took an emergency action to remove some of the chemical wastes from the site, installed a chain-link fence around the site, and began a program to monitor the on-site wastes.
Cleanup activities began in early 1994; the capping and grading of the landfill and the drum removal was completed in 1995. Dredging and covering of sediments in the Abandoned Dredge Pond began in 1995 and were completed in 1996. Actual physical construction was considered complete by EPA on July 1, 1997 and the site was deleted from the National Priorities List with an effective date of December 31, 1997.
Monitoring and maintenance activities continue in accordance with the terms of the Consent Decree. Ground water samples taken periodically around the site have consistently met performance criteria. Fishing restrictions remain in effect for the Abandoned Dredge Pond. The pond is fenced and posted, and is regularly inspected and maintained.
Enforcement Activities
In early 1991, two responsible parties entered into a Consent Decree with EPA to perform remedy design and cleanup activities at the site.
Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the North Hollywood Dump 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, interviews, and public meetings on cleanup activities and updates.
Several community groups and organizations became involved with the site. These groups included the League of Women Voters, the Tennessee Association of Community Organization Reform Now, the Urban League, Tennesseans Against Chemical Hazards, and the Tennessee Self Help Missions. EPA formed the Metro Area Environmental Task Force, consisting of representatives from local citizens groups and Federal, City, and County government personnel to address local concerns regarding the site and obtain public comments regarding plans for site work.
Fact Sheets
Future Work
This site is subject to Five-Year Reviews (FYRs). The third FYR for this site is anticipated to be completed by September 2010.
Long-term monitoring of ground water, surface water, and fish at the site is ongoing.
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.
Memphis Shelby County Public Library
1850 Peabody Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104
Administrative Record Index
- Bankruptcy Settlement Document (PDF) (89 pp, 321K, About PDF)
- Deletion (PDF) (10 pp, 567K, About PDF)
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.