Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
ELKHART COUNTY
ELKHART

Congressional District # 2

HIMCO DUMP

EPA ID# IND980500292
Last Updated: December, 2008

Site Description

Himco Dump historically was an unlicensed, unlined 60 acre landfill located in an unincorporated area northeast of Elkhart, Indiana.  It was operated privately by Himco Waste-Away Services, which collected and received commercial, industrial, medical waste, and general refuse from 1960 until 1976.  Both open dumping and trench disposal occurred at the landfill.  In 1971 the Indiana State Board of Health responded to residents complaints and identified the site as an open dump.  Residents living approximately 200 feet down gradient of the site experienced discoloration and foaming in their water thought to be caused by migration of landfill leachate.  Deeper private wells were installed, however, sample results detected very high levels of sodium.  The residents were connected to the Elkhart municipal water supply in 1990 by Himco Waste-Away and Miles Inc. 

During an inspection in 1984, U.S. EPA (EPA) observed leachate seeps and landfill gas odors.  Sampling results indicated that volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-VOCs, and metals were in the ground water at the site.  Additional ground water samples collected in 1990, 1991, and 1995 detected low-levels of the same groundwater contaminants outside the landfill boundaries.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal Superfund program actions.  It is anticipated that the Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) will conduct additional cleanup work under a federal enforcement action.   The PRPs are parties whom EPA has determined may be legally responsible for the site's contamination.

Threats and Contaminants

Ground water data, collected from 1978 to 2000, showed that the Himco Dump Site continues to contribute to the degradation of ground water quality.  Ground water data, collected from 1996 through 2000, confirmed previous sampling results, which indicated consistent pattern of low parts per billion of volatile organic compounds and metal contamination at the site.  The following chemicals were detected in the ground water: benzene, 1, 2-dichloropropane, trichloroethene, 1, 1-dichloroethane, cis 1, 2-dichloroethene, antimony, arsenic, chromium, iron, manganese, and thallium. 

Soil samples were collected from a privately owned residential area called the Construction Debris Area (CDA).  Sample results indicated the presence of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and the following metals: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, copper, manganese, mercury, lead, and nickel, which may have been associated with construction dumping activities at the site.  VOCs detected in the soil include 1, 1-dichloroethane, benzene, and ethylbenzene.   Xylene was detected in one sample with no other site-related volatile organic compounds reported. 

Various organic volatiles, such as BTEX, chlorinated ethenes, and chlorinated ethanes, were detected in soil gas samples collected along the southern and eastern perimeter of the landfill.  Elevated concentrations of all constituents were detected on the landfill with a decreasing concentration trend moving away from the landfill perimeter.  The highest concentrations were measured in the southeast corner of the site.

Cleanup Progress

In 1990, an alternate water supply was extended to residents with private wells living south of the landfill. 

On May 7, 1992, a contractor for Himco Waste-Away Services conducted a site assessment.  During this site assessment toluene, xylene, 2-hexanone, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and ethylbenzene were detected in concentrations ranging from 480,000 ppm for toluene to 6,400 ppm for ethylbenzene.  The contaminants were from buried leaking drums.  In 1992, an emergency removal action was initiated following the detection of approximately 50 percent toluene and other VOC contaminants in a leachate sample.  Seventy-one 55 gallon drums and 50 cubic yards of contaminated soil were removed in 1992 by Himco Waste-Away Services under a removal action Consent Order. In 1993 EPA made the decision to cleanup the Himco site by capping the landfill and installing a gas collection system. 

In 1995, a pre-design investigation was conducted to analyze the potential adverse health effects from exposure to the soils, shallow groundwater, and soil vapor potentially migrating from the landfill toward the residents south of the landfill in the construction debris area (CDA).   In November 1998, (Phase I) soil samples, ground water samples, and soil gas samples were collected to further characterize the CDA area and to determine if any gases were migrating from the landfill.  The results from the Phase I soil gas investigation showed that the following gases: benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene (BTEX), vinyl chloride, total chlorinated ethenes, and total chlorinated ethanes were migrating from the landfill.  The concentration of the gases was very high in an area southeast of the landfill; however, the concentration of the migrating gases decreased to very low levels (less than 1.0µg/m3) as the gases moved south toward the residents.

The Phase I gas sampling demonstrated that the gases migrating from the landfill were also moving in a northeast and southeast direction.  Additional soil gas samples were collected (Phase II).  Phase II soil gas sampling results showed that the same compounds detected during the Phase I soil gas sampling event were detected at high concentations near the landfill decreasing to very low levels (less than 1.0µg/m3) as it moved towards the residents.

While obtaining access to the properties to collect the soil gas samples, it was discovered that these residents were using private wells as their sole source of drinking water and their private well water had never been tested.  During the months of March and April 2000, EPA collected two rounds of ground water samples from the residents living the closest to the landfill.  The results from the water showed low levels of benzene, chloroform, 1, 2-dichloroethane, vinyl chloride, arsenic, 1, 1-dichloroethane and high levels of sodium and calcium.  One compound, 1, 2-dichloropropane exceeded the Maximum Contamination Level (MCL) for drinking water.  Bottled water was offered to the residents where the contaminants were detected as well as to nearby residents whose water was not tested.  All of the residents who were tested were using bottled water and water softeners on their on volition because of the high levels of naturally occurring iron in that area. 

In April 2000 U.S. EPA sampled all of the existing landfill monitoring wells to establish a baseline for future monitoring.  A limited groundwater geo-probe sampling investigation was conducted on the east side of the landfill to delineate the groundwater plume moving off the landfill towards southeast.  

All recent data (1995-2000) was collected and compiled into a final report entitled Himco Dump Supplemental Site Investigations/Site Characterization Report, December 2002.  Based upon this report EPA, in consultation with Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), determined that the site risk had changed significantly, and modification to the 1993 cleanup decision was necessary. 

On April 11, 2003, U.S. EPA released a proposed modified clean up plan for public comment.  The basis for the amended cleanup proposal was to address the risk associated with both the CDA adjacent to the landfill and the residents living east of the landfill.  Both areas were not fully addressed in the 1993 cleanup decision.  EPA  also proposed to modify the 1993 landfill composite cap design.

Once implemented, the proposed remedy modifications will provide protection of human health and the environment.  The EPA decided on a final modified cleanup plan as follows:

1. Enhanced the landfill cover in areas instead of constructing a RCRA Subtitle D composite cover over the entire landfill as proposed by the 1993 cleanup plan.
2. Connect  39 selected residents to municipal water supply.  
3. Develop a contingency plan to connect additional residents. 
4. Perform long term ground water monitoring.  
5. Mitigate landfill gas migration.  A passive system is acceptable if it protects human health and the environment, if not, an active system will be required. 
6. Develop and implement a sentinel ground water program to monitor residents not connected to municipal water supply, with a contingency to connect other residents as necessary.  
7. Support reuse and redevelopment as appropriate.  
8. Perform soil excavation in the CDA or provide a soil cover and make the CDA a part of the landfill.  

On December 12, 2006, the EPA and the Potentially Responsible Parties signed an enforcement agreement for the PRPs to conduct remedial design/remedial action (RD/RA) activities.  A Consent Decree for RD/RA activities was lodged on September 7, 2007 in the Northern District Court of Indiana.  The 30-day public comment period ended on October 20, 2007 and the CD was entered November 28, 2007.  Subsequent to entry of the CD, the remedial design (RD) work plan was approved by EPA on September 24, 2008.  As part of the RD work plan, the PRPs have begun conducting pre-design field investigations in late October 2008. 

Community Involvement

A reuse committee was formed for Himco Dump site, consisting of the following members:

1. Local Bank Representative
2. Four Community Residents
3. Representative from Elkhart County Offices
4. Representative for the Elkhart Environmental Center
5. Teacher
6. Three Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) Representatives
7. Four Representatives from the City of Elkhart
8. Member from the Cleveland Township Neighborhood Association
9. MACOG Representative
10. Elkhart Municipal Airport Representative
11. Bayer Polymers LLC Representative
12. Elkhart City Council
13. Consultants from the following:  City of Elkhart, Wildlife Habitat Council, and EPA National Risk Management Research Laboratory
14. Resource Members:  EPA Project Manager; EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, EPA Reuse Coordinator and IDEM Project Coordinator

Since entry of the consent decree in November 2007, EPA has held 2 public meetings to update the community on the project.  The latest public meeting was in Elkhart, IN in June 2008. 

Property Reuse

July 2002, EPA Superfund Redevelopment initiative provided in-kind services to the City of Elkhart to assist in reuse planning for Himco Dump.

November 2003, members of the project's consultant team visited Himco Dump and met with the City of Elkhart Brownsfield Coordinator.

April 2004, the first Land Use Committee meeting was held to introduce the project, identify redevelopment possibilities and challenges, and establish reuse guidelines.

June 2004, second Land Use Committee meeting held to discuss reuse site strategy.

September 2004, a public meeting and the third Land Use Committee meeting was held to discuss revised site reuse strategy and identify potential reuse resources.

November 2004, project report developed which summarized the reuse planning process, presented the site reuse strategy, and highlighted the next steps.  The conceptual Reuse Framework for the Himco Dump Superfund Site was developed based on the Committee's reuse guidelines, as well as land use and market conditions in the City of Elkhart.  The Conceptual Design Framework, provided and overview of the community planning process and highlighted key reuse considerations that could potentially be implemented at Himco Dump and complement the 2004 cleanup action.  The following five scenarios were determined suitable for Himco Dump redevelopment: 

1. Active Recreation Areas, i.e., sports fields, biking and walking paths and/or cross country course.
2. Passive Recreation and Leisure Areas, i.e., picnic grounds and Camp Park, L-shape fishing pond, bird sanctuary with wildlife viewing stations, and Quarry Lake boat launch.
3. Ecological Zones, i.e., prairie, or open fields:  sassafras, sumac, eastern red cedar, open wooded fields, pocket woodlands.  Quarry Lake, Wetlands.
4. Environmental Education, i.e., field study garden, field test and learn stations with indoor classrooms.
5. Himco Recreational Vehicle Park 

For more information review the "Planning for the Future:  A Reuse Planning Report for the Himco Dump Superfund Site", September 2004 in the local repository.

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
Ross Del Rosario (delrosario.rosauro@epa.gov)
(312) 886-6195

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
virginia narsete
(312) 886-4359

Site Profile Information

This profile provides you with information on EPA's cleanup progress at this Superfund site.