Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY
COLUMBUS

Congressional District # 6

COLUMBUS OLD MUNICIPAL LANDFILL #1

EPA ID# IND980607626
Last Updated: November, 2008

Site Description

The City of Columbus operated the approximately 19-acre Columbus Old Municipal Landfill #1 facility without a permit from 1938 until 1966. The landfill reportedly accepted municipal and industrial wastes, including solvents, acids, bases, paints, and heavy metals.  Wastes were deposited on the surface of the landfill.  The closest residence to the site is located less than one-half mile away. Columbus has a population of about 39,000. Private wells were found within one-half mile of the site and public wells for water supply were found within three miles during the remedial investigation.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal, state, and potentially responsible party (PRP) actions.

Threats and Contaminants

The landfill reportedly accepted municipal and industrial wastes, including solvents, acids, bases, paints and heavy metals. These wastes were deposited within this unlined landfill.  A number of inorganic and organic constituents were detected during the remedial investigation (RI) in groundwater, surface water, and soils surrounding the landfill.  However, risks posed to human health and the environment by the constituents of concern, at the levels found, were minimal.  However, since wastes are buried at the site, deed restrictions are bring imposed to protect the landfill cover and prevent the potential for the wastes to be exposed. 

Cleanup Progress

In 1987, a Consent Order was signed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), and three PRPs.  Under the agreement, the PRPs performed a study to determine the nature and extent of the contamination at the landfill.  Based on this investigation,  EPA and IDEM concluded, in 1992, that a "modified 'no-further-action' remedy" was appropriate for the site.  However, because a public road was planned to be constructed across part of the site, a contingency remedy was also selected that included fence installation, cap maintenance and monitoring, development of a contingency groundwater recovery system implementation plan, installation of additional groundwater monitoring wells, implementation of a groundwater monitoring program, and deed restrictions on land and water use at the site.

Construction of the road and these remedies has been completed.  Monitoring of the site has concluded.  The second five-year review was completed in September 2005.  The second five-year review showed that the selected remedy was functioning as anticipated and it was protective of human health and the environment in the short term.  However, the review also showed that the remedy is not protective in the long term because some of the institutional controls have not yet been implemented.  EPA is working with the state and the PRPs to implement the institutional controls.  

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
bernard schorle (schorle.bernard@epa.gov)
(312) 886-4746

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
janet pope
(312) 353-0628

Aliases

CITY DUMP #1
COLUMBUS OLD MUNICIPAL LDFL

 

Site Profile Information

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