Region 5 Superfund (SF)

U.S. EPA REGION 5
MACOMB COUNTY
MACOMB TOWNSHIP

Congressional District # 10

SOUTH MACOMB DISPOSAL AUTHORITY (LANDFILLS #9 AND #9A)

EPA ID# MID069826170
Last Updated: September, 2006

Site Description

The South Macomb Disposal Authority (SMDA) site, located in Macomb County, Michigan, is a 159-acre site that is made up of two adjacent landfills used for the disposal of municipal waste. The landfills were operated by the SMDA and received approximately 1,880,000 cubic yards of municipal refuse from 1968 through 1975. Reportedly, no hazardous wastes were disposed of in the landfills; however, hazardous chemicals have been detected on and around the site. 

Investigations in 1971 by the state of Michigan concluded that leachate was discharging from the landfill to McBride Drain. The McBride Drain is an open channel that receives runoff from the site and flows to the North Branch of the Clinton River. Water sampling of residential wells near the site in 1983 and 1984 indicated contamination. Three groundwater aquifers are contaminated with volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs and semi-VOCs) and heavy metals. These aquifers are used as a drinking water source by some of the nearby residents. The sites are not adequately covered, lined, or fenced. Frequent leachate outbreaks have occurred along the eastern and southern perimeters of the landfills.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal and state actions, and is considered a state enforcement lead site.

Threats and Contaminants

Groundwater monitoring wells have detected the presence of VOCs, heavy metals, and nitrate. Surface soils are contaminated with heavy metals and VOCs. The primary potential health risk to people includes drinking or coming into direct contact with contaminated groundwater. Other potential health threats include accidental ingestion of or direct contact with contaminated soil. 

Cleanup Progress

From 1977 to 1981, the SMDA installed leachate controls, including erosion control measures, soil covers for the landfill, and a leachate collection system. In late 1988, the SMDA extended the existing leachate collection system. Under an order from the Macomb County Circuit Court, the SMDA constructed a shallow leachate collection drain, bordered to the north by a slurry wall to contain and collect contaminated groundwater moving north. The state provided bottled water from 1983 to 1988 to the 12 residences where health advisories had been issued. The state of Michigan funded the extension of a municipal water system in 1988. Some residents in the area still rely on groundwater for their drinking water. 

 In April 1991, the Macomb County Circuit Court ordered the SMDA to perform a Remedial Action (RA), which included construction of a slurry wall around the site, construction of a multi-media cap, leachate collection and treatment, and groundwater purging and treatment. The state is currently negotiating with SMDA to reach agreement on a remedy to avoid a retrial. 

A final cleanup decision for the groundwater was signed by United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) on August 13, 1991. On December 9, 1991, in an effort to consolidate enforcement action, U.S. EPA transferred the lead for site management to the state of Michigan. SMDA has made a claim that it does not have the ability to pay the entire $35 million dollar estimated cleanup costs. U.S. EPA analyzed SMDA's ability to pay and found that SMDA did not demonstrate an inability to pay for the cleanup. After extensive negotiation between the potentially responsible parties and Michigan Department of Envionmental Quality, a consent decree (CD) was finalized. The CD was lodged in Circuit Court on June 26, 2002. This decree included the final Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for the site.

The RAP requires:

1. analysis of leachate and groundwater contamination levels;
2. determination and construction of the appropriate method(s) for leachate and contaminated groundwater management and disposal;
3. construction of leachate and groundwater treatment systems;
4. installation of the groundwater interceptors and the impermeable barrier;
5. construction of groundwater extraction wells;
6. installation of the leachate collectors;
7. regrading of the landfills and the placement of final cover;
8. construction of the landfills and the placement of final cover;
9. construction of the landfill gas venting system;
10. monitoring of the effectiveness of the remediation action;
11. long-term operation and maintenance of the remediation systems;
12. placement of deed restrictions and institutional controls.

The Remedial Design and Remedial Action were completed in the summer of 2005 and documented in U.S. EPA's preliminary close-out report dated October 31, 2005.  Five Year Reviews for the Site will be on-going since the remedy does not allow for unlimited use and unrestricted exposure.  By 2010, U.S. EPA shall  prepare the first five year to determine the ongoing short-term and long-term protectiveness of the Site remedy.    

 

 

 

Contacts

Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPA
sheri bianchin (bianchin.sheri@epa.gov)
(312) 886-4745

Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
stuart hill
(312) 886-0689

Aliases

SOUTH MACOMB DSPL #9,9A
SOUTH MACOMB DISPOSAL AUTHORITY (LDFL 9)
SOUTH MACOMB DISPOSAL (LANDFILLS 9 & 9A)

 

Site Profile Information

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