&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste And
Emergency Response
(5102G)
SUPERFUND:
EPA/540/R-93/016
December 1992
PB93-963217
Progress at
National
Priority
List Sites
KENTUCKY
1992 UPDATE
['nnti d on Kn y< led
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Publication #9200.5-7186
December 1992
NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST SITES:
Kentucky
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Emergency & Remedial Response
Office of Program Management
Washington, DC 20460
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If you wish to purchase copies of any additional State volumes, contact:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
U.S. Department of Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
(703) 486-4650
The complete set of the 49 State reports may be ordered as PB93-963250.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
A Brief Overview of Superfund v
Streamlining Superfund: The Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model ix
How Superfund Works x
THE VOLUME
How to Use the State Book xi
A SUMMARY OF THE STATE PROGRAM
.XV
THE NPL REPORT
Progress to Date xix
THE NPL FACT SHEETS i
THE GLOSSARY
Terms used in the NPL Book G-l
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INTRODUCTION
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SUPERFUND
During the second half of the Twentieth
Century, the environmental conse-
quences of more than 100 years of industrial-
ization in the United States became increas-
ingly clear. Authors such as Rachel Carson
wrote passionately about the often-hidden en-
vironmental effects of our modern society's
widespread use of chemicals and other haz-
ardous materials. Their audience was small at
first, but gradually their message spread.
Growing concern turned to action, as people
learned more about the environment and be-
gan to act on their knowledge
The 1970s saw environmental issues burst
onto the national scene and take hold in the
national consciousness. The first Earth Day
was observed in 1970, the year that the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was
founded. By the end of the 1970s, Love Canal
in New York and the Valley of the Drums in
Kentucky had entered the popular lexicon as
synonyms for pollution and environmental
degradation.
Superfund Is Established
The industrialization that gave Americans the
world's highest standard of living also created
problems that only a national program could
address. By 1980, the U.S. Congress had
passed numerous environmental laws, imple-
mented by the EPA, but many serious hazard-
ous waste problems were slipping through the
cracks.
Responding to growing concern about public
health and environmental threats from uncon-
trolled releases of hazardous materials, the
U.S. Congress passed the Comprehensive En-
vironmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA). Popularly known as
Superfund, CERCLA had one seemingly
simple job—to uncover and clean up hazard-
ous materials spills and contaminated sites.
A Big Job
Few in Congress, the EPA, the environmen-
tal community, or the general public knew in
1980 just how big the nation's hazardous ma-
terials problem is. Almost everyone thought
that Superfund would be a short-lived pro-
gram requiring relatively few resources to
clean up at most a few hundred sites. They
were quite mistaken.
As the EPA set to work finding sites and
gauging their potential to harm people and
the environment, the number of sites grew.
Each discovery seemed to lead to another,
and today almost 36,000 hazardous waste
sites have been investigated as potential haz-
ardous waste sites. They are catalogued in
the EPA's computerized database, CERCLIS
(for the Comprehensive Environmental Re-
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INTRODUCTION
sponse, Compensation, and Liability Informa-
tion System).
The damage to public health and the environ-
ment that each site in CERCLIS might cause
is evaluated; many sites have been referred to
State and local governments for cleanup. The
EPA lists the nation's most serious hazardous
waste sites on the National Priorities List, or
NPL. (These Superfund sites are eligible for
federally-funded cleanup, but whenever pos-
sible the EPA makes polluters pay for the
contamination they helped create.) The NPL
now numbers 1,275 sites, with 50 to 100
added each year. By the end of the century,
the NPL may reach as many as 2,100 sites.
Superfund faces some of the most complex
pollution problems ever encountered by an
environmental program. Improperly stored or
disposed chemicals and the soil they contami-
nate are one concern. More difficult to correct
are the wetlands and bays, and the groundwa-
ter, lakes, and rivers often used for drinking
water that are contaminated by chemicals
spreading through the soil or mixing with
storm water runoff. Toxic vapors contaminate
the air at some sites, threatening the health of
people living and working near by.
Superfund aims to control immediate public
health and environmental threats by tackling
the worst problems at the worst sites first.
Wherever possible, Superfund officials use
innovative treatment techniques—many de-
veloped or refined by the EPA—to correct
hazardous materials problems once and for
all. Many of the treatment techniques they use
did not exist when the program was created.
The EPA Administrator had challenged Su-
perfund to complete construction necessary
for cleanup work at 130 NPL sites by the end
of the 1992 federal fiscal year. By September
30, 1992, the end of fiscal year 1992, con-
struction had been completed at a total of 149
NPL sites. Superfund is well on its way of
meeting the Administrator's goal of complet-
ing construction at 200 NPL sites by the end
of fiscal year 1993, and 650 sites by the end
of fiscal year 2000.
Quick Cleanup at
Non-NPL Sites
Long-standing hazardous waste sites are not
Superfund's only concern. The EPA also re-
sponds to hazardous spills and other emergen-
cies, hauling away chemicals for proper treat-
ment or disposal. Superfund teams perform or
supervise responses at rail and motor vehicle
accidents, fires, and other emergencies in-
volving hazardous substances. They also
evacuate people living and working near by,
if necessary, and provide clean drinking water
to people whose own water is contaminated.
Removal crews also post warning signs and
take other precautions to keep people and ani-
mals away from hazardous substances.
Superfund employ ee prepares equipment for groundwater
treatment.
VI
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INTRODUCTION
Quick Cleanups, or Removals, are not limited
to emergencies. When cleanup crews at con-
taminated sites find hazardous substances that
immediately threaten people or the environ-
ment, they act right away to reduce the threat
or to remove the chemicals outright. As the
EPA implements the Superfund Accelerated
Cleanup Model (SACM), more and more sites
will undergo quick cleanups, and many of
these will be cleaned up completely without
ever being included on the NPL. (See
"Streamlining Superfund: The Superfund Ac-
celerated Cleanup Model.")
Some of Superfund's most significant gains in
public health and environmental protection
have been won by the removal program. As of
March 31, 1992, the Emergency Response
Superfund employee removing drums from a Superfund site.
Program had logged more than 2,300 removal
completions since Superfund was established.
The Public's Role
Superfund is unique among federal programs
in its commitment to citizen participation. Al-
though the EPA is responsible for determin-
ing how dangerous a site is and how best to
clean it up, the Agency relies on citizen input
as it makes these decisions.
Community residents are often invaluable
sources of information about a hazardous
waste site, its current and previous owners,
and the activities that took place there. Such
information can be crucial to experts evaluat-
ing a site and its potential dangers.
Residents also comment on EPA cleanup
plans by stating their concerns and prefer-
ences at public meetings and other forums and
in formal, written comments to Agency pro-
posals. The EPA takes these comments and
concerns seriously, and has modified many
proposals in response to local concerns. For,
ultimately, it is the community and its citizens
that will live with the results of the EPA's de-
cisions and actions; it is only fair that citizens
participate in the process.
A Commitment to
Communication
The Superfund program is very serious about
public outreach and communication. Com-
munity relations coordinators are assigned to
each NPL site to help the public understand
the potential hazards present, as well as the
cleanup alternatives. Local information re-
positories, such as libraries or other public
buildings, have been established near each
NPL site to ensure that the public has an op-
portunity to review all relevant information
and the proposed cleanup plans.
The individual State volumes contain sum-
mary fact sheets on NPL sites in each State
and territory. Together, the fact sheets provide
a concise report on site conditions and the
progress made toward site cleanups as of
March 1992. The EPA revises these volumes
periodically to provide an up-to-date record of
program activities. A glossary of key terms
relating to hazardous waste management and
Superfund site cleanup is provided at the back
of this book.
VII
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INTRODUCTION
Superfund is, of course, a public program, and
as such it belongs to everyone of us. This vol-
ume, along with other State volumes, com-
prises the EPA's report on Superfund
progress to the program's owners for the year
1992.
VIII
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INTRODUCTION
STREAMLINING SUPERFUND: THE SUPERFUND
ACCELERATED CLEANUP MODEL
Historically, critics and supporters alike
have measured Superfund's progress
by the number of hazardous waste sites de-
leted from the NPL. Although easy enough to
tally, this approach is too narrow. It misses
the major gains Superfund makes by reducing
major risks at the nation's worst hazardous
sites long before all clean-up work is done
and the site deleted. It also ignores the Re-
moval Program's contributions to meeting
Superfund's twin mandates of maximizing
public health and environmental protection.
Renewing Superfund's commitment to rapid
protection from hazardous materials, the EPA
is streamlining the program. The Superfund
Accelerated Cleanup Model, or SACM, will
take Early Actions, such as removing hazard-
ous wastes or contaminated materials, while
experts study the site. SACM also will com-
bine similar site studies to reduce the time re-
quired to evaluate a site and its threats to
people and the environment. This way, imme-
diate public health and environmental threats
will be addressed while long-term cleanups
are being planned.
Emergencies such as train derailments and
motor vehicle accidents will continue to be
handled expeditiously. Teams of highly
trained technicians will swing into action
right away, coordinating the cleanup and re-
moval of hazardous substances to ensure pub-
lic safety as quickly as possible.
Breaking With Tradition
The traditional Superfund process begins with
a lengthy phase of study and site assessment,
but SACM will save time by combining sepa-
rate, yet similar, activities. Each EPA Region
will form a Decision Team of site managers,
risk assessors, community relations coordina-
tors, lawyers, and other experts to monitor the
studies and quickly determine whether a site
requires Early Action (taking less than five
years), Long-term Action, or both.
While the site studies continue, the Decision
Team will begin the short-term work required
to correct immediate public health or environ-
mental threats from the site. Besides remov-
ing hazardous materials, Early Actions in-
clude taking precautions to keep contaminants
from moving off the site and restricting access
to the site. Early Actions could eliminate most
human risk from these sites, and Superfund
will further focus its public participation and
public information activities on site assess-
ment and Early Action.
Long-Term Solutions
While Early Actions can correct many hazard-
ous waste problems—and provide the bulk of
public health and environmental protection-—
some contamination will take longer to cor-
rect. Cleanups of mining sites, wetlands, estu-
aries, and projects involving incineration of
contaminants or restoration of groundwater
can take far longer than the three to five years
envisioned for Early Actions. Under SACM,
these sites will be handled much as they are
now.
Also under SACM, the EPA will continue its
pursuit of potentially responsible parties who
may have caused or contributed to site con-
tamination. Expedited enforcement and
procedures for negotiating potentially respon-
sible party settlements will secure their par-
ticipation. Superfund personnel will continue
to oversee clean-up work performed by poten-
tially responsible parties.
IX
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INTRODUCTION
HOW SUPERFUND WORKS
Each Superfund site presents a different
set of complex problems. The same haz-
ardous materials and chemicals often con-
taminate many sites, but the details of each
site are different. Almost always, soil is con-
taminated with one or more chemicals. Their
vapors may taint the air over and around the
site. Contaminants may travel through the soil
and reach underground aquifers which may be
used for drinking water, or they may spread
over the site to contaminate streams, ponds,
and wetlands. The contaminating chemicals
may interact with each other, presenting even
more complicated cleanup problems.
Superfund's cleanup process is arduous and
exacting. It requires the best efforts of hun-
dreds of experts in science and engineering,
public health, administration and manage-
ment, law, and many other fields.
The average NPL site takes from seven to ten
years to work its way through the system,
from discovery to the start of long-term
cleanup. Actual cleanup work can take years,
decades if contaminated groundwater must
be treated. Of course, imminent threats to
public health or the environment are cor-
rected right away.
The diagram to the right presents a simplified
view of the cleanup process. The major steps
in the Superfund process are:
• Site discovery and investigation to iden-
tify contaminants and determine whether
emergency action is required;
• Emergency site work such as removing
contaminants for proper treatment or dis-
posal, and securing the site to keep people
and animals away, if warranted by condi-
tions at the site;
• Site evaluation to determine how people
living and working nearby, and the envi-
ronment, may be exposed to site contami-
nants;
Detailed studies to determine whether con-
ditions are serious enough to add the site to
the National Priorities List of sites eligible
for federally funded cleanup under Super-
fund;
• Selection, design, and implementation of a
cleanup plan, after a thorough review of
the most effective cleanup options, given
site conditions, contaminants present, and
their potential threat to public health or the
environment.
• Follow-up to ensure that the cleanup work
done at the site continues to be effective
over the long term.
The Superfund Process
From the earliest stages, EPA investigators
work hard to identify those responsible for the
contamination. As their responsibility is es-
tablished, the EPA negotiates with these "re-
sponsible parties" to pay for cleaning up the
problem they helped create. This "enforce-
ment first" policy saves Superfund Trust Fund
monies for use in cleanups where the respon-
sible parties cannot be identified, or where
they are unable to fund cleanup work.
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THE VOLUME
How to Use the State Book
The site fact sheets presented in this book
are comprehensive summaries that cover
a broad range of information. The fact sheets
describe hazardous waste sites on the NPL and
their locations, as well as the conditions
leading to their listing ("Site Description").
The summaries list the types of contaminants
that have been discovered and related threats
to public and ecological health ("Threats and
Contaminants"). "Cleanup Approach" pres-
ents an overview of the cleanup activities
completed, underway, or planned. The fact
sheets conclude with a brief synopsis of how
much progress has been made in protecting
public health and the environment. The
summaries also pinpoint other actions, such as
legal efforts to involve polluters responsible
for site contamination and community con-
cerns.
The fact sheets are arranged in alphabetical
order by site name. Because site cleanup is a
dynamic and gradual process, all site informa-
tion is accurate as of the date shown on the
bottom of each page. Progress always is being
made at NPL sites, and the EPA periodically
will update the site fact sheets to reflect recent
actions and will publish updated State vol-
umes. The following two pages show a ge-
neric fact sheet and briefly describe the infor-
mation under each section.
How Can You Use
This State Book?
You can use this book to keep informed about
the sites that concern you, particularly ones
close to home. The EPA is committed to
involving the public in the decision making
process associated with hazardous waste
cleanup. The Agency solicits input from area
residents in communities affected by Super-
fund sites. Citizens are likely to be affected
not only by hazardous site conditions, but also
by the remedies that combat them. Site clean-
ups take many forms and can affect communi-
ties in different ways. Local traffic may be
rerouted, residents may be relocated, tempo-
rary water supplies may be necessary.
Definitive information on a site can help
citizens sift through alternatives and make
decisions. To make good choices, you must
know what the threats are and how the EPA
intends to clean up the site. You must under-
stand the cleanup alternatives being proposed
for site cleanup and how residents may be
affected by each one. You also need to have
some idea of how your community intends to
use the site in the future, and you need to know
what the community can realistically expect
once the cleanup is complete.
The EPA wants to develop cleanup methods
that meet community needs, but the Agency
only can take local concerns into account if it
understands what they are. Information must
travel both ways in order for cleanups to be
effective and satisfactory. Please take this
opportunity to learn more, become involved,
and assure that hazardous waste cleanup at
"your" site considers your community's
concerns.
XI
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THE VOLUME
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Provides the dates when the
site was Proposed, made Final,
and Deleted from the NPL.
SITE RESPONSIBILITY
Identifies the Federal, State,
and/or potentially responsible
parties taking responsibility
for cleanup actions at the site.
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROGRESS
Summarizes the actions to
reduce the threats to nearby
residents and the surrounding
environment and the progress
towards cleaning up the site.
SITE NAME
STATE
EPA ID# ABCOOOOOOO
Site Description
EPA REGION XX
COUNTY NAME
LOCATION
Other Names:
xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxx:
XXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XX XXXXXXXXX XX XXXXXX XXXXXXX!
XXX XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XX XXXXXX XXXX XXXXX XXXX X XXX XXXXXXX:
XXXXXXX XXX I nTl II -jl^ " XXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXX!
XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX*^ft«(XX^ XXX XX XXXXXXXXX XXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX;
XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXJ^ftlMJ^EXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXX XXXX XXXXX XXX XXX XXXXXX
xxxxxxxxxxxx xx xxxxxxx xxx xxxxx xSfiftw^jxx xxxxxx xx xxxx xxx xxxxx xxx xxxxx xxx xxx:
Site Responsibility:
Threats and Contaminants
NPL Listing History
Proposed XX/XX/XX
Final XX/XX/XX
XXXXXX XXX XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX:
xxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxx:
xxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxx x xxx xx xxxxxxx:
xxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx:
xxxxxxxx xxxxx
: xxxxx xxxx xxxxx
Cleanup Approach
xxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx:
xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xx xxxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxx x xxx xxxxxxx:
Response Action Status
xxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx:
XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XX XXXXXXXXX XX XXXXXX
xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xx:
Site Facts:
xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxx xx xxxxxxx:
xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xx xxxxxx xxxx xxxxx xxxx x xxx xxxxxxx:
xxx xxxxxx
^^xxxxx
Environmental Progress
xxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx
XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XX XXXXXXXXX XX XXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXX
XXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XX XXXXXX XXXX XXXXX XXXX X XXX XXXXXXXXXX
xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxx
Site Repository
xxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx
SITE REPOSITORY
Lists the location of the primary site repository. The site
repository may include community relations plans, public
meeting announcements and minutes, fact sheets, press
releases, and other site-related documents.
XII
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THE VOLUME
SITE DESCRIPTION
This section describes the location and history of the site. It includes descrip-
tions of the most recent activities and past actions at the site that have con-
tributed to the contamination. Population estimates, land usages, and nearby
resources give readers background on the local setting surrounding the site.
THREATS AND CONTAMINANTS
The major chemical categories of site contamination are noted, as well as
which environmental resources are affected. Icons representing each of the
affected resources (may include air, groundwater, surface water, soil, and
contamination to environmentally sensitive areas) are included in the margins
of this section. Potential threats to residents and the surrounding environ-
ments arising from the site contamination also are described.
CLEANUP APPROACH
This section contains a brief overview of how the site is being cleaned up.
RESPONSE ACTION STATUS
Specific actions that have been accomplished or will be undertaken to clean
up the site are described here. Cleanup activities at NPL sites are divided
into separate phases, depending on the complexity and required actions at the
site. Two major types of cleanup activities often are described: initial,
immediate, or emergency actions to quickly remove or reduce imminent
threats to the community and surrounding areas; and long-term remedial
phases directed at final cleanup at the site. Each stage of the cleanup strategy
is presented in this section of the summary. Icons representing the stage of
the cleanup process (initial actions, site investigations, EPA selection of the
cleanup remedy, engineering design phase, cleanup activities underway, and
completed cleanup) are located in the margin next to each activity descrip-
tion.
SITE FACTS
Additional information on activities and events at the site are included in this
section. Often details on legal or administrative actions taken by the EPA to
achieve site cleanup or other facts pertaining to community involvement with
the site cleanup process are reported here.
xiii
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THE VOLUME
The "icons," or symbols, accompanying the text allow the reader to see at a glance which envi-
ronmental resources are affected and the status of cleanup activities at the site.
Icons in the Threats
and Contaminants
Section
Contaminated Groundwater resources
in the vicinity or underlying the site.
(Groundwater is often used as a drink-
ing water source.)
Contaminated Surface Water and
Sediments on or near the site. (These
include lakes, ponds, streams, and
rivers.)
Contaminated Air in the vicinity of
the site. (Air pollution usually is
periodic and involves contaminated
dust particles or hazardous gas emis-
sions.)
Contaminated Soil and Sludges on or
near the site. (This contamination
category may include bulk or other
surface hazardous wastes found on the
site.)
Threatened or contaminated Environ-
mentally Sensitive Areas in the vicinity
of the site. (Examples include wet-
lands and coastal areas or critical
habitats.)
Icons in the Response
Action Status Section
Initial, Immediate, or Emergency
Actions have been taken or are
underway to eliminate immediate
threats at the site.
Site Studies at the site to determine
the nature and extent of contamination
are planned or underway.
Remedy Selected indicates that site
investigations have been concluded,
and the EPA has selected a final
cleanup remedy for the site or part of
the site.
Remedy Design means that engineers
are preparing specifications and
drawings for the selected cleanup
technologies.
Cleanup Ongoing indicates that the
selected cleanup remedies for the
contaminated site, or part of the site,
currently are underway.
Cleanup Complete shows that all
cleanup goals have been achieved for
the contaminated site or part of the
site.
XIV
-------
A SUMMARY OF THE STATE PROGRAM
xv
-------
Superfund
Activities in
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is
located within EPA Region 4, which includes the eight southeastern States. The Commonwealth
covers 40,410 square miles. According to the 1990 Census, Kentucky experienced nearly a 1
percent increase in population between 1980 and 1990, and is ranked twenty-third in U.S. popu-
lation with approximately 3,685,000 residents.
The Kentucky Environmental Protection Law, enacted in 1980, establishes the Hazardous
Waste Management Fund and provides for a site priority list, citizen suits, and Commonwealth
enforcement authorities. The statute authorizes the Natural Resources and Environmental Pro-
tection Cabinet to compel polluters to perform site cleanup or to recover the cost of Common-
wealth action. In practice, the Commonwealth's program attempts to negotiate settlements with
the polluter to encourage polluter participation in cleanup activities. In the event that the State is
unable to reach a settlement, the Commonwealth is authorized to issue orders compelling pol-
luter participation. In addition to the 10 percent contribution from the Commonwealth required
by the Federal Superfund program, Kentucky provides funding in emergency situations when the
polluter is unable to address the site. Commonwealth funding may not be used if Federal
Superfund money is available, except in emergencies. Currently, 17 sites in the Commonwealth
of Kentucky have been listed as final on the NPL. Two new sites were proposed for listing in
1992.
The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet
implements the Superfund Program in the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Activities responsible for hazardous
waste contamination in the Common-
wealth of Kentucky include:
Recycling Operations
Manufacturing
Facilities
Metal
Production
Facilities
Storage and
Disposal
Facilities
Landfills
Electrical Equipment
Production Facilities
Facts about the 19 NPL sites
in Kentucky:
Immediate Actions (such as removing
hazardous substances or restricting
site access) were performed at 18
sites.
One site endangers sensitive environ-
ments.
Thirteen sites are located near resi-
dential areas.
XVII
March 1992
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KENTUCKY
Most Sites Have Multiple Contaminants and
Contaminated Media:
Media Contaminated at Sites
Contaminants Found at Sites
Air
Surface
Water
Sediments
Soil
Ground-
water
40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percentage of Sites
The Potentially Responsible
Party Pays...
In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, potentially
responsible parties are paying for or conducting
cleanup activities at 13 sites.
Percentage of Sites
VOCs
Heavy Metals
PCBs
Creosotes
Gases
Plastics
Pesticides/Herbicides
Radiation
Petrochemicals/Explosives
Other*
79%
79%
37%
21%
16%
11%
5%
5%
5%
5%
"Other contaminants include cyanide and
fuoride.
For Further Information on NPL Sites and
Hazardous Waste Programs in the Commonwealth of
Kentucky Please Contact:
•B-
EPA Region 4 Public Arrairs
Office
National Response Center
Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection Cabinet:
Division of Waste Management,
Superfund Branch
EPA Region 4 Waste
Management Division
EPA Superfund Hotline
For information concerning
community involvement
To report a hazardous
waste emergency
For information about the
State's responsibility in the
Superfund Program
For more information about the
Regional Superfund Program
For information about the
Federal Superfund Program
(404) 347-3004
(800) 424-8802
(502)564-6716
(404) 347-5065
(800) 424-9068
March 1992
XVIII
-------
THE NPL REPORT
PROGRESS TO DATE
Ttie following Progress Report lists all
sites currently on, or deleted from, the
NPL and briefly summarizes the status of ac-
tivities for each site at the time this report was
prepared. The steps in the Superfund cleanup
process are arrayed across the top of the chart,
and each site's progress through these steps is
represented by an arrow (*^>) indicating the
current stage of cleanup.
Large and complex sites often are organized
into several cleanup stages. For example,
separate cleanup efforts may be required to
address the source of the contamination,
hazardous substances in the groundwater, and
surface water pollution, or to clean up differ-
ent areas of a large site. In such cases, the
chart portrays cleanup progress at the site's
most advanced stage, reflecting the status of
site activities rather than administrative ac-
complishments.
O An arrow in the "Initial Response" cate-
gory indicates that an emergency
cleanup, immediate action, or initial ac-
tion has been completed or currently is
underway. Emergency or initial actions
are taken as an interim measure to pro-
vide immediate relief from exposure to
hazardous site conditions or to stabilize
a site to prevent further contamination.
O A final arrow in the "Site Studies" cat-
egory indicates that an investigation to
determine the nature and extent of the
contamination at the site currently is on-
going or planned.
^> A final arrow in the "Remedy Selection"
category means that the EPA has se-
lected the final cleanup strategy for the
site. At the few sites where the EPA has
determined that initial response actions
have eliminated site contamination, or
that any remaining contamination will
be naturally dispersed without further
cleanup activities, a "No Action" rem-
edy has been selected. In these cases,
the arrows are discontinued at the
"Remedy Selection" step and resume in
the "Construction Complete" category.
^> A final arrow at the "Remedial Design"
stage indicates that engineers currently
are designing the technical specifica-
tions for the selected cleanup remedies
and technologies.
OA final arrow in the "Cleanup Ongoing"
column means that final cleanup actions
have been started at the site and cur-
rently are underway.
O A final arrow in the "Construction Com-
plete" category is used only when all
phases of the site cleanup plan have
been performed, and the EPA has deter-
mined that no additional construction
actions are required at the site. Some
sites in this category currently may be
undergoing long-term operation and
maintenance or monitoring to ensure
that the cleanup actions continue to pro-
tect human health and the environment.
/ A check in the "Deleted" category indi-
cates that the site cleanup has met all
human health and environmental goals
and that the EPA has deleted the site
from the NPL.
Further information on the activities and
progress at each site is given in the site "Fact
Sheets" published in this volume.
XIX
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A.L. TAYLOR (VALL
OF DRUMS)
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD980500961
EPA REGION 4
Bullitt County
2 miles south of Louisville
Other Names:
Valley of Drums
Site Description
The A.L. Taylor site is located on 13 acres and first was identified as a waste disposal site by
the Kentucky Department of National Resources and Environmental Protection (KDNREP)
in 1967. The owner excavated pits on site and emptied the contents of waste drums into the
pits before recycling the drums. Soils from nearby hills were eventually used to cover the pits.
Thousands of drums also were stored on the surface. The owner never applied for the
required State permits throughout the history of site operations from 1967 to 1977. The
KDNREP first documented releases of hazardous substances in 1975. They pursued legal
actions against the owner until his death in 1977. The EPA inspected the site in 1981 and
discovered deteriorating and leaking drums that were discharging pollutants into a nearby
creek. Approximately 100 people live in a residential area located within a mile of the site.
Site Responsibility:
The site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/23/81
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
II
The groundwater, surface water, and soil were polluted with heavy metals, volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) such as ketones, plastics such as phthalates, and
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from spills and deteriorating waste drums.
Accidental ingestion of and direct contact with the contaminated groundwater, soil,
and surface water presented possible health threats. Approximately 4,000 drums
containing hazardous wastes were leaking into a nearby tributary of the Ohio
River.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on site stabilization and monitoring.
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: As early as 1979, the EPA responded to releases of oil and
hazardous substances at the site. The KDNREP contacted six potentially
responsible parties in 1980, who voluntarily identified and removed approximately
30 percent of the wastes remaining on site. In 1981, the EPA conducted a cleanup action to
upgrade the existing treatment system and to remove the remaining 4,200 drums of surface
waste off site. The EPA also installed interceptor trenches to halt runoff into a nearby creek.
Site Stabilization and Monitoring: The EPA completed the following cleanup
actions at the site: removed contaminated pond water; secured pond sediments,
sludge and materials from low-lying areas beneath the cap; installed a final cover
to contain the waste materials; constructed a surface water drainage diversion to reroute
surface water; and conducted tests to evaluate the effectiveness of the clay cap to reduce
runoff of surface contaminants. After the cleanup work was completed in 1987, groundwater
monitoring data showed that contaminant levels were reduced by 100 to 1,000 times from the
original levels. The required 30 years of operation and maintenance to ensure the
effectiveness of the remedy began in 1988.
Environmental Progress
All cleanup construction activities have been completed at the A.L. Taylor (Valley of Drums)
site. These activities at this site have reduced threat of contamination, and the operation and
maintenance phase will continue to ensure that nearby residents are protected. The EPA has
begun the process of deleting this site from the NPL.
Site Repository
Bullitt County Public Library, Ridgeway Memorial Library, Second and Walnut Streets,
Shepherdsville, KY 40165
March 1992 2 A.L. TAYLOR (VALLEY OF DRUMS)
-------
AIRCO
KENTUCKY
EPAID# KYD04198101
EPA REGION 4
Marshall County
1/2 mile northeast
of Calvert City
Site Description
The 2 3/4-acre Airco site is an industrial landfill that lies near the southern bank of the
Tennessee River. From the mid-1950s until 1971, it is estimated that the landfill accepted
18,000 tons of caustics, acids, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), zinc, mercuric acetate, and
mercuric chloride. From 1971 to 1980, an industrial lessee dumped 14,000 tons of metal-
contaminated coal ash at the landfill, as well as polyvinyl chlorides (PVCs), ferric hydroxide
sludge, and construction wastes. The landfill was unregulated until 1968, when it received a
permit under Kentucky's new solid waste management program. The landfill was capped and
closed in 1981. Another Superfund site, B.F. Goodrich (Calvert City), borders the Airco
property on the east. Because of their proximity and a common history of use, these two sites
were studied together and will undergo a combined cleanup. This site is located in a highly
industrialized area. Approximately 3,600 people live in nearby Calvert City, and the closest
residents live about a mile south of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
IT
Groundwater, sediments, and soil are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and VOCs including benzene
and toluene from the former waste disposal practices. Direct contact with or
accidental ingestion of the contaminated surface soils, groundwater, and drainage
sediments poses a risk to the health of the nearby population.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: When Air Products, Inc., the industrial lessee, discontinued use
of the site in 1980, it closed the landfill in accordance with a State-approved plan.
In 1981, Air Products constructed a clay cap over the landfill, a measure designed
to keep rainwater and runoff from spreading site contaminants.
Entire Site: In 1988, the EPA selected the following remedies for the Airco site,
in conjunction with cleanup at the adjacent B.F. Goodrich site. The remedies for
groundwater are: (1) extract and treat contaminated groundwater; and
(2) discharge treated water to the Tennessee River using a permitted outfall. The selected
remedies for soil are: (1) impose deed restrictions to prevent residential development on the
site; (2) excavate contaminated surface soils around portions of the landfill and place them in
the former burn pit area on the Goodrich site; and (3) build an organic vapor recovery
system and impermeable cap over the burn pit. The selected remedies for the landfill include:
(1) rebuild the dikes around the landfill for flood prevention; (2) improve the existing clay
landfill cap by adding more clay and re-contouring the surface; and (3) install a system for
extracting leachate from the waste. The parties potentially responsible for the contamination
at the Airco and Goodrich sites began designing the remedy in 1989, but have since put
design activities on hold while differences between the EPA and the State are resolved.
Site Facts: In 1989, the parties potentially responsible for the contamination at the Airco
Carbide and Goodrich sites began designing the remedy, but the State intervened, and the
activity has been temporarily suspended. The State wants soil and sediment cleanup to occur
to background levels in the areas surrounding the landfill. Other issues that need to be
resolved include the landfill cap design and groundwater cleanup levels.
Environmental Progress
The closure and capping of the landfill have reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous
materials at the Airco site while design activities are being completed and activities for
permanent cleanup of the site are being planned.
Site Repository
Contact the Region 4 Superfund Community Relations Office.
March 1992 4 AIRCO
-------
B.F. GOODRICH
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD006370167
EPA REGION 4
Marshall County
Calvert City
Site Description
The B.F. Goodrich site is a 2-acre industrial landfill near the southern bank of the Tennessee
River. The B.F. Goodrich Company disposed of wastes on the site from 1969 to 1972 and
engineered a former creek channel for landfilling. Workers disposed of 54,000 tons of
construction waste and plant trash, buried 370 cubic yards of salt-brine sludge, and burned
over 2 million gallons of liquid chlorinated organics in several burn pits at the site. From 1973
to 1980, the only waste disposed of at the site was excavation dirt. In 1980, an inspection by
the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (KDNREP)
disclosed a leaching problem along the river side of the landfill. The landfill was closed under
a State-approved closure plan in 1980. Another NPL site, Airco Carbide, Inc., borders the
Goodrich property on the east. Because of their proximity and a common history of use,
these two sites were studied together and will undergo a combined cleanup. The site is
located in a highly industrialized area. Approximately 3,600 people live in nearby Calvert City,
and the closest residents are about a mile south of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
2EJ
Groundwater, soil, and sediments are contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) including benzene and toluene from the former waste disposal
activities. Direct contact with or accidental ingestion of contaminated groundwater,
surface soils, or sediments poses a health risk.
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1980, the landfill was sealed with a clay cap to prevent
rainwater and runoff from spreading contaminants. The area was planted with
vegetation to prevent erosion.
Entire Site: In 1988, the EPA selected the remedy for the site, which will be
cleaned up in conjunction with the adjacent Airco site. The remedy for
groundwater includes: (1) extract and treat contaminated groundwater; and
(2) discharge treated water to the Tennessee River via a permitted outfall. The remedy for
soil includes: (1) excavate contaminated surface soils around portions of the landfill; (2) place
them in the former burn pit area; and (3) build an organic vapor recovery system and cap
over the burn pit. The selected remedy for the landfill includes: (1) rebuild the dikes around
the landfill for flood prevention; (2) improve the existing clay landfill cap by adding more clay
and recontouring the surface; (3) install a system for extracting leachate from below the
waste; and (4) impose deed restrictions to prevent residential development on the site. The
parties potentially responsible for the contamination at the Airco and Goodrich sites began
designing the remedy in 1989, but have since put design activities on hold while differences
between the EPA and the State are resolved.
Site Facts: In 1989, the parties potentially responsible for the contamination at the Airco
Carbide and Goodrich sites began designing the remedy, but the State intervened, and the
activity has been temporarily suspended. The State wants soil and sediment cleanup to occur
to background levels in the areas surrounding the landfills. Disagreements also have arisen
over the landfill cap design and groundwater cleanup levels.
Environmental Progress
Sealing the landfill with a cap prohibiting further dumping activities at the site have reduced
the potential for exposure to contaminants while actions for permanent cleanup of the site
are being planned.
Site Repository
Marshall County Library, 1003 Poplar Street, Benton, KY 42025
March 1992 6 B.F. GOODRICH
-------
BRANTLEY j^a^> EPA REGfoN 4
DI-IMIN I UC T _^gM£% McLean County
LANDFILL ^2^^®^^^ Highway 85
Other Names:
Barmet of Kentucky
EPA ID# KYD980501019
Site Description
The Brantley Landfill site was used as a coal strip mining pit in the late 1960s. In 1978, Doug
Brantley and Sons, Inc. received an industrial landfill permit for the disposal of salt cake
fines, a by-product from Barmet Aluminum Corporation's aluminum recycling operation.
Before the landfill was closed in 1980, 250,000 tons of salt cake fines were disposed of at the
site. Salt cake fines are dust-like materials containing various contaminants that react with
water to form gases. The waste was deposited in pond water in the pit and also possibly
deposited below the water table. A layer of soil placed over the landfill area during closure
has partially eroded, and some waste materials are exposed. In 1986, the EPA's
Environmental Services Division (BSD) conducted air monitoring in the vicinity of the
Brantley Landfill. Ammonia was found in most samples downwind from the disposal area.
Moreover, the Kentucky Division of Air Pollution Control has received numerous complaints
from residents of ammonia odor. In 1987, BSD collected soil, water, and sediment samples at
and around the landfill, which showed that the site was contaminated. Land use within a
1-mile radius of the site is primarily agricultural and residential. Approximately 200 people
live within 1/4 mile of the site. There are six private wells within a 1-mile radius of the site;
the closest is approximately 500 feet to the north of the landfill and belongs to the current
site owner.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through NPL LISTING H|STORY
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
Soil beneath the landfill cap is contaminated with heavy metals including
chromium, copper, titanium, vanadium, aluminum, magnesium, and sodium from
former waste disposal practices. The salt cake fines contain various heavy metals
and react with water to form several gases, including ammonia, acetylene,
methane, hydrogen, and hydrogen sulfide. Dust and gas emissions have been
reported at the site, but the site since has been closed and covered. Placement of
wastes below the water table could have caused groundwater contamination, which
could affect drinking water sources. The site has been fenced to restrict access.
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1990, the parties potentially responsible for the site
contamination fenced the entire site to restrict site access and to minimize
exposure to potential contamination.
Entire Site: The parties potentially responsible for the site contamination began a
study of the type and extent of site contamination in 1990. The investigation also
will recommend the best strategies for final cleanup. After completion of the study,
slated for 1993, the EPA will select the cleanup strategy and begin cleanup activities.
Environmental Progress
The initial actions described above have reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous
materials at the Brantley Landfill site while further studies leading to the selection of final
cleanup remedies are being conducted.
Site Repository
Island City Hall, 160 South First Street, Island, KY 42350
March 1992
BRANTLEY LANDFILL
-------
CALDWELL LACE
LEATHER CO.
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD045738291
EPA REGION 4
Logan County
1/2 mile northwest
of Auburn
Site Description
The 40-acre Caldwell Lace Leather Co., Inc. site consists of three tannery waste areas. From
1972 to 1982, wastes such as chrome and vegetable tanning sludge from the leather-tanning
process were buried in trenches or placed in unlined lagoons in a 5 1/2-acre area of the
property. In 1982, the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources and Environmental
Protection (KDNREP) granted a permit to Caldwell to mix waste sludges into the soil on a
29-acre landfarm. This method of disposal continued until 1985. The KDNREP granted a
conditional permit in 1983 for a third disposal area, a 5-acre landfill, which accepted only
solid wastes from tannery operations. Leather-tanning operations occurred at the facility until
1985, when it was sold to North Park, Inc. In 1983, the KDNREP detected chromium in a
private well 1,200 feet from the landfill area. This well has been taken out of service.
Approximately 600 people obtain drinking water from private wells within 3 miles of the site.
The closest surface water intake for a public water system is 2 miles southeast of the site.
The majority of the residences around the site now are connected to the public water supply.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
A private well 1,200 feet from the landfill area is contaminated with lead and
hexavalent chromium, the most toxic form of chromium. Contaminants, primarily
chromium, also have been found in the soil on the site. This contamination
occurred from the site landfills and disposal areas. A study conducted in 1991
indicated that site contamination has not migrated to residential wells.
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: The site has been regraded and capped to prevent exposure to
the contaminated materials. A fence surrounding the site prevents access by
people and animals.
Entire Site: In 1990, the EPA began a study to determine the type and extent of
the contamination at the site. An initial sampling program for the study was
completed in 1993. The sampling results are being reviewed and will be used to
determine if additional samples are needed to complete the study. Sampling results have so
far indicated no site-related contamination in residential wells. The study, which is expected
to be completed in 1992, will recommend alternatives for site cleanup. As part of the plan to
close the site properly, Caldwell and North Park, Inc. have been monitoring surface water
and groundwater to track the extent of the contamination.
Site Facts: In 1984, Caldwell entered into an Agreed Order with the State to correct past
violations and to prevent further violations of State law. In 1985, the State approved a plan
to close the old landfill.
Environmental Progress
Capping the site and restricting access with a security fence have reduced the potential for
exposure to site contaminants while investigations continue at the Caldwell Lace Leather Co.,
Inc. site.
Site Repository
Contact the Region 4 Superfund Community Relations Office.
March 1992
10
CALDWELL LACE LEATHER CO., INC.
-------
DISTLER BRICKYARJI^ ^AREQIOM*
KENTUCKY ^^Q|^^^K1/2 mile southeast of West Point
EPA ID# KYD980602155;
Site Description
The 3-acre Distler Brickyard site is located on a 70-acre abandoned brick manufacturing
plant property that operated from the late 1800s until the mid-1970s. In 1976, the property
was leased by Kentucky Liquid Recycling, Inc., which began transporting waste to the
brickyard property. Waste disposal continued at the site until 1979, when the Kentucky
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (KDNREP) ordered
disposal operations to cease. A brick complex, associated buildings, and an open field covered
with grasses and shrubs are located on the site. There were approximately 2,300 drums on the
site, 1,550 of which contained various liquids, sludges, and solids. Spillage from the
deteriorated drums killed grass, trees, and birds on the site. A contaminated groundwater
plume is located beneath the site and could threaten the city drinking water wells and the
Ohio River. Approximately 3,000 people live within a 4-mile radius of the site and 70,000
people depend on wells within a 3-mile radius of the site for drinking water. The site is
partially fenced, and a railroad track runs through the site. Sparks from the railroad caused a
fire in 1980. Runoff from the site flows to an unnamed tributary of Bee Branch, which flows
through the site. Portions of the site are in the 50- and 100-year flood plains of the Ohio
River.
o~ :u-r* TU- v • u • AA A^ u NPL LISTING HISTORY
Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
Proposed Date: 12/30/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Specific contaminants detected in groundwater and on-site soils include various
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals including lead from waste
disposal activities. Potential health threats include direct contact with or accidental
ingestion of contaminated soils and groundwater.
11 March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on soil and groundwater cleanup.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: As an initial action, the EPA and the State inspected the site
and sampled 28 drums. In 1979, some drum wastes were removed and, in 1982,
the EPA removed over 2,000 drums from the site. Patches of contaminated soil
also were removed, and some contaminated materials were incinerated.
Soil and Groundwater: Cleanup technologies selected to address soil and
groundwater contamination include: (1) excavating and disposing of contaminated
soils; (2) backfilling with clean natural granular soils; (3) reshaping surface
contours to manage water infiltration and runoff and planting grass to cover the site;
(4) extracting and treating contaminated groundwater and reinjecting groundwater into the
aquifer; and (5) maintaining vegetation and repairing any erosion for a period of 1 year. The
EPA has completed the removal of contaminated soil and is planning to install a permanent
groundwater treatment system. Additional geophysical and water flow data will have been
collected and analyzed during the design of the permanent groundwater treatment system.
Environmental Progress
The removal of drums and contaminated soil described above has eliminated the sources of
contamination and reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous materials at the Distler
Brickyard site while long-term cleanup activities are underway.
Site Repository
West Point City Hall, 509 Elm Street, West Point, KY 40177
March 1992 12 DISTLER BRICKYARD
-------
FARM j^fex-^ EPA REGION 4
rttKIVI ,,il^^^^ jen»«>n County
KENTUCKY ^^^^^ ^V1 mile northwesl *West Point
EPA ID# KYD980601975
Site Description
The 3-acre Distler Farm site was discovered in 1977, when the EPA launched a search for
sites previously used to store industrial wastes. In 1978, flood waters scattered drums of
industrial waste stored at the site along the flood plain of Stump Gap Creek. In an
emergency cleanup action, the EPA recovered and repacked more than 800 drums containing
chemicals characteristic of the paint and varnish industry and then moved them to higher
ground. Later, the State sent the drums to an approved disposal facility. During the cleanup
effort, four drum burial sites were discovered. Approximately 3,000 people reside within 4
miles of the site. The site is bordered by cultivated farmland and is located 1,000 feet from
the Ohio River.
D«~ ~ -JUT* TU- v • u AA A^ u NPL LISTING HISTORY
Responsibility: This site is being addressed through Proposed Date- 07/23/82
Federal and State actions. Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soil were contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including toluene and benzene, as well as heavy metals, from former drum storage
practices. Former health threats included drinking the contaminated groundwater
and coming in direct contact with the contaminated soil.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: emergency actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
13 March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: In 1978, the EPA monitored the recovery and on-site
storage of the drums containing chemicals from paints and varnishes. The State
later disposed of the drums at a federally approved facility. The EPA conducted
various studies from 1979 through 1984, confirming evidence of soil and groundwater
contamination. Investigations were temporarily suspended in 1984 as workers removed waste-
containing drums and contaminated soil from the site.
Groundwater and Soil: The final site cleanup actions began in 1988. Cleanup
activities included: excavating and removing all contaminated soils and off-site
disposal in a hazardous waste landfill; backfilling with natural granular soils;
extracting contaminated groundwater, temporarily accumulating it, and on-site storage;
transporting contaminated groundwater to an off-site commercial facility for treatment; and
maintaining vegetation, erosion repair, and groundwater monitoring for a 1-year period.
Contaminated soil with concentrations above acceptable levels have been excavated and
removed to a hazardous waste landfill. After the soil was removed, the waste pits were
backfilled, and the entire area was graded, cultivated, and covered with grass to control
erosion. The groundwater treatment system has been installed. Construction of the entire
system and site restoration were completed in 1989. Long-term operations and maintenance
of the groundwater treatment system began in 1990 and will continue until established
cleanup goals for the site are met, which could last up to 30 years.
Environmental Progress
Cleanup of contaminated soil has been completed at the Distler Farm site. The site is now
safe for nearby residents and the environment while long-term operation and maintenance
activities are continuing to ensure that residual contaminants in the groundwater remain
within safety levels.
Site Repository
West Point City Hall, 509 Elm Street, West Point, KY 40177
March 1992 14 DISTLER FARM
-------
FORT HARTFORD
COAL CO. ST
QUARRY
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD980844625
EPA REGION 4
Ohio County
1 mile northeast of Olaton
Site Description
The Fort Hartford Coal Co. Stone Quarry is 645 acres in size and includes an additional 120
acres of underground tunnels. The site originally was mined for railway ballasts and road
bases from the late 1950's to the late 1970's. In 1981, Barmet Aluminum Corporation
contracted with the Fort Hartford Coal Company to store salt cake fines, a by-product of
Barmet's aluminum recycling operation, in the underground portion of the site. Salt cake
fines are a fine, dust-like material containing various contaminants that react with water to
form several gases, including ammonia, acetylene, methane, hydrogen, and hydrogen sulfide.
Salt cake fines were delivered to the site from a Barmet plant in Livia, Kentucky at a rate of
approximately 500 tons per day from July 1981 to June 1991. Barmet closed the Livia plant
in June 1991. An estimated 1 1/2 million tons of salt cake fines have been placed at the site.
The mine is in a rural area; approximately 15 people live within 1/2 mile of the site, and the
nearest residence is 1,500 feet away. Approximately 1,400 people live within 4 miles of the
site. The portion of the site's 120 acres not affected by mining operations is forested, as is
most of the surrounding land. Portions of the property have been logged, and several of the
logging roads remain above the mine. A few pieces of land beyond the Rough River and
Caney Creek, both of which border on the site, are used for agriculture. Many residents near
the site rely on groundwater for their drinking water supplies. Approximately 25 private wells
are within 1 1/2 miles of the property, and about 700 people obtain drinking water from wells
and springs within 3 miles of the site. The Rough River, about 30 miles downstream of the
site, is the water source for the Town of Hartford and also is used for fishing and other
recreation.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 08/30/90
15
March 1992
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Threats and Contaminants
The EPA detected ammonia from the storage of salt cake fines in the air around
the storage areas during a 1986 inspection. Wastes were deposited below the water
table, threatening the groundwater. Ammonia and lead have been detected in low
levels in private wells near the site, posing a potential risk from ingestion. The
subsurface gases found in the mine include ammonia, methane, acetylene,
hydrogen, and hydrogen sulfide. High levels of ammonia have been detected in an
unnamed stream that originates in the waste area. Runoff from the quarry flows
into the Rough River. Workers at the site may be at risk if they accidentally ingest
or come in direct contact with contaminated surface water or groundwater or
inhale ammonia vapors in ambient air from the site. There also is the potential for
explosion if methane gas is generated from a reaction of the waste with water.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a single long-term remedial
phase focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In response to the Administrative Order on Consent,
Barmet identified areas where water was entering the mine and then isolated
waste in these areas to prevent contact. These activities specifically included: an
investigation to trace the flow of groundwater; an inventory of salt cakes fines stored in the
mine; closure of collapsed areas and sinkholes to prevent water from entering the mine;
diversion of surface water runoff to prevent entry into the mine; removal of water within the
mine by pumping; discharge of this water to the Rough River; and storage of the salt cake
fines in the dry areas of the mine.
Entire Site: Barmet Aluminum Corporation began a study in 1991 to determine
the type and extent of contamination at the site, and to identify alternative
technologies for the cleanup. The site investigation is expected to be completed in
1993. Once the studies are completed, the EPA will select final cleanup remedies.
Site Facts: Barmet Aluminum Corporation, one of the potentially responsible parties,
entered into an Administrative Order on Consent with the EPA in 1989. Under this
agreement, Barmet has completed immediate actions and is conducting site investigations.
March 1992 16 FORT HARTFORD COAL CO. STONE QUARRY
-------
Environmental Progress
Immediate actions such as the diversion of surface water runoff and the removal of water in
the mine to prevent contact with wastes have reduced threats posed to the health and safety
of the nearby population. Once site investigations are complete, the EPA will select a
permanent cleanup remedy for the site.
Site Repository
County Clerk, Court House Square, Main Street, Hartford, KY 42347
FORT HARTFORD COAL CO. STONE QUARRY
17
March 1992
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GENERAL TIRE &
RUBBER COMP
(MAYFIELD
LANDFILL)
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD006371074
Site Description
EPA REGION 4
Graves County
miles north of Mayfield
Other Names:
Mayfield Landfill
The General Tire & Rubber Company (Mayfield Landfill) site is a 58-acre landfill located to
the northeast of the company's tire manufacturing plant. The company began disposing of
wastes in the landfill in 1970, shortly after the State approved the operation. Between 1970
and 1979, when disposal of hazardous wastes ceased, an estimated 152 tons of hazardous
waste were deposited in trenches on the site. Some wastes were deposited below the water
table, creating the potential for movement of contaminants through the groundwater. In
1981, to comply with a State request, General Tire began a groundwater monitoring program.
In 1984, the site was covered and revegetated. Approximately 1,500 people obtain drinking
water from five municipal wells within 3 miles of the site. The eastern edge of the landfill
roughly follows Mayfield Creek, approximately 150 yards from the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
IT
Groundwater, surface water, sediments, and soils are contaminated with heavy
metals including cadmium and lead, as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including toluene from the former waste disposal practices. People who accidentally
come in direct contact with or ingest contaminated groundwater, surface water,
soil, or sediments may be at risk.
18
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the
entire site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The General Tire & Rubber Company is studying the type and
extent of the contamination at the site. Once the study is completed, expected in
1992, the EPA will review the recommended alternatives for the cleanup and will
select a final strategy to address site contamination.
Environmental Progress
After adding the General Tire & Rubber Co. (Mayfield Landfill) site to the NPL, the EPA
determined that the site does not pose an immediate threat to public health or the
environment while investigations into the final cleanup strategies are taking place.
Site Repository
Graves County Library, Sixth & College Streets, Mayfield, KY 42066
GENERAL TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
(MAYFIELD LANDFILL)
19
March 1992
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GREEN RIVER
DISPOSAL, IN
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD980501076
EPA REGION 4
Davies County
Near Maceo
Other Names:
Kelly Cemetery Road SKe
Site Description
The Green River Disposal site is a 14-acre landfill and surface disposal area. From 1970 to
1984, wastes from various industries, along with sanitary municipal wastes, were buried at the
facility. In 1985, an investigation by the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection (KDNREP) found that on-site private wells were contaminated.
Two of the nearly 1,000 drums discovered on the site were found to contain heavy metals,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and cyanide. Wastes at the site are adequately covered
and, therefore, runoff is controlled. The facility has a history of leachate outbreaks,
underground fires, and has been known to accept unauthorized wastes. The site held a State
permit from 1975 until 1988, but became inactive in 1984. Approximately 500 people obtain
drinking water from private wells within 3 miles of the site. Blackford Creek, which is used
for irrigation and recreational activities, is 3 miles downstream of the landfill.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater from on-site private wells is contaminated with heavy metals
including arsenic and barium from the former waste disposal activities. Leachate
from the landfill is contaminated with benzene and heavy metals such as arsenic,
mercury, lead, and chromium. People who come in direct contact with or drink
contaminated groundwater may be at risk.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
20
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1990, samples were taken of site soils, surface water, leachate,
and residential wells. Test results prompted installation of a leachate collection
system and a fence around the site. Removal of contaminated materials is
expected to be completed in 1991.
Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties are studying the type and extent
of contamination at the site. Samples will be taken from the landfill waste,
leachate, groundwater, surface water, soil, and air to characterize the site and to
evaluate potential risks. The study is expected to be completed in 1993. Alternatives for the
cleanup will be recommended at the conclusion of the investigation.
Site Facts: In 1983, the State ordered Green River Disposal to bring the facility into
compliance with existing laws. In 1986, the company filed for bankruptcy. The EPA prepared
an Administrative Order on Consent for the parties potentially responsible for the site
contamination to conduct a study to determine the nature and extent of contamination and
to identify alternatives for cleanup.
Environmental Progress
Initial actions of sampling the contaminated materials, installing a leachate collection system,
and constructing a fence have reduced potential risks of exposure and contaminant migration
while further investigations and long-term cleanup activities take place at the Green River
Disposal, Inc. site.
Site Repository
Owensboro Public Library, 450 Griffith Avenue, Owensboro, KY 42301
GREEN RIVER DISPOSAL, INC.
21
March 1992
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HOWE VALLEY
LANDFILL
KENTUCKY
EPAID# KYD980501191
EPA REGION 4
Hardin County
4 miles southwest of Howe Valley
Site Description
The Howe Valley Landfill site consists of 11 acres and includes a sinkhole. Approximately
2 1/2 acres of the site had been cleared for the landfilling of wastes. The site was an
industrial waste landfill, operated by Kentucky Industrial Services, Inc. from 1967 through
1976 when a State permit expired. During that time, drums of sludges and bulk wastes
associated with various manufacturing and insulation operations were disposed of on site.
Waste insulation material and drums were exposed on the surface of the landfill. In 1979,
groundwater samples collected by the Kentucky Division of Water Quality indicated that the
site might have been contaminating the local groundwater. There are approximately 25
people living within a 1-mile radius of the site who depend on private wells for drinking
water. Approximately 35,000 people use Pirtle Spring, 2 miles from the site, as a source of
drinking water.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/10/86
Final Date: 07/22/87
Threats and Contaminants
On-site surface soil is contaminated with low levels of volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and heavy metals. Because access to the site is unrestricted, potential
threats to local residents include direct contact with the contaminants in the
surface soil. Site studies have indicated that groundwater is not contaminated.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
22
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1988, the parties potentially responsible for site contamination
removed bulk wastes and 9,150 full or partially full drums, excavated
approximately 1,600 empty drums, and removed about 6,000 smaller containers.
These initial actions eliminated the immediate threats to the public and removed much of the
site's contamination.
Entire Site: The parties potentially responsible for site contamination completed
studies determining the extent of contamination in 1990. The EPA selected a
cleanup remedy, which includes excavation and off-site disposal of soil
contaminated with metals, and replacement with clean soil; further aeration of on-site soil
contaminated with VOCs; and continued monitoring of groundwater for the next five years.
The parties potentially responsible for contamination at the site began designing the selected
cleanup remedy in 1991, which is expected to be completed in late 1992.
Site Facts: In 1988, an Administrative Order was signed by the EPA. This document directs
the potentially responsible parties' investigation of site contamination and their
recommendations for methods to clean up the site. In 1991, the EPA and the potentially
responsible parties entered into a Consent Decree. This Decree requires the potentially
responsible parties to conduct cleanup operations at the site.
Environmental Progress
The removal and disposal of bulk waste and drums described above have eliminated the
surface contamination sources and have reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous
substances at the Howe Valley Landfill site while design of the remedy and long-term cleanup
activities are being completed.
Site Repository
Hardin County Public Library, 201 West Dixie Highway, Elizabethtown, KY 42701
HOWE VALLEY LANDFILL
23
March 1992
-------
LEE'S LANE LANDF
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD98055705;
Site Description
EPA REGION 4
Jefferson County
4 1/2 miles southwest of Louisville
Lee's Lane Landfill is a 112-acre landfill and junkyard that lies in the flood plain along the
Ohio River. This operation received over 2 million cubic yards of domestic, commercial, and
industrial wastes between the 1940s and 1975. Approximately 212,000 tons of these were
various chemical wastes. Sand and gravel quarrying occurred on the site before and during
the property's use as a landfill. Portions of the landfill flood almost every year. In 1975,
residents living next to the site reported flash fires around their water heaters. After explosive
levels of methane gas were detected, seven nearby homes were evacuated and purchased by
local authorities. The State closed the landfill that same year. County, State, and Federal
agencies documented the presence of methane and other toxic gases in the area east of the
site. The majority of the 1,100 residents of a subdivision located adjacent to the landfill are
connected to a public water supply system, which draws from an underlying aquifer. In 1980,
State personnel discovered 400 exposed drums of hazardous materials, some highly
flammable, on the Ohio River bank next to the landfill. They identified more than 50
chemicals including phenolic resins, benzene, and a variety of heavy metals.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, local, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/23/82
Final Date: 09/08/83
Threats and Contaminants
7E
The air was polluted with methane gas vented from the landfill. Groundwater, soil,
and surface water were contaminated with benzene, heavy metals including lead
and arsenic, and inorganic chemicals. Groundwater flow is toward the Ohio River
and away from neighborhood wells.
24
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: emergency actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: Seven homes were purchased by local authorities in 1975
after explosive levels of methane gas were detected. In 1980, after methane was
discovered in other homes nearby, the Kentucky Department of Hazardous
Materials and Waste Materials (KDHMWM) installed a gas venting system at the landfill. In
1981, the site owners pumped liquid wastes from the exposed drums found near the Ohio
River. They shipped hazardous wastes to an approved disposal facility, removed the drums
and other wastes from the river bank, and buried them on the site. In 1987 and 1988, EPA
emergency staff performed cleanup activities at the landfill, including site security and
migration control. Workers also regraded and reseeded the backfill that floods had washed
out.
Entire Site: The EPA selected a remedy for this site in 1986, which included:
providing for a gas collection system; installing alternate water supplies; removing
exposed drums; capping of soils in "hot spots" in an area of exposed trash, and
disposing of exposed waste at an approved landfill; taking steps to prevent erosion and
possible failure of the Ohio River embankment; establishing standards for groundwater at the
site; imposing institutional controls; and monitoring groundwater, gas, and air. The EPA
finished cleaning up this site in 1987 and now is conducting operation and maintenance
activities, scheduled to last for 30 years, which include quarterly sampling of monitoring wells
and inspections of the site and components of the gas collection system.
Environmental Progress
Construction activities have been completed at the Lee's Lane Landfill site. The site is now
safe for nearby residents and the environment while operation and maintenance activities are
continuing to ensure that residual contaminants remain within safety levels. The EPA has
begun the process of deleting this site from the NPL.
Site Repository
Riverside Gardin Community Council, 4416 Wilmoth Road, Louisville, KY 40216
LEE'S LANE LANDFILL 25 March 1992
-------
MAXEY FLATS s^s^ EP* RE°ION 4
Xs-frv^^ioft Fleming County
NUCLEAR
KENTUCKY
EPAID#KYD980729107
Site Description
The 279-acre Maxey Flats Nuclear Disposal site is a disposal facility for low-level radioactive
wastes. From 1963 to 1977, the State licensed private operators to dispose of low-level
radioactive wastes, and an estimated 5 to 8 million cubic feet were accepted. Most was solid
waste, however, other types of waste also were accepted, some of them highly radioactive.
Approximately 533,000 pounds of source material (consisting of uranium and thorium or ores
containing them), 2 1/2 megacuries of by-product materials, and 950 pounds of special nuclear
material (plutonium or enriched uranium) were buried in an area known as the Restricted
Area. Workers capped each trench with a layer of soil after it was filled, but the dirt
eventually collapsed into the trenches. Water collected in the trenches, leaching radionuclides
into the environment. The Restricted Area is situated entirely on the flats and encompasses
the disposal trenches, "hot wells" (sealed concrete pipes containing plutonium and uranium),
waste storage buildings, and an evaporator facility. The area surrounding the site is rural and
agricultural. Approximately 300 people live within a 5-mile radius of the disposal facility, and
the closest home is within 1/4 mile. About 120 wells and 25 springs are situated within 5
miles. However, nearby residents receive water from a municipal water system. The site is
located on a spur of Maxey Flats, a ridge 300 feet above surrounding stream valleys. The
plateau of the spur drops steeply on three sides, and rainwater runoff is channeled to nearby
Rock Lick Creek, which feeds the Licking River.
o»* D«^~ ~~iK-r« TU- v • u • AA A^ u NPL LISTING HISTORY
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater, soil, surface water, and leachate are contaminated with various
radioactive materials, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), petrochemicals, and
heavy metals from the former waste disposal activities. There is no evidence that
local residents have been exposed to the site contaminants. However, they have
been advised to reduce the use of stream water for agricultural irrigation, as this
water exceeds EPA standards for both tritium and radium.
26 March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the radioactive contamination at the site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Solidification of 286,000 gallons of tank leachate was
completed in 1989. This cleanup activity which was necessary to prevent a
potential release of radioactive water off site, due to the poor structural integrity
of the holding tanks. In 1991, the EPA disposed of the solidified leachate blocks in an
underground on-site trench.
Radioactive Contamination: Under EPA monitoring, the parties potentially
responsible for site contamination conducted an intensive study of the
contamination problems. This study was completed and a remedy was selected in
1991. The site will be cleaned up by extracting and solidifying approximately 3 million gallons
of radioactive trench leachate and disposing of the solidified leachate in newly-constructed
trenches on site; installing an initial cap consisting of clay and a synthetic liner; maintaining
and periodically replacing the synthetic liner of the initial cap; re-contouring the capped
disposal area to control surface water runoff; improving the existing site drainage; installing a
groundwater flow barrier, if necessary; installing an infiltration monitoring system to verify the
cleanup performance; designating a buffer zone adjacent to the site; installing a final cap over
the disposal area; and establishing institutional controls to restrict the use of the site. The
site will be evaluated every five years to ensure that the remedy continues to be effective.
Site Facts: Negotiations with the parties potentially responsible for the site contamination
concluded with an agreement, signed in 1987, to perform an investigation of the site. The
local community has an active interest in the cleanup of this site, and a technical assistance
grant has been awarded to a community group to follow site progress.
Environmental Progress
The immediate actions described above to solidify leachate have reduced the potential for
exposure to radioactive wastes at the Maxey Flats Nuclear Disposal site while activities for
permanent cleanup of the site are being planned.
Site Repository
Rowan County Public Library, 129 Trumbo Street, Morehead, KY 40351
MAXEY FLATS NUCLEAR DISPOSAL 27 March 1992
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NATIONAL ELECTRIC
COIL CO./COOP
INDUSTRIES
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD985069954
Site Description
The National Electric Coil Co./Cooper Industries site is approximately 3 1/2 acres in size. In
1951, the National Electric Coil Co., owned by McGraw-Edison Co., rebuilt electric motors
and transformers used in the coal mining industry. From 1951-1987, equipment used in these
production processes was cleaned on site in a 4,000-gallon vat of trichloroethylene (TCE).
Activities performed to clean equipment and the vat itself resulted in on-site and off-site
contamination. Liquid solvent and oils were allowed to flow overland and through a drainage
system to the Cumberland River; sludge from the vat was disposed of along the Cumberland
River bank; polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-laden oil drained from transformers on site was
allowed to flow through the piping system to the Cumberland River; and waste generated by
an unvented lead furnace on site was disposed of in unregulated landfills in the area. In 1985,
as a result of a takeover, Cooper Industries of Houston, Texas acquired the property and
facility. Treen Land Co. bought the site from Cooper Industries in 1987. The Kentucky
Department of Environmental Protection (KDEP) first discovered contamination in nearby
residential and community wells in 1989. Subsequent investigations by EPA, Cooper
Industries, and Treen Land Co. led to the detection of contaminants in groundwater and soil
both on and off site. Today, both the property and the facility are leased to National Electric
Services, Incorporated. Public and private wells within 4 miles of the site are sources of
drinking water for an estimated 1,750 people. The nearest contaminated private well is within
300 feet of the site. Several residences are in close proximity to the site and 20 people work
at the plant.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL Listing History
Proposed Date: 07/29/91
28 March 1992
-------
Threats and Contaminants
Nearby residential and community wells are contaminated with the volatile organic
chemicals (VOCs) dichloroethylene and vinyl chloride. These same two chemicals,
TCE, methylene chloride, and PCBs were later detected in on-site groundwater
and soil. Off-site soil is contaminated with VOCs and PCBs. Dichloroethylene and
vinyl chloride also were detected in off-site groundwater.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two phases: immediate actions and one long-term phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1989, users of contaminated wells were connected to
municipal water supplies. In 1991, the potentially responsible parties removed
contaminated soils to an off-site location.
Entire Site: In mid-1992, the potentially responsible parties began an
investigation into the nature and extent of contamination at the site.
Site Facts: The EPA and Cooper Industries, Inc. signed a Unilateral Administrative Order
in 1991. Under this order, Cooper Industries removed contaminated soils from the site.
Environmental Progress
Connecting residential and community wells to municipal water supplies and removing site
contaminants has significantly reduced health and safety risks to the nearby population while
EPA considers further actions for permanent cleanup of the site.
Site Repository
Not established.
NATIONAL ELECTRIC COIL CO./COOPER
INDUSTRIES 29 March 1992
-------
NATIONAL ^SfexaJ PHA RE°ION 4
-jC^VVK^Si!) Hancock County
SOUTH Wl R E ^^^^T^^^S. Near Hawesville
ALUMINUM C
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD049062375
Site Description
The National Southwire Aluminum Co. (NSA), a division of Southwire of Carrollton,
Georgia, is a 1,100-acre facility located in rural Hancock County. This site consists of four
clay-lined ponds, each 5 to 7 acres in size. The first of these ponds, called the North Pond,
was constructed for the disposal of spent pot linings from the aluminum reduction process.
Calcium fluoride slurry from the air quality control system also was disposed of in the North
Pond as well as in the second of these ponds, the South Pond. The East Pond received
calcium fluoride slurry from the South Pond, which was subsequently dewatered and closed
without any covering or lining. A new synthetically-line pond, called the New Pond, is now
used for disposal of the calcium fluoride slurry. In 1979, cyanide and fluoride were found to
be leaching into groundwater beneath the North Pond and also in the vicinity of the dump
pad where spent pot linings contaminated the soil. NSA also detected cyanide in one of its
three production wells, which were used as a drinking water source for more than 1,000 NSA
employees. The production wells have been taken out of service. In 1986, the North Pond
was closed and covered with a synthetic cap as ordered by the Kentucky Division of Waste
Management. Today, the North Pond is densely covered with vegetation. The EPA detected
significant levels of heavy metals in on-site groundwater and sediments in the facility's
effluent ditch. This effluent ditch flows along the west border of the facility, alongside the
disposal ponds, and into the Ohio River. Wells within 4 miles of the site draw water from the
Ohio River and serve approximately 16,000 people.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater beneath the disposal ponds, as well as in the soil around the
dump pad, is contaminated with cyanide and fluoride. Cyanide also was discovered
in one of NSA's production wells in 1985. Significant concentrations of cyanide,
arsenic, lead, and nickel were discovered in on-site groundwater and sediments of
the effluent ditch. The effluent ditch flows along the west border of the plant,
alongside the disposal ponds, and into the Ohio River.
30 March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two phases: immediate actions and one long-term remedial
phase focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: After the Kentucky Division of Waste Management
conducted a preliminary assessment in 1986, NSA closed the North Pond and
capped it with a synthetic cap and a layer of soil. The South Pond was closed in
1989. Production wells were taken out of service once contaminants were detected in the
drinking water supply of NSA employees.
Entire Site: The EPA is planning to undertake a study of the nature and extent
of contamination at the site. This study, expected to begin in mid-1992, will help
determine the best alternatives for cleanup at the site.
Site Facts: NSA currently operates under a permit issued through the EPA's National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. NSA has been cited twice by the EPA for exceeding
permit limits since 1987.
Environmental Progress
Immediate actions such as capping the North Pond and closing contaminated wells have
significantly reduced risks posed to the nearby population while EPA conducts additional
studies and plans cleanup activities.
Site Repository
Not established.
NATIONAL SOUTHWIRE ALUMINUM CO. 31 March 1992
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NEWPORT DUMP a, EPA REGION 4
A J£^\KJX^O>, Campbell County
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD985066380
Site Description
The 40-acre Newport Dump site was originally purchased by the City of Newport in the late
1940s and was used for disposal of residential and commercial wastes until its closure in 1979.
Trenching and area filling were the most common methods used to dispose of wastes at the
site. The Commonwealth of Kentucky started to require permits for landfills in 1968. The
City received a permit in 1969 to operate the site as a municipal sanitary landfill. During its
operation, the City was cited on numerous occasions for operational violations at the landfill
and for handling hazardous waste without a permit. Ownership of the site changed in 1979
from the City of Newport to the Northern Kentucky Port Authority (NKPA). Approximately
1,200 people reside within a 1-mile radius of the site. The nearby Licking River, which flows
into the Ohio River, is used for recreational activities. Use of groundwater in the vicinity of
the site is minimal, but approximately 250 feet downstream of the site, the Kenton County
water district maintains a raw water intake from the Licking River for the Taylor Mill Water
Treatment Plant. The water district serves residents of Kenton and Boone Counties with a
combined population of approximately 75,000 people.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions. Final Date: 09/23/83
Threats and Contaminants
IT
Contaminants in groundwater and surface water included heavy metals, volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from former
waste disposal activities. Soils on site were contaminated with heavy metals,
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), solvents, and PCBs from leachate and
runoff. Site closure activities completed to date have prevented the public from
coming in contact with landfill contaminants, although access to the site is not
restricted.
32 March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site was addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In efforts to comply with a 1980 Agreed Order, the NKPA
installed a leachate collection system, regraded portions of the site, constructed a
clay cap over the waste, and covered the area with vegetation. In response to
another Agreed Order, the NKPA completed a permanent vegetative cover of the site and
began designing a groundwater monitoring system. Operation and maintenance of the
leachate collection system continues.
Entire Site: The EPA implemented a monitoring program of surface water,
groundwater, and soil; restored and extended the leachate collection system; and
restored, regraded, and revegetated the existing clay cover. The site currently is
undergoing operation and maintenance activities, and the contamination concentrations are
below the standards set for the site. The EPA has initiated the process of deleting this site
from the NPL and will turn the operation and maintenance responsibilities over to the State.
A five-year review of the effectiveness of the remedy is currently underway.
Site Facts: In 1978, the City of Newport and the Kentucky Department of Natural
Resources and Environmental Protection (KDNREP) entered into an Agreed Order to bring
about closure of the site as a landfill. When ownership transferred from the City to the
NKPA in 1979, the NKPA was required to prepare the final closure plan for the site. In
1980, the NKPA and the KDNREP reached an Agreed Order requiring proper closure of the
site. A third Agreed Order superseding the previous orders was entered into by the NKPA
and the KDNREP in 1984.
Environmental Progress
All cleanup activities have been completed at the Newport Dump site. The area is now safe
to nearby residents and the environment while the EPA completes the final processes to
delete the site from the NPL and to transfer operation and maintenance responsibilities to
the State.
Site Repository
Kenton County Public Library, 3130 Dixie Highway, Erlanger, KY 41018
NEWPORT DUMP 33 March 1992
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RED PENN j&teA, EP* "E?ION 4
^f^V^Sii Oldham County
SAN ITATIO N ^^^^^^^^ 1/2 miles southeast of
COMPANY
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD981469794
Site Description —
The Red Penn Sanitation Company Landfill site covers approximately 150 acres. From 1954
to 1986, 85 acres of the site were used for waste disposal and the remaining 66 acres were
used as a borrow area. The site was licensed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a 40-acre
sanitary landfill in 1968 and operated until 1986, when the permit expired. The landfill was
first licensed by the Oldham County Health Department in 1959. From 1967 to 1974, 2,000
to 3,000 drums of "drawing solution" from a manufacturing facility were disposed of in the
permitted area of the landfill. The electromagnetic wire manufacturing process used by the
manufacturer generated wastes containing phenol, acids, xylene, and xylenol. An estimated
7,800 drums of paint waste and sludge from a truck plant were disposed of at Red Penn
Sanitation Company in a 5-year period beginning in 1968. In 1986, the Kentucky Division of
Waste Management was notified by one of the owners of Red Penn Sanitation Company that
suspected hazardous wastes, including drums, had been found at the site. Recent studies have
concluded that site contamination is localized and not likely to migrate beyond the immediate
landfill boundaries. Approximately 850 people obtain drinking water from wells within 3 miles
of the site. A public water intake is located about 250 feet downstream in Floyd's Fork, a
major stream bordering the landfill. The Peewee Bailey Women's Reformatory originally drew
water from this intake though currently it draws from the municipal water system. Creeks
that border the site currently are used for fishing, swimming, and livestock watering.
o-*« BA»»~_~-KT* TU- v • u • AA A^ u NPL LISTING HISTORY
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
34 March 1992
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Threats and Contaminants
2EJ
The groundwater is contaminated with low levels of the pesticides, aldrin and
chlordane. Soil is contaminated with heavy metals such as lead and chromium, and
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene and xylene from the drums
found on the site. A drainage ditch on the site is contaminated with
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and selenium. Trespassers and future cleanup
workers, if not adequately protected, may be exposed to contaminants in the waste
and surface soils through inhalation or accidental ingestion. People swimming,
wading, or fishing in the creeks might be exposed to contaminants through direct
contact. People who eat fish taken from the creeks, or consume milk or meat
products from nearby livestock, crops, or garden produce may be exposed to
contaminants. Recent studies have concluded that site contamination is localized
and not likely to migrate beyond the immediate landfill boundaries.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Approximately 220 tons of drums and soil were removed
from two areas on the property in 1986 during an immediate action financed by
the owners of the landfill.
Entire Site: A study is being conducted at the site to determine the extent and
types of any contamination present and to identify alternative actions for cleanup.
The study is scheduled to be completed in 1993, at which time the EPA will select
cleanup activities, expected to begin soon thereafter.
Environmental Progress
The immediate drum removal action described above has greatly reduced surface
contamination and limited the potential for exposure to contaminated materials at the Red
Penn Sanitation Company Landfill site while further investigations leading to the selection of
a final remedy are taking place. Site contamination is localized and not likely to migrate
beyond immediate landfill boundaries.
Site Repository
Not established.
RED PENN SANITATION COMPANY LANDFILL 35 March 1992
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SMITH'S FARM
KENTUCKY
EPA ID# KYD09726741
EPA REGION 4
Bullitt County
1/2 miles southwest of Shepherdsville
Site Description
The Smith's Farm site is a 460-acre area that includes a 37 1/2-acre landfill and over 30 acres
where unpermitted dumping occurred over a 30-year period. These two areas contain over
100,000 drums, many of which are buried or partly buried. Several leachate streams at the
site drain into an unnamed tributary and then into Bluelick Creek. More than 500 people live
within a 1-mile radius of the site. The nearest residence is less than 1/4 mile away, and a
trailer park is located south of the site. Area residents obtain drinking water from a public
water supply, private wells, and cisterns.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
Sediments and soil are contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
plastics, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals including arsenic,
chromium, lead, and nickel. Landfill leachate on site is contaminated with VOCs,
phenols, creosote compounds, and heavy metals. Shallow groundwater on site is
contaminated with VOCs and heavy metals, including barium, chromium, lead,
nickel, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Drinking or otherwise coming into contact with
contaminated surface water may present health hazards.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the drum disposal site and cleanup of the landfill and deeper
groundwater.
36
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1984, the EPA constructed access roads to make it
possible to retrieve drums and then staged and transported 2,000 drums off site.
Certain non-flammable hazardous materials were loaded into trucks and shipped
for off-site disposal. PCB-laden liquid was analyzed and properly disposed of. The EPA also
transported empty drums from the site. In 1988, the EPA sampled nearby water wells and
provided a temporary water supply to nearby residences. The EPA also installed fencing,
gates, and warning signs at all site entrances.
Drum Disposal Site: In 1989, the EPA selected incineration of wastes, soils, and
sediments for cleanup of the drum disposal site. However, the design investigation
in 1990 indicated that the volume of soil to be treated was much smaller than
previously determined. In 1991, the EPA modified the 1989 remedy to substitute chemical
treatment for incineration. The parties potentially responsible for the site contamination
completed the design of the modified remedy in early 1992. Cleanup activities began in 1992.
Groundwater in the unpermitted drum disposal area will continue to be monitored every 5
years.
Landfill and Deeper Groundwater: A study conducted by the potentially
responsible parties currently is underway to determine the type and extent of
contamination at the permitted landfill, in the deeper groundwater, and in
additional suspected areas along the largest stream on site. The study will evaluate the
alternative technologies for cleanup and is scheduled to be completed in 1992.
Site Facts: The landfill's permit application was allowed to expire by the Commonwealth of
Kentucky in 1989. One potentially responsible party signed a Consent Order in 1989 to
conduct a study of the contamination at the permitted landfill and in the groundwater. A
Unilateral Administrative Order was issued by the EPA March 15, 1990, governing design and
cleanup actions at the drum disposal site by the potentially responsible parties.
Environmental Progress
The immediate drum removal actions and the provision of a temporary safe water supply to
affected residents have greatly reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous substances
while further investigations and long-term cleanup activities take place at the Smith's Farm
site.
Site Repository
Bullitt County Public Library, Ridgeway Memorial Library, Second and Walnut Streets,
Shepherdsville, KY 40165
SMITH'S FARM 37 March 1992
-------
TRI-CITY INDUSTRIAEfes, EPAB *ErGION 4
,rt£±CjAJOo£r2H Bullitt County
DISPOSAL sne~"
KENTUCKY
EPA ID#KYD981028350
Site Description
The Tri-City Industrial Disposal Company operated a 57-acre industrial landfill at this 349-
acre site. From 1964 to late 1967, wastes from industries in the Louisville area were accepted
including scrap lumber, fiberglass insulation materials, and liquid wastes. In 1968, State
officials reported that highly volatile liquid wastes resembling paint thinners were disposed of
on site. A 1968 aerial photograph suggests that several hundred drums were on the surface
and several others were buried. During the landfill's operation, no State or Federal permit
was required. In 1987, the Kentucky Division of Waste Management (KDWM) detected
organic contaminants in groundwater and soil samples taken from the site. Several residences
are located on and adjacent to the former disposal areas; a portion of the site is used for
agricultural purposes such as pastures and small gardens. Approximately 1,600 people obtain
drinking water from springs and wells within 3 miles of the site. All surface drainage flows
south where it enters Brushy Fork of Knob Creek. This creek is 2,200 feet downslope of the
site and is used for livestock watering and recreational activities.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions. Final Date. 03/31/89
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Threats and Contaminants
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were found in groundwater and two springs.
One sediment sample from a tributary to Knob Creek was contaminated with
heavy metals such as lead, chromium, and mercury. These contaminants pose a
threat to the aquatic biota of Knob Creek. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
heavy metals, various organic compounds, and creosotes have been found in site
soils. Drinking or coming into contact with contaminated water threatens the
health of the nearby population. However, the water from the springs is no longer
used as a drinking water source. The EPA has supplied three residences with an
alternate water supply.
38 March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: emergency actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: The EPA provided an alternate water source to three
area families and transported all excavated drums and contaminated soil off site
in 1988.
Entire Site: The EPA selected a final cleanup strategy in 1991 which includes:
sampling of additional areas and treatment of groundwater. The EPA will select
additional cleanup activities if sampling indicates contamination in areas not
currently being addressed. The potentially responsible parties began designing the selected
remedy in early 1992.
Environmental Progress
The provision of an alternate water supply and excavation of contaminated drums and soil
have reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous materials at the Tri-City Industrial
Disposal Co. site while further studies and long-term cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Bullitt County Public Library, Ridgeway Memorial Library, Second and Walnut Streets,
Shepherdsville, KY 40165
TRI-CITY DISPOSAL CO.
39
March 1992
-------
GLOSSARY
Terms Used in the NPL Book
This glossary defines terms used throughout the NPL Volumes. The terms and
abbreviations contained in this glossary apply specifically to work performed
under the Superfund program in the context of hazardous waste management. These
terms may have other meanings when used in a different context. A table of common
toxic chemicals found at NPL sites, their sources, and their potential threats is located
on page G-15
Acids: Substances, characterized by low pH
(less than 7.0), that are used in chemical manu-
facturing. Acids in high concentration can be
very corrosive and react with many inorganic
and organic substances. These reactions possi-
bly may create toxic compounds or release
heavy metal contaminants that remain in the
environment long after the acid is neutralized.
Administrative Order On Consent: A
legal and enforceable agreement between the
EPA and the parties potentially responsible for
site contamination. Under the terms of the
Order, the potentially responsible parties (PRPs)
agree to perform or pay for site studies or
cleanups. It also describes the oversight rules,
responsibilities, and enforcement options that
the government may exercise in the event of
non-compliance by potentially responsible
parties. This Order is signed by PRPs and the
government; it does not require approval by a
judge.
Administrative Order [Unilateral]: A
legally binding document issued by the EPA,
directing the parries potentially responsible to
perform site cleanups or studies (generally, the
EPA does not issue Unilateral Orders for site
studies). This type of Order is not signed by the
PRPs and does not require approval by a judge.
Aeration: A process that promotes breakdown
of contaminants in soil or water by exposing
them to air.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Dis-
ease Registry (ATSDR): The Federal
agency within the U.S. Public Health Service
charged with carrying out the health-related
responsibilities of CERCLA.
Air Stripping: A process whereby volatile
organic chemicals (VOCs) are removed from
contaminated material by forcing a stream of air
through the contaminated material in a pressur-
ized vessel. The contaminants are evaporated
into the air stream. The air may be further
treated before it is released into the atmosphere.
Ambient Air: Any unconfined part of the
atmosphere. Refers to the air that may be
inhaled by workers or residents in the vicinity of
contaminated air sources.
Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate
Requirements (ARARs): Federal, State, or
local laws which apply to Superfund activities at
NPL sites. Both emergency and long-term
actions must comply with these laws or provide
sound reasons for allowing a waiver. ARARs
must be identified for each site relative to the
characteristics of the site, the substances found
at the site, or the cleanup alternatives being
considered for the site.
G-1
-------
GLOSSARY
Aquifer: An underground layer of rock, sand,
or gravel capable of storing water within cracks
and pore spaces, or between grains. When
water contained within an aquifer is of sufficient
quantity and quality, it can be tapped and used
for drinking or other purposes. The water
contained in the aquifer is called groundwater.
A "sole source aquifer" supplies 50 percent or
more of the drinking water of an area.
Artesian (Well): A well made by drilling into
the earth until water is reached, which, due to
internal pressure, flows up like a fountain.
Asbestos: A mineral fiber that can pollute air
or water and is known to cause cancer or
asbestosis when inhaled.
Attenuation: The naturally occurring process
by which a compound is reduced in concentra-
tion over time through adsorption, degradation,
dilution, or transformation.
Background Level: The amount of a sub-
stance typically found in the air, water, or soil
from natural, as opposed to human, sources.
Baghouse Dust: Dust accumulated in
removing particulates from the air by passing it
through cloth bags in an enclosure.
Bases: Substances characterized by high pH
(greater than 7.0), which tend to be corrosive in
chemical reactions. When bases are mixed with
acids, they neutralize each other, forming salts.
Berm: A ledge, wall, or a mound of earth used
to prevent the migration of contaminants.
Bioaccumulate: The process by which some
contaminants or toxic chemicals gradually
collect and increase in concentration in living
tissue, such as in plants, fish, or people, as they
breathe contaminated air, drink contaminated
water, or eat contaminated food.
Biological Treatment: The use of bacteria
or other microbial organisms to break down
toxic organic materials into carbon dioxide and
water.
Bioremediation: A cleanup process using
naturally occurring or specially cultivated
microorganisms to digest contaminants and
break them down into non-hazardous compo-
nents.
Bog: A type of wetland that is covered with
peat moss deposits. Bogs depend primarily on
moisture from the air for their water source, are
usually acidic, and are rich in plant residue [see
Wetland].
Boom: A floating device used to contain oil
floating on a body of water or to restrict the
potential overflow of waste liquids from
containment structures.
Borehole: A hole that is drilled into the
ground and used to sample soil or ground-water.
Borrow Pit: An excavated area where soil,
sand, or gravel has been dug up for use else-
where.
Cap: A layer of material, such as clay or a
synthetic material, used to prevent rainwater
from penetrating and spreading contaminated
materials. The surface of the cap generally is
mounded or sloped so water will drain off.
Carbon Adsorption: A treatment system in
which contaminants are removed from ground-
water and surface water by forcing water
through tanks containing activated carbon, a
specially treated material that attracts and holds
or retains contaminants.
Carbon Disulfide: A degreasing agent
formerly used extensively for parts washing.
This compound has both inorganic and organic
G-2
-------
GLOSSARY
properties, which increase cleaning efficiency.
However, these properties also cause chemical
reactions that increase the hazard to human
health and the environment.
Carbon Treatment: [see Carbon Adsorp-
tion],
Cell: In solid waste disposal, one of a series of
holes in a landfill where waste is dumped,
compacted, and covered with layers of dirt.
CERCLA: [see Comprehensive Environmen-
tal Response, Compensation, and Liability Act].
Characterization: The sampling, monitoring,
and analysis of a site to determine the extent and
nature of toxic releases. Characterization
provides the basis for acquiring the necessary
technical information to develop, screen, ana-
lyze, and select appropriate cleanup techniques.
Chemical Fixation: The use of chemicals to
bind contaminants, thereby reducing the poten-
tial for leaching or other movement.
Chromated Copper Arsenate: An insecti-
cide/herbicide formed from salts of three toxic
metals: copper, chromium, and arsenic. This
salt is used extensively as a wood preservative
in pressure-treating operations. It is highly toxic
and water-soluble, making it a relatively mobile
contaminant in the environment
Cleanup: Actions taken to eliminate a release
or threat of release of a hazardous substance.
The term "cleanup" sometimes is used inter-
changeably with the terms remedial action,
removal action, response action, or corrective
action.
Closure: The process by which a landfill stops
accepting wastes and is shut down under Federal
guidelines that ensure the protection of the
public and the environment,
Comment Period: A specific interval during
which the public can review and comment on
various documents and EPA actions related to
site cleanup. For example, a comment period is
provided when the EPA proposes to add sites to
the NPL. Also, there is minimum 3-week
comment period for community members to
review and comment on the remedy proposed to
clean up a site.
Community Relations: The EPA effort to
establish and maintain two-way communication
with the public. The goals of community
relations programs include creating an under-
standing of EPA programs and related actions,
assuring public input into decision-making
processes related to affected communities, and
making certain that the Agency is aware of, and
responsive to, public concerns. Specific com-
munity relations activities are required in
relation to Superfund cleanup actions [see
Comment Period].
Comprehensive Environmental Re-
sponse, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA): Congress enacted the
CERCLA, known as Superfund, in 1980 to
respond directly to hazardous waste problems
that may pose a threat to the public health and
the environment. The EPA administers the
Superfund program.
Confluence: The place where two bodies of
water, such as streams or rivers, come together.
Confined Aquifer: An aquifer in which
groundwater is confined under pressure that is
significantly greater than atmospheric pressure.
G-3
-------
GLOSSARY
Consent Decree: A legal document, ap-
proved and issued by a judge, formalizing an
agreement between the EPA and the parties
potentially responsible for site contamination.
The decree describes cleanup actions that the
potentially responsible parties are required to
perform, or the costs incurred by the govern-
ment that the parties will reimburse, and the
roles, responsibilities, and enforcement options
that the government may exercise in the event of
non-compliance by potentially responsible
parties. If a settlement between the EPA and a
potentially responsible party includes cleanup
actions, it must be in the form of a Consent
Decree. A Consent Decree is subject to a public
comment period.
Consent Order: [see Administrative Order
on Consent].
Containment: The process of enclosing or
containing hazardous substances in a structure,
typically in a pond or a lagoon, to prevent the
migration of contaminants into the environment.
Contaminant: Any physical, chemical,
biological, or radiological material or substance
whose quantity, location, or nature produces
undesirable health or environmental effects.
Contingency Plan: A document setting
out an organized, planned, and coordinated
course of action to be followed in case of a
fire, explosion, or other accident that releases
toxic chemicals, hazardous wastes, or radioac-
tive materials into the environment.
Cooperative Agreement: A contract
between the EPA and the States, wherein a State
agrees to manage or monitor certain site cleanup
responsibilities and other activities on a cost-
sharing basis.
Cost Recovery: A legal process by which
potentially responsible parties can be required
to pay back the Superfund program for money
it spends on any cleanup actions [see Poten-
tially Responsible Parties].
Cover: Vegetation or other material placed
over a landfill or other waste material. It can
be designed to reduce movement of water into
the waste and to prevent erosion that could
cause the movement of contaminants.
Creosotes: Chemicals used in wood pre-
serving operations and produced by distilla-
tion of tar, including polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons and polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons [see PAHs and PNAs]. Con-
taminating sediments, soils, and surface
water, creosotes may cause skin ulcerations
and cancer through prolonged exposure.
Culvert: A pipe used for drainage under a
road, railroad track, path, or through an embank-
ment.
Decommission: To revoke a license to
operate and take out of service.
Degradation: The process by which a chemi-
cal is reduced to a less complex form.
Degrease: To remove grease from wastes,
soils, or chemicals, usually using solvents.
Deletion: A site is eligible for deletion from
the NPL when Superfund response actions at the
site are complete. A site is deleted from the
NPL when a notice is published in the Federal
Register.
De minimis: This legal phrase pertains to
settlements with parties who contributed small
amounts of hazardous waste to a site. This
process allows the EPA to settle with small, or
de minimis contributors, as a single group rather
than as individuals, saving time, money, and
effort.
Dewater: To remove water from wastes, soils,
or chemicals.
G-4
-------
GLOSSARY
Dike: A low wall that can act as a barrier to
prevent a spill from spreading.
Dioxin: An organic chemical by-product of
pesticide manufacture which is known to be one
of the most toxic man-made chemicals.
Disposal: Final placement or destruction of
toxic, radioactive, or other wastes; surplus or
banned pesticides or other chemicals; polluted
soils; and drums containing hazardous materials.
Disposal may be accomplished through the use
of approved secure landfills, surface impound-
ments, land farming, deep well injection, or
incineration.
Downgradient: A downward hydrologic
slope that causes groundwater to move toward
lower elevations. Therefore, wells dow.ngradi-
ent of a contaminated groundwater source are
prone to receiving pollutants.
Ecological Assessment: A study of the
impact of man-made or natural activity on living
creatures and their environment
Effluent: Wastewater, treated or untreated,
that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or
industrial outfall. Generally refers to wastes
discharged into surface waters.
Emission: Pollution discharged into the
atmosphere from smokestacks, other vents, and
surface areas of commercial or industrial facili-
ties.
Emulsifiers: Substances that help in mixing
materials that do not normally mix; e.g., oil and
water.
Endangerment Assessment: A study
conducted to determine the risks posed to public
health or the environment by contamination at
NPL sites. The EPA or the State conducts the
study when a legal action is to be taken to direct
the potentially responsible parties to clean up a
site or pay for the cleanup. An endangerment
assessment supplements an investigation of the
site hazards.
Enforcement: EPA, State, or local legal
actions taken against parties to facilitate
settlements; to compel compliance with laws,
rules, regulations, or agreements; or to obtain
penalties or criminal sanctions for violations.
Enforcement procedures may vary, depending
on the specific requirements of different
environmental laws and related regulatory
requirements. Under CERCLA, for example,
the EPA will seek to require potentially
responsible parties to clean up a Superfund
site or pay for the cleanup [see Cost Recov-
ery],
Erosion: The wearing away of land surface
by wind or water. Erosion occurs naturally
from weather or surface runoff, but can be
intensified by such land-related practices as
farming, residential or industrial develop-
ment, road building, or timber-cutting. Ero-
sion may spread surface contamination to off-
site locations.
Estuary (estuarine): Areas where fresh
water from rivers and salt water from
nearshore ocean waters are mixed. These
areas may include bays, mouths of rivers, salt
marshes, and lagoons. These water ecosys-
tems shelter and feed marine life, birds, and
wildlife.
Evaporation Ponds: Areas where sewage
sludge or other watery wastes are dumped and
allowed to dry out.
Feasibility Study: The analysis of the
potential cleanup alternatives for a site. The
feasibility study usually starts as soon as the
remedial investigation is underway. In this
volume, the feasibility study is referred to as a
site study [see also Remedial Investigation].
G-5
-------
GLOSSARY
Filtration: A treatment process for remov-
ing solid (participate) matter from water by
passing the water through sand, activated
carbon, or a man-made filter. The process is
often used to remove particles that contain
contaminants.
Flood Plain: An area along a river, formed
from sediment deposited by floods. Flood
plains periodically are innundated by natural
floods, which can spread contamination.
Flue Gas: The air that is emitted from a
chimney after combustion in the burner
occurs. The gas can include nitrogen oxides,
carbon oxides, water vapor, sulfur oxides,
particles, and many chemical pollutants.
Fly Ash: Non-combustible residue that results
from the combustion of flue gases. It can
include nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, water
vapor, sulfur oxides, as well as many other
chemical pollutants.
French Drain System: A crushed rock drain
system constructed of perforated pipes, which is
used to drain and disperse wastewater.
Gasification (coal): The conversion of soft
coal into gas for use as a fuel.
General Notice Letter: [See Notice Letter].
Generator: A facility that emits pollutants
into the air or releases hazardous wastes into
water or soil.
Good Faith Offer: A voluntary offer, gener-
ally in response to a Special Notice letter, made
by a potentially responsible party, consisting of
a written proposal demonstrating a potentially
responsible party's qualifications and willing-
ness to perform a site study or cleanup.
Groundwater: Water that fills pores in soils
or openings in rocks to the point of saturation.
In aquifers, groundwater occurs in sufficient
quantities for use as drinking and irrigation
water and other purposes.
Groundwater Quality Assessment: The
process of analyzing the chemical characteris-
tics of groundwater to determine whether any
hazardous materials exist.
Halogens: Reactive non-metals, such as
chlorine and bromine. Halogens are very
good oxidizing agents and, therefore, have
many industrial uses. They are rarely found
by themselves; however, many chemicals
such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
some volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
and dioxin are reactive because of the pres-
ence of halogens.
Hazard Ranking System (HRS): The
principal screening tool used by the EPA to
evaluate relative risks to public health and the
environment associated with abandoned or
uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The HRS
calculates a score based on the potential of
hazardous substances spreading from the site
through the air, surface water, or groundwater
and on other factors such as nearby popula-
tion. The HRS score is the primary factor in
deciding if the site should be on the NPL.
Hazardous Waste: By-products of society
that can pose a substantial present or potential
hazard to human health and the environment
when improperly managed. Hazardous waste
possesses at least one of four characteristics
(ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxic-
ity), or appears on special EPA lists.
Heavy Metals: Metallic elements with high
atomic weights, such as arsenic, lead, mercury,
and cadmium. Heavy metals are very hazardous
even at low concentrations and tend to accumu-
late in the food chain.
Herbicide: A chemical pesticide designed to
control or destroy plants, weeds, or grasses.
G-6
-------
GLOSSARY
Hot Spot: An area or vicinity of a site contain-
ing exceptionally high levels of contamination.
Hydrocarbons: Chemical compounds that
consist entirely of hydrogen and carbon.
Hydrology: The properties, distribution, and
circulation of water.
Hydrogeology: The geology of groundwater,
with particular emphasis on the chemistry and
movement of water.
Impoundment: A body of water or sludge
confined by a dam, dike, floodgate, or other
barrier.
Incineration: A group of treatment technolo-
gies involving destruction of waste by controlled
burning at high temperatures, e.g., burning
sludge to reduce the remaining residues to a
non-burnable ash that can be disposed of safely
on land, in some waters, or in underground
locations.
Infiltration: The movement of water or
other liquid down through soil from precipita-
tion (rain or snow) or from application of
wastewater to the land surface.
Influent: Water, wastewater, or other liquid
flowing into a reservoir, basin, or treatment
plant.
Injection Well: A well into which waste
fluids are placed, under pressure, for purposes
of disposal.
Inorganic Chemicals: Chemical sub-
stances of mineral origin, not of basic carbon
structure.
Installation Restoration Program: The
specially funded program established in 1978
under which the Department of Defense has
been identifying and evaluating its hazardous
waste sites and controlling the migration of
hazardous contaminants from those sites.
Intake: The source from where a water supply
is drawn, such as from a river or water body.
Interagency Agreement: A written agree-
ment between the EPA and a Federal agency
that has the lead for site cleanup activities,
setting forth the roles and responsibilities of the
agencies for performing and overseeing the
activities. States often are parties to interagency
agreements.
Interim (Permit) Status: Conditions under
which hazardous waste treatment, storage,
and disposal facilities, that were operating
when regulations under the RCRA became
final in 1980, are temporarily allowed by the
EPA to continue to operate while awaiting
denial or issuance of a permanent permit. The
facility must comply with certain regulations
to maintain interim status.
Lagoon: A shallow pond or liquid waste
containment structure. Lagoons typically are
used for the storage of wastewaters, sludges,
liquid wastes, or spent nuclear fuel
Landfarm: To apply waste to land or incor-
porate waste into the surface soil, such as
fertilizer or soil conditioner. This practice
commonly is used for disposal of composted
wastes and sludges.
Landfill: A disposal facility where waste is
placed in or on land. Sanitary landfills are
disposal sites for non-hazardous solid wastes.
The waste is spread in layers, compacted to the
smallest practical volume, and covered with soil
at the end of each operating day. Secure chemi-
cal landfills are disposal sites for hazardous
waste. They are designed to minimize the
chance of release of hazardous substances into
the environment [see Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act].
Leach, Leaching [v.t.]: The process by
which soluble chemical components are dis-
solved and carried through soil by water or
some other percolating liquid.
G-7
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GLOSSARY
Leachate [n]: The liquid that trickles through
or drains from waste, carrying soluble compo-
nents from the waste.
Leachate Collection System: A system
that gathers liquid that has leaked into a landfill
or other waste disposal area and pumps it to the
surface for treatment.
Liner: A relatively impermeable barrier
designed to prevent leachate (waste residue)
from leaking from a landfill. Liner materials
include plastic and dense clay.
Long-term Remedial Phase: Distinct,
often incremental, steps that are taken to solve
site pollution problems. Depending on the
complexity, site cleanup activities can be
separated into several of these phases.
Long-term Response Action: An action
which requires a continuous period of on-site
activity before cleanup goals are achieved.
These actions typically include the extraction
and treatment of groundwater and monitoring
actions.
Marsh: A type of wetland that does not
contain peat moss deposits and is dominated by
vegetation. Marshes may be either fresh or
saltwater and tidal or non-tidal [see Wetland].
Migration: The movement of oil, gas, con-
taminants, water, or other liquids through porous
and permeable soils or rock.
Mill Tailings: [See Mine Tailings].
Mine Tailings: A fine, sandy residue left from
mining operations. Tailings often contain high
concentrations of lead, uranium, and arsenic or
other heavy metals.
Mitigation: Actions taken to improve site
conditions by limiting, reducing, or controlling
toxicity and contamination sources.
Modeling: A technique using a mathematical
or physical representation of a system or theory
that tests the effects that changes on system
components have on the overall performance of
the system.
Monitoring Wells: Special wells drilled at
specific locations within, or surrounding, a
hazardous waste site where groundwater can be
sampled at selected depths and studied to obtain
such information as the direction in which
groundwater flows and the types and amounts of
contaminates present.
National Priorities List (NPL): The
EPA's list of the most serious uncontrolled or
abandoned hazardous waste sites identified
for possible long-term cleanup under Super-
fund. The EPA is required to update the NPL
at least once a year.
Natural Attenuation: [See Attenuation].
Neutrals: Organic compounds that have a
relatively neutral pH, complex structure and,
due to their organic bases, are easily absorbed
into the environment. Water is the most
commonly known neutral, however, naphtha-
lene, pyrene, and trichlorobenzene also are
examples of neutrals.
Nitroaromatics: Common components of
explosive materials, which will explode if
activated by very high temperatures or pres-
sures; 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a
nitroaromatic.
Notice Letter: A General Notice Letter
notifies the parties potentially responsible for
site contamination of their possible liability. A
Special Notice Letter begins a 60-day formal
period of negotiation during which the EPA is
not allowed to start work at a site or initiate
enforcement actions against potentially respon-
sible parties, although the EPA may undertake
certain investigatory and planning activities.
G-8
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GLOSSARY
The 60-day period may be extended if the EPA
receives a good faith offer from the PRPs
within that period. [See also Good Faith Offer].
On-Scene Coordinator (OSC): The
predesignated EPA, Coast Guard, or Depart-
ment of Defense official who coordinates and
directs Superfund removal actions or Clean
Water Act oil- or hazardous-spill corrective
actions.
Operation and Maintenance: Activities
conducted at a site after a cleanup action is
completed to ensure that the cleanup or
containment system is functioning properly.
Organic Chemicals/Compounds:
Chemical substances containing mainly
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Outfall: The place where wastewater is
discharged into receiving waters.
Overpacking: Process used for isolating
large volumes of waste by jacketing or encap-
sulating waste to prevent further spread or
leakage of contaminating materials. Leaking
drums may be contained within oversized
barrels as an interim measure prior to removal
and final disposal.
Pentachlorophenol (PCP): A synthetic,
modified petrochemical that may be used as a
wood preservative because of its toxicity to
termites and fungi. It is a common component
of creosotes and can cause cancer.
Perched (groundwater): Groundwater
separated from another underlying body of
groundwater by a confining layer, often clay or
rock.
Percolation: The downward flow or filtering
of water or other liquids through subsurface
rock or soil layers, usually continuing down-
ward to groundwater.
Pesticide: A substance or mixture of sub-
stances intended to prevent, destroy, or repel any
pest. If misused, pesticides can accumulate in
the foodchain and contaminate the environment.
Petrochemicals: Chemical substances
produced from petroleum in refinery operations
and as fuel oil residues. These include
fluoranthene, chrysene, mineral spirits, and
refined oils. Petrochemicals are the bases from
which volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
plastics, and many pesticides are made. These
chemical substances often are toxic to humans
and the environment.
Phenols: Organic compounds that are used in
plastics manufacturing and are by-products of
petroleum refining, tanning, textile, dye, and
resin manufacturing. Phenols are highly poison-
ous.
Physical Chemical Separation: The
treatment process of adding a chemical to a
substance to separate the compounds for further
treatment or disposal.
Pilot Testing: A small-scale test of a pro-
posed treatment system in the field to determine
its ability to clean up specific contaminants.
Plugging: The process of stopping the flow of
water, oil, or gas into or out of the ground
through a borehole or well penetrating the
ground.
Plume: A body of contaminated groundwater
flowing from a specific source. The movement
of the groundwater is influenced by such factors
as local groundwater flow patterns, the character
of the aquifer in which groundwater is con-
tained, and the density of contaminants [see
Migration].
Pollution: Generally, the presence of matter
or energy whose nature, location, or quantity
produces undesired health or environmental
effects.
G-9
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GLOSSARY
Poly cyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons or
Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs):
PAHs, such as pyrene, are a group of highly
reactive organic compounds found in motor oil.
They are a common component of creosotes and
can cause cancer.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): A
group of toxic chemicals used for a variety of
purposes including electrical applications,
carbonless copy paper, adhesives, hydraulic
fluids, microscope immersion oils, and caulking
compounds. PCBs also are produced in certain
combustion processes. PCBs are extremely
persistent in the environment because they are
very stable, non-reactive, and highly heat
resistant. Chronic exposure to PCBs is believed
to cause liver damage. It also is known to
bioaccumulate in fatty tissues. PCB use and
sale was banned in 1979 with the passage of the
Toxic Substances Control Act.
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
(PNAs): PNAs, such as naphthalene, and
biphenyls, are a group of highly reactive organic
compounds that are a common component of
creosotes, which can be carcinogenic.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): A plastic made
from the gaseous substance vinyl chloride. PVC
is used to make pipes, records, raincoats, and
floor tiles. Health risks from high concentra-
tions of vinyl chloride include liver cancer and
lung cancer, as well as cancer of the lymphatic
and nervous systems.
Potable Water: Water that is safe for drink-
ing and cooking.
Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs):
Parties associated with a Superfund site who
may be liable for the cost of remedying the
release of hazardous substances. This may
include owners or operators of the site or trans-
porters who disposed of materials at the site.
PRPs may admit liability, or liability may be
determined by a court of law. PRPs may sign a
Consent Decree or Administrative Order on
Consent to participate in the site cleanup without
admitting liability.
Precipitation: The removal of solids from
liquid waste so that the solid and liquid portions
can be disposed of safely; the removal of
particles from airborne emissions. Electro-
chemical precipitation is the use of an anode or
cathode to remove the hazardous chemicals.
Chemical precipitation involves the addition of
some substance to cause the solid portion to
separate.
Preliminary Assessment: The process of
collecting and reviewing available information
about a known or suspected waste site or release
to determine if a threat or potential threat exists.
Pump and Treat: A groundwater cleanup
technique involving the extracting of contami-
nated groundwater from the subsurface and the
removal of contaminants, using one of several
treatment technologies.
Radionuclldes: Elements, including radium
and uranium-235 and -238, which break down
and produce radioactive substances due to their
unstable atomic structure. Some are man-made,
and others are naturally occurring in the envi-
ronment. Radon, the gaseous form of radium,
decays to form alpha particle radiation, which
cannot be absorbed through skin. However, it
can be inhaled, which allows alpha particles to
affect unprotected tissues directly and thus cause
cancer. Radiation also occurs naturally through
the breakdown of granite.
RCRA: [See Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act].
Recharge Area: A land area where rainwater
saturates the ground and soaks through the earth
to reach an aquifer.
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GLOSSARY
Record of Decision (ROD): A public
document that explains which cleanup
alternative(s) will be used to clean up sites
listed on the NPL. It is based on information
generated during the remedial investigation
and feasibility study and consideration of
public comments and community concerns.
Recovery Wells: Wells used to withdraw
contaminants or contaminated groundwater.
Recycle: The process of minimizing waste
generation by recovering usable products that
might otherwise become waste.
Remedial Action (RA): The actual con-
struction or implementation phase of a
Superfund site cleanup following the remedial
design [see Cleanup].
Remedial Design: A phase of site cleanup
where engineers design the technical specifi-
cations for cleanup remedies and technolo-
gies.
Remedial Investigation: An in-depth
study designed to gather the data necessary to
determine the nature and extent of contamina-
tion at a Superfund site, establish the criteria
for cleaning up the site, identify the prelimi-
nary alternatives for cleanup actions, and
support the technical and cost analyses of the
alternatives. The remedial investigation is
usually done with the feasibility study. In this
volume, the remedial investigation is referred
to as a site study [see also Feasibility Study].
Remedial Project Manager (RPM): The
EPA or State official responsible for oversee-
ing cleanup actions at the site.
Remedy Selection: The selection of the
final cleanup strategy for the site. At the few
sites where the EPA has determined that
initial response actions have eliminated site
contamination, or that any remaining con-
tamination will be naturally dispersed without
further cleanup activities, a "No Action"
remedy is selected [see Record of Decision].
Removal Action: Short-term immediate
actions taken to address releases of hazardous
substances [see Cleanup].
Residual: The amount of a pollutant re-
maining in the environment after a natural or
technological process has taken place, e.g.,
the sludge remaining after initial wastewater
treatment, or the particulates remaining in air
after the air passes through a scrubber.
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA): A Federal law that established
a regulatory system to track hazardous sub-
stances from the time of generation to dis-
posal. The law requires safe and secure
procedures to be used in treating, transport-
ing, storing, and disposing of hazardous
substances. RCRA is designed to prevent
new, uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
Retention Pond: A small body of liquid
used for disposing of wastes and containing
overflow from production facilities. Some-
times retention ponds are used to expand the
capacity of such structures as lagoons the
store waste.
Runoff: The discharge of water over land
into surface water. It can carry pollutants
from the air and land and spread contaminants
from its source.
Scrubber: An air pollution control device
that uses a spray of water or reactant or a dry
process to trap pollutants in emissions.
Sediment: The layer of soil, sand, and
minerals at the bottom of surface waters such
as streams, lakes, and rivers, that absorbs
contaminants.
G-11
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GLOSSARY
Seeps: Specific points where releases of
liquid, usually leachate, form from waste
disposal areas, particularly along the lower
edges of landfills.
Seepage Pits: A hole, shaft, or cavity in
the ground used for the storage of liquids,
usually in the form of leachate, from waste
disposal areas. The liquid gradually leaves
the pit by moving through the surrounding
soil.
Septage: Residue remaining in a septic tank
after the treatment process.
Sinkhole: A hollow depression in the land
surface in which drainage collects; associated
with underground caves and passages that
facilitate the movement of liquids.
Site Characterization: The technical pro-
cess used to evaluate the nature and extent of
environmental contamination, which is neces-
sary for choosing and designing cleanup mea-
sures and monitoring their effectiveness.
Site Inspection: The collection of informa-
tion from a hazardous waste site to determine
the extent and severity of hazards posed by the
site. It follows, and is more extensive than, a
preliminary assessment. The purpose is to
gather information necessary to score the site,
using the Hazard Ranking System, and to
determine if the site presents an immediate
threat that requires a prompt removal action.
Slag: The fused refuse or dross separated
from a metal in the process of smelting.
Sludge: Semi-solid residues from industrial
or water treatment processes that may be
contaminated with hazardous materials.
Slurry Wall: Barriers used to contain the flow
of contaminated groundwater or subsurface
liquids. Slurry walls are constructed by digging
a trench around a contaminated area and filling
the trench with an impermeable material that
prevents water from passing through it The
groundwater or contaminated liquids trapped
within the area surrounded by the slurry wall
can be extracted and treated.
Smelter: A facility that melts or fuses ore,
often with an accompanying chemical change,
to separate the metal. Emissions from smelters
are known to cause pollution.
Soil Gas: Gaseous elements and compounds
that occur in the small spaces between par-
ticles of soil. Such gases can move through
or leave the soil or rock, depending on
changes in pressure.
Soil Vapor Extraction: A treatment
process that uses vacuum wells to remove
hazardous gases from soil.
Soil Washing: A water-based process for
mechanically scrubbing soils in-place to remove
undesirable materials. There are two ap-
proaches: dissolving or suspending them in the
wash solution for later treatment by conven-
tional methods, and concentrating them into a
smaller volume of soil through simple particle
size separation techniques [see Solvent Extrac-
tion].
Stabilization: The process of changing an
active substance into inert, harmless material,
or physical activities at a site that act to limit
the further spread of contamination without
actual reduction of toxicity.
Solidification/Stabilization: A chemical
or physical reduction of the mobility of
hazardous constituents. Mobility is reduced
through the binding of hazardous constituents
into a solid mass with low permeability and
resistance to leaching.
G-12
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GLOSSARY
Solvent: A substance capable of dissolving
another substance to form a solution. The
primary uses of industrial solvents are as
cleaners for degreasing, in paints, and in
Pharmaceuticals. Many solvents are flam-
mable and toxic to varying degrees.
Solvent Extraction: A means of separating
hazardous contaminants from soils, sludges,
and sediment, thereby reducing the volume of
the hazardous waste that must be treated. It
generally is used as one in a series of unit
operations. An organic chemical is used to
dissolve contaminants as opposed to water-
based compounds, which usually are used in
soil washing.
Sorption: The action of soaking up or
attracting substances. It is used in many
pollution control systems.
Special Notice Letter: [See Notice Let-
ter].
StillbOttom: Residues left over from the
process of recovering spent solvents.
Stripping: A process used to remove volatile
contaminants from a substance [see Air Strip-
ping].
Sumps: A pit or tank that catches liquid
runoff for drainage or disposal.
Superf und: The program operated under the
legislative authority of the CERCLA and
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act (SARA) to update and improve environ-
mental laws. The program has the authority to
respond directly to releases or threatened re-
leases of hazardous substances that may endan-
ger public health, welfare, or the environment
The "Superfund" is a trust fund that finances
cleanup actions at hazardous waste sites.
Surge Tanks: A holding structure used to
absorb irregularities in flow of liquids, including
liquid waste materials.
Swamp: A type of wetland that is dominated
by woody vegetation and does not accumulate
peat moss deposits. Swamps may be fresh or
saltwater and tidal or non-tidal [see Wetlands].
Thermal Treatment: The use of heat to
remove or destroy contaminants from soil.
Treatability Studies: Testing a treatment
method on contaminated groundwater, soil, etc.,
to determine whether and how well the method
will work.
Trichloroethylene (TCE): A stable, color-
less liquid with a low boiling point. TCE has
many industrial applications, including use as
a solvent and as a metal degreasing agent.
TCE may be toxic to people when inhaled,
ingested, or through skin contact and can
damage vital organs, especially the liver [see
Volatile Organic Compounds].
Unilateral [Administrative] Order: [see
Administrative Order],
Upgradient: An upward hydrologic slope;
demarks areas that are higher than contaminated
areas and, therefore, are not prone to contamina-
tion by the movement of polluted groundwater.
Vacuum Extraction: A technology used to
remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
from soils. Vacuum pumps are connected to a
series of wells drilled to just above the water
table. The wells are sealed tightly at the soil
surface, and the vacuum established in the soil
draws VOC-contaminated air from the soil
pores into the well, as fresh air is drawn down
from the surface of the soil.
G-13
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GLOSSARY
Vegetated Soil Cap: A cap constructed with
graded soils and seed for vegetative growth, to
prevent erosion [see Cap].
Vitrification: The process of electrically
melting wastes and soils or sludges to bind the
waste in a glassy, solid material more durable
than granite or marble and resistant to leaching.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs):
VOCs are manufactured as secondary petro-
chemicals. They include light alcohols, acetone,
trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene,
dichloroethylene, benzene, vinyl chloride,
toluene, and methylene chloride. These poten-
tially toxic chemicals are used as solvents,
degreasers, paints, thinners, and fuels. Because
of their volatile nature, they readily evaporate
into the air, increasing the potential exposure to
humans. Due to their low water solubility,
environmental persistence, and widespread
industrial use, they are commonly found in soil
and groundwater.
Waste Treatment Plant: A facility that
uses a series of tanks, screens, filters, and
other treatment processes to remove pollut-
ants from water.
Wastewater: The spent or used water from
individual homes or industries.
Watershed: The land area that drains into a
stream or other water body.
Water Table: The upper surface of the
groundwater.
Weir: A barrier to divert water or other liquids.
Wetland: An area that is regularly saturated
by surface or groundwater and, under normal
circumstances, is capable of supporting
vegetation typically adapted for life in satu-
rated soil conditions. Wetlands are critical to
sustaining many species of fish and wildlife.
Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes,
and bogs. Wetlands may be either coastal or
inland. Coastal wetlands have salt or brackish
(a mixture of salt and fresh) water, and most
have tides, while inland wetlands are non-
tidal and freshwater. Coastal wetlands are an
integral component of estuaries.
Wildlife Refuge: An area designated for
the protection of wild animals, within which
hunting and fishing are either prohibited or
strictly controlled.
G-14
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GLOSSARY
Some Common Contaminants at NPL Sites
Contaminant
Category
Example
Chemical Types
Sources
potential 1-tealfh
Threats*
"Heavy
Volatile Organic
Compounds
IRacfertten
Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium,
Cadmium, Cobalt, Copper,
Chromium, Lead, Manga-
nese, Mercury, Nickel,
Silver, Selenium, Zinc
Trichloroethylene (TCE),
Perchloroethylene (PCE),
Acetone, Benzene,
Ketone, Methyl chloride,
Toluene, Vinyl Chloride,
Dichlorethylene
Chlordane, DDT 4-4, DDE,
Heptachlor, Aldrin, Endrin,
Atrazine, Dieldrin, Toxa-
phene
Polyaromatic hydrocar-
bons (PAHs), Polynuclear
aromatics (PNAs),
Phenolic Tars, Pentachlo-
rophenol (PCP)
Radium-226, Radon,
Uranium-235, Uranium-
238
Electroplating, batteries,
paint pigments, photogra-
phy, smelting, thermom-
eters, fluorescent lights,
solvent recovery
Solvents and degreasers,
gasoline octane enhanc-
ers, oils and paints, dry
cleaning fluids, chemical
manufacturing.
Agricultural applications,
pesticide and herbicide
production
Electric transformers and
capacitors, insulators and
coolants, adhesives,
caulking compounds,
carbonless copy paper,
hydraulic fluids.
Wood preserving, fossil
fuel combustion
Mine tailings, radium
products, natural decay of
granites
Tumors, cancers, and kidney,
brain, neurological, bone and
liver damage
Cancers, kidney and liver
damage, impairment of the
nervous system resulting in
sleepiness and headaches,
leukemia
Various effects ranging from
nausea to nervous disorders.
Dioxin is a common by-product
of the manufacture of pesti-
cides and is both highly toxic
and a suspected carcinogen.
Cancer and liver damage.
Cancers and skin ulcerations
with prolonged exposure
Cancer
Sources: Toxic Chemicals—What They Are, How They Affect You (EPA, Region 5)
Glossary of Environmental Terms (EPA, 1988)
'The potential for risk due to these contaminants is linked to a number of factors; for example, the length and level of exposure
and environmental and health factors such as age.
*U.S. G.P.O.:1993-341-835:81024
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