r,EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste And
Emergency Response
(5102G)
SUPERFUND:
EPA/540/R-93/046
December 1992
PB93-963248
               Progress at
               National
               Priority
               List Sites
      WISCONSIN
      1992 UPDATE
Printed on Recycled Paper

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                                           Publication #9200.5-7488
                                                December 1992
     NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST SITES:

                    Wisconsin
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
        Office of Emergency & Remedial Response
             Office of Program Management
                Washington, DC 20460                      v  Aoonr..
                      y                  US. Environmental r .election Agency
                                         Region 5, Library (PL-12J)
                                         77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12tn Floor
                                         Chicago, IL 60604-3590

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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 employee 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
  I  he site fact sheets presented in this book
 A 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
                                         EPA REGION XX
                                            COUNTY NAME
                                             LOCATION
STATE
EPA ID# ABCOOOOOOO
                                 Site Description
  Site Responsibility:
                                           NPL Listing History
                                             Proposed XX/XX/XX
                                              Final XX/XX/XX
  Threats and Contaminants
                                       xxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxx
                                 Cleanup Approach
                                 xxxxxx xxx xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx x:
                                 XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XX XXXXXXXXX XX XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
                                 Response Action Status
^^^(XXXXX

  Environmental Progress
                                 Site Repository
                                                          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

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A SUMMARY OF THE STATE PROGRAM
             xv

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                                 Superfund Activities


                                 in Wisconsin

                                     The State of Wisconsin is located within EPA Region 5,
                                which includes the six midwestern States.  The State covers
                               56,153 square miles. According to the 1990 Census, Wisconsin
                              experienced a 4 percent increase in population between 1980 and
                              1990, and is ranked sixteenth in U.S. population with approxi-
                              mately 4,892,000 residents.
                                   The Environmental Repair Statute, enacted in 1984 as part
                             »  of the Groundwater bill, creates the Environmental Fund,
                             requires a State site ranking system, and authorizes the State to
                            take emergency and long-term cleanup actions, recover the cost of
cleanup from polluters, and obtain polluter cooperation in site cleanups. This statute requires the State
to prove that the polluter is liable for contamination. If a polluter is liable, the State has the authority
to compel the polluter to conduct or pay for cleanup activities regardless of actual contribution to the
hazardous conditions. Additionally, under the Abandoned Containers Statute of 1987, the State has
the authority to use the Environmental Fund to remove and dispose of abandoned vessels that contain
hazardous substances. This statute provides that a polluter is liable for damages posed by the hazards,
regardless of fault or amount of contributing contamination.  In practice, the State attempts to encour-
age polluter participation first; if a polluter fails to respond, the State tries to initiate a Federal Super-
fund action at the site. In addition to the 10 percent contribution from the State required by the
Federal Superfund program, the State funding may be used as a last resort for emergency response
and removal actions, site investigations, study and design activities, long-term cleanup actions, and
operation and maintenance activities. The State strongly encourages public participation, requiring
public notice, a 30-day comment period, and public hearings at each stage of the cleanup process.
Currently, 39 sites in the State of Wisconsin have been listed as final on the NPL. One new site was
proposed for listing in 1992.

                      The Department of Natural Resources
            implements the Superfund Program in the State of Wisconsin
 Activities responsible for hazardous
 waste contamination in the State of
 Wisconsin include:
        Railroad and
        Salvage Yards
Manufacturing
Facilities
   Other
Electroplating
Operations
      Storage
      and
      Disposal
      Facilities
                                  Landfills
                     Facts about the 40 NPL sites
                     in Wisconsin:
Immediate Actions (such as removing
hazardous substances or restricting
site access) were performed at 21
sites.


Twenty-one sites endanger sensitive
environments.
                              Twenty-eight sites are located near
                              residential areas.
                                         XVII
                                                                           March 1992

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WISCONSIN
Most Sites Have Multiple Contaminants and
Contaminated Media:
Media Contaminated at Sites
     Contaminants Found at Sites
Air
Surface
Water
Sediments
Soil
Ground-
water
         10  20  30 40 50  60  70 BO  90  100
               Percentage of Sites

The Potentially Responsible
Party Pays...
In the State of Wisconsin, potentially respon-
sible parties are paying for or conducting
cleanup activities at 29 sites.
                        Percentage of Sites
      VOCs
      Heavy Metals
      PCBs
      Creosotes
      Cyanide
      Pesticides/Herbicides
      Plastics
      Gases
      Petrochemicals/Explosives
     93%
                                                                 68%
                                                                 18%
                                                                 15%
                                                                 15%
                                                                 10%
                                                                 10%
     8%
     3%
    For Further Information on NPL Sites and Hazardous
  Waste Programs in the State of Wisconsin Please Contact
      EPA Region 5 Office of Public
      Affairs
      National Response Center
      Department of Natural Resources:
      Energy and Remedial Response:
      Program
      EPA Region 5 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 information about the
Regional Superfund Program
For informaiton about the
Federal Superfund Program
(312)353-2072

(800) 424-8802

(608)266-2111

(312)353-9419

(800) 424-9068
 March 1992
                                     XVIII

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                    THE NPL  REPORT
                         PROGRESS TO DATE
     The 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 (O) 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.

   ^ 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.

   ^ 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.

  O 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.

  ^> A final arrow in the "Cleanup Ongoing"
     column means that final cleanup actions
     have been started at the site and cur-
     rently are  underway.

  ^ 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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                                           March 1992

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ALGOMA  MUNI
LANDFILL
WISCONSIN
EPA ID#WID980610380
Site Description
                                   EPA REGION 5
                                      Kewaunee County
                                         Algoma
The 9-acre Algoma Municipal Landfill was leased from Dumman Realty and was operated
from 1969 to 1983 by the City of Algoma. In 1970, the landfill received a license from the
State to accept municipal refuse. While most of the accepted waste was municipal refuse,
paint wastes, lacquers, thinners, and asbestos wastes also were disposed of at the landfill.
When the landfill closed in 1983, the City covered it with clay and topsoil. The landfill, which
has no liner, is underlain by a sand and gravel aquifer and another deeper aquifer. The two
aquifers are hydraulically connected so that water can move between them. The City of
Algoma's wells draw on the deeper aquifer, and rural wells draw from both aquifers. The site
is within 3 miles of Lake Michigan. Krohn's Lake, which is used for recreation,  is less than 1
mile away. Approximately 5,000 people depend on groundwater within 3 miles of the site for
drinking water. Approximately 180 people live within 1 mile of the site, all using private water
supplies. The nearest residence is  1,100 feet away from the site boundary.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/10/86
  Final Date: 07/21/87
Threats and Contaminants
         In 1984, the EPA detected volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and heavy metals in
         on-site monitoring wells. An investigation completed in 1990 confirmed that the
         groundwater continues to be contaminated with VOCs. Exposure to contaminated
         groundwater through direct contact or accidental ingestion may be a potential
         health threat. The potential exists for wetlands, located south of the site, to be
         affected by the contaminated groundwater  that surfaces in the area. However,  no
         release of hazardous materials into the wetlands has occurred.
                                                                         March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
          Entire Site: In 1990, the potentially responsible parties, under EPA monitoring,
          completed an investigation of the site. The final report indicated that the landfill
          cap does not meet State safety standards and that the groundwater is
contaminated. Based on the results of the investigation, the EPA has elected to install a new
cover that meets State standards. Groundwater and gas monitoring will be continued and gas
control measures will be applied, along with institutional controls to restrict the use of
contaminated groundwater. The potentially responsible parties began the design of these
remedies in late 1991. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 1993.

Site Facts: Several companies and the City of Algoma, identified  as parties potentially
responsible for site contamination, signed an Administrative Order on Consent in 1988 with
the EPA and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to perform site investigations.
Environmental  Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Algoma Municipal Landfill site
while the design of the cleanup activities is ongoing.
Site Repository
Algoma Public Library, 406 Fremont Street, Algoma, WI 54201
March 1992                                 2                 ALGOMA MUNICIPAL LANDFILL

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BETTER BRITE
PLATING  CO.
CHROME  AN
SHOPS
WISCONSIN
EPAID#WIT560010118
EPA REGION 5
    Brown County
      DePere

    Other Names:
   Better Brlte Zinc
 Better Brlte Chrome

Site Description  —	
The 2-acre Better Brite Plating Co. Chrome and Zinc Shops site consists of two sections that
are divided by a residential area. Metal plating operations were conducted at the chrome
shop from 1963 until 1986 and at the zinc shop from 1970 until 1989. While the plants were
in operation, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) documented
numerous violations and spills at the facility, including a spill of 2,200 gallons of chromium-
contaminated plating solutions and rinse water in 1979. In order to remedy the situation,
Better Brite installed groundwater monitoring wells and constructed a collection system that
allowed water to be pumped to a central surface water holding pond. Better Brite also
constructed a slope to prevent surface water from running off the site. In addition, Better
Brite excavated soil from neighboring properties and deposited it on the site. During the
course of operations at the site, over 20,000 gallons of plating solution are thought to have
leaked from in-ground plating tanks. A study of soil in 1979 identified chromium-
contaminated soil in the areas to the west and south of the main building. Although Better
Brite was ordered by the WDNR to clean up the contamination in 1980, no action was taken.
Several subsequent inspections, conducted by the WDNR from 1980 to 1987, revealed
extensive on-site chromium contamination as well as contamination in the building's air
handling system. Shortly after operations ceased, the WDNR received a complaint that yellow
water was running from the chrome shop into the city sewer. Subsequently, the WDNR
investigated this incident and found chromium  in the runoff and soil at a neighboring
residence. The City of DePere periodically pumps a trench on the chrome shop property and
discharges the waters collected  to the DePere Wastewater Treatment Plant. In 1988, the
WDNR was notified that the site had been sold and the new owners planned to remove the
plating building. To prevent exposure to contaminated soil, the WDNR razed the main
building, partially fenced the site, covered  the site with clay, placed topsoil on the clay  cover,
and seeded it. Also in 1988, the EPA allocated emergency funds to the WDNR to  design a
treatment system, which is now operational, for water being discharged from the site to the
DePere Wastewater Treatment Plant. The owners abandoned the site in 1989. Due to
bankruptcy proceedings, ownership of the  land at both facilities is in question. Approximately
46,000 people obtain drinking water from municipal wells within 3 miles of the site. DePere
Municipal Well #2 is 500 feet downgradient of the zinc shop.
                                                                       March 1992

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Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
                     Federal and State actions.
Threats and Contaminants
                                                             Final Date: og/30/90
          Groundwater, surface water, and soil are contaminated with heavy metals including
          chromium and zinc, as well as cyanide and various volatile organic compounds
          (VOCs). Area residents may be exposed to contaminants through direct contact
          with or accidental ingestion of these contaminated materials. Contaminants have
          migrated into groundwater, which serves as the municipal water supply for the City
          of DePere, and the villages of Allouez and Ashwaubenon.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: initial actions, long-term remedial phase focusing
on cleanup of the entire site, and interim actions.
Response Action Status
           Initial Actions: The EPA removed over 83 tons of contaminated soil, 9,270
           gallons of chromic acid, 3,600 gallons of toxic liquids, 550 gallons of cyanide
           solution, 150 pounds of cyanide sludge, and 500 gallons of flammable liquids from
the chrome shop facility in 1986. In 1990, the EPA removed hazardous materials from the
zinc shop in the same manner. These wastes subsequently were treated and disposed of in an
EPA-approved landfill. The EPA covered highly contaminated areas of the site with plastic to
prevent further off-site migration of contaminants. The water treatment system was
completed in  1990 and is now fully operational. Surface removal of drums, vats,  and tanks
remaining on site was completed in 1991. To ensure security, the EPA is providing 24-hour
surveillance until site contamination has been completely addressed.

          Entire Site: A State-lead investigation into the nature and extent of remaining
          contamination at the site began in 1990. Based on the results of this investigation,
          final site cleanup remedies will be selected.
March 1992                                 4                    BETTER BRITE PLATING CO.
                                                               CHROME AND ZINC SHOPS

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          Interim Action: In 1991, the EPA selected an interim action to address
          contamination at the chrome and zinc shops. The selected interim remedies
          include continuing operation of the 1990 groundwater treatment system, repairing
the zinc shop and contructing a fence around it, and improving the collection system at the
chrome shop by extending trenches and regrading the soil to prevent flooding. This effort was
stopped momentarily to remove the source of contamination from the zinc and chrome shops.
Concrete slabs and contaminated soil beneath the slabs are currently being removed from
both shops. Once this is completed, it will be determined if the collection system still needs to
be improved.
Environmental Progress
Removing substantial quantities of hazardous waste and securing the site have reduced the
potential for explosion and exposure to hazardous materials at the Better Brite Co. Plating
Chrome and Zinc Shops site while final interim cleanup activities are taking place.
Site Repository
Brown County Public Library, DePere Branch, 380 Main Avenue, DePere, WI 54115
BETTER BRITE PLATING CO.
CHROME AND ZINC SHOPS
March 1992

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CITY  DISPOSAL
CORP.  LANDFI
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID980610646
EPA REGION 5
    Dane County
    Town of Dunn
Site Description
The City Disposal Corp. Landfill site covers approximately 24 acres of a 38-acre landfill. The
unlined landfill was filled with municipal and industrial waste from 1966 to 1977. Waste was
deposited into on-site cells. Six of these cells were used for disposing municipal wastes from
surrounding communities in Dane County that were served by the landfill. The other six cells
were not used for disposal during the lifetime of the landfill. From 1966 until 1975, industrial
wastes and organic chemicals were disposed of in a small pit on the eastern side of the
landfill. During the early 1970s, industrial wastes such as solvents, organics, and oily wastes
were deposited. The site was licensed by the State as a solid waste landfill. Reportedly, 55-
gallon drums and bulk liquid waste from area industries were deposited on the site and were
covered periodically. Hazardous waste disposal at the landfill was phased out in 1975, and
the site was closed in 1977. The site was subsequently capped. The state permit expired in
1977 and was not reissued. There are an estimated 5,500 people living within 3 miles of the
site. Approximately 160 people residing within a mile of the site depend  on private wells. The
surrounding area is mainly agricultural. A residential subdivision is located southwest of the
site, and a wooded area lies to the south. Badfish Creek, which receives runoff from  the site,
is located 300 feet east of the landfill. The City of Madison discharges treated wastewater
into Badfish Creek.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
                    Federal, State, and potentially
                    responsible parties' actions.

Threats and  Contaminants  	
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/08/83
   Final Date: 09/21/84
         On-site groundwater and soil are contaminated with volatile organic compounds
         (VOCs). Potential health threats to people include drinking contaminated
         groundwater, accidental ingestion of contaminated soil, inhalation of contaminated
         dusts and air particles, and direct contact with contaminated groundwater and soils.
         Grass Lake, a habitat for sandhill cranes and other wildlife, is located about 700
         feet northeast of the site and could be subject to pollution from the site runoff.
                                                                        March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on controlling the
source on contamination and the cleanup of the groundwater.
Response Action Status
          Source Control: Under EPA monitoring, Waste Management of Wisconsin is
          conducting an investigation into the nature and extent of the contamination
          present at the landfill, including a geophysical survey and soil sampling. The
investigation will define the contaminants of concern and will recommend alternatives for the
final cleanup. The investigation is planned to be completed in 1992.
          Groundwater: Also under EPA monitoring, Waste Management of Wisconsin is
          conducting an investigation into the nature and extent of groundwater
          contamination at the site. The study includes providing an inventory of existing
monitoring wells, sampling and analyzing groundwater, and analyzing data on groundwater
movement. The investigation which will define the contaminants of concern and recommend
alternatives for the final cleanup is planned to be completed in 1992.
Site Facts: In 1987, an Administrative Order on Consent was entered into between the EPA
and Waste Management of Wisconsin, a party potentially responsible for the site
contamination, requiring the company to investigate the site contamination.
Environmental Progress
After listing the City Disposal Corp. Landfill site on the NPL, the EPA conducted preliminary
studies and determined that the site does not pose an imminent threat to the surrounding
communities or the environment while the investigations leading to the selection of final
cleanup solutions for the site are taking place.
Site Repository
Dunn Town Hall, 4156 County Trunk Highway B, McFarland, WI 53558
CITY DISPOSAL CORP. LANDFILL                7                                March 1992

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DELAVAN  MUNI
WELL  #4
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID980820062
                                              EPA REGION 5
                                                 Walworth County
                                                    Delavan
Site Description
The Delavan Municipal Well #4 site is defined as the contaminated aquifer used by the
Delavan Well #4. Well #4 was closed in 1982 due to contamination by volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), but is used occasionally when another city well must be taken out of
service. When used, the water from Well #4 is blended with other city water to reduce any
concentrations of contaminants to levels below what is considered a health risk. The blending
occurs at a common point past the inlet for Well #4; this requires Well #3 to pump at the
same time. When Well #3 was shut down, Well #4 was used continuously. During that time,
unblended water from Well #4 may have  been delivered to nearby residents, businesses, and
a school. There are more than 3,000 people living within 1 mile of the site. The population of
Delevan relies on municipal water, and no private wells have been identified in the area.
Surrounding the site are schools, homes, businesses,  and an industrial facility. The distance
from the well to the closest residence is 500 feet.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
                    Federal, State, and potentially
                    responsible parties' actions.
                                               NPL LISTING HISTORY
                                               Proposed Date: 09/08/83
                                                Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
IT
Air may be contaminated with VOCs from the use of extraction wells or the
sprayer-aerator system used at a nearby industry. Well #4 and the area soils are
contaminated with VOCs, including trichloroethylene (TCE). When Well #4 is
used to supply water to the municipality, there is the possibility of a health threat
to people through drinking it, coming in direct contact with it, or inhaling
contaminated vapors in the water. When Well #4 is used, highly contaminated
water from the industrial site across the street may be pulled toward the well,
potentially increasing VOC concentrations.
                                                                        March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two phases: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
           Initial Actions: A party potentially responsible for the site contamination has
           taken steps to contain contaminated groundwater near the site through the
           installation of a groundwater extraction system and a soil venting system. The
groundwater extraction and soil venting systems are currently operating and will be expanded
in 1992. The systems have been operational for years, but recent investigative work has
shown that expansion is deemed necessary.

          Entire Site: The State, under EPA monitoring, began an investigation into the
          nature and extent of the groundwater contamination at the site in 1990. The
          investigation will define the contaminants of concern through the installation of
monitoring wells and the sampling of soil, and will recommend alternatives for the final
cleanup remedy. The investigation is planned to be completed in 1993.
Environmental Progress
The EPA determined, after initial evaluations of the Delavan Municipal Well #4 site, that no
other immediate actions are required to protect the surrounding community or the
environment while the groundwater containment system is being installed and the
investigations leading to the selection of a final remedy for site contamination are taking
place.
Site Repository

Aram Public Library, 404 East Walworth Avenue, Delavan, WI 53115
DELAVAN MUNICIPAL WELL #4                 9                                 March 1992

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EAU  CLAIRE
MUNICIPAL
WELL  FIELD
WISCONSIN
EPA ID* WID98082005
                                   EPA REGION 5
                                     Eau Claire County
                                 the Eau Claire Co. Airport, east of
                                    the Chippewa River
Site Description
The Eau Claire Municipal Well Field (ECMWP) site covers 500 acres and consists of 14 wells
that provide drinking water for the residents of Eau Claire County. In 1981, the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) sampled groundwater from the Eau Claire
Municipal Well Field as part of an EPA-sponsored groundwater survey of 20 Wisconsin cities.
The WDNR's sampling detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs), primarily in the north
well Geld. However, the level of VOCs delivered to homes remained below the State
groundwater quality standards. In 1982, the City began monitoring VOC levels in residential
wells near the municipal field. In 1983, the City found that VOC levels in one of these wells
exceeded the State's groundwater quality standards and recommended that its owners use
bottled water instead of groundwater. In 1984, five of the municipal wells in the north field
also were found to be contaminated with VOCs. The contamination at the site initially was
characterized as two separate plumes. However, studies conducted at the nearby National
Presto Industries site, which also is on the NPL> have shown that the two plumes are actually
a single continuous plume that originates at the National Presto site. The plume is
approximately 2 1/2 miles in length and extends from the National Presto site to, and
including, the Eau Claire Municipal Well Field. The municipal well field serves approximately
57,600 residents of the county. Also, an unknown number of residents in the county pump
their own groundwater from  privately owned wells.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/08/83
  Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
         Groundwater at the site was contaminated with VOCs including trichlorethane,
         dichlorethene, and tetrachloroethene. People could have been exposed to VOCs if
         they drank or came in direct contact with contaminated groundwater or if they had
         inhaled hazardous substances that the water released into the air. The EPA does
         not believe that the nearby Chippewa River was affected by the contamination, as
         pumping of the municipal wells prevents the groundwater from  discharging into the
         river.
                                       10
                                                   March 1992

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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: In 1984, the EPA conducted a focused study of the nature
           and extent of VOC contamination in drinking water. The results of this study
           recommended air stripping as the preferred method to address contamination at
the site. In mid-1987, the EPA completed construction of an air-stripping unit to remove
VOCs from the contaminated groundwater in the north field. This method treats the
groundwater, discharges it to a municipal water treatment plant, and then to a distribution
system.

          Entire Site: The EPA completed an additional study in 1988 to study the nature
          and extent of contamination at the entire site and to identify and analyze various
          alternatives that  best addressed remaining contamination. The EPA selected the
following final remedies for the site: withdrawing water from the existing municipal wells in
the north well field and removing VOCs from the water using the existing air stripper;
installing extraction wells in the north well field and discharging water extracted by those
wells directly to the Chippewa River without treatment;  installing extraction wells in Plume
#2 and discharging water extracted by those wells directly to the Chippewa River without
treatment; connecting to  the city water system or providing individual treatment units  to
those residences within the  contaminated areas; and monitoring groundwater quality during
the action to determine when the groundwater  has been cleaned up to meet State and
Federal guidelines. The EPA is continuing to treat the municipal groundwater supply with the
air stripper and has provided municipal water to users of private well water. In 1990, the EPA
finished construction of 22 hookups to the municipal water supply for those residences which
cannot use groundwater,  as a result of Plume #\ contamination. With the exception of the
installation of extraction wells in plume #2,  all construction at the Eau  Claire Municipal Well
Field site has been completed. Based on the investigations at the National Presto site, the
extraction well installation will be addressed as part of the cleanup process for National
Presto Industries.

Site Facts: In  September 1992 the EPA released an  Interim Closeout  Report for the Eau
Claire Municipal Well Field.
EAU CLAIRE MUNICIPAL WELL FIELD             11                                  March 1992

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Environmental Progress
The air stripping unit in use at the Eau Claire Municipal Well Field site is successfully
controlling the level of VOCs in the groundwater being fed to the municipal wells. This
action, in addition to connecting affected residences to the municipal water supply, is
protecting the surrounding population and environment. The remaining cleanup actions are
being evaluated as part of the investigation at the National Presto NPL site.
Site Repository
L.E. Phillips Memorial Library, 400 Eau Claire Street, Eau Claire, WI 54701
March 1992
12
EAU CLAIRE MUNICIPAL WELL FIELD

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FADROWSKI
DISPOSAL
WISCONSIN
EPAID#WID980901227
Site Description  —
                                               EPA REGION 5
                                                 Milwaukee County
                                                     Franklin

                                                  Other Names:
                                             Menard'e Drum Disposal Site
The Fadrowski Drum Disposal site covers approximately 20 acres on South 27th Street, on
the eastern edge of Franklin, along its border with Oak Creek. From 1970 until 1981, Edward
Fadrowski, of Ed's Masonry and Trucking, operated a landfill at the site to dispose of
demolition and construction wastes. A former employee alleged in 1981 that the property was
used for the disposal of hazardous waste and that several hundred drums and lubricant
sludges were buried there. Early in 1983, Menard, Inc. purchased part of the site and began
to construct a store to sell home building materials. Excavation of the property turned up
buried drums, which the State analyzed and found to contain volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), lead, chromium, and small amounts of arsenic. One sample of oily sludge contained
DDT, a pesticide no longer in use. The EPA and the Wisconsin  Department of Natural
Resources (WDNR) believe that the Acme Printing Ink Company generated the hazardous
substances that were disposed of at the site. Little is known about the amounts or type of
wastes at the site. Environmental concerns at the site  include contamination of the soil and
shallow groundwater. Nearby residents use a deeper aquifer, which is separated from the
contaminated aquifer by about 80 feet of low permeability clay, as their source of drinking
water. No private well contamination has been found. About 18,000 people depend on wells
that are within 3 miles of the site as sources of drinking water. The nearest residence is about
200 feet from the site. The area consists of residential, commercial, and municipal uses.
There are several schools and parks within a 2-mile radius of the site.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                     Federal, State, and potentially
                     responsible parties' actions.
                                               NPL LISTING HISTORY
                                                Proposed Date: 10/15/84
                                                 Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
m
Groundwater samples collected from one of the monitoring wells on site were
contaminated with the heavy metal, mercury and the VOC, benzene. Chromium,
barium, and cyanide were found in shallow groundwater at levels exceeding State
limits. Sediment samples collected from on-site creeks and ditches contained PAHs
and inorganic compounds. Subsurface soil samples collected from the site are
contaminated with low level VOCs, especially toluene. One surface water sample
taken from the on-site creek contained low levels of cyanide and VOCs. People
could be exposed to hazardous substances through drinking contaminated
groundwater or surface water or by accidentally ingesting contaminated soil.
Exposure to buried drums could pose a threat if the site is developed. The drums
also could rupture, causing further contamination of the environment.
                                       13
                                                               March 1992

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Approximately 9 acres of wetlands border the on-site pond on the west, where runoff from
the site travels and extends beyond the site's boundaries. The site occasionally is used for
recreational activities. Local residents in the area around the site, especially children, use the
pond located at the eastern edge of the site for swimming and could thus be exposed to site
contamination.
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: Acme Printing Company, under the supervision of the EPA and the
          WDNR, began a study in 1987 to determine the nature and extent of
          contamination at the site. The study was completed in early 1991. The final
cleanup remedy was selected in 1991 and involves removing drums, testing for soil
contamination levels, capping the waste disposal area, fencing the site, and controlling future
site use through deed restrictions. Design specifications for the final cleanup remed are
currently being planned. Actual cleanup is expected to begin in 1993.
Environmental Progress
After listing the Fadrowski Drum site on the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary
evaluations and determined that the site does not pose an immediate threat to the
surrounding community and the environment. The design of the final remedy for the site
currently is being planned.
Site Repository
Franklin Public Library, 9229 West Loomis Road, Franklin, WI 53132
March 1992                                14                  FADROWSKI DRUM DISPOSAL

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HAGEN  FARM
WISCONSIN
EPAID# WID98061Q059
EPA REGION  5
     Dane County
1 mile east of Stoughton
                                                             Other Names:
                                                    No Name Property at 2318 County A
Site Description
The Hagen Farm site covers 10 acres and is located approximately a mile east of Stoughton.
The site operated as a sand and gravel pit from the 1950s until the mid-1960s, when it served
as a disposal site for municipal waste from the City of Stoughton and industrial waste from
Uniroyal Plastics Corporation, as well as other sources. The site consists of one main disposal
area and two smaller areas located in a former gravel quarry. During its operation as a waste
disposal site, solvents and other chemicals and chunks of solid vinyl were disposed of at the
site. Waste disposal activities ceased at the site about 1966. The disposal area on the site was
covered with a layer of soil, and the property  subsequently was sold in 1977 to Orrin Hagen,
a sheep farmer. In 1980, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) received
a complaint from a local resident alleging that the site had been used for the disposal of
drummed wastes during the 1960s. The WDNR investigated the site, then in use as a sheep
pasture, and observed that solid vinyl was protruding through the soil. The WDNR sampled
nearby residential wells in 1980 through 1982, at which time volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) were found. Uniroyal conducted a study to evaluate groundwater quality at  and near
the site in 1982 and detected VOCs in the groundwater. In 1987, Orrin Hagen transferred
ownership of the site to Waste Management,  Inc. (WMI), the current owner. Presently, the
only building on the site is an old farm silo. The population of the City of Stoughton is
estimated to be 7,500. The land surrounding the site is semi-rural and industrial.
Approximately 350 people reside within a mile of the site. The majority of Stoughton's
residents draw water from the municipal water supply system, and an estimated 940 people
depend on private wells located within 3 miles of the site for their drinking water supply. The
City of Stoughton's municipal wells are located about 2 miles to the west, and eight private
wells are located within 1,200 feet of the site.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through a
                     combination of Federal, State, and
                     potentially responsible parties' actions.
 NPL USTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/16/85
   Final Date: 07/22/87
                                         15
                 March 1992

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Threats and Contaminants
          VOCs have been found in the on-site air and in the area surrounding the site. The
          highest concentrations of VOCs in the air are located near the former disposal
          areas. On-site groundwater is contaminated with VOCs including tetrahydrofuran
          and xylene. On-site soils are contaminated with VOCs including benzene and
          chlorobenzene. Area residents could have been directly exposed to site-related
          contaminants during the 1980s, when a protruding drum was found on the site.
          This drum was subsequently removed; therefore, direct exposure to contaminants is
          not presently a threat to area residents or on-site workers. Local residents and
          industrial workers, who rely on the remaining private wells for their drinking water,
          could be exposed to contaminants in the groundwater.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: interim actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.

Response Action Status  	

           Interim Actions: The neighboring land has been purchased by WMI, the houses
           on that land have been demolished, and a protruding drum has been removed.
           The site has been fenced, although an access road to an active gravel pit runs
directly past the main dump site.

          Source Control: The potentially responsible parties completed the initial study
          into the extent and nature of contamination at the Hagen Farm site. The results
          of the completed studies indicate that almost all waste disposal took place within a
5 1/2-acre area. The types of wastes present in the disposal process also were defined and
included municipal waste, paint sludge, grease, industrial chemicals, and plastic sheeting. The
EPA sampled private wells and did not detect the presence of any site-related contaminants.
Based on the results of the study, the EPA selected a cleanup remedy which includes
consolidating waste from disposal areas B and C into area A and backfilling areas B and C
with clean soil, installing a cap over area A after consolidation, in-situ vapor extraction of
waste and soils in disposal area A, treatment of extracted vapors by carbon adsorption,
installation of a fence around the three disposal areas, and deed restrictions to prevent the
installation of drinking water wells within the vicinity of the disposal areas. Design of this
remedy was completed, and cleanup activities were initiated in 1991. Cleanup is planned to be
completed in late 1993.

          Groundwater: The potentially responsible parties currently are studying the
          nature and extent of groundwater contamination at the site. The EPA will
          recommend a method for groundwater cleanup based on the results of this study,
expected in  1992.
March 1992                                 16                               HAGEN FARM

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Site Facts: The Wisconsin Department of Justice filed an enforcement action against
Uniroyal, Inc. and Waste Management of Wisconsin in 1983, directing them to perform an
investigation and to clean up the site. This action was dismissed in 1987 when Uniroyal and
Waste Management agreed to undertake the site study.
Environmental Progress
By fencing in a major area of the Hagen Farm site, removing a contaminated drum, and
demolishing buildings, the potential for exposure to site contamination has been reduced
while source control remedies are ongoing and investigations leading to the selection of final
cleanup remedies for groundwater contamination are taking place.
Site Repository
Stoughton Public Library, 304 South Fourth Street, Stoughton, WI 53589
HAGAN FARM
17
March 1992

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HECHIMOVICH
SANITARY
LANDFILL
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID052906088
Site Description —
 EPA REGION 5
     Dodge County
Williamstown, approximately
   2 miles from Mayville
The Hechimovich Sanitary Landfill site is situated on 20 acres and is located in Williamstown,
a rural area located approximately 2 miles south of Mayville. The site is a former licensed
disposal area for hazardous waste that operated from 1970 to 1980. The owner of the site
claims that he placed hazardous waste in unlined pits from 1972 to 1980. Some of the types
of wastes disposed of in these pits include paint sludges, cutting oils, and spent organic
solvents. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) ordered the pits closed
in 1980. The EPA detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in two wells downgradient of
the site in 1984. The owner of the site violated the terms of the landfill's permit by depositing
solid waste in areas beyond those previously approved by the WDNR. The towns nearest to
the site are Mayville, with a population of 4,330, and Horicon, with 3,585 residents.
Approximately 5,000 people obtain their drinking water from private wells located within 3
miles of the site.
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: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
         Groundwater in several wells downgradient of the site has been shown to be
         contaminated with VOCs. On-site soil is contaminated with VOCs as well. Direct
         contact with or ingestion of contaminated groundwater or soil may pose health
         threats. Local surface waters are used by residents for recreational activities. If
         site-related contaminants should migrate into the surface water, residents could be
         exposed to them when coming into direct contact with these bodies of water. A
         portion of the Hechimovich Landfill site is a wetland, which could be at risk from
         site runoff.
                                      18
                  March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase directed at cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
          Entire Site: The preliminary phase of the investigation into the nature and extent
          of contamination and alternative cleanup methods was started in 1990. This study,
          expected to be completed in 1993, is being conducted by the parties potentially
responsible for the site contamination, under the direction of the WDNR.
Environmental Progress
After adding the Hechimovich Landfill site to the NPL, the EPA determined, after initial
evaluations, that the site does not pose an immediate threat to the surrounding communities
or the environment while the investigations leading to the selection of a final cleanup remedy
are taking place.
Site Repository
Not established.
HECHIMOVICH SANITARY LANDFILL
19
March 1992

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HUNTS  DISPOS
LANDFILL
WISCONSIN
EPAID#WID980511919
Site Description
                                    EPA REGION 5
                                       Racine Country
                                         Caledonia
The Hunts Disposal Landfill site consists of 35 acres of an 84-acre parcel and is located 8
miles north of Racine in Caledonia. This site is an old sand and gravel pit that was first
licensed to operate as a dump by the Racine County Board of Adjustments in  1959. From
1959 to 1974, the various owners of the site accepted both industrial and municipal wastes. In
1970, the State granted a license to the owners of the landfill that allowed them to accept
non-combustible trash, garbage, and wooden material. In 1974, the site was purchased by
Waste Management, Inc. of Wisconsin from Caledonia Corporation Landfill, which had
acquired it in 1972, when it was operating as Hunts Disposal Landfill. During the late 1960s
and early 1970s, area residents reported seeing people driving cars to the site and dumping
garbage into the ditch near the railroad tracks. Residents also  complained that the site was
poorly covered. In 1964, four 10,000-gallon tanks containing residual arsenic acid sludge were
buried at the site. According to files kept by Racine County, these tanks were  cleaned before
they were buried. During 1973 to 1974, the State noted several operational problems such as
seepage of wastes into the groundwater,  lack of proper cover,  and windblown paper. The
Hunts Disposal site was closed in 1974. An inspection conducted by the State in 1975 noted
deficiencies in final cover and topsoil depths, severe gully erosion on some slopes, and the
absence of vegetative cover over portions of the landfill. The site was purchased by the
Boundary Corporation in 1975. In 1976, the County purchased the site as a part of the Root
River Parkway System, a regional park concept. The Hunts Disposal site is located in a semi-
rural area that is developing into a residential community. There are several residences
located in the immediate vicinity of the site and within the boundaries of Caledonia.
Approximately 1,500 people live within a 1-mile radius of the site. All of the residences in the
vicinity of the site rely on private wells for their water supply. A subdivision of approximately
1,000 people is located 1  to 1  1/2 miles west of the landfill site across the Root River. These
residents obtain their water from a private sanitation district. Residents of Oak Creek,
located  1/4 mile north of the site, rely on municipal wells that draw water from depths of
approximately 1,800 feet. Marshlands border the site  on the west.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL USTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/10/86
  Final Date: 07/21/87
                                        20
                                                     March 1992

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Threats and Contaminants
          On-site soils and groundwater are contaminated with volatile organic compounds
          (VOCs) and heavy metals. Groundwater and surface water on the eastern side of
          the site are contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic and lead. Soils from
          the landfill area are contaminated with heavy metals and VOCs. On-site workers
          and trespassers could be exposed to site-related contaminants by accidentally
          ingesting or coming into direct contact with contaminated groundwater, surface
          water, soils, or sediment. Hydrogeologic conditions favor the migration of
          groundwater off site. If groundwater contamination migrates into private and
          municipal wells, area residents could be  exposed to contaminants in the
          groundwater. The Root River, which is used by area residents for recreational
          purposes, borders the site, and runoff from the contaminated soils and surface
          water could pollute these waters and sediments.
Cleanup Approach
The 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: Waste Management and Racine County made an attempt to
           abandon the site in 1982 and conducted several activities including repairing
           erosion damage, sealing leachate seeps, and revegetating the site. The EPA
conducted an inspection of the site in 1984 and took several samples of soils, surface waters,
groundwater, and sediments.

          Entire Site: Based on investigations conducted by the EPA and the State, the
          EPA selected a remedy in 1990 to clean up the site by consolidating the
          contaminated soil and sediment onto the landfill and constructing a cap over it. A
landfill gas collection and treatment system will be installed to control vapors at the site. A
slurry wall will be constructed around the perimeter of the landfill to contain groundwater.
The groundwater will be pumped and treated off site. In addition, the site will be fenced to
prevent access and exposure to contaminants. The design of the remedy is scheduled to begin
in late 1992.
Environmental Progress
Investigations by the EPA and the State have determined that the Hunts Disposal Landfill
does not pose an imminent threat to the public. The EPA has selected the remedy for site
cleanup, and the design of the remedy is scheduled to begin in late 1992.
HUNTS DISPOSAL LANDFILL                   21                                 March 1992

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Site Repository
Caledonia Town Hall, 6922 Nicholson Road, Caledonia, WI 53108
March 1992                               22                   HUNTS DISPOSAL LANDFILL

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JANESVILLE  A
BEDS
WISCONSIN
EPA ID#WID000712950
Site Description  —
  EPA REGION  5
       Rock County
        Janesville
      Other Names:
Janesville Disposal Facilities
The Janesville Ash Beds site covers about 5 acres of a 65-acre parcel of land on the northern
side of Janesville. There are four Janesville Disposal Facilities (JDF) on these 65 acres: the
Janesville Ash Beds (JAB), the Old Dump Site (1963 site), the Janesville Old landfill (1978
site), and the New Landfill (1985 site). The JAB and the Janesville Old landfill are listed on
the NPL and are being cleaned up under Superfund. The New Landfill and the Old dump are
being handled under the Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA). The City of
Janesville is the primary owner of the properties and has operated land disposal activities at
the site since the 1950s. The JAB, which began operating in 1974, consisted of five separate
ash beds. The facility accepted an assortment of industrial liquids  and sludges.  Approximately
1 1/2 to 3 million gallons of industrial sludges were accepted annually. Fly ash and the
resultant dried sludges were sent to the Old Landfill for disposal from 1974 to 1978 and then
to the New Landfill. From 1974 to 1983, the ash beds were unlined, with only  a plastic liner
beneath a small portion of the bed to serve as a leachate sampling system. In the fall of 1982,
beds #3, #4, and #5, were excavated, contaminated ash and soils were removed, and the
beds were reconstructed with clay liners and equipped with leachate collection systems.
Industrial wastes still were being accepted at beds #1 and #2 while the other three beds were
being reconstructed. Bed #1 was closed, and the sludge was removed in 1983.  Wastes were
not accepted at bed #2 after 1983, and the sludge was removed in 1984. In 1985, the
remaining three beds (#3, #4, and #5) were cleaned and closed,  and the entire JAB area
was covered with clay and graded. Over 1,000 tons of ash from the JAB had been disposed of
in the New Landfill.  For further information on the Old Landfill,  see the separate listing
under Janesville Old Landfill. Janesville has  a population of approximately 51,000 people.
Residential areas are located within a few hundred feet of the Janesville disposal facilities.  A
number of parks are within 2 miles of the sites  and two schools are within 1 mile. The Rock
River is about 1,500 feet west of the sites.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                     Federal, State, and potentially
                     responsible parties' actions.
   NPL LISTING HISTORY
   Proposed Date: 09/08/83
     Final Date: 09/21/84
                                        23
                   March 1992

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Threats  and Contaminants
          In most instances, all four facilities have contributed to contamination in the air,
          groundwater, sediments, soil, and surface water. Methane gas has been detected in
          the air at the site. The methane is caused by the decomposing material stored in
          the landfill. Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
          including benzene, acetone, tetrachlorethene, and vinyl chloride. Sediments in the
          pond southeast of the Old Landfill contain acetone. Soil is contaminated with
          VOCs including chloroform, ethylbenzene, and tetrachloroethene. Surface water in
          the Rock River contains low levels of VOCs.  Small amounts of contaminants are
          found in the Rock River and the on-site pond. These, along with air pose a very
          low health risk. Soil and groundwater may pose a threat if individuals accidentally
          ingest or contact contaminants.
Cleanup Approach  	

The site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the
five components of the JDF.
Response Action Status
          Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties, under EPA monitoring, completed
          a study of the four Janesville Disposal facilities. The EPA broke the site down into
          five cleanup components: New Landfill, Old Landfill, Old Dump, JAB, and JDF
groundwater. Three of these  components are being overseen by Superfund: the JAB, the
Janesville Old Landfill, and JDF groundwater. In 1989, the EPA selected the remedies for
the JAB  and the related JDF groundwater contamination. The remedy involves restricting
access and land use, continuing cap maintenance, complying with applicable Federal
requirements, removing and properly disposing of the remaining ash pile, restricting land and
groundwater use between the facility and the Rock River, installing groundwater extraction
wells to protect the Rock River from migrating contaminants, and developing a groundwater
treatment system using an air stripper to remove VOCs. Design of the cleanup actions will
begin as soon as an agreement is reached with the potentially responsible parties.

Site Facts: In  1986, the EPA,  the State, and the parties potentially responsible  for site
contamination reached an agreement requiring the parties to conduct an investigation of the
contamination at the Janesville  facilities. The Old Landfill and JAB sites are being addressed
under Superfund, while the other two sites are being cleaned up under the authority of
RCRA regulations. These two RCRA sites were included in the NPL investigation because  of
their close proximity to the Old Landfill and JAB areas.
March 1992                                24                       JANESVILLE ASH BEDS

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Environmental Progress
The complexity of the separate areas at the Janesville Disposal Facility sites required
extensive study into the extent of contamination prior to the selection of final cleanup
remedies. These investigations have resulted in the selection of final remedies for all the
areas of contamination, with actual cleanup activities scheduled to begin soon.
Site Repository
Janesville Public Library, 316 South Main Street, Janesville, WI  53545
JANESVILLE ASH BEDS
25
March 1992

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JANESVILLE Ok
LANDFILL
WISCONSIN
EPAID#WID9806140
Site Description
                                              EPA REGION 5
                                                   Rock County
                                                    Janesville

                                                  Other Names:
                                            Janesville Disposal Facilities
The 18-acre Janesville Old Landfill site is on a 65-acre parcel of land that contains four
different sites: the Janesville Ash Beds (JAB), the Old Dump Site, the Janesville Old Landfill,
and the New Landfill. The JAB and Old Landfill are listed on the NPL and are being cleaned
up under Superfund, while the New Landfill and the Old Dump Site are being handled under
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The City of Janesville is the owner
of the properties and has operated land disposal activities at the sites since the 1950s. The
Janesville Old Landfill site is an abandoned sand and gravel pit that was used as a municipal
sanitary landfill beginning in 1963. Industrial wastes such as solvents, used oils, paints, paint
thinners, and other industrial wastes were accepted  drummed for disposal. The site also
received the sludge-ash mixture when the ash beds at the Janesville Ash Beds were cleaned
out. The landfill does not have any bottom or side liners, but was  covered with clayey
material when it reached capacity in 1978. The landfill does not have a leachate collection
system or clay liner. The City of Janesville has a population of approximately 51,000 people.
Residential areas are located within a few hundred feet of the Janesville disposal facilities.
The Rock River is 1,500 feet west of the site.
Site Responsibility:
           This site is being addressed through
           Federal, State, and potentially
           responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/08/83
  Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and  Contaminants
   I
Methane gas from the decomposing material stored in the landfill has been
detected in the air at the site. Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals including arsenic, barium, lead, iron, and
manganese. Soils are contaminated with various VOCs and heavy metals including
manganese and cadmium. Surface water in the Rock River contains low levels of
VOCs. Contaminated groundwater is not considered a health threat because no
private drinking water wells are contaminated or appear to be threatened. Small
amounts of contaminants in the Rock River and the on-site pond and the air pose
a very low health  risk. Contaminated soil and groundwater may pose a health
threat through accidental ingestion or direct contact.
                                        26
                                                               March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the Old
Landfill site.
Response Action Status
           Old Landfill Site: The parties potentially responsible for site contamination,
           under EPA monitoring, completed a study of all of the Janesville Disposal Sites.
           The EPA selected a remedy for the Janesville Old Landfill and the related
groundwater contamination in 1989 which includes: access and land use restrictions;
installation of a landfill gas extraction and flaring system that may later be converted into an
energy converting system; construction of a landfill cap; continued monitoring of the
groundwater and air; deed and groundwater-use restrictions between the facility and the
Rock River; installation of groundwater extraction wells to protect the Rock River from
migrating contaminants; and development of a groundwater treatment system using an air
stripper to remove VOCs. The potentially responsible parties began designing the remedies in
mid-1991. The cleanup is expected to begin in 1994.

Site Facts: In 1986, the EPA, the State, and the parties potentially responsible for site
contamination reached an agreement, whereby the parties conducted an investigation of the
nature and extent of contamination at the Janesville Disposal sites. (For further information
on the JAB, Old Dump Site, and New Landfill, see the separate listing under Janesville Ash
Beds.)
Environmental  Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Janesville Old Landfill site while
the selected cleanup activities are being designed.
Site Repository
Janesville Public Library, 316 South Main Street, Janesville, WI 53545
JANESVILLE OLD LANDFILL                    27                                 March 1992

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KOHLER  CO
LANDFILL
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID006073225
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
  Sheboygan County
       Kohler
The Kohler Company Landfill is an 82-acre site, 40 acres of which have been used as a
landfill since the 1950s, primarily for the disposal of foundry and manufacturing wastes
produced by Kohler's manufacturing facilities. Between 1950 and the mid-1970s, at least four
pits were constructed for the disposal of hydraulic oils, solvents, paint wastes, enamel powder,
lint from brass polishing, and plating sludges. Oils commonly were used for dust control. Since
1980, all Federally regulated wastes have been shipped off site for disposal. In 1977 and 1981,
sludges from the two wastewater settling lagoons were buried at the site. The landfill was not
originally scheduled to close until 2035; however, the State landfill license is being modified,
and the closure of the landfill will occur much sooner. Approximately 1,600 people live within
3 miles of the landfill. The nearest residence is 1/4 mile away. The Sheboygan River is within
300 feet of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
                    Federal, State, and potentially
                    responsible parties' actions.
 NPL USTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/08/83
   Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and  Contaminants
         Groundwater is contaminated with various volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
         heavy metals, phenols, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Runoff water
         and sediments contain heavy metals, phenols, and PAHs. Leachate samples
         contained VOCs and heavy metals. Waste samples from the landfill contain VOCs,
         phenols, PAHs, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals. People who
         come in direct contact with or accidentally ingest contaminated groundwater or
         leachate may be at risk. Workers or trespassers who ingest, inhale, or come in
         direct contact with contaminants contained in the landfill wastes could be at risk.
         Groundwater and leachate discharge into the Sheboygan River, but environmental
         effects are unknown as yet.
                                       28
                 March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on source control and
management of groundwater.
Response Action Status
          Source Control: In 1985, the Kohler Company, under monitoring by the EPA
          and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), began
          investigating the contamination at the site. The EPA selected a remedy for the
site in early 1992. The remedy calls for closing the currently operating landfill, installing a
multi-layer soil cap over the landfill, issuing zoning and access restrictions, and collecting
contaminated leachate on site via a perimeter drain. Design of the selected remedy began in
mid-1992 and is expected to be completed in 1994.

          Groundwater Management: The Kohler Company is conducting an
          investigation into the nature and extent of contamination of groundwater. Though
          a decision date has not been set for the EPA to designate cleanup alternatives, it
is expected in 1994.

Site Facts: In 1985, the EPA, the State, and the Kohler Company signed an Administrative
Order on Consent, whereby the company agreed to study the type and extent of
contamination at the site. The company also will assess potential and actual risks to public
health and the environment and will evaluate potential cleanup alternatives.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Kohler Company Landfill site
while cleanup design actions and  further investigations continue.
Site Repository
Kohler Public Library, 230 School Street, Kohler, WI  53044
KOHLER COMPANY LANDFILL                  29                                March 1992

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LAUER  I SAN IT
LANDFILL
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID058735994
  EPA REGION 5
    Waukesha County
    Menomonee Falls

     Other Names:
Waste Management Lauer I
  United Waste Systems
  Boundary Road Landfill
Site Description
From the mid-1950s to 1972, the 53-acre Lauer I Sanitary Landfill accepted a variety of
municipal and industrial wastes. The site was closed and covered in 1973. It took several years
for the owners to vegetate the cover and properly abandon the site. In 1973 and 1974, State
inspectors revealed holes in the berm around the site that allowed leachate from a collection
pond to escape into a ditch that drains into the Menomonee River. In 1981, the owner
installed an underground wall of clay materials between the landfill and the pond to stem the
flow of leachate. Presently, leachate accumulating behind the cut-off wall is sent to a
municipal wastewater treatment plant. Approximately 23,500 individuals reside within a 3-mile
radius of the site.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                    Federal, State, and potentially
                    responsible parties' actions.
  NPL USTING HISTORY
  Proposed Date: 09/08/83
    Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
         Soils and leachate are contaminated with benzene, cyanide, toluene, and zinc.
         People may be exposed to contaminants through accidental ingestion or by coming
         in direct contact with contaminated soil or leachate. Although the landfill has been
         covered and seeded for recreational use, leachate continues to threaten
         groundwater and nearby surface waters. Also, contaminants may enter the food
         chain by way of locally raised livestock and vegetables.
                                       30
                  March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
          Entire Site: An investigation to determine the nature and extent of
          contamination and to identify alternative long-term remedial methods began in
          1991, under State guidance. Based on the results of the investigation, a remedy
will be selected for site cleanup.

Site Facts: Negotiations between the State and one potentially responsible party, Waste
Management of Wisconsin, began in 1988. An agreement between the State and Waste
Management was signed in August 1990, requiring the company to take responsibility for
investigating site contamination and designing and constructing the State-selected remedy.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions are required at the Lauer I Sanitary Landfill site while
an investigation into final cleanup remedies is taking place.
Site Repository

Maude Shunk Library, W156 N8486 Pilgrim Road, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
LAUER I SANITARY LANDFILL                  31                                March 1992

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LEMBERGE
LANDFILL,  I
WISCONSIN
EPAID# WID98090124
Site Description  -
 EPA REGION 5
    Manitowoc County
       Whitelaw

     Other Names:
Lemberger Fly Ash Landfill
The 21-acre Lemberger Landfill, Inc. site is located approximately 1/4 mile from Lemberger
Transport and Recycling, also an NPL site. The two sites operated under the same license
from 1970 through 1976. The Township of Franklin used the site, an old gravel pit, as an
open dump from 1940 to 1970. Lemberger Landfill, Inc. operated the site  as a sanitary landfill
under a license from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) from 1969
to 1976. From 1976 to 1977, Wettencamp and Brunner Excavating Company transported fly
ash from Manitowoc Public Utilities to the Lemberger facility. An estimated 1,750 to 2,500
cubic yards of fly ash were disposed of monthly. Past WDNR inspections showed that
Lemberger used fly ash and bottom ash as cover, instead of burying them  along with the
refuse. In 1980, following complaints by local residents that landfill leachate had seeped onto
their properties, the WDNR investigated and tried to get the site owners to address
contamination problems at the landfill. Lemberger Landfill, Inc. filed for bankruptcy in 1983.
In 1985, volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination was found in seven residential wells
at levels that exceeded standards. New, deeper wells were provided to residents with
contaminated wells. Sampling from the new wells in  1985 showed no contamination. Part of
the site is bordered by a marsh. Wetland vegetation occupies low-lying areas of the site. The
nearby Branch River is used for swimming, fishing, and canoeing, and the  area commonly is
used for hunting. Approximately 2,700 people live within 3 miles of the site. The residents
depend on public and private wells within 3 miles of the site as a source of drinking water.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                     Federal, State, and potentially
                     responsible parties' actions.
  NPL LISTING HISTORY
  Proposed Date: 09/18/85
    Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
          The groundwater is contaminated with VOCs including vinyl chloride and
          methylene chloride. Surface water is contaminated with phenols, VOCs, and heavy
          metals including cadmium and lead. Surface soils contain VOCs, semi-volatile
          organic compounds, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and inorganic
          compounds. Subsurface soils contain VOCs and inorganics. Potential health threats
          exist if contaminated groundwater or soil is ingested or directly contacted.
          Contaminants have entered the food chain; therefore, ingesting milk or livestock
          and fish taken from the river also may be a potential health threat. Exposure to
          contaminants may occur when coming into direct contact with polluted surface
          water. The site is neither fenced nor posted with signs to restrict  access.
                                        32
                  March 1992

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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: New wells were drilled to provide water to residences with
           contaminated wells.

          Entire Site: In 1984, the EPA sampled monitoring wells and leachate at the site.
          The results showed elevated levels of several contaminants. In 1987, the EPA
          began an investigation to determine the extent and nature of contamination and to
identify cleanup alternatives. A draft investigation report was completed in 1990. In 1991, the
EPA selected the final remedies to cleanup the site which include groundwater extraction,
treatment, and discharge into the Branch River. Also recommended are groundwater
monitoring, temporary groundwater use restrictions,  and control of landfill waste by capping
the landfill and containing contaminated groundwater inside a slurry wall.

Site Facts: In 1982, Lemberger signed a Consent Order with the WDNR that required
identification of the source of leachate controls, followed by groundwater monitoring. Drilling
and testing were done until the owner filed for bankruptcy.
Environmental Progress
By providing an alternate water supply to affected residents, the EPA has reduced the
potential for exposure to contaminants in the groundwater while final cleanup remedies are
being planned at the Lemberger Landfill, Inc. site.
Site Repository
Manitowoc Public Library, 808 Hamilton Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220
LEMBERGER LANDFILL, INC.                    33                                 March 1992

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LEMBERGER
TRANSPORT
RECYCLING
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID056247208
Site Description  	
                                 EPA REGION 5
                                    Manitowoc County
                                       Whitelaw
The 16-acre Lemberger Transport and Recycling site operated as an unlined landfill from
1970 to 1976. From 800,000 to 1 million gallons of tars and paint sludges were buried at the
site. Heavy metals and phenols have leached into groundwater. Large quantities of aluminum
dust also are buried on the site, as are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the cleanup of
a spill. In 1976, the site was closed and covered with 1 foot of clay. Between 1976 and 1980,
additional clay covering was added. The owner of the farms adjoining the landfill has plowed
portions of the site, exposing bulk wastes and drums. In 1985, the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources (WDNR) sampled residential wells in the area and found contamination.
This site is located less than 1/4 mile away from the Lemberger Landfill, also a  National
Priorities List site. Lemberger Transport and Recycling and the Lemberger Landfill, Inc.
operated under the same license. The Branch River, 1/2 mile west of the site, is used for
swimming, fishing, and canoeing. Hunting occurs in the area, and site access is unrestricted.
Approximately 2,700 individuals live within 3 miles of the site and obtain their potable water
supply from a shallow aquifer.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/08/83
  Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
         The groundwater underlying the site has been shown to be contaminated with
         various volatile organic compounds (VOCs); phenols; and heavy metals including
         lead, chromium, and aluminum. Soil contamination includes VOCs, semi-volatile
         organic compounds, pesticides, PCBs, and inorganic compounds. Potential health
         threats include drinking or coming in direct contact with contaminated
         groundwater or soil.
                                      34
                                                 March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on cleanup of the
groundwater and source control.
Response Action Status
          Groundwater: In 1987, the EPA began an investigation to determine the extent
          and nature of contamination of the groundwater and to identify alternative long-
          term cleanup methods. A draft investigation report was completed in late 1990. A
final groundwater remedy was selected in 1991, which includes groundwater extraction,
treatment, and discharge into the Branch River, groundwater monitoring, and temporary
groundwater use  restrictions.

          Source Control: In 1991, the EPA began additional studies designed to add to
          the data uncovered by the site investigation begun in 1987. The  study will define
          the nature and extent of cleanup required to establish control over the source of
contamination. Recommendations for cleanup are expected in 1993.

Site Facts: In 1982, the State signed a Consent Order with Lemberger Transport and
Recycling, requiring it to report on site conditions, including an analysis of the extent of
groundwater contamination and recommendations for cleanup actions. However, the site
owners filed for bankruptcy in 1982.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Lemberger Transport and
Recycling site while investigations are taking place and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Manitowoc Public Library, 808 Hamilton Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220
 LEMBERGER TRANSPORT AND RECYCLING      35                                 March 1992

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MADISON
METROPOLIT
SEWERAGE
LAGOONS
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID078934403
Site Description —
                                          EPA REGION 5
                                              Dane County
                                                Madison
The 135-acre Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Lagoons site is owned by the City of
Madison, which has been depositing sludge from its Nine Springs Sewer Treatment Plant in
the two lagoons since 1942. In 1970, a section of the new lagoon's dike broke, releasing
85,000 gallons of liquid from the lagoons into an old effluent channel that runs north to Nine
Springs Creek, which empties into the Yahara River. A large number of fish were killed. A
second dike broke in 1973. The lagoons are in a low-lying area bordered by wetlands.
Approximately 94,000 people reside near the site and obtain drinking water from wells within
3 miles of the site. A mobile home park of about 250 units is located 1,000 feet from the site.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                   Federal and potentially responsible
                   parties' actions.
                                           NPL USTING HISTORY
                                           Proposed Date: 06/24/88
                                             Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
[ZEJ
The sludge in the lagoons is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
and is a potential health concern to people living near the site. People working on
the cropland where sludge is applied may be exposed to PCBs. Hunting occurs in
the wetlands adjacent to the site. The lagoons are feeding areas for many species
of waterfowl. In addition, surface water in the old effluent channel is tainted from
the PCB-contaminated sludge.
                                    36
                                                          March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
          Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties are beginning to conduct an
          investigation of the site to determine the nature and extent of contamination.
          Alternative cleanup remedies will be evaluated, based on the findings of this
investigation.
Environmental Progress
The EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that no immediate actions
were required at the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Lagoons site while
investigations are being conducted and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Not established.
MADISON METROPOLITAN
SEWERAGE DISTRICT LAGOONS
37
March 1992

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MASTER DISPO
SERVICE  LAND
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID980820070
                                                      EPA REGION 5
                                                        Waukesha County
                                                         City of Brookfield
Site Description
Master Disposal Service, Inc. operated a 26-acre landfill on the western edge of Brookfield.
The site was licensed by the State to receive wastes in 1977. Until early in 1982, the company
filled a portion of a wetland near the banks of the Fox River with over 668,000 cubic yards of
industrial wastes including solvents, paints, adhesives, oils, and foundry wastes. A drainage
ditch adjacent to the site runs into the Fox River. In addition to its landfill operations, the
facility also burned disposed material. No wastes have been accepted at the site since it
closed in 1982 for landfill disposal, but some wastes were accepted for burning after 1982.
State sampling established that groundwater near the site is contaminated with heavy metals
and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Approximately 10,000 people reside within 3 miles
of the site and depend on 10 municipal wells in the same area  for their potable water.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through a
                    combination of Federal, State, and
                    potentially responsible parties' actions.
                                                       NPL USTING HISTORY
                                                       Proposed Date: 09/08/83
                                                         Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
         The groundwater is contaminated with VOCs including benzene, toluene, and
         xylenes and chlorinated solvents. The groundwater also is contaminated with heavy
         metals such as iron, manganese, and barium. Accidental ingestion, direct contact
         with, and inhalation of contaminated airborne dusts may be a potential health
         threat. The site lies on a raised plateau in the middle of a wetland, which could be
         contaminated from site runoff.
                                       38
                                                                       March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase directed at cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
           Entire Site: Some of the potentially responsible parties completed an
           investigation in 1990 to determine the nature and extent of contamination and to
           identify alternatives for site cleanup. Based on the results of the investigation, the
EPA selected a cleanup strategy which includes the following: capping the site with a soil
cover; installing appropriate gas venting; installing a groundwater pump and treat system; and
determining the extent of wetlands and planning for their protection or restoration during site
cleanup. The design of these technologies began in mid-1991. Cleanup activities are expected
to begin in 1994, when all design activities are expected to be completed. After a two-year
period of implementation, the EPA will re-evaluate this strategy to determine whether further
enhancement is necessary to fully meet cleanup goals.

Site Facts: In 1977, the State signed  an agreement requiring Master Disposal Service to
develop and implement a proper site abandonment plan.
Environmental Progress
The EPA performed preliminary evaluations at the Master Disposal Service Landfill site and
determined that the site does not pose an immediate threat to the surrounding population or
the environment while design of the cleanup remedies is underway.
Site Repository
Brookfield Public Library, 1900 Calhoun Road, Brookfield, WI 53005
MASTER DISPOSAL SERVICE LANDFILL
39
March 1992

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MID-STATE  DIS
INC.  LAN DPI L
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID980823082
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
   Marathon County
  4 miles northeast of
 the Village of Stratford
The Mid-State Disposal, Inc. Landfill (MSD) site is a 160-acre parcel of land located four
miles northeast of Stratford and 18 miles southwest of Wausau. The site includes the 22-acre
"Old Mound" landfill, the 5-acre "Interim Expansion" area, and a 3-acre sludge lagoon. All
three are covered with soil and vegetation. MSD conducted landfilling operations from 1970
to 1979, receiving municipal, industrial, and commercial wastes, as well as construction and
demolition debris. These wastes included paper mill sludges, asbestos dust, solvents, pesticides,
paint sludges,  and metals. Over the years, the covers of the Old Mound landfill, the Interim
Expansion area, and the sludge lagoon have been improperly maintained. Numerous
environmental problems and permit violations were noted by the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources (WDNR) during a site inspection in 1974, while evaluating whether MSD
was in compliance with the newly enacted State Solid Waste Disposal Regulations. In early
1977, the WDNR approved a plan to close the Old Mound landfill. Later that year, MSD
was fined for improper closure  of the landfill, and another order was issued. A leachate
containment pond on the western edge of the site ruptured, releasing 150,000 to 200,000
gallons of leachate into Rock Creek during the late 1970s. In 1979, a lawsuit was filed by the
State, ceasing operations at the site. The Weyerhaeuser Company, a generator of waste
disposed at the facility, agreed to properly close the site in 1979. The pond leachate was
removed, and the three waste disposal areas were covered. Leachate collection systems were
installed in late 1979 for both the sludge lagoon and the interim  expansion area; only the
leachate collected from the latter has been removed and treated off site. The site is
surrounded by abandoned railroad tracks; two sludge disposal lagoons owned by
Weyerhaeuser, Inc. on the northeast; and private property on the east. Ten residences are
located within a 1-mile radius of the site. Most land near the site is devoted to dairy and cash
crop farming,  though a few small businesses are scattered throughout the area. Surface water
from west of the Old Mound landfill drains to an unnamed tributary of Rock Creek, and
surface water from  east of the  Old Mound landfill drains to an unnamed tributary of the Big
Eau Pleine River.
Site Responsibility:  The site is being addressed through
                     Federal, State, and potentially
                     responsible parties' actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/08/83
   Final Date: 09/21/84
                                        40
                 March 1992

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Threats and Contaminants
m
Several heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene,
vinyl chloride, and methylene chloride have been detected in the groundwater.
Leachate samples contain metals and VOCs above drinking water standards. On-
site samples taken from the sludge lagoon, Interim Expansion area, and the Old
Mound landfill are contaminated with heavy metals.  Samples containing VOCs
were collected from the tributary to Rock Creek. Soil samples from an area along
the western edge of the site are contaminated with heavy metals, phthalates
(plastic by-products), and dieldrin (a pesticide). One  off-site sample taken near a
tributary to Rock Creek contained iron and copper at concentrations exceeding
Federal water quality standards designed to protect aquatic animals. Direct contact
with and accidental ingestion  of contaminated soil, surface  water, groundwater,
leachate, or sediments may pose risks to public health and  aquatic  organisms.
Nearby wildlife potentially is threatened by site contaminants.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on cleanup of the
entire site and supplying an alternative water supply.

Response Action Status 	
           Entire Site: In 1988, the EPA selected the following cleanup actions: imposing
           deed restrictions on the site to ensure that future site owners do not cause new
           releases from the site by building on or excavating soil from the site (restrictions
also would be placed on large off-site groundwater withdrawals in the site vicinity to prevent
the use of contaminated groundwater); constructing a fence around the site to prevent
potential trespassing; reconstructing on-site roads to accommodate truck traffic during the
cleanup; groundwater, surface water, and residential well monitoring to evaluate the
effectiveness of the cleanup actions; landfill gas monitoring; off-site groundwater
monitoring; providing an alternate water supply for nearby residences; improving surface
water drainage; leachate and ponded water collection and off-site treatment; institutional
controls to prevent well installation on site; solidifying sludge to reduce water content in it
and capping the sludge lagoon to reduce rainfall seepage into the sludge lagoon; and,
constructing new soil covers and a landfill gas collection system at the Old Mound and
Interim Expansion area. Under EPA monitoring,  the parties potentially responsible for the
site contamination began designing the cleanup activities in 1989. A pre-design study  has been
conducted to characterize the cap and the lagoon, as well as to install additional monitoring
wells to determine whether the lower aquifer is contaminated. The design of these cleanup
activities is expected to be completed in 1993, at which time, cleanup will begin.

           Alternative Water Supply: In 1989, the potentially responsible parties began
           design activities, including identifying an appropriate water source to  provide an
           alternate water  supply.
MID-STATE DISPOSAL, INC. LANDFILL             41                                  March 1992

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Site Facts: In 1980, a group of citizens filed suit against Mid-State Disposal, Inc.,
Weyerhaeuser, and the WDNR for past improper handling and disposal of hazardous waste
at the site.
Environmental Progress
The EPA performed preliminary evaluations and determined that the site does not pose an
imminent threat to the nearby community or the environment while the designs of final
cleanup remedies are being completed at the Mid-State Disposal, Inc. Landfill site.
Site Repository
Marathon County Library, 300 Larch Street, Stratford, WI 54484
March 1992
42
MID-STATE DISPOSAL, INC. LANDFILL

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MOSS-AMERIQ
(KERR-MCGE
OIL CO.)
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID039052626
Site Description 	
   EPA REGION 5
      Milwaukee County
        Milwaukee

       Other Names:
Kerr McGee Chem. Corp. Forest
        Prod. Div.
The 88-acre Moss-American site is located in northwestern Milwaukee. Operations at the site
began in 1921, when the Moss Tie Company began to treat railroad ties with creosote, a
wood preservative. The site operated from 1921 until 1976, when it was closed by Kerr-
McGee, a former owner. During the facility's period of operation, liquid wastes were
discharged to settling ponds that drained into the Little Menomonee River. Between 1963
and 1965, the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation purchased both companies and formed the
Moss-American Company. Contamination at the site was first reported during the late 1960s.
In 1971, several people received creosote-related chemical burns from wading in the Little
Menomonee River. The EPA filed an injunction against Kerr-McGee in 1974, ordering the
cleanup of contaminated river  sediments. Following the site's closing in 1976, the EPA
continued to investigate the site and to gather evidence for its suit. The case, however, was
dismissed in 1978 because of erroneous field data. Milwaukee County dropped its pending
lawsuit against Kerr-McGee that same year in exchange for 65 acres of the site. Kerr-McGee
sold the remaining 23 acres of the site to the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Company
in 1980. The site is surrounded by a mixture of urban and rural uses. The railroad company
now uses the parcel as an automobile loading and storage area. Total population within a 1-
mile radius of the site is estimated at 9,500 people, all of whom depend on public wells for
drinking water. The Little Menomonee River crosses the site area and is used for
recreational purposes.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                    Federal and potentially responsible
                    parties' actions.
    NPL LISTING HISTORY
    Proposed Date: 09/08/83
      Final Date: 09/21/84
                                      43
                   March 1992

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Threats and Contaminants
          Groundwater samples have shown elevated levels of volatile organic compounds
          (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Free-standing creosote or
          an oil sheen was observed in three monitoring well samples; similar observations
          were noted in eight test pits. The primary contaminants detected in the river
          sediments are PAHs. Contaminants found in the soil in the processing  area and
          vicinity, the treated wood storage area, and the northeast and southeast landfills
          include PAHs and BTX compounds, both components of creosote. PAHs were
          detected in a ditch that drains water from the site to the river. The Little
          Menomonee River has been negatively impacted by surface water runoff and
          sediments from the site. Potential  health risks exist for individuals inhaling
          volatilized chemicals or ingesting or making direct contact with the contaminated
          sediments, soil, groundwater, or surface water.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: interim actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
           Interim Actions: Contaminated sediment along 1,700 feet of the riverbed
           adjacent to the site was excavated and landfilled near the northeastern corner of
           the site. In 1973, the EPA financed the dredging of approximately 5,000 feet of
the river. The plant facilities were demolished in 1978, and some oil-saturated soil was
excavated and shipped to the Nuclear Engineering Landfill in Sheffield, Illinois.

           Entire Site: The EPA completed an investigation in 1990 to identify the key
           physical features of the site, to locate on-site sources of creosote and other
           contaminants or hazardous wastes, and to determine the extent of contaminated
soil, groundwater, and river sediment. Based on the results of this investigation, the EPA has
selected remedies for cleanup, which include rerouting the Little Menomonee River, pumping
and treating contaminated  groundwater, and a combination of soil washing and
bioremediation using bacterial organisms. Approximately 86,500 cubic yards of soil and
sediment will be treated. The design of these technologies began in 1991 and is expected to
be completed in 1995.
March 1992                                 44          MOSS-AMERICAN (KERR-MCGEE OIL CO.)

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Environmental  Progress
By removing contaminated sediment from the Little Menomonee River, the EPA has reduced
the potential for exposure to hazardous materials in the river while the final cleanup remedies
are being designed for the Moss-American site.
Site Repository
Mill Road Library, 6431 North 76th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53223
MOSS-AMERICAN (KERR-MCGEE OIL CO.)
45
March 1992

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MUSKEGO SAN
LANDFILL
WISCONSIN
EPAID#WID000713180
Site Description  	
EPA REGION 5
  Waukesha County
      Muskego

    Other Names:
    Wauer Landfill
The 56-acre Muskego Sanitary Landfill site is a former rendering plant with associated
wastewater lagoons located northeast of the site. The site is defined by two areas known as
the old fill and the southeast fill. Prior to landfill operations, the site was run as a farm by the
Alfred Wauer family. The Wauers, who also ran the off-site animal rendering plant and
associated waste lagoons, used an inactive sand and gravel pit located on the farm for the
disposal of animal carcasses and blood. The quarry pit evolved into an open dump, and in
1954, Mr. Wauer obtained a permit from the City of Muskego. The old fill was operated as a
public dumping ground. During the 1960s, the Wauers allegedly accepted waste oils and paint
products as part of a drum salvage operation. The drums were emptied at or near the old fill
and their contents were burned in open fires. The drums were then reclaimed and resold. In
1969, Acme Disposal, a subsidiary of Waste Management of Wisconsin, Inc. (WMWI), leased
the property and continued operations  at the dump. The old fill was licensed by the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) in 1971 as a sanitary landfill. In 1975,
the WDNR determined that the quality of groundwater was deteriorating in the vicinity of
the site and subsequently ordered WMWI to cap and close the old fill. By 1976, the landfill
had been renamed the Muskego Sanitary Landfill and was operated directly by WMWI. The
southeast fill was approved as a sanitary landfill by the WDNR in 1977 and remained active
until it was filled to capacity and closed in 1981. Groundwater contamination was discovered
in 1982 when the WDNR reviewed data in response to a request from WMWI for approval
to do repair work on both fill areas. The Town of Waukesha, with a population of 51,000, is
to the east of the landfill. The Fox River and associated wetlands are in the area.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                     Federal, State, and potentially
                     responsible parties' actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/08/83
   Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
         Groundwater underlying the site has been shown to be contaminated with volatile
         organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals including lead and chromium from
         landfill wastes. Potential health risks exist for individuals who drink the
         contaminated groundwater. The wetlands also may be threatened.
                                        46
                 March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: initial actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on the removal of on-site waste and cleanup of the groundwater.
Response Action Status
           Initial Actions: In 1982, the WDNR found elevated levels of contaminants in
           four residential wells. The four affected homes were purchased by WMWI. In
           1985, the City of Muskego created a public water utility and constructed a system
to serve area homes that may have been using contaminated wells. Approximately 19,820
pounds of liquid solvents and 1,735 tons of contaminated soil and old drums were removed
from the site by the potentially responsible parties in the spring of 1990.

          On-Site Waste: Under EPA monitoring, WMWI initiated an investigation in
          1987 to determine the nature and extent  of contamination at the site and to
          identify alternative cleanup  methods. The EPA will evaluate the results of
geophysical surveying, groundwater monitoring, test  pit and soil sampling, and private well
sampling, and expects to select the final cleanup strategy for site contamination by the end of
1992.

          Groundwater: In 1987, the potentially responsible parties began a study to
          determine the nature and extent of groundwater contamination and to identify
          cleanup alternatives. The study is expected to be completed in 1993.

Site Facts: WMWI entered into an agreement to finance and conduct the investigation at
the site. The Administrative Order was signed in 1987 by WMWI, the EPA, and the WDNR.
Environmental Progress
The purchase of the four homes with contaminated wells and construction of a public water
supply have reduced the potential for exposure to contaminated groundwater while site
studies are being conducted and cleanup activities are being planned at the Muskego Sanitary
Landfill site.
Site Repository

Muskego Public Library, South 8200 Racine Avenue, Muskego, WI 53150
MUSKEGO SANITARY LANDFILL                 47                                 March 1992

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N.W. MAUTHE
COMPANY,  IN
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID083290981
Site Description
EPA REGION  5
  Outagamie County
      Appleton
The 2-acre N.W. Mauthe Company, Inc. site operated as a chromium electroplating facility
from 1946 to 1976. The building was leased during this time by Wisconsin Chromium
Corporation. Norbert Mauthe had owned the facility since 1966, and the property is now
being managed by his estate. The facility was a generator of hazardous waste, which has
severely contaminated the site with chromium. The chromium leaked through the floor and
from a vent directly onto the ground. The EPA conducted tests in 1985 and detected
chromium and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in the soil and groundwater. In 1982,
contaminated groundwater from the site entered the basement of a home and was discharged
to storm sewers that lead to the Fox River, 1/2 mile from the site. The river drains into Lake
Winnebago, which provides drinking water to 60,000 people. The river flows toward the City
of Green Bay and empties into  the Green Bay. Approximately 11,000 people obtain drinking
water from public and private wells within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                    Federal and State actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 06/24/88
   Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
m
         Groundwater and soils contain various VOCs and heavy metals including
         chromium. People who come in direct contact with or accidentally ingest
         contaminated groundwater or soil may be at risk. If contaminants leach into the
         river or lake, wildlife in or around the water may be harmed.
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.
                                      48
                March 1992

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Response Action Status
soil.
          Initial Actions: In 1982, the State installed a system to collect shallow
          groundwater, preventing puddles from forming. A portion of the site was covered
          with asphalt to limit rainwater from coming into contact with the contaminated
          Entire Site: The State has begun an investigation to determine the extent of
          groundwater and soil contamination at the site. Once this investigation is
          completed, scheduled in 1993, the EPA will select the final strategy to address site
contamination.
Environmental Progress
Initial actions to install a shallow groundwater collection system and paving a portion of the
site with asphalt have reduced the potential for migration of contaminants from the N.W.
Mauthe Company, Inc. site while studies are underway and cleanup activities are being
planned.
Site Repository
Appleton Public Library, 225 North Oneida Street, Appleton, WI 54911
N.W. MAUTHE COMPANY, INC.
49
March 1992

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NATIONAL  PRES
INDUSTRIES,  IN
WISCONSIN
EPAID#WID006196174
Site Description  	
  EPA REGION 5
   Eau Claire County and
.j  sf Chippewa County
       Eau Claire
The 325-acre National Presto Industries (NPI) site originally was owned by the U.S.
Government and operated by government contractors as a small arms loading plant and
manufacturing facility for radar tubes during the 1940s. NPI purchased the property in 1947
and has maintained sole ownership of the facility. From 1948 until 1954, NPI manufactured
consumer goods at the site. During the latter part of this period, the facility also was used for
defense-related activities, including manufacturing fuses for the Army and parts for military
aircraft. Between 1954 and 1980, NPI has dedicated the plant to the production of artillery
shell parts under contracts with the Army. Manufacturing operations at the facility ceased in
1980. The facility currently is inactive, and the Army has decided not to renew the annual
standby contract with the National Defense Corporation which, in the past, has maintained
the facility in a state of readiness for the Army. Wastewater generated at the facility
originally was discharged to seven on-site seepage pits. By 1952, the seepage pits could no
longer handle the high volume of water flow from the plant, and the wastewater was pumped
to a former sand and gravel pit, which may have been used as a disposal area before 1948.
From 1967 to 1969, wastewater lagoons were constructed to provide additional disposal
capacity. Up to 2 1/2 million gallons  of wastewater were discharged into the lagoons each day.
Between 1966 and 1969, wastes containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were disposed
of in one of the lagoons and in an area northeast of the plant known as the Melby Road site.
In 1986, an  additional disposal area was discovered on the eastern end of the NPI property
line,  following a complaint to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).
Drums containing a variety of waste materials were found and later were  removed and stored
on an unused loading dock at the plant by NPI. The City of Eau Claire has a population of
53,400 people. Many nearby residences use private wells. The Eau Claire  Municipal Well
Field, another site  on the NPL> is located within 3 miles of the site. Site investigations have
shown the National Presto site to be the source of contamination at the Eau Claire site. A
single continuous plume extends from waste  disposal areas at the National Presto  site to the
Eau Claire site.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                     Federal, State, and potentially
                     responsible parties' actions.
   NPL LISTING HISTORY
   Proposed Date: 10/15/84
     Final Date: 06/10/86
                                        50
                   March 1992

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Threats and Contaminants
          Groundwater and soils are contaminated with various VOCs and heavy metals.
          Low levels of VOCs were detected in Lake Hallie, approximately 1 mile north of
          the site. Potential health threats include accidentally ingesting or coming in direct
          contact with contaminated soil or groundwater. Access to the main plant area is
          restricted by fencing and is checked by security guards throughout the day and
          night. Access to the remainder of the site is not restricted, although much of the
          site is surrounded by a fence.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of contamination sources and groundwater and installation of a
permanent water supply.
Response Action Status
           Immediate Actions: In 1989, NPI began providing bottled water to Town of
           Hallie and City of Eau Claire residences and businesses whose wells were
           contaminated or threatened by contamination from the NPI site. Permanent
alternate drinking water supplies became fully operational in early 1992, and the bottled
water program has been discontinued. Fences were erected to restrict access to the main
plant and the lagoon, as well as to the disposal area.

          Source Control and Groundwater: Under EPA monitoring, NPI initiated an
          investigation to determine the nature and extent of site contamination and to
          evaluate alternatives for source control  and groundwater cleanup. In late 1991, the
EPA selected a remedy for on-site contaminated groundwater that includes extracting,
treating, and discharging groundwater to the Chippewa River. The EPA began construction
of the extraction wells to contain the plume in mid-1992. They are expected to be operational
by early 1993. Alternatives under consideration for source areas include soil vapor extraction,
consolidation and capping, and recycling some of the waste materials as an alternative fuel.

          Permanent Water Supply: In 1991, the City of Eau Claire and the Hallie
          Sanitary District began construction of permanent water supply hookups to serve
          the area affected by contaminated groundwater.  These actions, funded by NPI,
were completed in early 1992.
NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES, INC.            51                                 March 1992

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Site Facts: In 1986, NPI signed a Consent Order with the EPA and the State to conduct an
investigation to determine the nature and extent of contamination at the site and to identify
alternative cleanup remedies. A Unilateral Order was issued in 1989 for bottled water to be
distributed to affected residents. An additional 1991 Unilateral Order was issued, requiring
NPI to distribute drinking water supplies to affected residences and businesses near the site.
A Unilateral Order was issued in mid-1992, requiring NPI to construct the remedy for on-site
plume containment.
Environmental  Progress
The replacement drinking water systems are fully operational and provide a safe water supply.
The selected remedy for on-site containment of contaminated groundwater is under
construction and should be operational by early 1993. Additional investigations have
determined the extent of contamination, and alternatives are being evaluated to address
further contamination cleanup at the National Presto Industries, Inc. site.
Site Repository
Chippewa Falls Public Library, 105 West Central Road, Chippewa Falls, WI  54729
 March 1992
52
NATIONAL PRESTO INDUSTRIES, INC.

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NORTHERN
ENGRAVIN
COMPANY
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID006183826
EPA REGION 5
   Monroe County
       Sparta
Site  Description
The Northern Engraving Company (NEC) owns and operates a manufacturing facility at this
site. The company produces metal nameplates, dials, and decorative trim for the auto
industry. Four separate areas of contamination at the NEC facility have been identified,
including the sludge lagoon, seepage pit, sludge dump site, and lagoon drainage ditch. The
contaminants found in these areas were from past wastewater treatment and disposal
practices used at the site. Since the 1960s, wastewaters and by-products of the metal finishing
process have been treated on site. An on-site wastewater treatment lagoon was installed in
1967. Rinse water from the plant was collected and treated with sodium hydroxide for
precipitation to metal hydroxide solids.  The treated rinse water was discharged to the sludge
lagoon to allow solids to settle.  The treated lagoon effluent was discharged to the LaCrosse
River by way of a  storm drainage ditch. Between 1968 and 1976, the sludge lagoon
accumulated solids from the treated wastewater. On two occasions, sludge was removed from
the lagoon and landfilled in an on-site dump area. The sludge lagoon eventually was removed
from service in 1980, and an on-site seepage pit was used to neutralize spent acid waste. The
pit was removed from service, filled with clean material, and graded in 1981. A new
aboveground wastewater treatment system was installed in 1976 and modified in 1984. The
nearby LaCrosse River is used for recreational activities.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                    Federal, State, and potentially
                    responsible parties' actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/08/83
   Final Date: 09/21/84
                                      53
                March 1992

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Threats and Contaminants
L\
         The on-site drainage ditch was contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE), a
         volatile organic compound, from metal finishing wastes. Groundwater and sludge
         were contaminated with heavy metals including copper, chromium, iron, zinc,
         nickel, and fluoride. Site cleanup has eliminated the potential for health risks.
Cleanup Approach
This site was addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
          Entire Site: In 1988, under EPA monitoring, the parties potentially responsible
          for the contamination excavated and solidified approximately 4,400 cubic yards of
          sludge and soil, installed a cover over the lagoon to prevent further site
contamination, imposed access and deed restrictions on the seepage pit property, and
implemented groundwater monitoring. A full year of groundwater sampling has been
completed, and results indicate that contamination levels have been reduced as a result of the
surface cleanup. Further groundwater monitoring will be continued on a quarterly basis until
a baseline for water quality for the area can be established for purposes of comparison. Once
the baseline is established, the monitoring will be conducted semi-annually. The need for
further monitoring will be evaluated in 5 years.
Site Facts: A Consent Decree was signed by the potentially responsible parties, the EPA,
and the State, under which the company conducted investigative and site cleanup activities.
Environmental Progress
The removal activities described above have addressed surface wastes and contaminated
material and have halted further groundwater impacts. The Northern Engraving Company
site no longer poses a threat to human health or the environment.
March 1992                                54              NORTHERN ENGRAVING COMPANY

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Site Repository
Sparta Public Library, West Main & Court Streets, Sparta, WI 54656
NORTHERN ENGRAVING COMPANY
55
March 1992

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OCONOMOWO
ELECTROPLA
COMPANY, IN
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID006100275
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
    Dodge County
      Ashippin
The 5-acre Oconomowoc Electroplating Company, Inc. site is adjacent to Davy Creek and
300 acres of wetlands. The shop has been in operation since  1957, using heavy metals in
electroplating operations. The wastes generated from the process were discharged into the
adjacent wetlands. Degreasing operations also were performed in conjunction with the
process. In 1972, the company built two unlined settling lagoons to increase wastewater
treatment capacity. Sludges have accumulated in the lagoons and some were removed
throughout the 1970s. During this time, the company constructed a wastewater treatment
plant. Inefficient operation of the lagoons and the treatment plant, as well  as discharges of
untreated wastewater, have resulted in an accumulation of metal sludge in  a wetland adjacent
to Davy Creek, a tributary to the Rock River a mile downstream of the site. The unlined
lagoons,  chemical spills, and plant operations  also may have contaminated the groundwater in
the area. Plating wastes have eaten through the concrete waste troughs in  the plant floor and
also have seeped out of the ground near the plant walls. Drums of wastes are leaking, on site,
and sludges have spilled from lagoon impoundments. Approximately 1,400 people live within 3
miles of the site. The nearest house is 150 feet from the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
                    Federal actions.
 NPL USTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/08/83
   Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
         The groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals, cyanide, and volatile organic
         compounds (VOCs) from electroplating activities. The wetland and creek sediment
         and surface water are contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium,
         copper, and lead. The on-site soil is contaminated with heavy metals including
         chromium, cadmium, copper, and arsenic. Metal sludges have accumulated in the
         wetlands and in settling lagoons. Ingesting, coming in direct contact with, or
         inhaling the contaminated soil, groundwater, and sediments may cause a potential
         health threat. Wetlands and creek sediments contain contaminants that threaten
         the wetlands, and aquatic organisms could bioaccumulate pollutants in their tissues,
         which would pose a threat to anyone consuming those organisms.
                                       56
                 March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: an immediate action and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the lagoons and soils and cleanup of the wetlands.
Response Action Status
          Immediate Action: In 1987, the EPA installed a fence around the entire site to
          restrict access.

          Lagoons and Soils: In 1990, the EPA completed an investigation into the
          extent of contamination and alternative remedies that could be used to clean up
          the site. The EPA selected to close the lagoons; excavate and stabilize lagoon and
other contaminated soils and sediments and dispose of them in an approved landfill; and
pump and treat groundwater with ion exchange, air stripping,  carbon adsorption, and chemical
oxidation. Design of these cleanup activities began in 1990 and are expected to be completed
in 1993. In 1991, a building on site was removed. The removal of contaminated soil on site
and the possible cleanup of the wetland and creek are being planned.

          Wetlands: In 1990, the EPA began an investigation into the nature and extent of
          contamination in  adjacent wetlands. The study is expected to be completed in early
          1993.

Site Facts: In 1981, the State ordered the Oconomowoc  Electroplating Company, Inc. to
restrict its discharge of heavy metals into the wetlands.
Environmental Progress
The fencing of the site has reduced the potential for exposure to contaminated materials at
the Oconomowoc Electroplating Company, Inc. site while investigations are taking place and
cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
F & M Bank, North 533, Highway 67, Ashippun, WI 53003
                                         57                                 March 1992

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OMEGA HILLS
NORTH  LAND
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID000808568
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
  Washington County
   Germantown

    Other Names:
Germantown Landfill 1
i. Waste Mgmt. of Wisconsin
   Lauer Landfill II
The Omega Hills North Landfill Site covers 83 acres in the southeastern part of Wisconsin,
near metropolitan Milwaukee. The State of Wisconsin licensed this landfill to accept
hazardous wastes from 1977 until  1982. It is estimated that the facility accepted about 5,000
tons of hazardous waste each year. The State estimates there are now over 150,000 cubic
yards of waste on the site. This total includes 3,300 cubic yards of heavy metals and 350 cubic
yards of solvents. About 250 Wisconsin industries have used the site for hazardous waste
disposal. Large amounts of asbestos have been and still are being disposed of at the site.
More than 15 million gallons of liquid wastes were disposed of at this site each year until it
stopped accepting such wastes; this includes an estimated 6 million gallons of hazardous liquid
waste. The site stopped accepting hazardous wastes in 1982 and liquid wastes in 1983. In
1989, the site stopped accepting all wastes, and a soil cover was installed. The facility
originally was built below  the level of groundwater under the site. This allows leachate to flow
away from the landfill and into an extensive network that collects the waste material before it
reaches the groundwater. However, the system for collecting leachate has not operated as it
was designed, which has resulted in  200 million gallons of liquid waste accumulating under the
site. Approximately 42,000 people live within a 3-mile radius of the site.  There are 874 private
wells within 3 miles of the landfill. The nearest municipal well is 1 1/2 miles away, and the
nearest residences are 150 yards from the site. Several office buildings are located within 100
yards of the property.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through a
                     combination of Federal, State, and
                     potentially responsible parties' actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/08/83
   Final Date: 09/21/84
                                        58
                 March 1992

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Threats and Contaminants
          Leachate has been migrating from the site and has contaminated the shallow
          groundwater under several private wells in the area with volatile organic
          compounds (VOCs) including benzenes, toluene, and vinyl chloride. Leachate
          contains heavy metals such as zinc, nickel, arsenic, and cadmium, as well as
          phthalates, a by-product of plastic production, and VOCs including
          trichloroethylene (TCE). Leachate on site also contains cyanide, gases,
          petrochemicals, and pesticides. Surface  water in off-site streams contains VOCs.
          Individuals could be exposed to hazardous chemicals from the site by drinking
          contaminated groundwater, eating crops grown with contaminated water or soil, or
          by inhaling contaminated dust particles. Dairy farms and orchards are adjacent to
          the site, and crops such as corn, soybeans, and apples could be contaminated if
          they are irrigated with contaminated groundwater.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
           Immediate Actions: Currently, a number of low fences surround the site and
           signs have been posted warning people not to trespass on the landfill property.
           The site is closed and covered with clay. Under State monitoring, the owner of
the site installed additional perimeter slurry or compacted clay cut-off walls and systems to
collect leachate, preventing it from entering the groundwater under the site. The owner also
installed a pre-treatment plant for the leachate and devices to intercept and collect gases that
escape from the landfill.

          Entire Site: The owner of the site is conducting a study to  determine the nature
          and extent of contamination. Once the investigation has been completed and all
          site contamination has been identified,  the State will select the final cleanup
strategy for the site, possibly under authority of the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA) rather than Superfund.
Site Facts: In 1989, the owner of the site entered into a stipulated agreement with the State
to decrease the levels of leachate under the site and to address other environmental
problems. The facility closed later that year.
OMEGA HILLS NORTH LANDFILL                 59                                  March 1992

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Environmental  Progress
Collecting and treating leachate, covering the landfill, and fencing and posting signs at the
site have reduced exposure to contaminants while investigations leading to the selection of
final cleanup remedies for the Omega Hills North Landfill are taking place.
Site Repository
Not established.
       March 1992
60
OMEGA HILLS NORTH LANDFILL

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ONALASKA
MUNICIPAL
LANDFILL
WISCONSIN
EPAID#WID980821656
Site  Description  —
EPA REGION 5
   LaCrosse County
      Onalaska
The Onalaska Municipal Landfill covers 7 acres of an 11-acre parcel located in a rural,
agricultural area near residential homes and a sportsman's club. The landfill area was
originally mined as a sand and gravel quarry in the early 1960s. From 1969 to 1980, the Town
of Onalaska was licensed to operate a municipal landfill at the former quarry. Municipal trash
and industrial chemical wastes including naphtha, toluene, and paint residues were disposed of
at the site. Open burning was also carried out until 1971, when the Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources (WDNR) banned this practice after it received complaints of heavy smoke
and odors. After 1971, barrels containing waste were emptied into pre-excavated holes and,
occasionally, full barrels were buried. In one case, it is alleged that 300 barrels were buried,
and in another case, it is alleged that a 500-gallon tank truck partially filled with paint
residues was buried at the site. The EPA estimates that the equivalent of 2,500 drums of
liquid wastes were disposed of at the site. The WDNR closed the landfill in 1980. Areas of
the site are capped with sand and silts. The closest residence is within 300 feet of the site,
and 320 people live within a 1-mile radius of the site. The nearby Black River is a  major
recreational resource for residents in the surrounding area.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                    Federal and State actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/08/83
   Final Date: 09/21/84
                                      61
                March 1992

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Threats  and Contaminants
          Groundwater contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including
          trichloroethylene (TCE) and toluene, naphtha, and barium. The groundwater in
          the sand and gravel aquifer below the site is believed to be in contact with the
          buried waste during times of high water. As a result of this contact, soil outside of
          the landfill has been contaminated with floating petroleum and  hydrocarbon
          products. Chemicals in the landfill are leaching into the groundwater, which may
          eventually reach an adjacent wetlands area and the nearby Black River. People
          could be exposed to contaminants from the site by drinking contaminated
          groundwater and by breathing in vapors that escape from contaminated
          groundwater when used for washing and showering. Groundwater flows from the
          site toward the upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge, which also borders the
          Black River and Lake Onalaska. Contaminated runoff from the site could  affect
          these surface waters, as well as the aquatic plants and animals and wildlife residing
          in these areas.
Cleanup Approach
The 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 Town of Onalaska placed a cap over the landfill in 1982 to
           prevent seepage from spreading contaminants. A residential well was replaced due
           to contamination that exceeded the Federal drinking water and State groundwater
quality standards.

           Entire Site: Based on studies of the site involving sampling and extensive field
           work, the EPA and the WDNR considered various technologies to address
           contamination and chose, in a 1990 decision: in-situ bioremediation, groundwater
pump and treat, and capping to address contaminated sediment, surface water, groundwater,
and soil. The EPA began designing the cleanup approach in early 1991 and has just recently
completed this activity.  Final cleanup is scheduled to begin in late 1992, once a contract has
been awarded.
Environmental  Progress
Placing a cover over the landfill and replacing a residential water well have reduced any
imminent threats of direct contact with hazardous materials while cleanup activities for the
Onalaska Landfill site are being planned.


March 1992                                 62                ONALASKA MUNICIPAL LANDFILL

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Site Repository
LaCrosse County Public Library, Onalaska Branch, 741 Oak Avenue, South,
Onalaska, WI 54650
ONALASKA MUNICIPAL LANDFILL               63                               March 1992

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REFUSE  HID
LANDFILL
WISCONSIN
EPAID#WID980610
Site Description
     EPA REGION 5
         Dane County
2 miles west of Middleton and 4 miles
       east of Cross Plains
The 23-acre Refuse Hideaway Landfill site is located in rural Dane County. This privately
owned unlined landfill received municipal, commercial, and industrial wastes between 1974
and 1988. Wastes that were disposed of at the site included full barrels of glue and paint,
spray paint booth by-products and paint stripper sludge, and  spill residues containing volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). In 1988, after contaminants were  detected in private wells
southwest of the site, the landfill was closed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources (WDNR). The owner of the landfill complied with the closing order by covering
the landfill with clay and soil and then seeding the cover. The owner declared bankruptcy in
1989. WDNR investigated the site in 1990 and discovered that  the landfill cap was eroding.
The investigation also revealed the presence of contaminants in groundwater, including two
additional private wells. A plume  of contaminated groundwater extends as far as 3,800 feet
southwest of the site. Public and private wells within 4 miles  of the site provide water supplies
to an estimated 14,600 people in the area; the nearest of these wells is privately owned and
within a half mile of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
                    Federal and State actions.
       NPL Listing History
      Proposed Date: 02/07/92
Threats and  Contaminants
         Soil and on-site and off-site groundwater, including private wells southwest of the
         site, are contaminated with various VOCs, such as methylene chloride, vinyl
         chloride, and acetone. Individuals who accidentally ingest or come into direct
         contact with contaminated soil or groundwater could be at risk.
                                       64
                      March 1992

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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: In 1988, the landfill was closed. The owner of the landfill
          covered the area with layers of clay and soil and then seeded the cover. In
          response to the detection of contaminants in groundwater, several  contaminated
wells have been outfitted with treatment systems, while others have been taken out of
service. In 1991, WDNR installed a methane gas and leachate collection system.

          Entire Site: In 1993, EPA plans  to begin  an investigation into the  nature and
          extent of contamination at the site. The investigation also will identify possible
          cleanup technologies.
Environmental Progress
Immediate actions such as the installation of treatment systems on some contaminated wells
and closing other wells have reduced immediate threats posed to the safety and health of the
nearby population while investigations are underway and activities are being planned for
cleanup of the site.
Site Repository

Not established.
REFUSE HIDEAWAY LANDFILL                  65                                 March 1992

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SAUK COUN
LANDFILL
WISCONSIN
EPAID#WID980610141
Site Description
                                            EPA REGION 5
                                                Sauk County
                                            10 miles west of Baraboo
The 10-acre Sauk County Landfill site operated as a landfill, accepting municipal and foundry
wastes. In 1973, the County received a permit from the State to accept municipal waste,
which was hauled in from several small municipalities and placed on the site until 1983. The
landfill also accepted foundry wastes from Grede Foundry, Inc. Foundry sand formed berms
within the landfill area. An estimated 2 percent of the wastes were baghouse dusts containing
lead and cadmium. The landfill was  closed in 1983, and clay was placed on the top and sides
of the facility. An EPA inspection in 1985 led to the discovery that methane gas is being
generated from site wastes and that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and metals are
present in on-site monitoring wells. Approximately 900 people obtain drinking water from
private wells within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                    Federal and State actions.
                                             NPL LISTING HISTORY
                                             Proposed Date: 06/24/88
                                               Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
 ZEJ
Soil and groundwater is contaminated with the VOCs toluene and benzene and
heavy metals including arsenic, chromium, and barium. The greatest potential
health threat is drinking contaminated groundwater or inhaling vapors from the
groundwater. Inhaling air contaminated with methane gas also is a potential health
threat.
                                      66
                                                            March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
The 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: When the landfill was closed in 1983, clay was placed over it to
           prevent water from entering the landfill and spreading contaminants.

          Entire Site: The State, in cooperation with the EPA, began an investigation into
          the nature and extent of soil, groundwater, and other contamination at the site in
          late 1991. The investigation will define the contaminants of concern and will
recommend alternatives for the final site cleanup. It is expected to be completed by late
1993.
Environmental Progress
By initially covering the landfill with clay, the potential for hazardous materials moving into
the groundwater or the surrounding area has been reduced while investigations leading to the
final selection of cleanup remedies are underway at the Sauk County Landfill site.
Site Repository
Not established.
SAUK COUNTY LANDFILL
67
March 1992

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SCHMALZ DU
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID980820096
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
   Calumet County
   Town of Harrison
The 3/4-acre Schmalz Dump site is located on the northern shore of Lake Winnebago and
was the location of unauthorized industrial dumping during the 1960s and 1970s. The previous
site owner began filling the property in 1968. Records show that the wastes disposed of
included car bodies, stone, trees, pulp chips, mash, fly ash, bottom ash, and demolition debris.
Adjacent property  to the north and west of the site also was used for waste disposal.
Reportedly, these wastes included ashes and a white sludge. Evidently, garbage was deposited
in a marshy area that once existed immediately beyond the southern property line. In 1972
and 1973, the site accepted fly ash and bottom ash from a utility company. In 1978 and 1979,
the site accepted polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated building demolition debris
that was later used to fill a wetland area. In 1979, in response to residents' complaints, the
State ordered the transportation of demolition materials to the site to cease.  There are about
60 residences and businesses within 1,000 feet of the property, and the site is about 500 feet
from Lake Winnebago, a source of public water supply. All water users in the area are
connected to the Menash water system, although some have retained wells for auxiliary
purposes. The neighboring City of Appleton, with a population of 60,000, has its drinking
water intake approximately 1,200 feet from the shore of Lake Winnebago. The present
property owner intends to  convert the property into a residential development.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                     Federal and potentially responsible
                     parties' actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/08/83
   Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
         Groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals including lead and chromium.
         Sediment and surface water samples collected from a pond near the disposal area
         and from the drainage ditches leading into the pond indicated the presence of
         PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals. Soil was
         contaminated with heavy metals, PCBs, and PAHs. Potential health threats to
         people include drinking contaminated surface water and coming into direct contact
         with contaminated sediments. Eating contaminated fish from the polluted waters
         also could present a health threat.
                                        68
                 March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of soil and sediments and controlling the source of contamination.
Response Action Status
           Immediate Actions: In 1985, the EPA constructed a 6-foot-high security fence
           and posted warning signs around the entire site boundary to restrict access.

          Soil and Sediments: In 1988, the EPA completed excavating and removing
          3,500 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated debris-laden soil and sediments from the
          site grounds and from an on-site pond.

           Source Control: The EPA completed the technical specifications for activities to
           eliminate the potential for contact with contaminated water. The selected cleanup
           technologies include installation of a soil cap to contain the contaminated soil and
debris, operation and maintenance of a groundwater monitoring program, and
implementation of a voluntary well abandonment program for nearby wells. The cleanup
activities will begin  once site access is obtained.

Site Facts: In 1989, the EPA and one of the eight parties potentially responsible for the site
contamination reached a settlement wherein the party agreed to pay for a portion of the site
cleanup activities.
Environmental Progress
Much of the contaminated material has been removed from the Schmalz Dump site and has
been disposed of at a federally approved facility. To date, completed cleanup actions have
achieved site goals for PCB-contaminated debris and surface water contamination at the site.
Therefore, no further cleanup actions related to the debris or surface water are needed.
These actions, along with the construction of a security fence surrounding the site, have
reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous materials while the long-term groundwater
cleanup is being conducted.
Site Repository
University of Wisconsin Center, Fox Valley Library, 1478 Midway Road, Menasha, WI 54952
SCHMALZ DUMP                            69                                 March 1992

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SCRAP  PROCESS
CO.,  INC.
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID046536785
EPA REGION 5
    Taylor County
     Medford
    Other Names:
 Potaczek Scrap Yard
Site Description
The 2-acre Scrap Processing Co. site, located approximately 1 mile northwest of Medford,
currently operates as a salvage yard. From 1955 to 1974, and periodically until 1981, the
company cracked lead and acid batteries to reclaim the lead that was smelted on site. During
the battery crushing operation, the equivalent of 399,000 gallons of acid wastes contaminated
with heavy metals from the batteries ran from the crushing area, along an unlined ditch, and
into an unlined pond. The pond has intermittently overflowed into the Black River, located
along one side of the site, contaminating it with heavy metals and acid. Old cars, car parts,
and other materials commonly found in scrap yards are present on the site. A company that
manufactures machine parts is located next to the scrap yard. The building that was used for
battery cracking is still standing and is located on the western end of the site. The site is
bordered by a residential area, a few older homes,  and a mobile home park. Two of the older
homes across the street from the site use private wells. The residents in the subdivision to the
east of the site  and people in the mobile home park use water from Medford municipal wells.
Fishing is common along the river, and several parks are located along the western side of
the river, across from the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
                    Federal, State, and potentially
                    responsible parties' actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/08/83
   Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and  Contaminants
         Groundwater, soils, and sediments are contaminated with heavy metals including
         lead, barium, copper, and zinc. Elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
         were also found in soil samples. Potential health threats to people include
         accidental ingestion of and coming in direct contact with contaminated sediment,
         soil, and groundwater. The main contaminant of concern at this site is lead, to
         which pregnant women and children are highly sensitive. In early 1990, five nearby
         private wells were sampled and showed no evidence of contamination.
                                       70
                 March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
The 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: In 1984, the potentially responsible party drained the unlined
           pond and disposed of the liquid in the municipal storm sewer. A total of 7,200
           gallons of water from the pond were transported to a manhole in the city park
that is located on the eastern side of the river. The first 6 inches of lead-contaminated soil
and sediment were excavated and hauled away for off-site disposal at a hazardous waste
landfill. Remaining contaminated soil was classified as solid waste and was disposed of at the
Medford Municipal Landfill. Excavation and removal of wastes were completed in 1986.
          Entire Site: The EPA is planning to begin an investigation into the nature and
          extent of remaining contamination at the site in 1992. The investigation will review
          the completed initial actions, define the contaminants of concern, and determine if
additional site cleanup is required. This investigation is planned for completion in late 1993.

Site Facts: In 1983, the State brought an enforcement action against Scrap Processing, the
party potentially responsible for the site contamination, which resulted in the company being
ordered to perform initial cleanup actions at the site.
Environmental  Progress
Much of the contaminated materials, including soil and liquids, have been excavated and
properly disposed of away from the site, reducing the potential of exposure to hazardous
materials. Investigations to determine whether additional cleanup is required at the Scrap
Processing Co., Inc. site are being planned.
Site Repository

Not established.
SCRAP PROCESSING CO., INC.                 71                                 March 1992

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SHEBOYGAN
& RIVER
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID980996367
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
  Sheboygan County
 miles north of Milwaukee
The Sheboygan Harbor & River site extends approximately 14 miles through the communities
of Sheboygan Falls, Kohler, and Sheboygan. The site area includes Sheboygan Harbor,
located on Lake Michigan, and the lower Sheboygan River, which discharges into the
Sheboygan Harbor. In 1977, the State detected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during
routine sampling of fish. Since then, PCBs have been detected in fish, wildlife, surface water,
sediments in the harbor and river and in flood plain soils. The highest concentrations of PCBs
have been detected in sediments immediately downstream from a die-casting plant in
Sheboygan Falls. Concentrations decline farther downstream from the plant. Heavy metals
also have been found at elevated levels in sediments. Tecumseh Products Company excavated
contaminated soils from its property along the river and disposed of them off site in 1978.
The Sheboygan River drains into Lake Michigan, the source of drinking water for
approximately 58,000 people within the Sheboygan/Sheboygan Falls/Kohler metropolitan area.
The EPA has detected PCBs in sediments within a mile of the drinking water intakes. Both
the Sheboygan Harbor and River are used for recreation.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
                    Federal, State, and potentially
                    responsible parties' actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/18/85
   Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and  Contaminants
         Sediments are contaminated with PCBs, a wide variety of heavy metals, volatile
         organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and
         phthalates, a by-product of plastic production. Soils and surface water are
         contaminated with PCBs and heavy metals including arsenic, chromium, copper,
         lead, and zinc. People who come in direct contact with or ingest contaminated soil,
         sediments, or surface water may be at risk. Because fish and wildlife are
         contaminated with PCBs, people who eat contaminated fish or waterfowl also may
         suffer adverse health effects. In 1978, the State advised residents not to eat fish
         from the Sheboygan River and two tributaries, the Mullet and Onion Rivers,
         because of PCB contamination. In 1987, the State also issued  an advisory not to
         eat wildlife from the area. The advisories are still in effect.
                                       72
                 March 1992

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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, Tecumseh Products Co. dredged PCB-
          contaminated sediments from the Sheboygan River. Sediments are being stored in
          a sediment management facility located on site until a final decision is made on
disposal methods.
          Entire Site: Tecumseh Products Company, Inc. began an investigation in 1986 to
          determine the nature and extent of site contamination. The investigation is
          assessing risks to human health and the environment and will result in the
evaluation of potential cleanup alternatives. The investigation has included sediment sampling
of the river and harbor, flood plain soil sampling, river and harbor water sampling, fish
sampling, and caged fish studies. Tecumseh is conducting an investigation to test and evaluate
potential cleanup technologies that may be used in treating PCB-contaminated sediments. A
Confined Treatment Facility was built on site and is being used to study the effectiveness of
enhanced biodegradation for the treatment of PCBs in sediments. Investigations are
scheduled to be completed in 1993.

Site Facts: In 1986, the EPA and the State signed a Consent Order with Tecumseh
Products, requiring the company to conduct an investigation at the site. In 1990, the EPA and
Tecumseh products signed a Consent Order, under which Tecumseh agreed to remove PCB-
contaminated sediments.
Environmental Progress
Removal of PCB-contaminated sediments from the river has reduced the threat to the local
population, wildlife, and the environment while studies of final cleanup alternatives are
continued at the Sheboygan Harbor & River site.
Site Repository
Mead Public Library, 710 Plaza Eight, Sheboygan, WI 53801
SHEBOYGAN HARBOR & RIVER                73                                March 1992

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SPICKLER  LAN
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID980902969
                                    EPA REGION 5
                                       Marathon County
                                          Spencer
Site Description
The 80-acre Spickler Landfill site contains a 7 1/2-acre former landfill now used as a tree
nursery. The landfill began operations under private ownership in 1970, disposing of both
municipal and industrial wastes. The facility was sold to Mid-State Disposal, Inc., which
operated the facility from 1972 to 1973. In 1975, Mid-State Disposal sold the site back to the
original owner, who subsequently resold the property in 1976 to the present owner. The
landfill received municipal waste and asbestos dust at a time when the landfill had no liner or
leachate controls. The area subsequently was capped with native clay soils. In 1971, with State
approval, approximately 1,280 cubic yards of mercury sludge were deposited at the site in a
clay-lined pit. Later that year, the pit was capped with clay soil. The landfill closed in 1976. A
site inspection in 1984 led the EPA to observe that the pit had subsided, and water had
ponded on top. Leachate was seeping into a ditch adjacent to the site, threatening local
surface water. Approximately 75 people live within a mile of the  site,  and an  undetermined
number of private wells are located within 1/4 mile. The sandstone aquifer provides drinking
water to private wells serving 2,000 people within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
  Final Date: 07/21/87
Threats and Contaminants
         Groundwater in both the upper and lower portions of the aquifer is contaminated
         with heavy metals including barium, as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
         including toluene. Potential health threats to people include drinking or coming in
         direct contact with contaminated groundwater.
                                        74
                                                     March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
          Entire Site: Two of the potentially responsible parties, BASF and Weyerhaeuser,
          currently are conducting an investigation into the nature and extent of site
          contamination, under EPA monitoring. The investigation will define the
contaminants and will recommend alternatives for the final cleanup. The investigation is
planned to be completed in 1993.

Site Facts: The parties potentially responsible for the site contamination signed a Consent
Order with EPA and the State, under which the parties agreed to conduct a study of the site.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Spickler Landfill site while
investigations are continuing and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Spencer Village Hall, 117 East Clark Street, Spencer, WI 54479
SPICKLER LANDFILL
75
March 1992

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STOUGHTON  Cl
LANDFILL
WISCONSIN
EPAID#WID980901219
                                   EPA REGION 5
                                       Dane County
                                        Stoughton
                                       Other Names:
                                   itoughton Landfill #113
Site Description
The 27-acre Stoughton City Landfill was purchased by the City of Stoughton in 1952 for
landfill operations. Between 1952 and 1969, the site was operated as an uncontrolled dump.
In 1969, the site began operating as a State-licensed landfill. The landfill originally was
established for the disposal of commercial and municipal wastes. Local residents also used the
landfill for household waste disposal. Uniroyal, Inc., a plastics and rubber products
manufacturer, disposed of wastes at the site from 1953 to 1962. The wastes primarily
consisted of solvents, other liquid chemicals, and vinyl  plastic scrap. During this time, open
burning of the liquid wastes was common, and soil was used to cover up the smoldering
residue. Liquid wastes were also reported to have been disposed of in boreholes along the
western portion of the landfill. A 1972 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
(WDNR) license prohibited the disposal of hazardous  waste at the site. In 1978, the site was
capped, seeded, and closed according to WDNR regulations. As part of the closure plans, six
wells were installed to monitor groundwater conditions at and near the site. The landfill
officially was closed  in 1982, and plans were developed by Stoughton to establish a park on
top of the revegetated site. The WDNR sampled the monitoring wells in 1983  and found that
two of the six wells contained elevated levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Routine
sampling conducted  by the City of Stoughton also indicated the presence of VOCs in  water
collected from the monitoring wells. Approximately 10,000 people live within a 3-mile radius
of the site. The site  is adjacent to the Yahara River, and wetlands border the site on  three
sides.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/15/84
  Final Date: 06/10/86
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                                                    March 1992

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Threats and Contaminants
          The groundwater is contaminated with various VOCs and inorganic compounds
          including arsenic and could be hazardous to the health of individuals if it is
          ingested over a long period of time. The municipal wells in the City of Stoughton
          have a potential of being contaminated by the hazardous materials at the site;
          however, because of their depth and location, the risk is low. Sediments contain
          elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),  phthalates, cadmium,
          and lead. The site is adjacent to surface water and wetlands; zinc in water samples
          from the wetlands exceeds toxic levels.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on source control
and groundwater containment.
Response Action Status
          Source Control and Groundwater Containment: The parties potentially
          responsible for the contamination completed an investigation to determine the
          nature and extent of the contamination and to identify cleanup alternatives in
1991. The purpose of the investigation was to: identify the amounts and types of
contaminants present; define the process through which contaminants may be released into
the environment; define the direction in which contaminants may travel; define the
boundaries of the contamination; and determine the routes of exposure and potential
environmental and public health threats. The final cleanup remedy was selected in 1991  and
calls for consolidation of waste exposed to groundwater; placement of a multi-layer cap  over
the landfill; installation of a fence around the site; restrictions on the use and placement of
wells; groundwater monitoring; and extraction and treatment of contaminated groundwater if
necessary. The final groundwater cleanup will be planned  after further groundwater
investigation. Design activities of the final remedy are expected to begin in late 1992.

Site Facts: Uniroyal, Inc. and the City of Stoughton signed a Consent Order in 1988 for the
company to conduct further investigations of the site groundwater and surface water, under
EPA and WDNR oversight.
STOUGHTON CTTY LANDFILL                   77                                March 1992

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Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Stoughton City Landfill site while
groundwater investigations are taking place and final cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Stoughton Public Library, 304 South Fourth Street, Stoughton, WI 53589
March 1992
78
STOUGHTON CITY LANDFILL

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TOMAH  ARMO
WISCONSIN
EPA 1D#WID980610299
 PA REGION  5
   Monroe County
      Tomah
Site Description
The 10-acre Tomah Armory site was operated by the City of Tomah as an open, unlined
dump accepting both municipal and industrial wastes from the early 1950s to 1955. During
part of this period, the City had a similar operation 2 miles to the south, which is known as
the Tomah Fairgrounds, also an NPL site. Both Tomah sites accepted primarily municipal
refuse.  However, Union Camp Corporation notified the EPA that its polyethylene plant in
Tomah had sent to the two sites 23,770 gallons of solvents and heavy metals, including lead
and chromium components. The City sold part of the land to the Wisconsin National Guard
for construction of an Armory. Homes were built on the rest of the land. According to the
City's Director of Public Works, a portion or all of the dump was excavated and filled with
sand before the buildings were constructed. Approximately 9,500 people draw drinking water
from public and private wells within 3 miles of the site. The nearest well is 1 mile from the
site. The Lemonweir River is approximately 500 feet away from the site. This river and Lake
Tomah are used for recreation.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                     Federal actions.
NPL USTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
  Final Date: 07/21/87
Threats and Contaminants
         The groundwater, soil, and surface water are contaminated with volatile organic
         compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals including chromium and lead. The
         contaminated groundwater, soil, and surface water could pose a health hazard to
         individuals if accidentally directly contacted or ingested. The contamination at the
         site could affect the wetland adjacent to the site. Nearby Deer Creek also could be
         polluted by the contamination from the site, and the trout living in the stream
         could bioaccumulate the toxic substances present in the site.
                                        79
                March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
be selected.
         Entire Site: An investigation of the site is expected to begin in 1993 to determine
         the nature and extent of the contamination and to evaluate alternative remedies
         for site cleanup. Once the investigation is completed, a final cleanup remedy will
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Tomah Armory site while
investigations are being planned.
Site Repository
Not established.
March 1992
80
TOMAH ARMORY

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TOMAH
FAIRGROU
WISCONSIN
EPA ID#WID980616841
EPA REGION 5
    Monroe County
       Toman
Site Description
From 1953 to 1959, the 10-acre Tomah Fairgrounds site was operated by the City as an open,
unlined dump, accepting both industrial and municipal wastes. During this period, the City
had a similar operation 2 miles away, where the Tomah Armory now is located; that site also
is listed on the NPL. Both Tomah sites accepted primarily municipal refuse. However, Union
Camp Corporation notified the EPA that its polyethylene plant in Tomah had sent 23,770
gallons of solvents and heavy metals, including lead and chromium components, to the two
sites. After the dump stopped operating, the City covered the area, which then became part
of the Tomah Fairgrounds. Approximately 9,500 people draw drinking water from the public
and private wells within 3 miles of the site. The closest residence is  within 1/4 mile of the site,
and approximately 4,100 people live within a 1-mile radius. The site is used as a fairgrounds;
therefore, access is unrestricted. The nearest downslope water, Lake Tomah, is approximately
400 feet away from the site and is used for recreational purposes. Because the wastes were
inadequately covered and there were no diversion structures, contaminated runoff could  have
reached nearby surface waters.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
                    Federal and State actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 01/22/87
   Final Date: 07/21/87
Threats and Contaminants
         The groundwater, soil, and surface water are contaminated with volatile organic
         compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals including chromium and lead. The
         contaminated groundwater, soil, and surface water could be a health hazard to
         individuals if accidentally directly contacted or swallowed. In an inspection
         conducted in 1984, the EPA observed areas where erosion had worn away some of
         the soil; thus, people and animals potentially could come into direct contact with
         hazardous substances.
                                       81
                 March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
          Entire Site: As a pre-investigation activity, the State plans to sample private wells
          in the area for VOC contamination. An intensive investigation of the site is
          planned to begin in 1993 to determine the nature and extent of the contamination.
The results of the investigation will be used to evaluate various cleanup alternatives and to
select final cleanup remedies.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL> the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Tomah Fairgrounds site while
investigations are being planned.
Site Repository

Not established.
March 1992                               82                       TOMAH FAIRGROUNDS

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TOMAH MUN
SANITARY
WISCONSIN
EPA ID#WID980610307
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
   Monroe County
       Tomah
The 40-acre Tomah Municipal Sanitary Landfill site was owned and operated by the City of
Tomah from 1959 to 1979 and was licensed by the State to accept municipal wastes. In 1979,
the site was covered with sand and planted with red pines. The landfill is unlined. One local
facility, the Union Camp Corporation, notified the EPA that it had sent to the landfill
approximately 1,514 drums of wastes containing barium, chromium, lead, spent solvents, ethyl
acetate, and trichloroethylene (TCE). In 1984, the EPA inspected the site and sampled the
groundwater and sediments in Deer Creek, which runs through the property 250 feet  to the
north of the filled area. On-site groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). The City of Tomah has a population of approximately 7,300
people. Municipal wells serving Tomah are located within a 3-mile radius of the site.
Approximately 2,000 people live within a 1-mile radius of the site and use private wells for
drinking water supplies. Two private wells on the southern side of the landfill have been
found to be contaminated. Deer Creek is used by local residents as a trout stream.  A
freshwater wetland is located within 1,000 feet of the site.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                    Federal and State actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 06/10/86
   Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
         The groundwater is contaminated with VOCs and heavy metals including cadmium,
         chromium, and lead. The contaminated groundwater could pose a health threat to
         individuals if it is directly contacted or ingested. Also, contamination could enter
         the food chain through the fish in Deer Creek, which may be polluted.
                                       83
                March 1992

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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: New wells were installed to replace two wells where
          contamination was found.

          Entire Site: As a pre-investigation activity, the State plans to sample private wells
          in the area for VOC contamination. An investigation is planned to begin in 1993
          to determine the nature and extent of the contamination. The results of the
investigation will be used to evaluate various cleanup alternatives and to select a final cleanup
method.
Environmental Progress
Replacement of two contaminated wells has reduced the threat of exposure to contaminants
at the Tomah Municipal Sanitary Landfill site while investigations leading to a final cleanup
remedy are being planned.
Site Repository

Not established.
March 1992                                84          TOMAH MUNICIPAL SANITARY LANDFILL

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WASTE  MANAGEMENT
OF WISCONSIN
(BROOKFIELD
SANITARY LAI
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID980901235
Site Description
  REGION 5
 Waukesha County
    Brookfield
Waste Management of Wisconsin operated a 20-acre sanitary landfill at this site from 1969 to
1981. Prior to 1969, the site had been a sand and gravel pit. In 1976, Waste Management
received a permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to accept
municipal waste. According to EPA tests in 1985, the groundwater is contaminated with
cyanide. Approximately 11,000 people obtain drinking water from public and private wells
within 3 miles of the site; the nearest well is within 1,000 feet of the site. Poplar Creek,
located 3,600 feet southwest of the site, is used for recreational activities. A freshwater
wetland is located 1,800 feet from the site.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                  Federal actions.
NPL USTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
  Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
        The groundwater is contaminated with various volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
        including vinyl chloride, and cyanide from site landfilling operations. Potential
        health risks include coming in direct contact with or accidentally ingesting
        contaminated groundwater. The wetland also may be threatened.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
                                  85
              March 1992

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Response Action Status
          Entire Site: An investigation into the nature and extent of contamination is
          scheduled to begin in late 1992. This investigation will be the basis for evaluating
          alternative cleanup remedies.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL> the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Waste Management of Wisconsin
site at Brookfield while studies and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Not established.
March 1992
86       WASTE MANAGEMENT OF WISCONSIN, INC.
                (BROOKFIELD SANITARY LANDFILL)

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WASTE  RESEAR
RECLAMATION
COMPANY
WISCONSIN
EPA ID# WID990829475
Site Description
EPA REGION 5
  Eau Claire County
     Eau Claire
The 9-acre Waste Research & Reclamation (WRR) site was occupied by a roofing company
from the 1970s to 1981. WRR has occupied the site since 1981. WRR is primarily a
reclamation and recycling business for hazardous liquid wastes, fuel blending, and
transportation of hazardous waste for incineration or disposal. Waste materials handled
include chlorinated and fluorinated solvents and flammables. Approximately 160 people live
within a 1-mile radius of the site. The site is 1/2 mile east of Lowes Creek, a tributary of the
Chippewa River. The closest residence is 1/4 mile from the site. A private well is located
1,500 feet from the site.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                   Federal, State, and potentially
                   responsible parties' actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 09/08/83
  Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
        The groundwater, soil, and surface water are contaminated with various volatile
        organic compounds (VOCs) from site waste handling procedures. People who
        accidentally ingest or come in direct contact with contaminated materials may be at
        risk.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
                                    87
               March 1992

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Response Action Status
          Entire Site: The site has been divided into six solid waste management units for
          investigation and cleanup purposes: drum storage sheds; trailer parking, product
          warehouse, and abandoned drum storage area; pole barn  cooling water discharge
area and abandoned drum storage area; abandoned lagoon, existing  holding tank, and existing
collection sump for surface water runoff; a reclamation area, known  as the LUWA area,
located in the central and western portions of the site; and a reclamation area, known as the
KONTRO area, located in the south-central portions  of the site. The parties potentially
responsible for site contamination currently are conducting an investigation into the nature
and extent of groundwater, surface water, and soil contamination at  the site. The
investigation will define the contaminants and recommend alternatives for the  final cleanup.
Once the investigation is completed, the EPA and the State will select a  remedy for site
cleanup.

Site Facts: In 1983, the State signed a Consent Order with the potentially responsible
parties to implement a long-term monitoring program.
Environmental  Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Waste Research & Reclamation
Company site while studies are taking place and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository

Not established.
March 1992                                88     WASTE RESEARCH & RECLAMATION COMPANY

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WAUSAU
GROUNDWATE
CONTAMINATIO
WISCONSIN          H*
EPA ID# WID980993521
EPA REGION 5
   Marathon County
      Wausau
    Other Names:
Wausau Water Supply
Site Description
The City of Wausau provides drinking water for approximately 33,000 people from
groundwater wells located on both sides of the Wisconsin River. In 1982, three of the wells
were found to be contaminated with high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Affected city wells were removed from service. In 1984, an interim carbon filter system was
installed until two air strippers could be constructed. The air strippers, installed at the
municipal water facility in 1984, replaced the carbon filters as a long-term solution for
providing acceptable drinking water to city residents. Approximately 32,000 people live within
a 3-mile radius of the site. The Wisconsin River, which bisects the area, is used for
commercial and recreational purposes.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
                   Federal, State, and potentially
                   responsible parties' actions.
 NPL LISTING HISTORY
 Proposed Date: 04/10/85
  Final Date: 06/10/86
Threats and Contaminants
         The groundwater and soil are contaminated with various VOCs. Potential health
         risks include accidentally ingesting or coming in direct contact with contaminated
         groundwater or soil.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the west side contamination plume and cleanup of the other
contamination plumes.
                                     89
               March 1992

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Response Action Status
          Immediate Actions: In 1984, the EPA installed temporary carbon filters to
          remove VOCs from the contaminated groundwater in one well. Air strippers
          subsequently were installed in two municipal wells.

          West Side Contaminant Plume: In 1988, the EPA selected the following
          cleanup actions for this phase of the cleanup: groundwater pumping and treatment
          using air stripping, with discharge to the Wisconsin River; groundwater monitoring;
and provision for implementation of an additional extraction well, as necessary. The
treatment system has been operational since 1990.

          Other Contamination Plumes: In 1989, the EPA selected the following
          remedies for two plumes: installation of soil vapor extraction systems to remove
          VOCs from soils at identified source areas; treatment of gases produced by the
soil vapor extraction operation, using vapor phase carbon units that will be regenerated at an
off-site facility; and pumping of the municipal supply wells to speed removal of the
groundwater contaminant plumes affecting these wells. The design of the remedies is being
conducted by the potentially responsible parties and is scheduled to be completed in 1992.
Site Facts: A Consent Decree was signed in 1990 with the parties potentially responsible for
site contamination to finance a portion of past cleanup costs. The Consent Decree names the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as EPA's oversight contractor at the site.
Environmental Progress
The installation of a permanent groundwater treatment system for the drinking water supply
affected by the westside contamination plume has reduced the potential of exposure to
hazardous substances in the drinking water and will continue to protect residents near the
Wausau Groundwater Contamination site. Cleanup technologies for the remaining
contamination plumes currently are being designed.
Site Repository
Marathon County Public Library, 400 First Street, Wausau, WI 54401
March 1992                                90       WAUSAU GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION

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WHEELER PI
WISCONSIN
EPA ID#WID980610620)
 EPA REGION 5
      Rock County
11/2 miles east of Janesville
Site Description
The 3 3/4-acre Wheeler Pit site, a former disposal area, lies within a 35-acre abandoned
gravel pit. Wheeler Pit originally was mined for sand and gravel by the Chicago, Milwaukee,
St. Paid, and Pacific Railroad Company. In 1956, General Motors Corporation (GMC) leased
a 4-acre portion of the pit from the railroad for waste disposal. From 1960 to  1974, GMC
used Wheeler Pit to dispose of paint and wastewater sludges from its Janesville auto assembly
plant, as well as coal ashes from power plant boilers. The sludge and ash were contained by a
dike at the pit. In 1971, a liquid was found seeping onto the ground from the GMC disposal
area. Disposal at Wheeler Pit ended in 1974, and the site was covered at the request of La
Prairie Township. From 1974 to 1988, the site was monitored intermittently for groundwater
contamination. Elevated levels of the volatile organic compound (VOC) trichloroethylene
(TCE), chromium, zinc, arsenic and barium were found in site groundwater samples collected
in 1981 by GMC and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).
Approximately 51,000 people live within 3 miles of the site. The Rock River is approximately
2 miles west of the site. The City of Janesville operates five groundwater wells within 3 miles
of the site. Three of the wells supply virtually all of  the Janesville water supply. Five private
wells are located within 1/4 mile of the site.
Site Responsibility:  This site is being addressed through
                     Federal, State, and potentially
                     responsible parties' actions.
  NPL LISTING HISTORY
  Proposed Date: 09/08/83
    Final Date: 09/21/84
Threats and Contaminants
         Groundwater resources underlying the site were found to be contaminated with
         heavy metals including iron, manganese, chromium, and arsenic, as well as low
         levels of VOCs. Soils and surface wastes contain heavy metals such as cadmium
         and lead and semi-volatile organics. Potential health risks include accidental
         ingestion of or direct contact with contaminated groundwater, soils, or surface
         water.
                                        91
                   March 1992

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Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
          Entire Site: A field investigation of the site has been completed to determine the
          nature and extent of contamination. Monitoring wells were installed and test pits
          were excavated. A remedy was chosen in late 1990, which entails construction of a
multi-layer cap, installation of a fence around the site to restrict access, consolidation of
waste and soil from a neighboring property into the original disposal area, long-term
groundwater monitoring, institutional controls of groundwater and land use on the site, and
natural attenuation of the contaminated groundwater. Future active responses to restore
groundwater quality may be necessary if cleanup standards are not achieved within a
reasonable period of time. The design of the landfill cap and groundwater monitoring system
began in 1991. The design was completed in 1992, and the construction of the cap began
soon after.
Environmental  Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were required at the Wheeler Pit site while cleanup
activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Janesville Public Library, 316 South Main Street, Janesville, WI 53545
March 1992                                92                               WHEELER PIT

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                             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 parties 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 unconfmed 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

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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

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                                                                       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  19HO 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

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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

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                                                                        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 downgradi-
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

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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.

 Ground water: 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

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                                                                        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.
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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.

Over packing: 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.

Poly vinyl 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.

Radionuclides: 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.
                                           G-10

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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.

Superfund:  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.
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                                                                              GLOSSARY
           Some Common  Contaminants at NPL Sites
 Contaminant
   Category
      Exampfe
  Chemical Types
      Sources
    Potential Health
        Tftfeats*
 Heavy fi
 Gompbunds
 Creosotes
 (Radionudides}
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.
                                              G-15
                                               *U.S. G.P.O..-1993-341-932:82647

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