&EPA United States Environmental Protectior Agency For more information The EPA welcomes your questions about the start of cleanup at the Ford Road Landfill site. Contact these team members: Patricia Krause Community Involvement Coordinator Superfund Division 312-886-9506 or 800-621-8431, ext. 69506 krause.patricia@epa.gov Demaree Collier Remedial Project Manager Superfund Division 312-886-0214 or 800-621-8431, ext. 60214 collier.demareefg), epa.gov Vanessa Steigerwald Environmental Scientist Ohio EPA - Northeast District Office 330-963-1219 vanessa. steigerwald@epa.state.oh.epa You can find more information and site documents related to the Ford Road Landfill at: www.epa.gov/region5/cleanup/fordroad Documents can be viewed at the official information repository: Elyria Public Library - West River Branch 1194 W. River Road North Elyria, Ohio 440-324-2270 Cleanup Work to Start With "Hot Spot" Removal Ford Road Landfill Elyria, Ohio August 2011 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s planned cleanup at the Ford Road Landfill Superfund site will start this summer with the removal of selected areas of contaminated soil or "hot spots'" located in the northeast corner of the site near the Black River. The contaminated soil will be dug up and transported off site to a licensed landfill for disposal. Hazardous polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, and chlorinated solvents contaminated these hot spots. In the past, PCBs were used as coolants and lubricants in transformers and other electrical equipment. Chlorinated solvents are used in a wide variety of commercial and industrial purposes such as degreasers, cleaning solutions, and pesticides. Future cleanup The second phase of the cleanup will start in 2012 and involve the bulk of the landfill work along the northern and southern sides of the landfill. In the past, when waste was brought to the landfill, some of it tumbled down the north and south slopes and was never completely covered to stop rain and snow melt from seeping in. The trash, waste, debris, and other items from the steep landfill slopes and the river plain will be removed and incorporated back into the landfill. The landfill will be re-graded to make sure that all waste remains under at least two feet of clean clay or soil cap material and that surface water control is improved. Added materials will be placed over thin areas of the landfill. This involves moving material from the top of the landfill, where the current cover is thicker, to more shallow areas. In areas where digging occurs, topsoil will be replaced and planted with vegetation. In addition, a sedimentation pond will be constructed to catch stormwater runoff. An access road will also be built along with a chain link fence and gates at the entrances to the site. Waste barrels and other materials from past disposal practices will be removed as part of the cleanup. ------- During construction The following work practices will be put in place to answer community concerns about the cleanup activities: • Trucks will be cleaned before leaving the site, and dirt and debris will be quickly removed. • Hazardous soil or waste will be contained and sent off site for disposal. • Water will be sprayed 011 the site to minimize dust. • The typical workday will be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Background The Ford Road Landfill is a 15-acre inactive facility on the north edge of Elyria. The Black River is east of the landfill. Because of the disposal and capping activities, the surface of the landfill is 50- to 75-feet above the Black River. Drainage and runoff from the landfill flows into the Black River. The river is used for recreational fishing, and anglers use the banks of the river next to the landfill. Several industries disposed of municipal and industrial waste at the landfill until 1974 when the facility closed. Contaminated liquid was seeping from the site, so cover material was added to stop this problem. More environmental studies found the landfill was still polluting the soil, ground water (underground water supplies), and surface water, which resulted in the current cleanup plan. In 2006, the EPA decided on the current cleanup plan, called a "record of decision" or ROD. The ROD document, which is available online and in the information repository, explains in detail the cleanup alternative that will be used at the Ford Road Landfill site. The final remedial design, with the specifications for site cleanup, was approved, and now the next step starting this summer is the remedial action phase where the actual cleanup work begins. These cleanup actions will stop pollution from contaminating the nearby Black River, soil, and ground water. The public is encouraged to review the supporting documents about the cleanup steps. These documents can be found at the Elyria Public Library - West River Branch. Due to steep slopes, landfill drainage flows into the Black River. vvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Superfund Division (SI-7J) 77 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604-3590 ------- |