^ EPA REGION 2 EMMELLS SEPTIC CONGRESSIONAL DIST.02 ¦ A I AITI- / n Atlantic County LANDFILL olTE Galloway Township NEW JERSEY EPA ID# NJD980772727 Site Description The Emmell's Septic Landfill site encompasses approximately 38 acres in Galloway Township, New Jersey. The site was a landfill which operated from 1967 through 1979, accepting septic and sewage sludge which was ponded in trenches and lagoons. Reportedly, both solid and chemical waste was also disposed of at the landfill, including drums containing paint sludges, gas cylinders, household garbage, and construction debris. Groundwater is the primary source of drinking water within four miles of the site. In addition, groundwater is used for irrigation of commercial food crops within four miles of the site. It is estimated that 100 residents live within one-half mile of the site, with at least 25 residents situated within 2000 feet downgradient of the site. In addition, Stockton State College maintains two supply wells located within one mile downgradient of the site. The nearest resident is 200 feet from the site's property boundary. Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through Federal and State actions. NPL LISTING HISTORY Proposed Date: 04/23/99 Final Date: 07/22/99 Threats and Contaminants as Buried drums containing paint sludges and compressed gas cylinders were present at the site. The paint sludges were found to contain elevated levels of volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) and lead. Soils on site were also found to contain significant levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic, lead and cadmium. Groundwater sampling conducted in the water table aquifer beneath the site indicates that VOCs, including vinyl chloride, 1,1-dichloroethene, cis-l,2-dichloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2- trichloroethane, trichloroethene, toluene and benzene are present at levels in excess of federal drinking water standards. The potential exists for site-related groundwater contamination to migrate vertically and 1 March 2002 ------- impact deeper residential wells. Entrances to the site are fenced, and warning signs have been posted. 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: From August 1999 through March 2000, EPA conducted a removal action to address material which may have been serving as a source of groundwater contamination. As part of this removal action, EPA excavated buried drums, cylinders, paint sludge wastes and the most heavily contaminated soil and disposed of the material at an appropriate disposal facility. In addition, residential wells which could potentially be impacted by the site were monitored during the removal action. Bottled water was supplied to six residences in the vicinity of the site during the removal action, due to the detection of elevated levels of lead in their potable wells which was potentially site-related. A lead isotope study subsequently conducted for EPA concluded that the lead detected in these residential wells was related to household plumbing rather than the site. Entire Site: A Focused Feasibility Study (FFS) was initiated by EPA during 2000 in order to determine if treatment of contaminated groundwater in the vicinity of the site is warranted while the long term remedial investigation (RI) is being conducted. As part of the FFS, EPA has preliminarily investigated the nature and extent of site-related groundwater contamination in the vicinity of the site. These results indicate that a site-related VOC plume extends to the east of the landfill. EPA anticipates that the FFS, which will evaluate options for treatment of contaminated groundwater, will be completed during the winter of 2002. In addition, EPA expects to initiate a RI during the Spring of 2002 to fully characterize the nature and extent of groundwater, soil and sediment contamination which may be related to the site. If EPA subsequently determines that site-related contamination presents an unacceptable threat to human health or the environment, EPA will conduct a feasibility study (FS) to evaluate various options for cleanup of the site. Site Facts: EPA sent Information Request Letters to parties who may be responsible for site contamination in May 1999. Cleanup Progress (Threat Mitigated by Physical Clean-up Work) March 2002 ------- As part of the removal action, 438 drums, 11 gas cylinders and 28,046 cubic yards of soil were excavated and disposed of off site. In addition, over 3500 gallons of bottled water were supplied to residents whose potable wells were initially believed to have been potentially impacted by site-related contamination. Site Repository Atlantic County Library, Galloway Twp Branch, 30 West Jimmie Leeds Road, Pomona, N.J. 08240 3 March 2002 ------- |