Islip Municipal Sanitary Landfill New York EPA Id# Nyd980506901 EPA Region 2 Congressional Dist. 02 Suffolk County Blydenburgh Road Long Island


irk. . ...iiiiAin..	EPA REGION 2
ISLIP MUNICIPAL	CONGRESSIONAL DIST 02
SANITARY LANDFILL	Blydenburgh Road, Long Island
NEW YORK r '	OtherNames:
iii_vv I Vi\n	Blydenburgh Road Landfill
EPA ID# NYD980506901
Site Description 	
The Islip Municipal Sanitary Landfill Superfund site covers approximately 55 acres in the Town of
Islip. This landfill is part of a 109 acre complex operated by the Islip Resource Recovery Agency.
The surrounding area is entirely residential, except for a golf course immediately to the east of the
landfill. The Town has operated the landfill since 1963. In 1978, 50 or more 55-gallon drums
containing a mixture of tetrachloroethene and other liquids were allegedly disposed of at the site.
This is the only reported case of hazardous waste disposal at the site. The landfill stopped receiving
waste in December 1990. The methane gas within the landfill is being collected in extraction wells
and directed to generators, where the gas is burned to generate electricity, or to flares. According to
tests conducted by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services in 1980, private wells adjacent
to the landfill were contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In 1981, the Town of
Islip connected these residents to a permanent public water supply. A resident located downgradient
of the site was being supplied with bottled water until 1992 when the hookup to a permanent public
water supply was completed. An estimated 75,000 people draw drinking water from Suffolk County
Authority wells located within 3 miles of the landfill, as well as from numerous private wells. A day
care center and a school are located nearby.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of State and Potentially
Responsible Party (PRP) actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/01/87
Final Date: 03/30/89
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Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with VOCs. Site contaminants have been detected in
the shallow (Glacial) aquifer and in the upper portion of the underlying deeper (Magothy)
aquifer. These aquifers are the sole sources of drinking water in Suffolk County. The
exposures of greatest concern would be from inhalation of volatile contaminants through
showering and ingestion of contaminated groundwater; however, residents obtain their
drinking water from a public water supply which is routinely monitored for
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
r\ Entire Site: The Town of Islip, under an order from New York State, investigated the
nature and extent of contamination and identified alternatives for cleanup. A Record of
Decision (ROD) that describes the remedy selected for cleanup of the site was signed in
September 1992. The major components of the selected remedy include capping the landfill and
treating the most contaminated portion of the aquifer. Preparatory work for the installation of the
fifty-two acre cap commenced in early 1993; construction of the cap was completed in 1994 using
multiple geosynthetic and natural layers. The cap is currently in Operations and Maintenance
(O&M). The design of the groundwater pump and treat system was completed in March 1995. The
construction of the system was initiated in the summer of 1995. During September 1996 the
groundwater extraction and treatment system began operation at a capacity of 350 gpm. It is
estimated that the groundwater system will need to be operated for ten years. All scheduled site
construction has been completed.
Site Facts: On December 18, 1990, the Town of Islip ceased landfilling of municipal solid wastes
at the site. A complete closure program for the entire landfilled area, including capping, methane
recovery, groundwater treatment, and monitoring activities, is being implemented, as required by the
Town's Consent Order with New York State.
Cleanup Progress
Assuming a waste thickness of approximately 50 feet estimated from site maps, the total volume of
waste capped and removed from human exposure is 4 million cubic yards. The capping of the
landfill has greatly reduced the potential for exposure to contaminants, as well as the generation of
leachate and the continuing release of contaminants into the aquifer. Assuming the groundwater
extraction and treatment system has been fully operational from September 1996 until present,
approximately 900 million gallons of contaminated water have been treated.
The construction complete date is April 8, 1998.
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Site Repository
-	Central Islip Public Library, 33 Hawthorne Avenue, Central Islip, New York, Contact: Front Desk
-	Islip Town Clerk's Office, 655 Main Street, Islip, New York
-	Islip Resource Recovery Agency, 40 Nassau Avenue, Islip, New York
-	NYSDEC Region 1 Office, Building 40, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York
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April 2002

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