I I mi AIAI o A Kir>	EPA REGION 2

LUDLOW SAND	congressional dist. 23

_ _ 	 _ 				Oneida County

& GRAVEL	—

NEW YORK

EPA ID# NYD013468939

Site Description 	

The 18-acre Ludlow Sand & Gravel site is a landfill and gravel pit located on a 130-acre parcel of
land. Disposal at the site began in the early 1960s and included domestic wastes, septic tank effluent,
industrial wastes such as dyes and waste oils, and animal parts from a meat processing plant. Area
residents expressed concern in 1966 when large areas of the site were left uncovered and a strong
odor could be detected at a considerable distance. In 1982, trace quantities of poly chlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) were detected in the leachate pools located at the southern portions of the property.
The District Court of Binghamton ordered the landfill closed and dumping ceased in 1988, although
the gravel pit was still in operation. A New York State-designated wetland is located to the southeast
of the site. The landfill is in a groundwater recharge zone to an aquifer along Sauquoit Creek, which
serves as a major discharge point for groundwater flowing from this aquifer and is a tributary of the
Mohawk River. The residents east of the landfill obtain their drinking water supply from the aquifer.
The municipal water supply for the community of Clayville is obtained from ground water. The
nearest residence is 1/2 mile from the landfill. Three residential wells are located within 1,000 feet of
the site, and eight additional wells are 1,000 to 3,000 feet away.

Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through

Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.

NPL LISTING HISTORY

Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83

LUDLOW SAND & GRAVEL

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March 2002


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Threats and Contaminants 	

The groundwater and landfill wastes are contaminated with volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), heavy metals including chromium and nickel, PCBs, and phenols. Sediments
contain VOCs and PCBs. The soil and surface water were contaminated with PCBs.
Leachate pools contained PCBs and phenols. Residents near the site rely on private wells
for drinking water. Although these wells are not contaminated, there was a possibility
that chemicals migrating from the landfill could pollute them. Sediment from the wetlands
was contaminated. There was a potential for people who accidentally ingest the sediments
to suffer adverse health effects.

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Cleanup Approach 	

This site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on source control and the
cleanup of groundwater, surface water, and soils from adjacent areas.

Response Action Status 	

Source Control: In 1988, the EPA selected a remedy to contain the source of the
contamination by: (1) consolidating approximately 10,000 cubic yards of contaminated
soil and sediment adjacent to the landfill and disposing of it in the landfill and then
placing either a clay or synthetic cover over it to prevent rain water from coming into contact with
the buried materials; (2) collecting the leachate from seepage areas; (3) dewatering the landfill, if
necessary, by using either a passive drain system or using groundwater extraction wells; (4) lowering
the water table to prevent groundwater from coming into contact with the waste material; (5) treating
the contaminated leachate and groundwater at an on-site facility, or if the volume of water is small,
transporting the water and leachate to an approved federal facility; (6) fencing the site, including the
wetlands; (7) controlling future use of the property by deed restrictions; and (8) monitoring the
ground water, private wells, and surface water to ensure the cleanup has been effective. The cleanup
was conducted by the potentially responsible parties pursuant to a Consent Decree with the State of
New York. A plan was approved by the State in 1990 for the cleanup of the landfill and the
wetlands. The cleanup was completed in 1991 and 1992. A report documenting the cleanup efforts
was submitted by the PRPs in 1995.

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r>^ Ground Water, Surface Water, and Soils from Adjacent Areas: Data has
been collected on the nature and extent of off-site contamination. However, additional
data needed to be collected for ground water and surface water in the vicinity of the
landfill, as well as soils from an adjacent gravel pit. This investigatory study, which is being
conducted by the potentially responsible parties with oversight by the State, is underway. The report
to evaluate different options for the cleanup of the off-site contamination is being reviewed by the
State and EPA. The study is scheduled for completion by summer 2002 when a remedy for the
gravel pit will be selected by the EPA.

Cleanup Progress

After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and determined that
no immediate actions were required at the Ludlow Sand & Gravel site while further investigatory
studies were being completed and cleanup activities were started. Over 40,000 cubic yards
(1,022,200 tons) of contaminated soils and approximately 15,000 cubic yards (24,000 tons) of
sediments have been excavated from the adjacent wetlands and gravel pit and consolidated in the
landfill; the leachate collected from the seepage areas; a drainage system installed and operated to
dewater the landfill; and a final cap placed over the landfill. The collected water is being treated
using a system built on the site. These actions have removed the potential for contact of the water
with the contaminants and therefore, have prevented further migration of contamination from the
landfill into the environment. Additional contaminated soils remain at the gravel pit and will be
addressed following completion of the investigatory study on the soils, ground water and surface
water of the adjacent areas and selection of the remedy.

Site Repository

Utica Public Library, 303 Genesee Street, Utica, New York 13501

NYSDEC Region 7 Office, State Office Building, 207 Genesee Street, Utica, New York 13501

LUDLOW SAND & GRAVEL

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March 2002


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