Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Pennsylvania
Chester County
West Caln Township

EPA ID# PAD980539985

6th Congressional District

Last Update: January 2012

Other Names

None

Current Site Status

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is overseeing the cleanup of the Blosenski Landfill where construction activities were completed in September 1998. The groundwater extraction and treatment system was recently shut down so that EPA and the parties responsible (PRPs) for the site cleanup can determine the effects of the non-pumping conditions at the site. The shutdown period was proposed for two years. Periodic groundwater monitoring and routine maintenance continue to be performed. EPA reviews all Superfund sites where contamination continues to exist every five years to ensure that the cleanup method is still effective. The last five-year review was completed in September 2008 and found that several issues needed to be investigated to determine protectiveness in the short term. One of the issues that required further study was vapor intrusion. This study was performed with favorable results. An evaluation of the possible lateral spread of landfill gases was also performed by the Site PRPs (with favorable results). The next five-year review is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

Site Description

The Blosenski Landfill covers approximately eight acres of this 13 ½-acre site in West Caln Township, Pennsylvania. It is bordered by wooded and agricultural areas and housing to the north, east and west, and by Route 340 (Kings Highway) to the south. The site operated as a landfill for the disposal of municipal and industrial wastes from the 1940s to the 1970s. Solvents, paints, leaking drums, and tank truck contents were dumped randomly into the unlined landfill. The landfill was ordered to cease operation by the Chester County Health Department in 1971. In response to citizen concerns, regulatory actions were taken against the facility. Approximately 1,000 residents live within 1/4-mile of the site.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal and potentially responsible parties' actions.

NPL Listing History

Our country's most serious, uncontrolled, or abandoned hazardous waste sites can be cleaned using federal money. To be eligible for federal cleanup money, a site must be put on the National Priorities List. This site was proposed to the list on December 30, 1982 and formally added to the list on September 8, 1983.

Threats and Contaminants

The ground water and surface water contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene, vinyl chloride, TCE and chloroform from former disposal practices. These compounds, as well as heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic, also were detected in monitoring and residential wells on and surrounding the site (during past sampling events). VOCs, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals have been detected in soils on-site. VOCs and heavy metals have historically been detected in a tributary that receives run-off from the Blosenski Landfill. Potential risks may exist through direct contact with contaminated soils and through ingestion of contaminated ground water or soil. Recreational use of a tributary of Indian Spring Run, located approximately 500 feet north of the property, or of Indian Spring Run itself, may result in exposure to contaminants in surface water and sediments (although recent surface water sampling results have been favorable). Vapor intrusion issues and landfill gas issues have recently been investigated by the PRPs, with favorable results.

Contaminant descriptions and risk factors are available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, an arm of the CDC.

Cleanup Progress

All remedial construction for this site has been completed. The site has been addressed in the following four phases:

1.) In March 1990, the installation of the alternate water supply was completed. The public water system was extended and approximately 75 residences were provided with connections.

2.) Approximately 1,300 buried drums (excavated in 1992 and in 1995), many containing hazardous soils and liquids were excavated, over packed, and disposed of at an EPA-approved facility. In addition to the drums, approximately 350 cubic yards of contaminated materials and soils that were in direct contact with the drums were also shipped off-site for disposal.

3.) Additional groundwater monitoring wells were installed during the period from 1990 through 1996 to further characterize groundwater contamination. Based on groundwater study results, a design for a groundwater remediation system was completed in April 1998. Construction of the groundwater treatment building was completed in September 1998. The ground water is currently pumped and treated in an on-site treatment facility to remove contamination from the area aquifer. Periodic monitoring of groundwater is conducted. The plant is fully functional and, when operating (the treatment system is currently not operating during a temporary evaluation period), in compliance with all discharge criteria. When in operation, monthly NPDES monitoring ensures that the treatment plant discharge meets requirements.

4.) Construction of the landfill cap was completed in November 1995. The cap is intended to prevent rainwater from coming in contact with and from infiltrating through the materials that remains in the landfill.

The PRP continues to maintain the elements on the site including the grass cover, gas vents, monitoring wells, security fencing, treatment system and ensuring that the treatment system is capable of restarting quickly (during the current shutdown period), if monitoring results determine that this is necessary.

Contacts

Contacts

Administrative Record Locations