Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Pennsylvania
Allegheny County
Harrison Township

EPA ID# PAD980712798

4th Congressional District

Last Update: February 2013

Other Names

Pennwalt Lindane Dump
Alsco Community Park

Current Site Status

EPA is in the process of conducting the 4th Five-Year Review of the Site, which should be completed by September 2013. The purpose of the Five-Year Review is to determine if the remedy at the Site is protective of human health and the environment. In the previous Five-Year Review, the remedy at the Site was been determined to be protective of human health and the environment in the short term. Exposure pathways that could result in unacceptable risks are being controlled, and institutional controls are preventing exposure to, or the ingestion of, contaminated wastes, soils, and ground water. Contaminated leachate and shallow ground water are being controlled by the successful operation of the leachate/shallow ground water collection and treatment system. The quality of the effluent from the treatment system achieves discharge standards. To ensure long term protectiveness, 1,4-dioxane was added to the list of sampled contaminants, and found not to be detected at the Site. Long term protectiveness of the remedy is expected to be achieved through the continued operation and maintenance of the leachate/shallow ground water collection and treatment system and continued compliance with institutional controls. The recommendations provided in the Five Year Review report have been addressed by the potentially responsible party.

Site Description

The Lindane Dump site, located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, consists of a recreational park about 14-acres in size and a 47 ½-acre lower project zone that includes a closed landfill area. About 400 tons of powdered lindane pesticide waste and other industrial waste were dumped at the site from 1900 to 1950. Industrial waste dumping continued after the sale of the property in 1965. In 1976, a portion of the site was donated by the owner to Harrison Township for use as a park area. There are approximately 13,000 people living within one-mile of the site. Residents near the site obtain water from a municipal system that draws water from the Allegheny River.

Site Responsibility

This site is being addressed through federal, state and potentially responsible parties' (PRPs) 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 September 30, 1982 and formally added to the list on September 8, 1983.

Threats and Contaminants

The ground water and soil are contaminated with pesticides. The site has been capped and an upgraded leachate collection and treatment system has been installed. These actions have significantly reduced the possibility that pesticide residues in the soil might leach into the ground water and surrounding soils. The cap and leachate collection and treatment system also prevent humans and wildlife from accidentally ingesting or coming into direct contact with contaminated ground water, soil, or leachate which may pose health risks.

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

Cleanup Progress

A leachate treatment system has been installed and activated to control the spread of pesticide residues. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and Pennwalt, a potentially responsible party have conducted an investigation into the nature and extent of contamination at the site. The investigation defined the contaminants and recommended alternatives for the final cleanup. In 1983, the State and Pennwalt, agreed to conduct a leachate treatability study to evaluate short- and long-term treatment and disposal alternatives. In 1992, EPA selected the remedy for cleanup of the site which includes capping the site and installing an upgraded leachate control system. In 1993, EPA and Elf-Atochem, a successor of Pennwalt, agreed to a Consent Decree, requiring Elf-Atochem to conduct the remedial design and construction activities for the site. The leachate treatment system has reduced the further spread of contaminated materials from the Lindane Dump. Construction of the cap began in the spring of 1998 and was completed in the spring of 1999. A baseball field and tennis courts were constructed on the upper portion of the site which is commonly known as the Alsco Community Park. Operation and maintenance activities will continue for at least 30 years.

Contacts

Site Contacts

Administrative Record Locations