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Airco
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Stormwater pumps at the Airco site
Additional Resources
- Site Cleanup Terms - can be found in EPA's glossary
- EPA Guides to Cleanup Technologies
- Superfund Community Involvement (PDF) (17 pp, 130K, About PDF)
Site Summary Profile
EPA ID: KYD041981010
Location: Calvert City, Marshall County, KY
Lat/Long: 37.049600, -088.322500
Congressional District: 01
NPL Status: Proposed: 12/30/82; Final: 09/21/84
Affected Media: Ground water, soil
Cleanup Status: Construction Complete – physical cleanup activities have been completed
Human Exposure Under Control: Yes
Groundwater Migration Under Control: Yes
Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use: No
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Not in use
Site Manager: Brad Jackson (jackson.brad@epa.gov)
Current Site Status
The Airco site is the location of a former industrial landfill. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984 because landfill disposal activities contaminated ground water and soil. EPA, the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP) and potentially responsible parties (PRPs) have investigated site conditions and taken steps to clean up the site in order to protect people and the environment from contamination.
The site shares a border with the B.F. Goodrich Superfund site. Because of their shared history and location, PRPs took Superfund-related cleanup actions at both sites under one approved cleanup plan (a Record of Decision, or ROD). EPA approved the plan in 1988. PRPs implemented the cleanup plan in the 1990s. Some cleanup activities, such as ground water treatment and monitoring, are ongoing.
Site contamination does not threaten people living and working near the site. The landfill area is fenced and secured. Waste in the landfill is capped. Local residents and businessesare not using contaminated ground water for drinking water purposes. By treating and monitoring ground water and undertaking Five-Year Reviews, EPA, KDEP and PRPs continue to protect people and the environment from site contamination. The agencies and PRPs are currently evaluating the need for changes to the site’s approved cleanup plan.
Site Location and Background
The 2.75-acre site is located along Kentucky Highway 1523, one mile northeast of downtown Calvert City in western Kentucky. The site is next to an industrial area in Calvert City that includes several major chemical and industrial plants. The Tennessee River borders the site to the north. Farmland borders the site to the east and the B.F. Goodrich Superfund site borders the site to the west. Some single-family homes are about a half-mile from the southern edge of the site. Apart from ongoing monitoring activities, the site is not currently in use.
From the mid-1950s until 1971, the landfill accepted an estimated 18,000 tons of chemicals, including chemicals that can cause burning or corrosion. From 1971 to 1980, one industry user dumped 14,000 tons of metal-contaminated coal ash as well as other materials at the landfill. The Commonwealth of Kentucky began regulating the landfill in 1968. Parties closed and capped the landfill in 1981. Companies on both the Airco and B.F. Goodrich sites shared a common landfill. In 1984, EPA listed the site on the NPL.
Threats and Contaminants
Site investigations found contamination in soil and ground water that could potentially harm people in the area. Contaminants of concern include polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds (benzene, toluene and 1,2-dichloroethane (formerly known as ethylene dichloride or EDC)).
The site’s cleanup effectively protects people from site contamination and has stopped the contamination from spreading.
Investigation and Cleanup Responsibility / Oversight
PRPs lead site investigation and cleanup activities, with oversight provided by EPA in cooperation with KDEP. PRPs include B.F. Goodrich and Erin's Oxygen Company (BOC) Group, formerly Airco.
Site Cleanup Plan
In 1988, EPA issued a cleanup plan (Record of Decision, or ROD) for the site. The plan included the following activities:
- Installing a system to remove leachate in the landfill area. Leachate is water that collects contaminants as it passes through contaminated material.
- Constructing a flood protection dike around the landfill.
- Improving the landfill cap.
- Pumping contaminated ground water and treating it by air stripping.
- Monitoring ground water.
- Placing deed restrictions on the site property to prevent residential development and ground water use.
Cleanup Progress
PRPs started treating contaminated ground water in 1992. PRPs installed five ground water extraction wells to pull contaminated ground water from beneath the landfill and stop it from spreading into the Tennessee River.
In 1996, PRPs started several cleanup activities required in the ROD, including:
- Constructing the flood protection dike.
- Improving the existing landfill cap.
- Installing the leachate and ground water removal systems.
- Combining surface soil and drainage ditch sediment.
- Installing site fencing.
PRPs monitor ground water contamination on a quarterly basis to make sure the system continues to work properly.
The site’s second Five-Year Review, completed in 2006, found that cleanup actions to date protect people and the environment. In the long term, there was a need for additional work. In response to the issues identified in the 2006 Five-Year Review, PRPs submitted a proposal to EPA in April 2009 to review the effectiveness of the cleanup plan and determine if the landfill on the Airco site is a major source of ground water contamination at the nearby B.F. Goodrich site.
In 2009 and 2010, PRPs collected more information to evaluate whether they need to make changes to the cleanup plan and whether they should continue to clean up both sites using the same cleanup plan. PRPs may need to address the sites separately, since each site has different contamination issues. PRPs submitted their report to EPA in January 2011.
Summaries of cleanup activities are also available in Five-Year Reviews online.
Enforcement Activities
EPA negotiated legal agreements with PRPs to investigate and clean up the site. The PRPs continue to fund site cleanup, monitoring and oversight activities.
RODs and Five-Year Reviews online provide information on specific legal agreements for the site.
Community Involvement
EPA has worked with the community and its state partner to develop a long-term cleanup plan for the site, reflecting the Agency’s commitment to safe, healthy communities and environmental protection. Community engagement and public outreach are core components of EPA program activities.
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities to solicit community input and make sure the public remains informed about site activities throughout the cleanup process. Outreach activities have included public notices, interviews and public meetings.
In 2010, EPA held an open house meeting to update the community on the site’s status and answer community questions. EPA also periodically briefs Calvert City Council and a local business group on site activities.
Most workers who run the site’s ground water pump-and-treat system live in nearby Calvert City or the surrounding area.
Future Work
EPA is currently evaluating the report that discusses whether site PRPs need to change the site cleanup plan.
Additional Information
EPA keeps additional site documents and information in a site information repository at the location below. EPA also posts site documents, when available, on EPA’s CERCLIS Site Profile page. For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.
Site Repository
Barnwell County Public Library
2001 Hagood Avenue
Barnwell, KY 29812