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Elmore Waste Disposal
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Construction of trench discharge pipe at the Elmore Waste Disposal site.
- Additional Site Photos
- Site Video
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: SCD980839542Location: Greer, Spartanburg County, SC
Lat/Long: 34.935900, -082.216590
Congressional District: 04
NPL Status: Proposed: 06/24/88; Final: 03/31/89
Affected Media: Ground water, Soil
Cleanup Status: Construction complete - physical cleanup activities have been completed
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Site is located in an established, mostly residential area
Site Manager: Ken Mallary (mallary.ken@epa.gov)
Site Background
The Elmore Waste Disposal site is located in a residential area in the easternmost portion of the City of Greer in Spartanburg County. The site consists of an approximately 8-acre area that includes: a 1-acre residential backyard (the original Elmore property), which is bounded on the north by a railroad line; a larger area of about 20 residences north of the railroad line; and to the east and west are additional residential areas and some commercial and light-industrial facilities. Areas surrounding the site are within the city limits of Greer, and include mainly residential properties, with some commercial and light-industrial sites.
Between 1975 and 1977, a large number of drums containing liquid wastes were placed on the Elmore property. In 1977, the property owner signed a Consent Order with the State of South Carolina for cleanup of the site. In 1979, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) notified the property owner that the terms of the Consent Order had not been complied with, and to stop use of the site.
Between 1981 and 1984, SCDHEC and EPA investigated site conditions and found arsenic, chromium, and other heavy metals, as well as a number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in site soils. At various times during this period between 150 and 300 drums were present on site, as well as a 6,000-gallon, partially-buried tank containing contaminated waste oil. After the property owner died in 1983, ownership passed to his heirs, one of whom continued to operate the site and accept waste drums. After all efforts to compel this operator to clean up the site failed, in 1986, SCDHEC undertook a state-funded removal action to remove contaminated soil liquid wastes. Ground water monitoring wells were installed after this removal.
Threats and Contaminants
Both soil and ground water at the site have been impacted by contamination.
An in-depth EPA site investigation completed in 1992 established that a highly contaminated ground water plume extended some 1,100 feet north from the site, consisting primarily of two common solvents (VOCs), trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene. The estimated area underlain by this plume (north of the Elmore property) is 6-10 acres. Although no private water wells are located near this plume, the ground water discharges to a creek behind neighborhood homes.
In addition, surface soil in a ¼-acre area at the western end of the site was found to be contaminated by lead and arsenic at levels exceeding health-based residential standards for those metals.
Site Cleanup Plan
EPA issued a Record of Decision describing the cleanup approach to address remaining soil and ground water contamination at the site in 1993.
Major components of the cleanup approach for soil included:- Excavation of contaminated surface soil and subsurface soil with follow-up sampling.
- Transport and disposal of the soil at an appropriate hazardous waste facility.
- Replacement of the excavated soil with clean fill material and restoration of the land surface.
Major components of the cleanup approach for ground water included:
- Extraction of contaminated ground water.
- On-site treatment of extracted ground water.
- Discharge of treated ground water to a local Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW).
- Continued analytical monitoring of site ground water and surface water.
In 1994, EPA slightly modified the ground water cleanup approach through an Explanation of Significant Differences. First, the requirement for on-site treatment to remove VOCs was revised to require that treatment be conducted on site only to the degree necessary for acceptance by the POTW. Second, EPA determined that physical/chemical treatment of the extracted ground water to remove metals would not be required, since ground water monitoring results were clearly indicating that metals were not present at levels above standards.
Cleanup Progress
As part of the State-led removal action completed in 1986, 5,500 tons of contaminated soil and 16,800 pounds of liquid wastes were taken to an appropriate hazardous waste facility. This action addressed the most significant public health threat associated with surface soil contamination.
EPA completed additional soil cleanup in 1994, as required by the 1993 ROD, which included disposal of approximately 350 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the affected area.
A 10-well ground water pump and treat system, as required by the 1993 ROD, was constructed during 1997-1998. The system captured contaminated ground water and directed it to an on-site treatment unit (activated carbon). After treatment, the water was discharged to the POTW. Following an optimization project completed in 2001, EPA added two additional extraction wells, and addressed a newly-identified area on site with elevated VOCs in soil and ground water. EPA also changed the discharge location of treated ground water from the POTW to a nearby creek. The ground water system has been operational since September 1998. Between 1999 and June 2008, approximately 74 million gallons of ground water have been treated, and approximately 720 pounds of VOC contaminants have been extracted.
The 2008 Five-Year Review for the site found the site cleanup approach to be protective in the short-term; however, in order for the cleanup approach to be protective in the long-term, additional actions need to be taken.
In 2009, EPA made a few modifications to the groundwater pump-and-treat system. Also, SCDHEC took over the operation and maintenance of the groundwater pump-and-treat system in 2009.
Enforcement Activities
In 1977, the property owner signed a Consent Order with the State of South Carolina for cleanup of the site.
Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the Elmore Waste Disposal site to solicit community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about site activities throughout the site cleanup process. Outreach activities have included public notices and information meetings on cleanup progress and activities.
Future Work
EPA is evaluating options to address elevated levels of VOCs in the source areas at the Site. Once the decision is made which option is the preferred technology to address the VOC source areas, and pending the availability of funding, EPA will address the source areas.
The next Five-Year Review for the site is required by 2013.
Site Administrative Documents
Site Repository
For more information or to view any site-related documents, please visit the site information repository at the following location. As new documents are generated, they will be placed in the information repository for public information.
Greenville County Library
113 School Street
Greer, SC 29651
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.