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Gallaway Pits
National Information
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: TND980728992Location: Gallaway, Fayette County, TN
Lat/Long: 35.359710, -089.601930
Congressional District: 07
NPL Status: Proposed: 12/30/82; Final: 09/08/83; Deleted: 04/29/96
Affected Media: Sediment, Soil, Surface Water
Cleanup Status: Deleted from the NPL
Human Exposure Under Control: Yes
Groundwater Migration Under Control: NA – not a ground water site
Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use: Yes
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: None
Site Manager: William Joyner (joyner.william@epa.gov)
Current Status
The Gallaway Pits site includes the area where disposal of municipal and industrial wastes took place beginning in the 1970s. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983 because of contaminated sediment, soil and surface water resulting from waste disposal practices. EPA and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) have investigated site conditions and taken steps to clean up the site in order to protect people and the environment from contamination. Site contamination does not currently threaten people living and working near the site. By cleaning up the site and undertaking Five-Year Reviews, EPA and TDEC continue to protect people and the environment from site contamination.
Site Location and Background
The 10-acre site is located in Gallaway in Fayette County, Tennessee. The site includes grass-covered areas and several ponds. Forested areas and agricultural land uses border the site. Residences are located north and east of the site. The closest home is located 1,600 feet west of the site.
Beginning in the 1970s, unauthorized disposal of municipal and industrial wastes occurred at the site. Disposal activities placed wastes, including pesticides, residential and industrial solid waste, trash; and debris at the site. Activities also drained drums containing liquid wastes or disposed of drums in water-filled ponds on site. In 1983, EPA listed the site on the NPL. Following the completion of cleanup activities, EPA deleted the site from the NPL in 1996. The site is not in use. The site can support commercial or industrial land uses.
Threats and Contaminants
Site investigations found contamination in sediment, soil and surface water that could potentially harm people in the area. Contamination resulted from waste handling practices at the site. Contaminants of concern include chlordane, dieldrin, toxaphene, cadmium, arsenic, pesticides and inorganic compounds.
TDEC has removed the waste from the site.
Investigation and Cleanup Responsibility / Oversight
EPA led site investigation and cleanup activities in cooperation with TDEC. TDEC led additional cleanup activities.
Site Cleanup Plan
In 1986, EPA issued an interim cleanup plan (an interim Record of Decision, or ROD) for the site. The plan included the following activities:
- Digging up contaminated sediment from on-site ponds and disposing of it in one on-site pond.
- Placing a cap over the on-site pond containing contaminated soil.
- Closing the site in accordance with Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
- Diluting water in on-site ponds and dischargi diluted water to an unnamed tributary.
- Placing institutional controls on the site property.
- Monitoring ground water.
- Inspecting and maintaining the cap.
Cleanup Progress
EPA conducted emergency cleanup activities in 1983. EPA treated 360,000 gallons of water and dug up and disposed of 475 cubic yards of contaminated soil.
In 1987, EPA dug up contaminated soil and sediment from on-site ponds, solidified the materials and placed a cap over the materials. The Agency also installed monitoring wells to monitor the cap’s integrity. EPA treated contaminated water from the on-site ponds and discharged the treated water to nearby surface water.
In 1994, TDEC conducted restoration activities at the site and took the lead on operation and maintenance activities.
Following the completion of cleanup activities, EPA deleted the site from the NPL in 1996.
In 1997, TDEC conducted additional cleanup activities. TDEC removed the cap and 12,074 tons of waste from below the cap. TDEC disposed of the waste at an off-site facility and properly abandoned eight on-site monitoring wells.
The final Five-Year Review for the site, completed in 2000, found that the cleanup continued to protect people and the environment.
Summaries of cleanup activities are also available in Five-Year Reviews online.
Enforcement Activities
EPA was unable to identify any viable potentially responsible parties for the site. EPA used federal funds for site cleanup activities. TDEC used state funds for additional site activities
The ROD and Five-Year Reviews online provide information on specific legal agreements for the site.
Community Involvement
EPA 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 conducted a range of community involvement activities to solicit community input and to make sure the public remains informed about site activities throughout the cleanup process. Outreach efforts included public notices, interviews, fact sheets and public meetings.
Future Work
EPA completed the last Five-Year Review for the site in 2000.
EPA does not anticipate additional work at the site.
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
Gallaway City Hall
P. O. Box 168
Gallaway, TN 38936