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Himco Dump

Background

Himco Dump is a closed landfill covering about 60 acres in Elkhart at County Road 10 and the Nappanee Street Extension. The dump was privately owned and operated by Himco Waste-Away Services Inc. between 1960 and 1976. The area was initially a mixture of marsh and grassland with no natural barriers that could block the release of contaminated ground water or gas. An estimated two-thirds of the waste in the landfill is calcium sulfate from Miles Laboratories, (now Bayer Healthcare, LLC). As many as 360 tons per day were dumped over an unknown period. Other waste accepted included household and commercial refuse, construction and demolition debris, and industrial and medical waste. In 1976, the landfill was closed and covered with 1 foot of sand over a layer of calcium sulfate. The area bordering the southern perimeter of the landfill consists of construction rubble.

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Site Updates

January 2013

Additional soil gas probes were installed at the landfill in December 2012 to better define the source of elevated landfill gas levels detected in October 2012 in certain locations in the landfill. If landfill gas levels have been found to be above established action levels, remedial measures to address it will be undertaken to reduce it to acceptable levels. While landfill gas levels are elevated at certain locations in the landfill, measurements taken near the border with residential homes indicated levels are below the action levels.

March 2011

Cleanup at the Himco Dump Superfund Site in Elkhart, Indiana continues with work on the former landfill and construction debris area commencing March 21, 2011. This work, which is expected to take about 18 months to complete, will require enhancing the existing cover in the landfill and installation of a landfill gas management system. Removal and disposal of contaminated soil in the adjacent construction debris area, which affects parts of backyards of 5-7 homes located next to the landfill, will also be undertaken. A long-term groundwater monitoring program has also been instituted whereby groundwater within and around the site will be monitored for a minimum of 10 years to ensure contaminants are no longer a threat to the community. Previously, the responsible party for the site provided alternate drinking water to residents living adjacent to the site, along with abandonment of drinking water wells in those homes.

Upon completion, EPA will review the effectiveness of the remedy every five years to ensure the remedy continues to be protective.

• EPA Addresses Questions Raised at February Public Meeting, Factsheet May 2008 (PDF) (2pp, 220K)
• Himco Dump Update: Water Hookups in Next Cleanup Phase, Factsheet July 2007(PDF) (2pp, 61 K)
• Himco Dump Cleanup Plan Revised (PDF) (12pp, 352K), April 2003 factsheet
• EPA Proposes Revised Cleanup Plan (PDF) (4pp, 515K), April 2003

Legal Agreements

• Administrative Order on Consent (AOC)

Public Meetings

• EPA held a public meeting June 9, 2008 at the Elkhart Public Library.
• EPA held two open house sessions Wednesday, February 20, 2008 in the Elkhart Area Career Center. EPA and other officials, including members of the Himco Trust, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and the Elkhart County Health Department were available to meet one-to-one with the public and answer questions concerning access agreements, health issues, etc.
• Public Meeting was held Wednesday, April 23, 2003 from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. in the City Council Chambers of the Municipal Building in Elkhart, Indiana. Public comments were accepted through May 12, 2003.

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