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Site Type: Site Awaiting NPL Decision (SAND) 
ESSEX MUNICIPAL LANDFILL
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map of site |
| ESSEX, Connecticut |
| MIDDLESEX County |
| Street Address: | DUMP ROAD
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| Zip Code: | 06426 |
Congressional
District(s): |
02 |
| EPA ID #: | CTD982543324 |
| Site ID #: | 0101640 |
| Site Alias: | |
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Description
The Essex Municipal Landfill property is located at Dump Road off Route 154 in Essex, Middlesex County, Connecticut. Local tax assessment information is unknown. The 20-acre property consists of areas owned or leased by the Town of Essex (Essex) that include an inactive landfill currently used as a leaf composting area; a transfer station where solid waste and recyclables are stored for routine pickups; a bulky waste disposal area; three fenced septage disposal pits; a town garage with a dog pound; a storage shed for fire hoses; and a privately owned automobile junk yard with several hundred vehicles. The property is bounded to the north by the Twins Construction maintenance facility; to the east by Book Hill; to the south by a commercial district; and to the west by Route 154.
Between 1930 and 1983, Essex deposited municipal wastes in the former landfill. Reportedly, between approximately 1966 and 1983, Schellens True Company deposited electro-chemical brine solution that may have contained nickel and iron, and Verplex Company deposited metal plating waste such as metal hydroxide sludge in several pits on the property. During the same period, the burning of magnesium scrap by Valley Metallurgical Processing Company in the former landfill provoked public complaints. In 1980, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) prohibited the disposal of hazardous waste on the property. Between 1982 and 1988, Essex was cited several times by CT DEP for regulatory violations in the practice of bulky waste disposal at the property. In 1985, CT DEP issued Essex a permit which allowed the disposal of only municipal solid waste in a designated area on the property but prohibited the burning of such waste. From 1987 to the present, the property has been used by Essex for the collection, but not the disposal, of municipal waste and recyclables including waste oil, antifreeze, and batteries. In 1988, the former landfill was closed and capped under the supervision of CT DEP. Previous investigations of the property have included surface water sampling by CT DEP in 1980; a Preliminary Assessment (PA) completed in 1988; and a Site Inspection (SI) completed in 1996. These investigations have documented the presence of leachate flowing from the inactive landfill. Contaminants of concern detected in on-site source materials include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and metals.
An estimated 3,893 people are served by public and private groundwater drinking water supply wells located within 4-radial miles of the property. The nearest public well is located approximately 0.99 miles southwest of the property. The nearest private well is located approximately 0.68 miles northwest, and upgradient, of the property. Depth to groundwater is approximately 5 feet below ground surface. Previous investigations documented a southwestern groundwater flow direction based on the location of observed leachate relative to the former landfill. No known groundwater samples have been collected from the property. Based on the direction of the groundwater flow and the location of the nearest drinking water supply wells, no impacts to nearby drinking water wells are known or suspected.
Stormwater runoff from the property flows into two unnamed streams on the property. Other surface water bodies located within 15-downstream miles of the property include Ward Brook, Falls River, North Cove, Connecticut River, and Long Island Sound. There are no drinking water intakes located downstream of the property. The unnamed streams, Ward Brook, Falls River, and Long Island Sound are fisheries. Information regarding sensitive environments along the surface water pathway is unavailable. Previous sediment sampling indicated that the two unnamed streams were contaminated with four VOCs, 14 SVOCs, and metals which may be attributable to the former landfill. As a result, a Clean Water Act (CWA)-protected water body and a fishery have been impacted.
There are two part-time workers on the property. An estimated 1,517 people reside within 1-radial mile of the property. The nearest residence is located approximately 0.68 mile northwest of the property. There are no schools or day-care centers within 200 feet of the property. There are no terrestrial sensitive environments located on the property. Access to the property is unrestricted. Analytical results of surface soil samples collected from the property in 1995 indicated the presence of VOCs, SVOCs, and metals. Potential impacts to on-site workers, nearby residents, or sensitive environments are unknown.
Approximately 13,798 and 2,083 acres of wetlands, a CWA-protected water body, and seven habitats for State-listed endangered species are located within 4-radial miles of the property. No laboratory qualitative air samples are known to have been collected from the property. Based on available data, no impacts to nearby residential populations or sensitive environments from an unregulated release to air from the property are known or suspected.
The last known actions at the property were the SI and subsequent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision in 1996 that further site assessment activities are needed at the property. The current status of the property under CT DEP is unknown.
Current Status
Photos
Links to Other Information
Public Record Locations
EPA New England Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 918-1440
Contacts
| Gerardo Millán-Ramos |
| Site Assessment Manager |
| Address: | One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (HBS)
Boston, MA 02114-2023 |
| Phone #: | 617-918-1377 |
| E-Mail Address: | millan-ramos.gerardo@epa.gov |
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