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Site Type: Site Awaiting NPL Decision (SAND) 
BRISTOL LANDFILL
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map of site |
| BRISTOL, Rhode Island |
| BRISTOL County |
| Street Address: | MINTURN ROAD
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| Zip Code: | 02809 |
Congressional
District(s): |
01 |
| EPA ID #: | RID980512693 |
| Site ID #: | 0101271 |
| Site Alias: | |
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Description
The Bristol Landfill (BL) property is located on Minturn Road in the Town of Bristol, Bristol County, Rhode Island. The 88-acre BL property (property) is currently owned and operated by the Town of Bristol, and contains a 45-acre landfill. The remainder of the property is occupied by a composting facility, maintenance garage, scale house, and dog pound. The property is bordered to the east and south by wetlands; to the west by commercial and residential properties; to the southeast by a woodland buffer; and to the north by a heavily populated residential area.
In 1963, the property began operating as a municipal landfill and has accepted both municipal and industrial wastes. In 1976, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RI DOH) denied the Town of Bristol a license to continue municipal landfilling operations due to the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in surface water samples collected on the property. In 1979, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) was informed that BL was being used for the disposal of unspecified hazardous waste. RI DEM investigated the property and excavated approximately 600 55-gallon drums containing several VOCs and metals. The excavation was not completed due to the cost of disposal. Investigations conducted on the property indicated the presence of 24 VOCs and eight inorganic substances in groundwater samples. In addition, VOCs, semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and four inorganic substances were detected in sediment samples from adjacent wetlands. The most recent license to operate the property as a landfill expired in 1995; however, a report dated November 1996 indicated that BL was still accepting municipal wastes. Approximately 50 percent of BL, specifically the northern and south-central portions, has been closed; and capping procedures have begun. A landfill leachate collection tank exists on the eastern margin of the landfill. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has conducted previous investigations of BL, including a Preliminary Assessment (PA) in 1982, a Site Inspection (SI) in 1982, and a Site Inspection Prioritization (SIP) in 1996.
The estimated population served by public groundwater wells within 4-radial miles of the property is 180. The nearest public drinking water supply wells are located approximately 1.75 miles northeast of the property. The estimated population served by private groundwater wells within 4-radial miles of the property is 4,164. The nearest private drinking water supply well is located approximately 0.25 miles southwest of the property. Groundwater occurs in overburden at a depth between 12.4 and 19 feet (ft), and flows east-southeast toward Mount Hope Bay. The analytical results of groundwater samples collected from the property in October 2000 by BETA Engineers, Scientists & Planners (BETA) personnel indicated the presence of several VOCs and inorganics in monitoring wells and the landfill leachate tank. In 1993, RI DOH sampled private and residential wells within 1,000 feet of the Buttonwood Industrial Complex (BIC). The BIC property is listed in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS) as Site No. RID987493301. Analytical results indicated the presence of several VOCs in drinking water that were attributable to the BIC property. Based on the location of BIC, the direction of groundwater flow, and the distance and upgradient location from the BL, impacts to nearby groundwater drinking water supply sources are not considered attributable to potential waste sources at the BL property.
The property is separated by a surface water drainage divide that runs northwest to southeast, resulting in two possible surface water pathways. Overland flow from the northern and eastern margins of the property drains into an approximately 30-acre wetland located at the northeast corner of the landfill. Surface water along the north side of the landfill is channelized by a drainage swale located adjacent and parallel to the northern property boundary. This swale channels overland flow east toward the wetland. The wetland discharges to a small unnamed perennial stream located approximately 1,000 feet northeast of the property. The second surface water pathway originates from overland flow on the western and southern margins of the landfill. Overland flow from these areas is directed to a second unnamed perennial stream located in the southwest corner of the property. Surface water from both surface water pathways discharges into Mount Hope Bay, and into either Sakonnet River or Narragansett Bay. There are no drinking water intakes located along the 15-mile downstream surface water pathway. Approximately 11.1 miles of wetland frontage and a National Estuary occur along the downstream pathway. The analytical results of sediment samples collected from the property in 1996 indicated the presence of VOCs, SVOCs, pesticides, PCBs, and four inorganic contaminants. Due to the proximity to a wetland and National Estuary, and analytical results from sediment samples, impacts to nearby sensitive environments are suspected.
Approximately three full-time employees work on the property. Approximately 8,764 people reside within 1-radial mile of the property. There are no residences, day-care facilities, or sensitive environments within 200 feet of any areas of observed contamination. Access to the property is restricted by a chain-link fence; however, the fence is discontinuous, and the landfill is accessible to pedestrians. Based on the site observations and conditions, and proximity to nearby residential targets, no impacts to nearby residential populations are known or suspected.
An estimated 49,090 people and 460 acres of wetlands occur within 4-radial miles of the property. No laboratory qualitative air samples are known to have been collected from the property. Based on the available data, no impacts to nearby residential populations or sensitive environments are known or suspected.
Current Status
Closure activities, including the construction of a landfill cap, are currently being managed by BETA. Remedial activities, including the removal of 55-gallon drums, quarterly groundwater and leachate tank monitoring, and landfill closure, are ongoing under the direct supervision of RI DEM.
Photos
Links to Other Information
Public Record Locations
EPA New England Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 918-1440
Contacts
| Nancy Smith |
| Site Assessment Manager |
| Address: | One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (HBS)
Boston, MA 02114-2023 |
| Phone #: | 617-918-1436 |
| E-Mail Address: | smith.nancya@epa.gov |
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