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Site Type: Site Awaiting NPL Decision (SAND) 
CRANSTON SANITARY LANDFILL
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map of site |
| CRANSTON, Rhode Island |
| PROVIDENCE County |
| Street Address: | 1688 PONTIAC AVENUE
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| Zip Code: | 02920 |
Congressional
District(s): |
02 |
| EPA ID #: | RID084812577 |
| Site ID #: | 0101263 |
| Site Alias: | |
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Description
The Cranston Sanitary Landfill (property) is located at 1688 Pontiac Avenue in Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island. The 47.23-acre property is identified on Cranston Tax Assessor’s Map as Plat 13, Lot 1. The property is owned by A. Capuano Brothers, Inc. and is currently occupied by an active transfer station and the inactive municipal solid waste landfill managed by Waste Management, Inc. The property is bordered to the north by an industrial park, to the south and east by woodlands, and to the west by residences.
Land use prior to 1943 is unknown. From 1943 to 1988, the property was operated as a sanitary landfill for municipal solid waste from the City of Cranston. Reportedly, in the 1970's the landfill started accepting industrial wastes. Landfilling operations ceased in 1985. The landfilled area is covered with two 20 millimeter (mm) synthetic liners and a grass vegetative cover. This cover and drainage channels, installed in 1990, were designed to minimize erosion of the clean fill that covers the second cap; however, partial erosion of the cap has been observed on the faces of the landfill. Previous investigations at the property have included: a 1982 Preliminary Assessment and Site Assessment completed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); a 1996 Expanded Site Inspection completed by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM); and a 2000 Draft Phase II Work Plan completed by Environmental Science and Engineering, Inc. (ESE).
A majority of residents located within 4-radial miles of the property utilize public water supplies. A minimal number of nearby residents utilize private groundwater supplies. The nearest drinking water well is located approximately 2 miles south of the property. The estimated population served by private groundwater supply wells within 4-radial miles of the property is 1,443. In addition, approximately 84 individuals within 4-radial miles of the property are served by community groundwater wells. Five well-head protection areas (WHPAs) exist within 4-radial miles of the property. Groundwater on the property occurs at an unknown depth and flows in a southeasterly direction. Groundwater is classified as GB. The GB groundwater classification indicates that groundwater is unsuitable for drinking water use without pretreatment. In 1977, six groundwater monitoring wells were installed at the property. Analytical results of groundwater samples collected by RI DEM in 1993 indicated the presence of arsenic, barium, benzene, chlorobenzene, 1,4-dioxane, ethyl benzene, toluene, 1,2,4trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, and total xylene. On-site monitoring wells are reportedly sampled quarterly.
Stormwater runoff from the property flows to an unnamed stream and wetland east and southeast of the landfill area. Surface water flows approximately 1,500 feet in the unnamed stream to an unnamed pond. From the pond, surface water flows approximately 50 feet to Pawtuxet River. Pawtuxet River flows to Pawtuxet Cove and Providence River. From Providence River, the 15-mile surface water pathway includes the following tidal water bodies; Watchemoket Cove; Narragansett Bay; Greenwich Bay; Hope Bay; Barrington River; Palmer River; and Warren River. Approximately 7.5 miles of wetland frontage, two sensitive environments (Hog Island and the Palmer River), a national estuary, and a fishery occur along the downstream pathway. In 1993, RI DEM Division of Site Remediation (DSR) personnel collected sediment samples from surface water bodies in the vicinity of the site, which were analyzed for metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Analytical results indicated the presence of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, acetone, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, methylene chloride, methyl ethyl ketone, pyrene, toluene, and xylene.
Approximately one employee works at the transfer station located on the property. Approximately 7,106 people reside within 1-radial mile of the property. There are no schools or day-care centers located within 200 feet of the property. The nearest residence is located approximately 70 to 100 feet northwest of the property. A wetland sensitive environment exists on the property. Property access is restricted by a fence with two locked gates. In 1988, RI DEM collected soil and/or auto-fluff samples from the property. Analytical results of the on-site samples indicated the presence of PCBs (up to 178 parts per million (ppm)). Samples were also collected from off-site locations in the vicinity of the landfill. Analytical results of these samples indicated the presence of PCBs (up to 149 ppm) . A synthetic cap was later installed to cover all exposed PCB-contaminated foam material.
Approximately 133,680 people, and approximately 7.5 miles of wetlands occur within 4-radial miles of the property. Passive gas vents have been installed on the landfill cap and labeled with PCB warnings . No known qualitative laboratory air samples have been collected from the property. Based on the available data no impacts to nearby populations or sensitive environments are known or suspected.
Current Status
The last known action at the property was the Phase II Work Plan completed in 2000.
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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