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Site Type: Site Awaiting NPL Decision (SAND) 
CUMBERLAND MUNICIPAL LANDFILL
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map of site |
| CUMBERLAND, Rhode Island |
| PROVIDENCE County |
| Street Address: | ALBION ROAD
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| Zip Code: | 02864 |
Congressional
District(s): |
01 |
| EPA ID #: | RID980512701 |
| Site ID #: | 0101272 |
| Site Alias: | |
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Description
The Cumberland Municipal Landfill property (property) is located off of Albion Road in Cumberland, Providence, Rhode Island. The landfill area consists of approximately 26-acres of a 52-acre parcel currently owned by the Town of Cumberland. Approximately 400-square feet of the landfill was used as a liquid waste disposal pit. The property has a soil cover characterized by terraces overgrown with vegetation. Refuse debris is visible including rusted appliances, rusted drums, scrap metal, fiberglass, and plastic. The property is bordered to the south and west by the Blackstone River; and to the north and east by residential and wooded areas.
The property was purchased by the Town of Cumberland from the Cumberville Corporation (Cumberville) in 1956 for use as an unlined landfill. No information was available regarding Cumberville activities at the property or previous site history. Inspections of the property by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) in 1967 reported that the landfill accepted household, industrial, institutional, and commercial wastes. From 1971 to 1983, the Mossberg/Hubbard Pressed Steel company disposed of liquid plating wastes on the property. Between 1971 and 1983, chemical analysis of these wastes were conducted and constituents included cyanide, copper, zinc, cadmium, nickel, lead, phosphates, phosphorous, oil, and grease. In 1972, the unlined liquid waste disposal pit was moved from an unknown location on the property to an area located northeast of the site entrance. The new liquid waste disposal pit measured approximately 20 feet by 20 feet by 3 feet deep and the amount of waste Mossberg/Hubbard dispose of ranged from 6,000 gallons/day in 1971 to 11,000 gallons/day in 1981. In 1981, the Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation (Owens-Corning) notified the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that Owens-Corning had disposed unused chemical wastes at the property but it is unknown when these activities began. The disposal of Owens-Corning wastes, which included organic chemicals, solvents, and acids, ceased in 1978. The specific compounds, quantities, and disposal locations are unknown. Owens-Corning also disposed of fiberglass wastes at the property for an unknown time. In 1978, it was reported that approximately 7,500 cubic yards per year of fiberglass waste was being landfilled. The town’s sanitary landfill license expired in 1979 but landfilling operations continued until 1983. Reports of illegal dumping after 1983 also exist. The property is currently inactive.
Previous investigations at the property include a private study conducted by Roy F. Weston (WESTON) in 1978; a Preliminary Assessment (PA) completed by EPA in 1981; a Site Inspection (SI) completed by NUS Corporation in 1989; and a Site Inspection Prioritization (SIP) completed by RI DEM in 1993.
The estimated population served by public groundwater wells within 4-radial miles of the property is 14,602. The nearest public drinking water supply wells are located approximately 0.75 miles north-northwest of the property. The estimated population served by private groundwater wells within 4-radial miles of the property is 5,387. The location of the nearest private drinking water supply well is unknown. Groundwater occurs in overburden at a depth of approximately 4.5 to 6 feet below ground surface (bgs). Groundwater flow was not reported, but most likely flows west-southwest toward Blackstone River. Eleven groundwater monitoring wells have been reportedly installed at the property. In 1978, WESTON collected the only known groundwater samples from the property. Analytical results of groundwater samples from the three wells sampled indicated the presence of manganese, mercury, iron, and total dissolved solids. In 1984, the Manville Wellfield, located 0.8 miles northwest of the property, was taken out of service due to unspecified contamination; however, no impacts to nearby groundwater drinking water supply sources are known or suspected.
Surface water runoff from the property collects in intermittent stream channels, erosional runoff channels, on-site depressions, and flows directly into Blackstone River. The downstream surface water pathway then flows south to Seekonk River and into Providence River. There are no drinking water intakes located along the 15-mile downstream surface water pathway. Approximately 7.5 miles of wetland frontage, five state-listed species habitats of special interest, and one state-listed endangered species habitat occur along the downstream pathway. The analytical results of sediment samples collected from the property in 1993 by RI DEM, indicated the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and metals (cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc). No impacts to nearby sensitive environments are known or suspected.
There are no employees or residents on the property. Approximately 5,469 people reside within 1-radial mile of the property. The nearest residence is approximately 313 feet east of the property. There are no schools or day-care facilities within 200 feet of the property. There are no sensitive environments located on the property. Access to the property is unknown but restricted by steep slopes, vegetation, and the Blackstone River. Analytical results of soil samples collected from the property in 1993 by NUS Corporation indicated the presence of VOCs and metals. Based on the site observations and conditions, no impacts to nearby residential populations are known or suspected.
An estimated 68,048 people, an unknown number of wetlands, one state-listed endangered species habitat, and five state-listed species habitats of special interest 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
The last known actions at the Cumberland Municipal Landfill property were the SIP completed by RI DEM and the EPA decision that additional site assessment activities are necessary for the property in 1993. According to available sources, the property is not an active site under the 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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