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Site Type: Site Awaiting NPL Decision (SAND) 
COVENTRY MUNICIPAL LANDFILL
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map of site |
| COVENTRY, Rhode Island |
| KENT County |
| Street Address: | ARNOLD ROAD
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| Zip Code: | 02816 |
Congressional
District(s): |
02 |
| EPA ID #: | RID980734164 |
| Site ID #: | 0101295 |
| Site Alias: | |
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Description
The Coventry Municipal Landfill (CML) property is located along Arnold Road in Coventry, Kent County, Rhode Island. The 10-acre CML property is identified on Coventry Tax Assessor’s Map No. 15, Lot No. 96, and is currently owned and operated by the Town of Coventry, Rhode Island. The CML property is bordered to the northeast by Arnold Road, to the southeast and southwest by A. Cardi Realty, and to the northwest by A. Cardi Construction. In addition, Cal Chemical Corporation is located to the east of and across Arnold Road from the CML property. The property is currently operated as a yard waste composting facility for the Town of Coventry.
The CML initiated landfill operations in approximately 1954 and ceased accepting waste material in 1975. Prior 1954, the property reportedly may have operated as a sand and gravel quarry. During the course of its operations, the unlined CML accepted several types of waste material including: municipal solid waste (MSW), chemical and pharmaceutical wastes from American Hoechst Company, and chemical wastes from the Farrell Barrel Co. (Farrell) (formerly located on the Cal Chemical property). Reportedly, Farrell commissioned CML to dispose of approximately 20,000 gallons of barrel washing wastes from its used 55-gallon drum recycling operation. Reportedly, poor waste practices such as open dumping of chemicals, disposal of drums (some of which subsequently leaked), disposal of liquid wastes from drums onto the ground, and lack of daily cover placement have been documented on the property. Additionally, a lack of waste segregation may have ignited some of the underground fires which have occurred on the CML property. These issues resulted in the filing of numerous citizen and landfill attendant complaints regarding odors, chemical disposal, and unsafe practices at the CML property. In addition, observations of leachate seeps at the top of the landfill and on adjacent roadways, as well as observations of exposed and partially-buried drums were noted after landfill closure. A Preliminary Assessment was conducted at the CML property by Ecology and Environment, Inc. in May 1982. Subsequently, a Site Inspection was conducted by NUS Corporation in 1984. No quantitative analytical information was collected as part of these investigations.
The nearest public drinking water well is located approximately 0.9 miles east southeast of the CML property, which serves approximately 40 people. The total groundwater drinking water population within 4-radial miles of the CML property is estimated to be 16,597 people. No groundwater monitoring wells have been installed on the CML property. Samples were collected by Rhode Island Department of Public Health from two private drinking water wells located on Salvas Avenue (approximately 1,000 feet southwest of the CML property) in 1981 and again in 1987. Analytical results indicated the presence of four chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in drinking water samples. No additional drinking water sampling has been completed, therefore no additional drinking water wells are known to have been impacted.
According to the Camp Dresser & McKee Alternative Remedial Contracting Strategy (CDM/ARCS) 1995 Site Inspection Prioritization (SIP), surface water runoff from the property is directed north into Tiogue Lake. The probable point of entry (PPE) from the CML property is located at the extreme southern tip of Tiogue Lake. Surface water bodies along the 15-mile surface water pathway include Tiogue Lake, the South Branch of the Pawtuxet River, and the Pawtuxet River. According to CDM/ARCS, the nearest downstream fishery is the South Branch of the Pawtuxet River. Sensitive environments along the 15-mile downstream pathway include 3 miles of wetland frontage (including 0.4 miles on Tiogue Lake at the PPE) and a Clean Water Act-protected water body. CDM/ARCS collected seven sediment samples from Tiogue Lake as part of the CLM property SIP. Analytical results indicated the presence of eight chlorinated and non-chlorinated VOCs; three semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs); four pesticides; three polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and 13 metals in sediment samples. Many of the substances detected in sediment were not detected in on-site soil samples and may, according to CDM/ARCS, be attributable to off site source areas.
No residents currently live on the CML property; however six employees currently work on the property. The nearest resident is located approximately 800 feet northwest of the CML property, and approximately 3,742 people live within 1-radial miles of the property. No schools or daycare facilities are located within 200 feet of the CML property. Surface soil sampling was conducted on the CML property in 1989 by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM)and again in 1994 by CDM/ARCS during their SIP. RI DEM sample analysis indicated only elevated concentrations of dichlorobenzenes. CDM/ARCS surface soil samples indicated the presence of: five non-chlorinated VOCs; one SVOC; four pesticides; one PCB, and 15 metals. Based on the analytical results of surface soil samples, a release of hazardous substances has been documented. Although pedestrian access to the property is not restricted, neither on-site or nearby populations are known or suspected as having been impacted by this release. Approximately 58,117 people reside within 4-radial miles of the CML property. No air samples have been collected, therefore, no impacts to nearby residential populations or sensitive environments are known or suspected.
Current Status
The last known action at the property was the SIP completed in 1995.
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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