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Site Type: Long Term/National Priorities List (NPL)  |
CHARLES-GEORGE RECLAMATION TRUST LANDFILL |
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| Tyngsborough, Massachusetts |
Middlesex County
| Street Address: | CORNER DUNSTABLE & CUMMINGS RD |
| Zip Code: | 01879 |
Congressional
District(s): |
05 |
| EPA ID #: | MAD003809266 |
| Site ID #: | 0100464 |
| Site Aliases: | George C Landfill
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| Site Responsibility: | Federal |
| NPL LISTING HISTORY |
| Proposed Date | 10/23/1981 |
| Final Date | 09/08/1983 |
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Site Description
From the late 1950s until 1967, the Charles-George Reclamation Trust Landfill, located 1 mile southwest of Tyngsborough and 4 miles south of Nashua, New Hampshire, was a small municipal dump. A new owner expanded it to its present size of approximately 55 acres and accepted both household and industrial wastes from 1967 to 1976. The facility had a license to accept hazardous waste from 1973 to 1976 and primarily accepted drummed and bulk chemicals containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and toxic metal sludges. Records show that over 1,000 pounds of mercury were disposed of and approximately 2,500 cubic yards of chemical wastes were landfilled. The State ordered closure of the site in 1983. That same year, the EPA listed the site on the NPL and the owner filed for bankruptcy. Samples from wells serving nearby Cannongate Condominiums and some nearby private homes revealed VOCs and heavy metals in the groundwater. Approximately 500 people live within a mile of the site in this residential/rural area; 2,100 people live within 3 miles of the site. The nearest residents are located 100 feet away. The site is bordered by Flint Pond Marsh and Flint Pond to the east, Dunstable Brook to the west, and a condominium complex to the southeast. Seasonal livestock grazing occurs in the area. However, heavy residential and commercial development is occurring near the landfill.
Threats and Contaminants
Benzene, tetrahydrofuran, arsenic, 1,4-dioxane, and 2-butanone, among others, have been detected in the groundwater. Sediments have been shown to contain low levels of benzo(a)pyrene. People face a potential health threat by ingesting contaminated groundwater. Flint Pond Marsh, Flint Pond, Dunstable Brook, and nearby wetlands are threatened by contamination migrating from the site.
Cleanup Approach
The site was addressed in five stages: initial actions and four long-term remedial phases focusing on providing a permanent water supply; capping the site; controlling the migration of contaminants, including collection and treatment of landfill gas; and collecting and off-site discharge of leachate and contaminated groundwater to a publicly owned treatment works (POTW).
Response Action Status
| Initial Action | In response to the discovery of contaminated well water in the adjacent condominium complex in 1983, the EPA installed an insulated, above-ground pipeline to supply residents with an alternate water supply. In 1983 and 1984, the EPA installed a security fence and 12 gas vents, and the site was regraded to cover exposed refuse. |
| Permanent Water Supply | In 1983, the EPA selected a final cleanup remedy that would provide a permanent water supply to affected residents. With EPA funds, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed 4 miles of ductile iron water pipe, constructed a pump station and water storage tank, and arranged for chlorination services. The waterline extension was completed in 1988. |
| Capping | In 1985, the EPA completed a study on capping the landfill and selected the following remedies: installation of a full synthetic membrane cover and a surface water diversion and collection system, which keeps rainwater from spreading contamination; construction of a gas collection system venting to the atmosphere; and creation of a leachate collection system around the entire site. Periodic mowing, landscaping, and inspection/maintenance services are also being provided by the state. The Corps of Engineers completed construction of the full synthetic landfill cap in 1990. |
| Migration of Contaminants | In 1988, the EPA selected a final cleanup remedy to restrict the movement of contaminants off site. Features of the remedy include: pumping contaminated overburden and shallow bedrock groundwater and treating it biologically, along with the leachate collected from the landfill cap system; collecting and incinerating gas vented from the landfill; excavating and solidifying 500 cubic yards of contaminated sediments from Dunstable Brook and placing them under the landfill cap; and monitoring groundwater quality. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the design of the remedy in 1990. Construction of an interim gas treatment flare and one of two groundwater extraction remedies was completed in 1994. An enclosed flare was installed in the fall of 1997, replacing the interim flare. Off gases may now be sampled to confirm attainment of target cleanup levels. In 1995, a five well extraction system was installed in the southwestern portion of the site and was tied into a newly constructed west pump station. In addition, a four well groundwater extraction system was installed in the eastern portion of the site. This system was tied into a newly constructed waste pump station. These pump stations also collect leachate and pump the combined flow to a 3 million gallon storage lagoon. In December 1995 and August 1996, low levels of landfill contaminants were discovered in off-site wells, one of which was a drinking water well. EPA extended the original waterline to the Academy of Notre Dame in October 1996 and extended the waterline to service the Flint Pond area residents in the fall of 1997. EPA still monitors a small number of drinking water wells near the landfill where municipal water is not available. The last stage of cleanup is the permanent management of collected leachate and ground water. In the fall of 1997, a municipal sewer line was extended to the site to convey wastewater to the Lowell Regional Wastewater Utility (POTW) under an Industrial Discharge Permit issued to the site. On-site construction of an Operational and Maintenance (O&M) building and upgraded pump stations was completed in September 1998 and completes the final phase of cleanup. Ongoing O&M activities include cap, gas collection and flare system, and ground water extraction systems maintenance. An on- and off-site ground water monitoring program has been in place since 1992 and will continue until ground water cleanup goals have been met. Sediments in Dunstable Brook were resampled and a risk assessment was performed in August 1998. The assessment indicates that there is not an unacceptable level of risk for human exposure, therefore, the sediments will not be removed. |
| Enforcement Highlights | In May 1983, the EPA issued a Notice Letter to the Charles George Reclamation Trust, requesting its cooperation in the cleanup. An Administrative Order was signed with the potentially responsible parties to perform treatability studies and groundwater/leachate monitoring with assistance from EPA. Fifty-four potentially responsible parties entered into two Consent Decrees in 1992 In March 2003, the owner/operators, Dorothy and Charles George settled all claims against them for approximately $3.8 million. |
Environmental Progress
Providing a water supply system, installing a fence, capping the landfill area, controlling the spread of leachate, burning off landfill gas, extracting contaminated groundwater and conveying the collected leachate and groundwater to the POTW have provided for a minimization of the potential for exposure to hazardous materials at the Charles-George Reclamation Trust Landfill site.
Current Site Status
Construction complete status was attained in September 1998. The cap and gas collection/destruction system are in the operation and maintenance phase (MADEP responsibility) while the groundwater/leachate collection system (with off-site discharge to POTW)) is in the long term response action phase (LTRA) which runs from Setember 1999 to September 2009. At this time, MADEP will take full responsibility for site operations and costs. In the meantime, EPA is still conducting long term groundwater monitoring. In the Fall of 2001, EPA began a performance evaluation of the ground water extraction systems in an effort to determine the effectiveness of contamination reduction and containment. In June 2006, groundwater, surface water and sediment in and near the site were sampled. System performance is currently being evaluated based, in part, on these latest analytical results. EPA funds 90% of the groundwater/leachate OU LTRA (state provides 10%) for the first 10 years after which MADEP shall be responsible for all site activities. The second Five Year Review was completed in March 2000. The results of that Five Year Review determined that the remedies implemented at the site are protective of human health and the environment. The third Five Year Review was completed in June 2005. Results of this review showed that the remedies provide continued protectiveness of human health and the environment.
Site Photos
Links to Other Site Information
Federal Register Notices:
Administrative Records:
Reports and Studies:
Decision Documents:
Other Links:
Site Repositories
Tyngsboro Public Library, Bryants Lane, Tyngsborough, MA 01879
EPA New England Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 918-1440
Contacts
| EPA Remedial Project Manager: | Elaine Stanley |
| Address: | |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1332 |
| E-Mail Address: | stanley.elainet@epa.gov |
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| EPA Community Involvement Coordinator: | Stacy Greendlinger |
| Address: | |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1403 |
| E-Mail Address: | greendlinger.stacy@epa.gov |
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