Fresno Municipal Sanitary Landfill
EPA #: CAD980636914
State: California(CA)
County: Fresno
City: Fresno
Congressional District: 20
Other Names:
Description and History
NPL Listing History
NPL Status: Final
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 10/04/89
Deleted Date:
The 145-acre Fresno Municipal Sanitary Landfill site was owned and operated by the City of Fresno (City) from 1935 until it was closed in 1989. While conducting tests in 1983, the California Department of Health Services found that methane gas and vinyl chloride had migrated from the landfill to the surrounding areas. These tests also concluded that contaminated groundwater had migrated off-site to several private residential wells located nearby. The City installed monitoring wells around the landfill perimeter in 1984. Subsequent tests indicated that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were present in groundwater samples collected from wells at the edge of the landfill. Nine municipal wells are located within three miles of the site. Water from these wells empty into a blended system that serves the City of Fresno. The general distribution area of the system serves approximately 300,000 people. Several irrigation and private residential wells are located within a few thousand feet of the site.
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Contaminants and Risks
Contaminated Media:
Groundwater
Air
Soil and Sludges
Ambient air samples collected at the landfill contained high concentrations of methane and vinyl chloride, and lower concentrations of VOCs. As stated above, groundwater is contaminated with VOCs. Since private wells located south of the landfill are contaminated with VOCs, area residents who depend on these wells as their sole source of drinking water could be exposed to site-related contaminants. The City has installed filters on the affected wells
Who is Involved
This site is being addressed through Federal and municipal actions.
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Investigation and Cleanup Activities
The implementation of remediation at the Fresno Sanitary Landfill is addressed by the creation of two Operable Units. Operable Unit 1 includes remediation of the landfill through the construction of an engineered cover and a landfill gas collection system. Operable Unit 2 has been established to remediate contaminated groundwater.
On June 10, 1998, EPA and the City entered a formal agreement called a Consent Decree (CD) with the District Court. This agreement formalizes the final cleanup actions for the site. The CD calls for the City to begin the construction of Operable Unit 1 and develop the remedial design, construct and conduct the cleanup effort for Operable Unit 2.
Initial Actions
Initial Interim Actions: In 1984, the City installed wells around the perimeter of the landfill to monitor methane and groundwater. The City also constructed landfill gas migration barriers on east and west sides of the landfill to prevent methane from migrating off-site to nearby homes. In 1990, the City began the removal of migrating landfill gas containing VOCs. The treatment involved placement of an active vacuum on an existing gas migration barrier to enhance its effectiveness. The landfill gas vacuum action was completed in 1991.
Cleanup Ongoing
Trash and Landfill Gas Contamination Investigation: The City began an investigation into the nature and extent of contamination at the Fresno Sanitary Landfill in 1990. The study addressed contamination in the groundwater, landfill gas, soils, leachate, and surface gas emissions. As a result of the findings of that investigation, EPA selected a cleanup remedy for Operable Unit 1 in 1993 that called for capping the landfill, constructing a gas collection system, and building a stormwater management system.
Remedy Selected
Groundwater: As stated above, in 1990, the City began an investigation into the nature and extent of groundwater contamination. As a result of the findings of that investigation, EPA selected a cleanup remedy in September of 1996.
Cleanup Ongoing
Construction of a landfill cap, gas control wells and water treatment system commenced in May of 2000 and was completed in 2003.
Cleanup Ongoing
Start up of the landfill flare and the water treatment system began the week of September 10, 2001 as Phase 1 of the Remedial Action. Phase 1 of the Remedial Action is designed to capture and treat groundwater contaminants along the downgradient leading edge of the landfill. Prior to Phase 1, the City of Fresno initiated an Early Groundwater Remedial Action in May 1999 which consisted of the operation of three groundwater extraction wells and two, portable treatment units in an effort to expedite groundwater cleanup. As stated above, full operation of the groundwater treatment system started September 2001. Initiation of Phase 1 remedial activities includes the operation of five groundwater extraction wells located along the downgradient perimeter of the landfill. The extracted groundwater is treated through a packed tower aerator which is used to volatilize and remove contaminants from groundwater. Contaminant off-gas is incinerated by the landfill gas flare.
In September 2005, the EPA completed the five-year review of the remedies for OU 1 and OU 2. Seven recommendations are being addressed as a result to ensure that the remedies remain protective in the future. See below for a copy of the complete five-year review report and the fact sheet summary.
Cleanup Ongoing
EPA is continuing to work with the City of Fresno and the State to develop institutional controls to protect the remedies for OU1 and OU2.
Groundwater: In 2007, evaluation of the Phase I of the Remedial Action was completed and Phase II of the Remedial Action was initiated. Phase II is designed to address deeper groundwater contamination along the downgradient perimeter of the landfill. Installation of Phase II extraction and monitoring wells is currently underway.
Potentially Responsible Parties
Potentially responsible parties (PRPs) refers to companies that are potentially responsible for generating, transporting, or disposing of the hazardous waste found at the site.
On-line information about the PRPs for the site is not yet available.
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Public Information Repositories
The most complete collection of documents
is the official EPA site file, maintained at
the following location:
Superfund Records Center
Mail Stop SFD-7C
95 Hawthorne Street, Room 403
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 820-4700
Enter main lobby of 75 Hawthorne street,
go to 4th floor of South Wing Annex.
The public information repositories for
the site are at the following locations:
Fresno County Central Library
2420 Mariposa Street,
Fresno, CA 93721
(209) 488-3195
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Contacts
|
Name |
Phone Number |
Email |
Address |
| EPA Site Manager |
Patricia Bowlin |
415-972-3177 |
Bowlin.Patricia@epamail.epa.gov |
Mail Code SFD71
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105 |
EPA Community
Involvement Coordinator |
Jackie Lane |
415-972-3236
1-800-231-3075 |
Lane.Jackie@epamail.epa.gov |
Mail Code SFD63
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105 |
EPA Public Information
Center |
|
415-947-8701 |
r9.info@epa.gov |
|
| State Contact |
James Rohrer |
916-255-3709 |
JRohrer@dtsc.ca.gov |
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
8800 Cal Center Drive
Sacramento, 95826-3200 |
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| Other Contacts |
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After Hours
(Emergency Response) |
US EPA |
(800) 424-8802 |
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