Site Name: WHEELER PIT
EPA ID: WID980610620 EPA Region: 05 Metro Statistical Area: 3620
CO TRK O & CO TRK J, JANESVILLE, WI 53545
Site Description: THIS 4-ACRE UNLINED PIT ACCEPTED WASTES FROM 1956 TO 1974. GM USED THE SITE TO DISPOSE 22.3 MILLION GALLONS OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC SLUDGES. SAMPLING BY GM HAS INDICATED THAT GROUND WATER IS CONTAMINATED.
ROD ID: EPA/ROD/R05-90/130 ROD Date: 09/28/90
Contaminant: VOCS; BENZENE; TOLUENE; XYLENES; OTHER ORGANICS; PAHS; METALS; ARSENIC; LEAD; CHROMIUM
Abstract:
THE 3.4-ACRE WHEELER PIT SITE IS A FORMER INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISPOSAL PIT IN LAPRAIRIE TOWNSHIP, APPROXIMATELY 1-1/2 MILES FROM JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN. THE SOIL BENEATH THE SITE IS GENERALLY SAND AND GRAVEL, AND THE UPPERMOST AQUIFER, ALSO COMPOSED OF SAND AND GRAVEL, SERVES AS A MAJOR SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER FOR THE JANESVILLE AREA. FROM 1900 TO THE 1970S, THE SITE WAS USED AS A SAND AND GRAVEL PIT BY A RAILROAD COMPANY, WHICH ALSO MAY HAVE USED THE PIT FOR REFUSE DISPOSAL. IN 1956, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GMC) LEASED 3.82 ACRES OF THE PIT, AND FROM 1956 TO 1960, DISPOSED OF GENERAL REFUSE ONSITE. FROM 1960 TO 1974, GMC DISPOSED OF AN ESTIMATED 22.3 MILLION GALLONS OF INDUSTRIAL WASTES, INCLUDING PAINT SPRAY BOOTH SLUDGES, RESIDUE FROM PART HANGER STRIPPING SYSTEMS, CLARIFIER SLUDGES, AND POWERHOUSE COAL ASH. IN 1974, THE STATE REQUIRED CLOSURE OF THE DISPOSAL AREA ALONG WITH GROUND WATER MONITORING. ONSITE ELEVATED LEVELS OF SEVERAL CONTAMINANTS, INCLUDING TCE AND CHROMIUM, WERE DETECTED IN THE GROUND WATER AFTER THE SITE WAS CLOSED. THIS RECORD OF DECISION (ROD) ADDRESSES CONTROL OF THE SOURCE AREA, AS WELL AS MONITORING OF GROUND WATER. NATURAL ATTENUATION WILL BE RELIED UPON TO REMEDIATE THE GROUND WATER. THE PRIMARY CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN AFFECTING THE WASTE, SOIL, AND/OR GROUND WATER ARE VOCS INCLUDING BENZENE, TOLUENE AND XYLENES; OTHER ORGANICS INCLUDING PAHS; AND METALS INCLUDING ARSENIC, LEAD, AND CHROMIUM. THE SELECTED REMEDIAL ACTION FOR THIS SITE INCLUDES CONSOLIDATING WASTE AND CONTAMINATED SOIL FROM ADJACENT PROPERTY INTO THE ORIGINAL ONSITE DISPOSAL AREA; REMOVING TREES FROM THE AREA TO PROVIDE A REGULAR SURFACE FOR THE CAP; CAPPING THE LANDFILL WITH A SOLID WASTE CAP TO COMPLY WITH STATE REQUIREMENTS; INSTALLING A GAS VENTING SYSTEM IN THE CAP, IF NECESSARY, TO RELEASE GAS GENERATED DURING TREE ROOT DECOMPOSITION; MONITORING OF GROUND WATER AND PRIVATE WELLS, AND EVALUATING RESULTS TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR ANY ADDITIONAL REMEDIAL ACTION; IMPLEMENTING INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS TO LIMIT LAND AND GROUND WATER USE, AND SITE ACCESS RESTRICTIONS INCLUDING FENCING. THE ESTIMATED PRESENT WORTH COST FOR THIS REMEDIAL ACTION IS $2,940,000, WHICH INCLUDES AN ANNUAL O&M COST OF $137,300 PER YEAR FOR 30 YEARS. COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GAS VENTING SYSTEM ARE NOT INCLUDED. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS OR GOALS: CLEANUP LEVELS IDENTIFIED FOR GROUND WATER ARE BASED ON STATE PREVENTIVE ACTION LIMITS AND INCLUDE ARSENIC 5.0 UG/L AND CHROMIUM 5.0 UG/L. NO CLEANUP LEVELS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED FOR SOIL OR ONSITE WASTES, AS THESE WILL BE PERMANENTLY CONTAINED ONSITE.
Remedy:
THE SELECTED REMEDIAL ACTION IS A FINAL REMEDY FOR THE SITE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS REMEDY IS TO ELIMINATE OR REDUCE MIGRATION OF CONTAMINANTS TO THE GROUNDWATER AND TO REDUCE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO THE CONTAMINATED MATERIALS.
THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE SELECTED REMEDY INCLUDE:
* CONSTRUCTION OF A LANDFILL COVER (CAP) IN COMPLIANCE WITH CHAPTER NR 504.07, WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE (WAC) LANDFILL CLOSURE REQUIREMENTS;
* CONSOLIDATION OF WASTE AND SOIL FROM ADJACENT PROPERTY ONTO ORIGINAL DISPOSAL AREA;
* USE OF INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS ON LANDFILL PROPERTY TO LIMIT LAND AND GROUNDWATER USE;
* MONITORING OF GROUNDWATER TO ENSURE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REMEDIAL ACTION;
* EVALUATING MONITORING RESULTS TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL ACTION IS NECESSARY; AND
* MONITORING PRIVATE WELLS.