The Feddeler Landfill Site is a closed, construction and demolition debris, landfill that was in operation from 1971 to 2001. The original owner, Elmer Feddeler, operated the facility from 1971 until his death in the 1980’s. State records indicate that nearby residents filed complaints with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) as early as 1975 regarding the landfill’s acceptance of hazardous waste such as pesticides and acrylonitrile (vinyl cyanide).
Mr. Feddeler’s siblings continued operation of the landfill until 1985 when Robert Feddeler bought the property and became the sole owner and operator of the facility. He continued to operate the facility under the Feddeler Landfill name until 1997 when it was renamed R&M Enterprise. The landfill was permitted to accept only construction and demolition debris material until 2001.
IDEM ordered R&M Enterprise to properly close the facility in accordance with IDEM regulations including, cap installation, topsoil compaction, and monitoring well installation. Pursuant to this order, R&M Enterprise capped approximately 80 percent of the site and left several areas of open landfill debris. Mr. Feddeler indicated that he did not have the money to close the facility and had let the bond on the closure elapse.
In 2003, Midwest Resource, LLC purchased the property and sold the southeast portion of the property to a landscaping company. IDEM and local authorities continued to monitor the on-site monitoring wells and the surrounding residential wells.
In 2006, The County’s contractor, Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH®), determined that potential contaminants were being released from the site; the county notified the EPA Superfund Emergency Response and Removal Branch of the potential releases.
