SITE DESCRIPTION
From 1998 through 2004, U.S. EPA removed nearly
43,000 subsurface drums and containers containing hazardous waste from Disposal Areas 1
and 5 and excavated more than 65,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and waste
material.
The Valleycrest Landfill Site is located at 950 Brandt Pike. The site consists of an area of approximately 100 acres that is separated into eastern and western portions by north-south-trending Valleycrest Drive. The eastern portion of the site consists of approximately 35 acres, and the western portion of the site consists of approximately 65 acres. The site is located above the Great Miami Aquifer, which is a sole-source aquifer for the City of Dayton.
The site is located in a mixed urban, industrial, and residential area. The site is bordered on the east and northeast by a residential neighborhood, on the north by several residences, on the southeast by commercial and residential structures and Valley Pike, and on the southwest by the CSX railroad property and residences. The site is bordered on the west by two residences and several industrial facilities, including the Brandt Pike petroleum terminals, Van Dyne Crotty Inc., industrial cleaner facility, and the Hotop demolition landfill.
The site is currently owned by the Keystone Gravel Company of Dayton, Ohio, and was operated as a sand and gravel quarry from before 1935 until the 1970s. In 1966, the site began accepting solid waste, and later, industrial waste, including hazardous waste drums in the eastern portion of the site (Area 1). Filling in the eastern portion of the site continued until approximately 1970. In 1970, the site began accepting waste in the western portion of the site (Area 5) and continued until approximately 1975.
SUMMARY OF COMPLETED REMOVAL ACTIVITIES
Area 5 Drum Removal
From November 1998 through July 2001, a removal action involving the removal of subsurface hazardous waste drums, drummed contents, and industrial waste was completed. The work was conducted pursuant to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrative Order by Consent (AOC) signed by the Valleycrest Removal Action Coalition (VRAC), and dated September 10, 1998.
In Area 5, a total of 26,986 subsurface drums were removed by VRAC contractors from the 82 50- by 50-foot grids, identified as removal action areas based on geophysical anomalies. Drums containing hazardous waste solids (containing combinations of polychlorinated biphenyls [PCB], ignitable waste, sulfides, and/or Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure [TCLP] trichloroethylene [TCE], vinyl chloride, lead, tetrachloroethylene [PCE], benzene, methyl ethyl ketone [MEK], and heptachlor epoxide) accounted for the majority of the total drums removed in Area 5. Drums containing any measurable liquids (containing combinations of flammable liquids, PCBs, and/or TCLP TCE, vinyl chloride, PCE, benzene, MEK, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, and lead) accounted for less than 3 percent of the total drums (totaling approximately 6,700 gallons collected). Liquid waste from an underground storage tank and rinse water used to aid pumping drummed liquids accounted for 2,845 gallons and approximately 4,500 gallons, respectively.
Area 1 Drum Removal
From February 25 through November 15, 2002, a removal action involving the removal of subsurface hazardous waste drums and drummed contents was completed in Area 1. The work was conducted pursuant to a U.S. EPA AOC signed by the VRAC dated September 10, 1998. On December 12, 2001, U.S. EPA approved the Final Area 1 Drum Removal Work Plan.
In Area 1, a total of 15,622 subsurface drums were removed by VRAC contractors from the 62 50- by 50-foot grids, identified as removal action areas based on geographic anomalies. Drums containing hazardous waste solids (containing combinations of PCBs, ignitable waste, and/or TCLP TCE, PCE, MEK, benzene, lead, vinyl chloride, 2,4-D, cadmium, and chloroform) accounted for 95 percent of the total drums removed in Area 1. In addition, drums defined as RCRA empty drums totaled 4 percent. Drums containing any measurable liquid (containing combinations of flammable liquid, PCBs, and/or TCLP TCE, PCE, MEK, or lead) accounted for less than 1 percent of the total drums (totaling approximately 2,250 gallons collected). The excavated drums not containing liquids were shredded and placed into rolloff boxes for disposal. A total of 77 rolloff boxes were filled with shredded drums and sent for off-site disposal.
Landfill Gas System
Due to subsurface landfill gas levels at the property perimeter exceeding 5 percent methane (methane is explosive between 5 and 15 percent) and pursuant to an U.S. EPA AOC dated September 10, 1998, VRAC contractors initiated work on the installation of a perimeter landfill gas (LFG) abatement system in June 1998. Seven perimeter LFG extraction systems have been installed (along the northern, eastern, southern, and southeastern site perimeters) and manifolded into an enclosed flare. VRAC contractors have conducted 2 emission stack testing events, the last one in October 2002. The LFG abatement system is operated on a daily basis (currently 4 cycles of 3 hours ‘on’ and 3 hours ‘off’) and monitored on a weekly basis. All property perimeter compliance gas probes are less than 5 percent methane. The operation of the landfill gas system is written in the EPA-approved Landfill Gas Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plan dated September 30, 2003.
July 14, 2008 Update: Operation and monitoring of the perimeter landfill gas extraction system continues. This is the only current removal activity at the site since soil vapor extraction work was completed. Monthly monitoring reports will be posted in the documents section.
January 5, 2009 Update: The Emergency Contingency Plan box was relocated from the trailer that CRA once used to the telephone pole just inside the Site entrance (see attached picture in images section of website).
August 16, 2013 Update: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed
a “Record of Decision” for the Valleycrest site on Aug. 16, 2013. This ROD is
the final, long-term cleanup plan for the site.
Monthly Reports including Landfill Gas monitoring results are posted in the documents section of this website.
December 6, 2023 Update: Since 2009, the PRPs were required to operate and maintain a perimeter landfill gas extraction system under the 1998 removal order while remedial activities were underway. The removal action was completed in 2023 when a permanent landfill gas extraction system was completed under the ROD.
