This particular landfill is an interesting place.  It was an EPA Superfund cleanup site.  It was added to the list of National Priorities in 1987.  Mitigation included a liner for the still active part of the landfill, groundwater extraction and treatment, and air monitoring throug the pipes coming though the ground, and provision of alternate water sources for those living in the vicinity of the landfill.  In 2004 the EPA took the site off of the national priority list.  In Sept. 2007 the EPA conducted thier second 5 year review of the site.  The review was not completed due to additional analytical sampling that was necessary.  Additionally, the EPA recognized the potential for vapor to enter the homes near the landfill.  Once the additional info is analyzed, the EPA will ammend the 5 year report.

While the site itself is pretty much safe for the use as a rec site, it would be in your best interest to pay attention to this in the future if you live within 3 miles of the landfill. 

Additionally, the groundwater that is extracted from the site in order to prevent the VOC’s from migrating further, is treated and then discharged into Ebaugh’s creek.  So far the data on the creek has not indicated the presence of any additional VOC’s, and I believe this is monitored pretty well. 

Chief Walker, is this pretty accurate?

C

JUSTPLAINC;

You are correct. Several years ago there was a tremendous amount of testing done on Ebaugh Creek to determine if it was feasible for Stewartstown to withdrawal water from the creek during the Drought of 2001. The only problem that came out of that whole ordeal is that there was not enough volume going down the creek to be an ample supply of water if we took a certain amount of water out. This was the only problem detected to my knowledge. DEP does from time to time come down and test the water upstream and downstream and so far there has been nothing out of the ordinary found. I hope this answers your question?

JustPlainC - 24 April 2008 09:26 PM

This particular landfill is an interesting place.  It was an EPA Superfund cleanup site.  It was added to the list of National Priorities in 1987.  Mitigation included a liner for the still active part of the landfill, groundwater extraction and treatment, and air monitoring throug the pipes coming though the ground, and provision of alternate water sources for those living in the vicinity of the landfill.  In 2004 the EPA took the site off of the national priority list.  In Sept. 2007 the EPA conducted thier second 5 year review of the site.  The review was not completed due to additional analytical sampling that was necessary.  Additionally, the EPA recognized the potential for vapor to enter the homes near the landfill.  Once the additional info is analyzed, the EPA will ammend the 5 year report.

While the site itself is pretty much safe for the use as a rec site, it would be in your best interest to pay attention to this in the future if you live within 3 miles of the landfill. 

Additionally, the groundwater that is extracted from the site in order to prevent the VOC’s from migrating further, is treated and then discharged into Ebaugh’s creek.  So far the data on the creek has not indicated the presence of any additional VOC’s, and I believe this is monitored pretty well. 

Chief Walker, is this pretty accurate?

C

This dump was not at the top of the list of the Super Fund Clean Up site but it did make it. Everyone can thank the late Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Heinz for that. Being unable to thank him, say a prayer for him. He was a great man!

Linatag - 24 April 2008 08:54 PM

Katy, I’m fairly anal about all things environmental.  I was a bit skeeved about a park on a dump but after doing some research, talking to people and also submitting some air and soil samples to an independent test facility and paying out of pocket for the results (I SAID I was anal ) I feel VERY comfortable using the park.

You paid out of pocket to have samples taken? How much did it cost and what were the results you found? Thanks for the info. v/r, KATY

We used Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories since we’ve used them in the past to test our well and our own soil. 

We tested last summer, the cost was around $125.  We tested the air specifically for radon and then a general test for toxins/pollutions.  The radon levels were less than 2pcil, I don’t remember the actual number.  No concerns were found in terms of gasses, particles, etc.  The samples were taken over a period of 1-2 weeks during hot weather. 

The soil was tested for metals, inorganic and volatile organic matter.  It was positive for nitrites, which isn’t unusual for our area and the levels weren’t high enough for concern, but I wouldn’t recommend licking the dirt.  Lead levels were low, heavy metals low, except for one and I don’t remember which but it was a normal thing for our area and harmless, chemical content was fairly normal-nothing you wouldn’t expect to find in dirt. 

That’s as much as I can provide from memory and I doubt we still have the results.  I get the feeling you’re a stickler for details so I don’t know if it will satisfy you, but hopefully it helps.