Rhode Island Superfund Site: Central Landfill
Fight Air Pollution & Water Pollution With an Environmental Toxic Tort Lawsuit

Do you need a Toxic Tort Lawyer in Little Rhody? The US EPA has designated Central Landfill in Rhode Island as a Superfund site due to its levels of enviromental contamination and danger to the natural world. You can read the report for the site below.

Some Superfund sites are on the National Priority Site Lists. The National Priorities List ("NPL") is the list of hazardous waste sites in the United States eligible for long-term remedial action financed under the federal Superfund program. Environmental Protection Agency regulations outline a formal process for assessing hazardous waste sites and placing them on the NPL. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation.

Sites are listed on the NPL upon completion of Hazard Ranking System (HRS) screening, public solicitation of comments about the proposed site, and after all comments have been addressed. EPA may delete a final NPL site if it determines that no further response is required to protect human health or the environment. Sites where a remediation was completed through the Superfund program are typically deleted from the NPL.

Living near Superfund Sites in Rhode Island may place you and your communtiy more vulnerable to developing a disease from proximity to the site and experiencing a loss of value for your property, but there are steps you can take to fight back: The EPA says,

[We have] set up a "Post Construction Completion" (or PCC) strategy to ensure that Superfund response actions provide for the long-term protection of human health and the environment. EPA's Post Construction Completion activities also involve optimizing remedies to increase effectiveness and/or reduce cost without sacrificing long-term protection of human health and the environment.

Below you can read the EPA report for the Central Landfill Superfund site. If you, a loved one, or someone in your community has gotten sick due to toxic pollution in Central Landfill, or if your property has lost value because of contamination, you are better off with a toxic tort attorney who knows the people of the State of Rhode Island . You can begin the process of filing a claim by filling out this simple form. There is no obligation, and your case will be evaluated within one business day. To refer a friend, neighbor, or loved one, follow this link to let them know about the environmental toxic tort lawyers at Weitz & Luxenberg.

Central Landfill

This site is not a Federal Facility.

Site Type: Long Term/National Priorities List (NPL)

 CENTRAL LANDFILL

 Johnston, Rhode Island

 Providence County

Street Address:	65 SHUN PIKE
Zip Code:	02919
Congressional  District(s):	02
EPA ID #:	RID980520183
Site ID #:	0101277
Site Aliases:	Rhode Island Central Landfill,, Silvestri Bros. Landfill,, Johnston Site

 Street Address:

65 SHUN PIKE

 Zip Code:

02919

 Congressional
 District(s):

02

 EPA ID #:

RID980520183

 Site ID #:

0101277

 Site Aliases:

Rhode Island Central Landfill,, Silvestri Bros. Landfill,, Johnston Site

 Site Responsibility:

Federal, Potentially Responsible Parties

 NPL LISTING HISTORY

 Proposed Date

10/15/1984

 Final Date

06/10/1986

Initial Action

The current owner installed a landfill gas collection and combustion system in the 121-acre, Phase I area which is used to generate electricity, as well as public water supply lines in the area surrounding the Central Landfill. The current owner also purchased all residential land within 1,000 feet of the landfill, and offered to purchase all residential property up to 2,000 feet surrounding the landfill. Most residential owners within the 1,000 to 2,000 foot zone agreed to sell their property.

On-Site Contamination

In 1987, the owner/operator began an investigation into the nature and extent of site contamination. The study identified the sources of contamination and, in the summer of 1994, a Record of Decision (ROD) was signed which selected a cleanup plan to control the identified sources of contamination. The cleanup plan included capping the 121-acre, Phase 1 area; extracting and treating groundwater in the most highly contaminated 1/2 acre area within the 121-acre, Phase I area; establishing institutional controls; and conducting a detailed evaluation of the existing landfill gas collection and combustion system. The owner/operator completed design of the cap in fall 1997. Construction of the cap began in the summer of 1998 and is currently planned for completion in 2005.

Off-Site Contamination

In 1994, the owner/operator began an investigation to evaluate groundwater contamination beyond the 612-acre Central Landfill facility boundary including within nearby surface waters, soil, and sediments beyond the 154 acre Phase 1, 2 and 3 areas. A second Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in September 2002. The September 2002 ROD called for no further remedial action beyond that already required by the 1994 ROD.

Enforcement Highlights

In 1987, the owner of the landfill entered into a Consent Order with the EPA to conduct a study of site contamination. The on-site cleanup plan required by the 1994 ROD and discussed above is being performed by the current owner (RIRRC) under a October 1996 Consent Decree.

Disclaimer

Instructions about PDF

Recent Press Releases about this project (if any) nbsp

August 2001 Proposed Plan nbsp

Final NPL Listing nbsp

Remedial Administrative Record File for OU02 as of August 2001 nbsp

Administrative Record Index, OU02 Record of Decision (ROD), September 26, 2002 (821KB) nbsp

Administrative Record Index, OU01 Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD), September 30, 2005 (128KB) nbsp

Five-Year Review Report, September 26, 2003 (2,592KB) nbsp

View Records of Decision (RODS) on-line (EPA HQ) nbsp

Record of Decision, Operable Unit 2, September 26, 2002 nbsp

Explanation of Significant Differences, Operable Unit 1, September 30, 2005 nbsp

NPL Site Narrative at Listing: nbsp

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EPA Remedial Project Manager:

Jim Brown

Site Responsibilities:

Entire Site

Address:

1 Congress Street Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2030

Phone #:

(617) 918-1308

E-Mail Address:

brown.jim@epa.gov

(

EPA Community Involvement Coordinator:

Sarah White

Address:

1 Congress Street Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2030

Phone #:

(617) 918-1026

E-Mail Address:

white.sarah@epa.gov

State Agency Contact:

Gary Jablonski

Address:

Department Of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street
Providence, RI 02908

Phone #:

401-222-3872

E-Mail Address:

gjablons@dem.state.ri.us

Located within the 121-acre, Phase 1 area is an approximately 1/2 acre area where a minimum of 1.5 million gallons of documented hazardous wastes were disposed of between 1976 and 1979. Within this 1/2 acre hazardous waste area, bulk liquid waste was dumped into trenches that had previously been excavated into bedrock. The wastes disposed of in this area included latex waste, acid waste, corrosive waste, water soluble oils and waste solvents, including methylene chloride, toluene, 1,1,1-trichlorethane and tetrachloroethylene (PCE). EPA believes that, prior to 1976, a large quantity of non-manifested liquid hazardous waste was also disposed of in this 1/2 acre area. In 1982, the owner complied with a State order to close the areas that had received hazardous material. These areas have been excavated, backfilled, and capped to minimize further contamination of the groundwater and surface water, and revegetated as part of the closure plan. Approximately 4,000 people live within 3 miles of the site. The bedrock aquifer underlying the site has been contaminated.

Threats and Contaminants
On-site groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, chlorobenzene, toluene, vinyl chloride, methyl ethyl ketone, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and 1,2-dichlorobenzene, and heavy metals including arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, lead, manganese, and vanadium. Adjacent surface waters, sediments, and wetlands have also been affected by low levels of contamination. The EPA has determined that the public is not at immediate risk from contaminants emanating from the site. Potentially affected residents and businesses are supplied with drinking water from a public water supply system that ensures human health is fully protected.

Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: initial actions and two long-term remedial phases focusing on the cleanup of on-site and off-site contamination.

Response Action Status

Initial Action	The current owner installed a landfill gas collection and combustion system in the 121-acre, Phase I area which is used to generate electricity, as well as public water supply lines in the area surrounding the Central Landfill. The current owner also purchased all residential land within 1,000 feet of the landfill, and offered to purchase all residential property up to 2,000 feet surrounding the landfill. Most residential owners within the 1,000 to 2,000 foot zone agreed to sell their property.
On-Site Contamination	In 1987, the owner/operator began an investigation into the nature and extent of site contamination. The study identified the sources of contamination and, in the summer of 1994, a Record of Decision (ROD) was signed which selected a cleanup plan to control the identified sources of contamination. The cleanup plan included capping the 121-acre, Phase 1 area; extracting and treating groundwater in the most highly contaminated 1/2 acre area within the 121-acre, Phase I area; establishing institutional controls; and conducting a detailed evaluation of the existing landfill gas collection and combustion system. The owner/operator completed design of the cap in fall 1997. Construction of the cap began in the summer of 1998 and is currently planned for completion in 2005.
Off-Site Contamination	In 1994, the owner/operator began an investigation to evaluate groundwater contamination beyond the 612-acre Central Landfill facility boundary including within nearby surface waters, soil, and sediments beyond the 154 acre Phase 1, 2 and 3 areas. A second Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in September 2002. The September 2002 ROD called for no further remedial action beyond that already required by the 1994 ROD.
Enforcement Highlights	In 1987, the owner of the landfill entered into a Consent Order with the EPA to conduct a study of site contamination. The on-site cleanup plan required by the 1994 ROD and discussed above is being performed by the current owner (RIRRC) under a October 1996 Consent Decree.

Environmental Progress
The installation of the landfill gas collection and combustion system and public water supply lines, and the purchase of residential property around the landfill have reduced the threat to public health. The Department of Justice (DOJ) entered a Consent Decree with the RI District Court on October 2, 1996.

Current Site Status
The Central Landfill receives approximately 85% of the municipal solid waste generated throughout the state of Rhode Island. EPA chose a remedy to control the migration of contaminants from the Phase 1 area of the site in 1994. The remedy consists primarily of an impermeable cap over the 121-acre, Phase 1 area, and extraction and treatment of groundwater from the most highly contaminated ("hot spot"), 1/2 acre area of the site. The remedy will prevent contaminated groundwater from continuing to migrate to off site areas.

In the Fall of 1994, data was collected from off-site areas near the landfill to assess the impacts that contaminants migrating from the Phase 1 area may have had on the groundwater, surface water, soil, and sediments in the vicinity of the landfill. Three public meetings were held during the Spring of 2001 regarding the results of the off-site studies. The final results of these off-site investigations and a Proposed Plan were released to the public in August 2001. The Proposed Plan did not call for any additional cleanup measures beyond those already required by the 1994 ROD. EPA's No Further Action ROD for the off-site areas was signed in September 2002.

The construction of the impermeable cap on 121 acres began in the Fall of 1998. To date about 70 acres of the 121-acre, Phase 1 area have been capped. This includes 32 acres of state approved capping which was completed prior to 1994. Placement of the final cap on the remaining 51 acres is currently planned for completion in December 2005. The construction of the "hot spot" groundwater containment system is scheduled for completion in June 2006.

In the Fall of 1999, odors from landfill gases from the then active portion of the landfill (Phase 2 and 3 areas) became a major concern for residents living near the landfill. The RIDEM and EPA, along with the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Authority, established a Management Committee made up of regulators and the public to review solutions to the environmental problems caused by the active landfill.

Site Photos

Links to Other Site Information

Disclaimer

Instructions about PDF

Newsletters & Press Releases:

Recent Press Releases about this project (if any) nbsp
August 2001 Proposed Plan nbsp

Federal Register Notices:

Final NPL Listing nbsp

Administrative Records:

Remedial Administrative Record File for OU02 as of August 2001 nbsp
Administrative Record Index, OU02 Record of Decision (ROD), September 26, 2002 (821KB) nbsp
Administrative Record Index, OU01 Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD), September 30, 2005 (128KB) nbsp

Reports and Studies:

Five-Year Review Report, September 26, 2003 (2,592KB) nbsp

Decision Documents:

View Records of Decision (RODS) on-line (EPA HQ) nbsp
Record of Decision, Operable Unit 2, September 26, 2002 nbsp
Explanation of Significant Differences, Operable Unit 1, September 30, 2005 nbsp

Other Links:

NPL Site Narrative at Listing: nbsp

Site Repositories
Marion J. Mohr Memorial Library, 1 Memorial Drive, Johnston, RI 02919
EPA New England Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 918-1440

[Back to Top

EPA Remedial Project Manager:	Jim Brown
Site Responsibilities:	Entire Site
Address:	1 Congress Street Suite 1100 Boston, MA 02114-2030
Phone #:	(617) 918-1308
E-Mail Address:	brown.jim@epa.gov
	(
EPA Community Involvement Coordinator:	Sarah White
Address:	1 Congress Street Suite 1100 Boston, MA 02114-2030
Phone #:	(617) 918-1026
E-Mail Address:	white.sarah@epa.gov
State Agency Contact:	Gary Jablonski
Address:	Department Of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street Providence, RI 02908
Phone #:	401-222-3872
E-Mail Address:	gjablons@dem.state.ri.us

source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Act Now! It is essential that you inquire about your pollutant lawsuit as soon as possible. Rhode Island law may limit your time to bring a legal claim to protect your rights. Your legal review is free and there is no commitment. You case will be evaluated immediately, so get started on your claim today!

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see also:

Stamina Mills, Inc. Environmental Pollution in Rhode Island- Site: Stamina Mills, Inc.
Stamina Mills, Inc. Superfund Site Info - Fight Air Pollution, Water Pollution

Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center Environmental Pollution in Rhode Island- Site: Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center
Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center Superfund Site Info - Fight Air Pollution, Water Pollution

RI Environmental Pollution Lawsuit: Rhode Island Superfund Sites
Rhode Island Superfund Sites - Fight Environmental Pollution