EPA Superfund Site: Big D Campground

Ashtabula County, Ohio

February 1992

History:

The Big D Campground Superfund site is a ten-acre property formerly used as a sand and gravel quarry. Between 1964 and 1976, an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 cubic yards of non-hazardous and hazardous industrial bulk wastes, drums, and soil were disposed of at the site. Leachate from the site is contamination Conneaut Creek and ground water beneath the site. The site is located just south of Creek Road about 1 1/2 miles northeast of Kingsville, and is named after the Big D Campground which forms the eastern border. This site was placed on the National Priorities List in 1983.

Current Status:

From 1986 through 1987, US EPA and Ohio EPA conducted a remedial investigation of the dump site. This investigation revealed the presence of organic compounds (chlorobenzene and vinyl chloride) and metals in ground water, and raised concern of the possibility of leaking drums. The proposed remedial action involves excavation and incineration of the landfill waste, drums, and contaminated soil, collection and treatment of contaminated ground water, and ongoing monitoring of ground water and surface water. The remedial design, excavation, incineration and re-landscaping of the site is expected to take 2 1/2 years, with ground water collection, treatment, and monitoring activities continuing for an additional 20 to 60 years. The total cost of the remedial action is estimated to be $39 million. In March 1990, US EPA ordered the potentially responsible parties to implement the remedial action chosen. If no settlement is reached, US EPA will undertake the cleanup and take legal action against the potentially responsible parties to recover costs.

Source Information:

(1) US EPA National Priorities List Sites: Ohio, Sept. 1990, Big D Campground, pages 7-8, EPA/540/4-90/035, (2) EPA Fact Sheet, Big D Superfund Site Cleanup Plan Chosen, Nov. 1989.

Cleanup Progress:

A Record of Decision (ROD) for the site was signed in 1989. In 1992, Olin Corporation initiated Remedial Action (RA) pursuant to a design approved by USEPA under a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) issued in 1990. All source area materials were excavated from the landfill and incinerated on-site between September, 1992, and March, 1994. Total volume of wastes exceeded the previous estimates by approximately 65,000 cubic yards. The incinerator ash was determined to be delistable and was placed back into the landfill, along with all non-combustible materials that had been excavated. Two feet of topsoil was placed over the ash and vegetated, and the incineration project was demobilized in October, 1994. A treatment system was constructed to treat contaminated storm water runoff collected from the excavation and from within a bermed area. In 1994, a groundwater extraction system was installed to collect contaminated groundwater that was migrating to the north and to the south. The groundwater is treated by the same on-site treatment system. Since February, 1995, Olin corporation has been conduction site operation and maintenance for the groundwater remedy. A preliminary closeout report was signed on May 9, 1995. The pump and treat system has successfully reduced the concentrations of heavy metals. In November, 1997, US EPA approved changes to the groundwater treatment system to help reduce operation and maintenance costs. Portions of the system that are no longer needed to treat heavy metals were eliminated. The anticipated savings is at least $64,500 per year, for a present value of over $1 million. In February 1999, Olin corporation submitted a proposal to the agency to allow for natural attenuation and to reduce the number of contaminants monitored. The proposal is currently being reviewed by the agency.

Information Source:

The above information is from the following on-line publications: US EPA Region 5 NPL Fact Sheet, OHIO EPA ID# OHD980611735 May 1999, www.epa.gov/region5superfund/npl/ohio/OHD980611735.htm