NPL Site Narrative for Western Sand & Gravel
WESTERN SAND & GRAVEL
Burrillville, Rhode Island
Federal Register Notice: September 08, 1983
Conditions at listing (October 1981): The Western Sand & Gravel Site covers 20 acres in a rural residential area in Burrillville, Rhode Island. Originally, it was a sand and gravel quarry. From 1975 to April 1979, various liquid wastes and sewage were dumped into 12 lagoons or pits concentrated on a hill that slopes down to Tarkiln Brook. The soil is highly permeable. Organic chemicals infiltrated ground water and are flowing into Tarkiln Brook. Some private wells show low levels of contamination.
The State closed the disposal operation because nearby residents complained of odors. The quarrying operation continues. Early in 1980, the State started to remove and dispose of waste in the lagoons. In March 1980, under Section 311 of the Clean Water Act, EPA pumped and removed chemicals in four open pits at a cost of about $575,000. This was supposed to remove all major sources of contamination. The State, however, found evidence that some sludges may have been buried at the site and then contracted for a hydrogeological study. These actions cost the State almost $300,000.
Status (July 1983): In July 1982, EPA awarded a $292,000 Cooperative Agreement to Rhode Island for a remedial investigation to determine the type and extent of contamination at the site and a feasibility study to identify alternatives for remedial action. The work is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 1984. The next step, if approved, would be to select the cost-effective remedy and begin design activities.
EPA has identified parties potentially responsible for waste associated with the site and is seeking their cooperation in the cleanup.
For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on the Internet at ATSDR - ToxFAQs (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/index.asp) or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.