Responsibleparties Federal Listed 8 September 1983 | CERCLIS ID MAD003809266 Proposed 23 October 1981 | |
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Similar Nashua Four Hills Landfill, Nashua Solid Waste De, Republic Services, Junk King Middlesex County, Transfer Station | ||
The Charles-George Reclamation Trust Landfill is a hazardous waste site located in the town of Tyngsborough, Massachusetts which is part of the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund program.
Contents
Geography
The site is located one mile from the center of Tyngsborough near the Dunstable border. Additionally, the landfill is bordered by a 16-acre marsh and 61-acre pond to the east, dubbed Flint Pond Marsh and Flint Pond respectively, and the Dunstable Brook to the west.
History
Originally a landfill serving local communities in the 1950s and 1960s, the landfill was expanded in 1967 to accept both household and industrial waste, and in 1973 to 1976 to accept hazardous waste. During the period of hazardous waste acceptance the site accumulated a large quantity of volatile organic compounds and metal slugs. In 1981, the site was accessed to have the fourth largest amount of harzardous waste in the New England area out of 302 New England landfills assessed. Upon further assessment it was found that over 1,000 pounds of mercury were disposed of and 2,500 cubic yards of chemical wastes were deposited in the landfill. It was found that the contaminates had leaked into the groundwater and contaminated nearby wells at the Cannongate Condominium and in 1983 contaminates had been found in the wells of households neighboring the condominium. Following the sites state ordered closure in 1983 to 1998 the site was subjected to clean up by the Environmental Protection Agency which included the creation of a permanent water supply for residents, the migration of contaminates, and the capping of the landfill.
Environmental damage
In addition to ground water contamination, Flint Pond has also suffered contamination due to it proximity to the site. Several species of fishes and eels have been found to have increased levels of mercury and arsenic in their bodies.
Litigation
In 2003, the former owners of the site, Dorothy George and Charles George settled all claims against them for $3.8 million. The trustees later paid the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife $1.2 million in 2004 and $625,000 in 2007 to establish conservation land in the towns of Tyngsborough and neighboring Dunstable.