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# Explanatio n o

f Significan t

Difference s Roger s Roa dMunicipa l Landfil l Superfun dSite

Pulaski County , Arkansa s

Unite dState s Environmenta l Protectio n Agenc y

Regio n 6 Superfun dDivisio n
Augus t 200 9 909284 6ROGER S ROA D MUNICIPA L LANDFIL L SUPERFUN D SIT E PULASK I COUNTY , ARKANSA S EXPLANATIO N O FSIGNIFICAN T DIFFERENCE S I . Introductio n Sit e Name : Roger s Roa dMunicipa l Landfill , Superfun dSit e Sit e Location : Pulaski County , Arkansa s Lea dAgency : U . S
. Environmenta l Protectio n Agency , Regio n 6 (EPA ) Support Agency : Arkansa s Departmen t o f Environmenta l Qualit y (ADEQ ) Thi s decisio n documen t

present s th e Explanatio n o f Significan t

Difference s (ESD ) fo

r th e Roger s Roa dMunicipa l Landfil l Superfun dSit e (Site) , locate di n Pulask i Count y near th e Cit y o f Jacksonville , Arkansas
. Th e ES D i s issue di n accordanc e wit h Sectio n 117(c ) o f th e Comprehensiv e Environmenta l Response , Compensatio n an dLiabilit y Ac t o f 198 0 (CERCLA) , 4 2 U.S.C
. § 960 1 et

seq. , a s amende db y th e Superfun dAmendment s an dReauthorizatio n Ac t o f 198 6 (SARA) , an dth e Nationa l Oi l an dHazardou s Substance s Pollutio n Contingenc y Pla n (NCP) , Sectio n 300.435(c)(2)(i)
. Th e Directo r o f th e Superfun dDivisio n ha s bee n delegate dth e authorit y t o sig n thi s Explanatio n o f Significan t

Difference s (ESD)
. II . Statemen t

o f Purpos e Th e EP A i s issuin g thi s ES D for th e Roger s Roa dMunicipa l Landfil l Superfun dSit e t o documen t achang e i n th e monitorin g perio dfor th e well s a

t th e Sit e fro mth e standar d3 0 year s t o 4 years , a s th e contaminant s o f concer n at

th e Sit e liste di n th e RO D (Equivalen t o f 2,3,7, 8 - TCDD , chlorophenols , herbicides , pesticides ) wer e neve r detecte di n th e four

samplin g event s betwee n 199 4 an d1997
. Th e monitorin g perio dbetwee n 199 4 an d199 7 wa s after th e completio n o f th e Remed y recommende di n th e ROD
. Th e Remed y was t o remov e sourc e materia l ( soi l contaminate dwit h 2,3,7, 8 - TCDD , chlorophenols , herbicides , pesticides ) wit h contaminan t concentration s above a

n actio n leve l an dt o cap remainin g contaminant s i n place
. Sit e security , groundwate r

monitoring , an dinstitutiona l control s wer e als o required
. Th e absenc e o f detectio n o f th e RO D contaminant s o f

concer n (COCs ) establishe di n four year s tha t 1 ) th e Remed y wa s workin g an d2 ) th e COC s neve r reache dth e groundwater
. Th e absenc e o f th e RO D COC s wa s du e t o remova l o f

th e sourc e material
. Base do n th e scientifi c dat afromth e monito r well s a t th e Site , ADE Q suggeste dtha t

further samplin g (groundwate r

monitoring ) wa s no t

necessary . ADE Q recommende dthat

th e appropriat e soli dwast e regulatin g authorit y b e notifie do f th e lo w detect s o f non-Sit e relate dmetal s b y th e groundwate r monitorin g syste man dthat monitorin g b e discontinued
. EP A agree dwit h th e ADE Q recommendatio n an ddiscontinue dmonitorin g after 1997
. Sinc e th e placemen t

o f Institutiona l Contro l was apart o f th e remedy , EP A believe dtha t th e I C issu e ha dt o b e resolve d(restrictiv e covenant s an dgran t o f easement ) before th e ES D wa s signed
. Th e I C wa s delaye db y lon g negotiation s betwee n th e EP A attorne y andth e Jacksonvill e City attorne y t o assig n th e ownershi p o f th e property . Finall y th e hei r to th e propert y execute dgran t

o f easemen t an drestrictiv e covenant s i n 2008
.III . Sit e Backgroun dan dHistor y

Th e Sit e encompasse s abou t 1 0 acre s i n Pulask i County , outsid e th e cit y limit s o f Jacksonville , Arkansas , approximatel y 1 2 mile s northeas t o f Littl e Rock , Arkansas
. A n estimate d10,00 0 peopl e liv e withi n thre e mile s o f th e Sit e an dar e supplie db y municipa l drinkin g water . Les s tha n one-hal f

mil e wes t o f th e Roger s Roa dMunicipa l Landfil l Superfun dSit e i s th e Jacksonvill e Municipa l Landfil l Superfun dSite
. Becaus e o f th e proximit y o f

th e tw o site s an d th e similaritie s i n thei r

feature s an dcharacteristics , th e Superfun dsite-relate dactivitie s wer e carrie dou t concurrently
. Withi n aone-hal f mil e radiu s o f

th e Site , th e populatio n wa s estimate d betwee n 15 3 an d204
. Sometim e prio r t o 1974 , th e residents o f

Roger s Roa dwer e supplie dwit h municipa l wate r

b y th e City o f

Jacksonville
. Th e Cit y o f

Jacksonvill e purchase dth e lan dcomprisin g th e Roger s Roa dLandfil l i n Septembe r 195 3 an doperate damunicipal landfil l o n th e property . Ope n burnin g an dtrenchin g wer e th e primar y method s o f

wast e disposa l use dat

th e Site
. Th e dates o f

operatio n o f

th e Roger s Roa d Landfil l remai n amatte r

o f disput e an dvaryin g testimon y an drepresentation s i n anumbe r o f judicia l an dadministrativ e venues . However , it i s undispute dtha t

after Octobe r 1974 , operatio n o f th e Roger s Roa dfacilit

y ha dceased
. Th e landfil l was formall y close di n Jul y 1973 , whe n th e predecesso r

agenc y t o th e ADEQ , th e Arkansa s Departmen t o f Pollutio n Contro l an dEcology , refuse dt o gran t

alandfil l permit , becaus e o f th e hig h wate r

tabl e an dpoo r

drainag e i n th e area . Specifi c wast e type s an dquantitie s wer e not recorde db y th e Sit e owner/operators ; however , i n additio n t o municipa l waste , severa l drum s o f industria l wast e from aloca l herbicid e manufacturer , Verta c Chemica l Corporatio n (Vertac) , wer e believe dt o hav e bee n dispose do f i n th e landfill
. On-sit e soi l an dabou t 3 0 decayin g drum s wer e foun dt o b e contaminate dwit h dioxi n (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenz o (P ) dioxi n expresse da s 2,3,7,8-TCD D equivalents) , th e herbicide s 2,4- D an d2,4,5-T , an dth e pesticid e dieldrin
. I n earl y 1986 , th e City o f

Jacksonvill e fence dth e Sit e t o preven t publi c access . Th e Sit e wa s adde dt o th e Nationa l Priorifie s Lis t (NPL ) o n Jul y 22,1987
. Respons e Action s Th e Remedia l Investigatio n (RI ) for th e Site , whic h describe dth e natur e an dexten t o f contamination , was release dt o th e publi c i n Jul y 1990
. Th e Feasibilit y Stud y (FS ) was als o release da t thi s time
. A 60-da y publi c commen t perio dbega n o n Jul y 9 , 1990 , an dende do n Septembe r 7 , 1990
. I n addition , apubli c meetin g was hel do n Jul y 18 , 1990 , t o presen t th e result s o f th e RI/F S an dt o accep t

publi c comment . Th e EP A reviewe dth e result s o f th e Jul y 199 0 RI/F S an dal l pubh c comment s received
. O n Septembe r 27 , 1990 , aRecor do f

Decisio n (ROD ) for

th e Site , whic h include danumbe r o f constructio n element s t o implemen t th e Remedia l Action , wa s issued
. Th e EPA , th e ADEQ , an d th e Cit y o f Jacksonvill e participate di n th e clean-u p i n accordanc e wit h aJun e 20 , 1994 , Consent 2Decre e (CD ) betwee n th e EP A an dth e Cit y o f Jacksonville
. Th e remedia l actio n a

t th e Sit e included :

• Excavatio n o f

contaminate dsoi l an ddebri s containin g greate r tha n 1 0 part s pe r biUio n (ppb ) equivalen t

2,3,7,8-TCD D an dbackfillin g o f th e excavate darea ;

• Transportatio n o f

th e excavate dmateria l t o th e Verta c Chemica l Corporatio n Superfun dSit e i n Jacksonville , Arkansas ;

• Incineratio n o f

th e excavate dcontaminate dmateria l an ddisposa l o f residual s at Vertac ;

• Steam-cleanin g an ddisposa l o f larg e item s o f

refus e remove dfromcontaminate d area s a t th e Roger s Roa dMunicipa l Landfil l Site ;

• Coverin g soil , debri s an dwast e meetin g th e criteri astate dbelo w with twelv e inches o f soil : 1 ) 2,3,7,8-TCD D concentrafion s >1. 0 an d<1 0 ppb , 2 ) Cumulativ e Hazar dInde x >. 7 fo r 2,4,5-T ; 2,4, 5 TP ; an ddieldrin ; soils , debri s an dwast e meetin g th e criteri awoul db e eithe r excavate do r

covered , o r 3 ) Dieldri n <3 7 ppb ; Soils , debri s an dwast e exceedin g 3 7 pp b Dieldri n wer e excavate d

• Institutiona l control s suc h a s fenc e maintenanc e an drestrictin g th e us e o f groun d water ; and ,

• Groundwate r

monitoring
. Clean-u p Standard s an dth e Remed y Th e remedia l actio n cleanu p activitie s a t th e Site are consisten t

wit h th e objective s o f

th e NC P an dwil l provid e protectio n t o huma n health an dth e environment
. Specifically , confirmatory samplin g conducte da

t th e conclusio n o f

th e cleanu p verifie dtha t

th e sit e ha s achieve dth e RO D cleanu p standards : al l contaminate dsoi l an ddebri s containin g greate r than 1 0 part

pe r billio n (ppb ) equivalen t

2,3,7,8-TCD D wer e excavate dan dal l soi l an ddebri s wit h 2,3,7,8-TCD D concentration s >1. 0 an d<1 0 ppb , o r with aCumulativ e Hazar dInde x >. 7 for 2,4,5-T ; 2,4, 5 T P an ddieldri n wer e eithe r

excavate do r

covere dwith on e foo t

o f clea n soil
. In addition , n o soi l wa s lef t on-sit e with adieldri n concentratio n abov e 3 7 ppb
. Groun dwate r sample s take n i n Novembe r 1994 , Jun e 1995 , Decembe r 1995 , Octobe r

1996 , an dNovembe r

1997 , di dno t

sho w dioxi n contamination , no r

di dthe y sho w any site-related , statisticall y significan t concentration so f

organi c contaminant s o r

inorgani c (metals ) contaminant s abov e acceptabl e health-base d levels
. . Th e confirmatory samplin g at th e Sit e an dbackfillin g o f

th e Sit e with clean soi l provid e assurance s that

th e Sit e wil l n o longe r

pos e athreat

t o huma n health o r

th e environmen t

a s lon g a s th e institutiona l control s ar e enforce dan dth e soi l cove r i s maintained
. Th e sourc e o f contaminant s identifie di n th e ROD , th e disintegratin g drum s an dadjacen t contaminate dsoil , ha s bee n addresse dthroug h excavatio n an dcoverin g with aclea n soi l cover . Th e cleanu p als o eliminate dth e impact s t o th e groun dwate r fromth e chemical s o f

concern a t th e Site (i.e. , th e possibl e sourc e o f

contaminatio n ha dbee n removed)
. A t thi s time , th e Sit e ha s bee n cleane dup t o eliminat e th e exposur e pathwa y b y th e remed y require db y th e ROD
. Healt h concern s ar e adequatel y addresse db y institutiona l controls
. Institutiona l control s wer e require db y th e Sit e remed y an dwer e impose di n 200 8 i n th e for mo f an Environmenta l Protectio n Easemen t an dDeclaratio n o f

Restrictiv e Covenant s recorde di n Pulask i County , Arkansas
. Th e propert y interes t wa s conveye db y th e Sit e owne r t o th e Cit y o f Jacksonvill e withathir dpart y beneficiary enforcemen t interes t grante dt o th e EPA
. Thi s instrumen t prevent s disturbanc e o f

remedia l component s i n th e fenced , cappe dare ao f th e Site , an di t prohibit s al l residential , agricultural , foo dservice , an dgroun dwate r use s o f tha t are aa s well
. I n addition , developmen t o f tha t are ai n an y for

mno t expressl y prohibited , ca n onl y b e undertake n with th e prio r

notic e to , an drevie w an dapprova l of , th e EPA
. An y groun dwate r us e withi n th e greate r

twent y acr e trac t

tha t include s th e fence dare aan dadjoinin g area s i s prohibite d withou t prio r notic e an dapprova l o f

th e EPA , an dn o developmen t o f an y kin dca n tak e plac e i n tha t trac t withou t 9 0 day s prio r

notic e t o th e EPA
. Thes e restriction s provid e asignifican t margi n o f protectio n an dabuffe r

for an y potentia l exposur e pathways
. I n addition , th e institutiona l control s provid e broa dacces s rights t o th e Sit e fo r EP A for carryin g ou t

remedia l maintenance , surveillance , inspection , investigation , an dresponse , amon g othe r things
. IV . Operatio n an dMaintenanc e (O&M ) Operation s an dmaintenanc e (O&M ) a t th e sit e consist s o f

site inspection s t o confirmfenc e integrity , an dmaintenanc e o f th e soi l cover . Site inspection s sho w tha t th e fencin g i s effectivel y preventin g acces s t o th e site an dsite groundwater
. Two five-year review s wer e complete di n Septembe r 200 0 an dSeptembe r

2005
. Th e secon dfive-year revie w o f th e Roger s Roa d Municipa l Landfil l sit e ("site " o r "Roger s Roa dsite" ) wa s complete di n Septembe r 2005
. Th e result s o f th e secon dfive-year

revie w indicat e tha t

th e remed y i s protectiv e o f huma n healt h an d th e environment
. Overall , th e remedia l action s performe dappear t o b e functionin g a s designed , an dth e sit e ha s bee n maintaine dappropriately
. N o deficiencie s wer e note dthat impac t th e protectivenes s o f

th e remed y Becaus e n o contaminant s o f concer n define db y th e Recor do f Decisio n wer e detecte di n th e four year s o f annua l groundwate r

monitoring , th e Arkansa s Departmen t o f Environmenta l Qualit y recommende ddiscontinuin g groundwate r monitoring
. EP A concurre dtha t thi s recommendatio n wa s appropriat e t o implement , an dgroun dwate r monitorin g wa s stoppe dafte r 1997
. Th e sit e wa s t o b e delete dfromth e NPL , but ha s bee n hel du p ove r

th e issu e o f

institutiona l controls
. 4Counse l for EP A an dth e Cit y o f

Jacksonvill e ha dcorrespondenc e an ddiscussion s ove r th e issu e durin g th e perio do f

199 9 throug h 2002
. Th e issu e wa s complicate db y th e fac t tha t th e site propert y wa s reporte dt o b e i n privat e hand s wit h n o clear recor do f titl e amon g numerou s potentia l heirs , an dlength y delay ensued
. I n Septembe r 2003 , a n actio n t o acquir e titl e t o th e site property , whic h th e Cit y Attome y ha dfacilitate dan dassisted , was successfull y conclude di n stat e court . I n Augus t

2005 , i n consultatio n wit h th e EP A Offic e o f Genera l Counsel , th e EP A Regio n 6 attome y an dth e Jacksonvill e City Attome y renewe deffort s t o resolv e th e issu e o f enactin g restrictiv e covenants . Th e gran t o f easemen t an dth e restrictiv e covenant s a s describe d i n sectio n II I abov e wa s execute db y th e hei r t o th e propert y an drecorde di n th e dee drecord s for th e sit e o n Febmar y 29 , 2008
. Followin g th e completio n o f th e restrictiv e covenants , i n Jul y 2008 , ADE Q provide dalette r o f concurrenc e t o EP A t o delet e th e Sit e fromth e Nationa l Prioritie s List
. V . Authorizin g Signatur e Thi s ES D document s th e significan t chang e relate dt o changin g th e monitorin g perio do f th e groundwate r

monito r well s at th e Site fromthirty t o four

year s du e t o th e absenc e o f th e COC s define di n th e ROD
. Thi s chang e effectivel y terminate s an y further groundwater

monitorin g requiremen t

for th e Sit e a s o f

1998
. Th e chang e wa s recommende db y th e Arkansa s Departmen t o f Environmenta l Qualit y an dconcurre di n b y th e U.S
. Environmenta l Protectio n Agenc y 

# Date : S/?/a^ ^ Samue l Coleman , P.E . Directo r Superfun dDivisio n