The Barkhamsted-New Hartford Landfill covers nearly 98 acres in northwest Connecticut and operated as a disposal site for municipal solid waste and industrial waste from 1974 to 1993. Groundwater contamination was discovered in 1981, and the site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989. Cleanup work has been carried out through a combination of EPA oversight, state agency action, and responsible party efforts.
Groundwater beneath the site contains 18 identified contaminants of concern. These include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, and dichloromethane. Heavy metals including arsenic, lead, chromium, and manganese were also found, along with halogenated compounds and other organic chemicals like acetone and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate. Both shallow and deep groundwater wells are affected.
The main cleanup actions include a low-permeability cap installed in 1999, plus runoff and leachate collection systems, a gas collection system, and fencing. Monitoring wells were added in 2003. The selected remedy relies on monitored natural attenuation, meaning contaminants are expected to break down naturally over time while regular monitoring confirms the process is working. Human exposure to contaminated groundwater is currently under control, and contaminated water is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site reached "sitewide ready for anticipated reuse" status in 2010 and today hosts a transfer station, a recycling center, and a 1.5-megawatt solar farm.
The most recent five-year review, completed in September 2023, found the cleanup protective of human health and the environment. To stay protective over the long term, EPA identified several needed actions: filling animal burrows on the cap, selecting appropriate analytical methods for groundwater testing, conducting quarterly monitoring of drinking water wells for lead and copper, and collecting samples for 1,4-dioxane and PFAS. Institutional controls restricting residential development and other incompatible land uses remain in place and will continue as long as contamination and cleanup components stay on site. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) requires regular independent inspections of the cap. The next five-year review is scheduled for completion by late 2028.
Community members with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator, Olivia Lopez, by phone or email. The Remedial Project Manager, Nico Blomerth, handles technical questions. Public documents are available at the Beardsley Library in Winsted, Connecticut, and at the EPA Region 1 Records and Information Center in Boston, Massachusetts.
