Rose Hill Regional Landfill sits on 70 acres in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. It operated from 1967 to 1983 as a disposal site for domestic waste, industrial waste, solid waste, bulky waste, and sewage sludge. EPA placed it on the National Priorities List in October 1989 after identifying contamination in 1981. The site remains listed, with continued oversight and monitoring in place.
Investigators found over 80 contaminants of concern across multiple media, including landfill gas, soil, groundwater, air, leachate, and surface water. Heavy metals include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc. Volatile organic compounds include benzene, trichloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, vinyl chloride, and toluene. Other contaminants include aluminum, barium, copper, manganese, various phthalates, and pesticides such as dieldrin and pentachlorophenol. Three nearby private wells contained low levels of organic compounds, and on-site soils were also contaminated. Saugatucket Pond, 2,000 feet downstream, is used for fishing and swimming, and a freshwater wetland 500 feet downstream was also at risk.
Cleanup happened in stages. Workers extended municipal water to homes with contaminated wells, installed gas alarms near affected residences, and relocated one home. At the landfill, crews consolidated waste areas, added an engineered cap, and installed a gas destruction system. Physical construction finished in 2008. A passive landfill gas venting system was initially part of the plan, but in April 2009 the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management found evidence of gas migration along the western portion of the site and Rose Hill Road. EPA and the state switched to an active landfill gas destruction system, which became operational in February 2010. A pilot study confirmed the active system could essentially eliminate gas migration.
The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in 2019. EPA performance measures show human exposure is under control, groundwater migration is under control, and all cleanup goals for current and anticipated future land uses have been met. EPA completed its fourth five-year review on September 17, 2025, confirming that response actions protect public health and the environment. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions that prevent residential and other incompatible uses, remain in place as long as contamination and cleanup components are on site. A municipal waste transfer station operated by South Kingstown currently occupies part of the site. Surrounding properties include a hunting preserve, skeet shooting range, and a pet cemetery.
Community members can review site documents at the South Kingstown Public Library in Peace Dale or at the EPA Region 1 Records and Information Center in Boston. For questions about the site, contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, the EPA Remedial Project Managers, or the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
