Barceloneta Landfill

Overview

The Barceloneta Landfill covers 20 acres in Florida Afuera, Puerto Rico. It operated as a municipal dump and accepted about 300 tons of hazardous waste before going inactive. EPA added it to the National Priorities List in 1983 and deleted it in October 2011 after cleanup goals were met.

Five contaminants of concern have been found in groundwater across the site: 1,1-dichloroethane, chromium, manganese, mercury, and nickel. The limestone geology beneath the site can allow contaminants to move quickly, which made containing them a priority. About 12,000 people live within three miles, the nearest home sits roughly 500 feet away, and local groundwater is used for drinking water and irrigation.

EPA investigated the site from 1988 to 1995 and signed a Record of Decision in July 1996. The selected remedy called for capping all three disposal areas with a low-permeability cover system, along with onsite containment, monitoring, and institutional controls such as deed restrictions to limit land use. Construction finished in September 2000, and an operation and maintenance phase started in November 2001. The site was declared ready for reuse in August 2011.

Human exposure is under control, and contaminated groundwater is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. No contamination has been detected off site. A 30-year groundwater monitoring program is ongoing. The cleanup is considered protective in the short term, and long-term protectiveness depends on finalizing institutional controls. EPA completed its most recent five-year review in April 2025.

Community members can review site documents at four locations: the EPA Records Center in New York, the EPA Caribbean Environmental Protection Division in Guaynabo, the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board in San Juan, and the Barceloneta Municipality Public Library in Barceloneta. All locations require appointments and maintain weekday business hours. The site does not currently have a Community Advisory Group. For questions, residents can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.