Juncos Landfill

Overview

Juncos Landfill is an 11-acre closed municipal landfill in Juncos, Puerto Rico. It operated from 1957 to 1977 and accepted municipal waste, including mercury thermometers made by Becton Dickinson. EPA sampling in 1982 found mercury and volatile organic compounds in soil, air, and off-site leachate. The site was added to the National Priorities List on September 8, 1983.

EPA has identified more than 60 contaminants of concern at the site. Heavy metals include mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, zinc, beryllium, copper, and silver. Organic chemicals include benzene, chloroform, dichloromethane, phenol, chlorobenzene, and pesticides such as dieldrin, endrin, and DDT. These contaminants are found in soil, sediment, leachate, surface water, and groundwater across two operable units. Off-site groundwater currently meets drinking water standards, though manganese levels exceed secondary standards.

The site is organized into three operable units covering the sitewide area, the landfill itself, and groundwater. For the landfill, EPA selected a remedy in September 1991 that included a geomembrane-lined cap, drainage and erosion controls, leachate controls, a security fence, and institutional controls. For groundwater, EPA chose monitored natural attenuation combined with ongoing monitoring. Early actions included posting warning signs, installing a partial fence, and covering the landfill with topsoil. EPA also permanently relocated 21 families living near the site between late 1998 and mid-2003. Construction of remedial actions was completed on September 19, 2005, with the landfill operable unit's remedial action concluding in January 2007. EPA conducted its most recent five-year review on September 27, 2024. The site is estimated to be ready for anticipated reuse between September and November 2026.

Human exposure is currently under control, meaning no unacceptable exposure pathways exist at this time. Groundwater migration is also under control, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Physical construction is complete across the entire site. However, the site has not yet met all cleanup goals for anticipated future land uses, and required land-use restrictions have not been fully put in place. EPA will continue monitoring to confirm that groundwater contamination stays within the original area.

Community members can review site records at the EPA Records Center in New York, the EPA Caribbean Environmental Protection Division office in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources office in San Juan, or at Juncos Town Hall. The three Puerto Rico locations are open Monday through Friday by appointment. The EPA has also completed four five-year reviews, with reports from the third and fourth reviews available to the public. Two EPA staff members handle community questions and project management for the site.