Bush Valley Landfill

Overview

Bush Valley Landfill sits in Harford County, Maryland, and operated as a municipal solid waste facility from 1975 to 1983. Operators illegally accepted hazardous waste and drums during that time. Rainwater mixed with that waste to create toxic leachate, which contaminated soil and groundwater. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in March 1989.

The site has 27 contaminants of concern spread across soil, groundwater, sediment, and leachate. Metals make up most of the list, including lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and zinc, among others. Other contaminants include volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, landfill gases, and Aroclor 1254, a PCB mixture. Cyanide was found in sediment, and dibutyl phthalate was found in soil.

EPA finalized a cleanup plan in September 1995. The plan called for capping the landfill, installing a slurry wall, managing landfill gas, and setting up long-term monitoring. Construction began in late 1999 and finished in August 2001. When gas continued migrating past the landfill perimeter, responsible parties upgraded the gas management system. That upgrade was certified complete in March 2005. The site now has a landfill cover seeded with native grasses and wildflowers and functions as green space and wildlife habitat. Institutional controls prohibit groundwater use and protect the cover and other remedies. Zoning restrictions also prevent land uses that would be unsafe given the current cleanup level.

Human exposure is under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. Groundwater migration is also under control, with contaminated groundwater stabilized and no unacceptable discharge to surface water. EPA completed its fifth five-year review on June 30, 2025, confirming the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. The next review is scheduled for July 2030. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List.

Community members can get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program. The site's Community Relations Plan is also available as a resource. Site documents can be reviewed in person at the Harford County Library Bel Air Branch or at EPA Region 3 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with appointments recommended. Documents are also available online through EPA's Administrative Record file. For direct questions, residents can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.