Lackawanna Refuse sits in Old Forge Borough, Pennsylvania, on a former mining area where hazardous and industrial waste was illegally dumped starting in the 1970s. EPA added the site to its National Priorities List in 1983. The site is also known as Iacavazzi Landfill, Lackawanna Refuse Removal Co Inc, and Old Forge Landfill.
Contamination affects soil, groundwater, and surface water. Thirty-four contaminants of concern have been identified, including metals such as cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury, and volatile organic compounds including benzene, vinyl chloride, and toluene. On-site groundwater contains nitrate, arsenic, cadmium, and volatile organic compounds. Off-site groundwater contains the pesticide dieldrin. Fish in the area carry traces of polychlorinated biphenyls, volatile organic compounds, and dieldrin, and rabbits in the area contain heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. All area residents use the public water supply, so no one is drinking contaminated groundwater. EPA assessments confirm that human exposure is under control and groundwater migration is stabilized.
Between 1987 and 1991, cleanup crews removed contaminated drums, municipal refuse, paint, and soil. They installed clay caps over remaining contaminated material and built surface water drainage and gas venting systems. The caps proved so effective at blocking rainfall that a planned leachate treatment plant was dropped in 1993 due to negligible leachate flow. Construction of all remedial systems was completed on March 28, 1994. EPA deleted the site from its priority list on September 28, 1999, after cleanup goals were met.
Contaminated material remains buried under the cap, so the site continues to be monitored annually. Institutional controls restrict groundwater use and excavation of the cap to prevent exposure. Zoning restrictions block land uses, such as residential development, that would be inappropriate given the level of cleanup completed. One operable unit remains under state-performed operation and maintenance, with that work estimated to continue through mid-2026. The most recent five-year review, completed August 2, 2024, confirmed the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment. The next review is scheduled for 2028. Since 2019, the site owner has been working with EPA to explore potential reuses, including possible solar panel installation.
Community members can review site records at the Borough of Old Forge Town Hall or at the EPA Region 3 Public Reading Room in Philadelphia, where appointments are required. For questions, residents can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.
