Dorney Road Landfill

Overview

Dorney Road Landfill is a 27-acre former iron mine in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It accepted municipal and industrial waste from 1952 to 1978. State inspectors found industrial sludge, batteries, and petroleum products dumped there, which led to its placement on EPA's Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. The site has since been deleted from the NPL, meaning cleanup goals have been met.

Contaminants are found in soil, groundwater, and surface water. More than 60 chemical substances have been identified. These include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and vinyl chloride. Metals like arsenic, lead, chromium, mercury, cadmium, and manganese are present in soil and groundwater. Groundwater also contains carbon tetrachloride and chloromethane. Soil contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, and the pesticide dieldrin.

Cleanup work began in 1986. A multi-layer landfill cap was installed along with a gas collection system, surface water controls, and a surrounding fence. Replacement wetlands were built between 1999 and 2005 to offset wetlands lost during capping. Groundwater was addressed through pump-and-treat technology using carbon adsorption. Residential well monitoring started in 1999 and continues quarterly. Sampling has never shown contamination above action levels. The site was deleted from the NPL in September 2018. The 2023 Five-Year Review confirmed that the cap prevents direct contact with contamination and blocks contaminant migration, and that groundwater contamination has decreased to below most federal safety standards.

Institutional controls protect the site long term. Zoning and deed restrictions prevent disturbance of the landfill cap and prohibit new groundwater wells on the capped property. Residential development is also prohibited. EPA conducts five-year reviews to confirm the cleanup remains protective. The most recent review was completed in May 2023, and the next is estimated between May and July 2028.

Community members who want to learn more or get involved can contact EPA's designated site representatives directly. Records are available for public review at the Upper Macungie Township Building in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, or at the EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia. Appointments are required at both locations.