Bell Landfill

Overview

Bell Landfill sits on 33 acres in Terry Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. It accepted municipal and hazardous waste from 1970 to 1981. EPA added it to the National Priorities List in 1989, and a final cleanup plan was approved in 1994.

The site contaminated groundwater, soil, sediment, surface water, and liquid waste with more than 40 substances. Those include metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, and beryllium. Volatile organic compounds found there include benzene, toluene, vinyl chloride, and trichloroethene. Pesticide-related compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzo[a]pyrene, and other chemicals such as acetone and phthalates were also identified. A 1994 human health risk assessment pointed to ingestion and skin contact with leachate, contaminated soil, and groundwater as the main exposure pathways. A 1994 ecological risk assessment found risks for organisms exposed to leachate, sediment, surface water, and soil.

The approved cleanup included capping two on-site landfills, building a leachate collection and disposal system, installing a gas venting system, and placing deed restrictions on groundwater use and residential development. Remedial action construction finished in February 1999. In 2008, EPA modified the leachate management system to add a lined impoundment and spray irrigation system. Potentially responsible parties operate and maintain the remedy under a 1997 Consent Decree. Institutional controls are registered with the Bradford County Recorder of Deeds. Routine groundwater monitoring shows volatile organic compounds and semi-volatile organic compounds have dropped to acceptable levels, and no drinking water standards are being exceeded in residential wells. EPA has determined that human exposure is under control and groundwater migration is under control.

EPA completed the fifth five-year review in August 2023, confirming the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. The next five-year review is estimated between August and October 2028. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List.

Community members can get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program. EPA updated its Community Involvement Plan for the site in December 2023. Questions or comments can be directed to the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator. Site records are available at the Wyalusing Public Library, 115 Church Street, Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, or at the EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia by appointment.