Butz Landfill

Overview

Butz Landfill is a 13-acre former municipal dump in Jackson Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania that operated from 1965 to 1973. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed it on the National Priorities List (NPL) in March 1989 after the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) found elevated levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) in drinking water wells south of the landfill. The site is also known as the North Road Site.

The main contaminant is TCE, a volatile organic compound (VOC). Other VOCs detected in groundwater include 1,1-dichloroethene, 1,2-dichloroethene, tetrachloroethylene, vinyl chloride, benzene, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride. Additional chemicals found include chlorobenzene, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene. Contamination is present across two areas: the waterline zone (Operable Unit 1) and the groundwater cleanup zone (Operable Unit 2).

Cleanup was tackled in stages. For Operable Unit 1, a municipal water supply line was built and completed in September 1993, giving affected residents a safe drinking water source. The Pocono/Jackson Joint Water Authority took over operation in 1995. For Operable Unit 2, a pump-and-treat groundwater system was installed and finished in August 2001. PADEP took over operation of that system in August 2011. EPA also tested an in-situ injection method using emulsified vegetable oil to boost bacterial breakdown of TCE, but studies completed in 2010 and 2013 showed limited results due to the site's fractured bedrock geology. Between 2007 and 2014, EPA conducted seven rounds of vapor intrusion sampling at nearby homes and found no issues. During construction, workers discovered bog turtles on the site. In response, EPA redesigned the treatment system, relocated a discharge structure, and built about 3 acres of new wetlands to protect the species.

EPA determined that human exposure is under control and that groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site achieved sitewide ready-for-anticipated-reuse status in May 2017. Institutional controls restrict future land and groundwater use, including zoning rules that prevent residential development. One business currently operates on part of the property. The sixth five-year review, completed on August 6, 2021, confirmed the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. PADEP conducts annual groundwater sampling to monitor the system. The next five-year review is estimated between August and October 2026. The site has not yet been deleted from the NPL.

Community members who want to learn more or get involved can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator, Eric Pollard, or the Remedial Project Manager, Ken Champagne. Site documents are available online or in person at the Pocono Township Library in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, or at the EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia (by appointment).