Delta Quarries & Disposal, Inc./Stotler Landfill

Overview

Delta Quarries & Disposal, Inc./Stotler Landfill is a 57-acre inactive municipal landfill in Blair County, Pennsylvania, that operated from 1964 to 1985. It was added to the National Priorities List, the federal Superfund program's roster of priority cleanup sites, in March 1989. About 2,500 people live within three miles, and roughly 1,500 rely on private wells for drinking water. The nearest home sits just 35 feet away. Groundwater beneath the site flows toward the Little Juniata River about one mile away.

Eight chemicals have been identified as contaminants of concern, all found in groundwater. They include trichloroethene, chloroethene (vinyl chloride), 1,4-dioxane, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, and trans-1,2-dichloroethene. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined these chemicals pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment. In June 2022, EPA added 1,4-dioxane to the list with a cleanup goal of 6.4 parts per billion (ppb).

Cleanup work began in the late 1980s. The landfill was covered with soil in 1987 to limit the spread of contamination. A formal investigation finished in 1991, and EPA selected a remedy that same year. That remedy includes groundwater extraction and treatment, a cap over the landfill, a gas venting system, deed and access restrictions, and long-term monitoring. Construction was finished in December 1996, and the site entered its operation and maintenance phase in October 1998. The site achieved readiness for reuse in June 2008, though it has not yet been removed from the National Priorities List.

The most recent five-year review, completed in April 2026, found the groundwater treatment system operating and institutional controls in place. However, two sources present different characterizations of overall site status. The cleanup section states that a protectiveness determination cannot be made at this time because the full contamination plume boundary is unknown, active nearby wells lack recent testing, and vapor intrusion and emerging contaminants have not been assessed. The health and environment section states that human exposure is under control and all cleanup goals have been achieved. Both sections agree that groundwater migration is not fully stabilized. EPA estimates additional assessments will take roughly three years, and the next five-year review is scheduled for 2031.

Community members can get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program, which provides opportunities to participate in cleanup decisions. Site records are available online through EPA's Superfund database or in person at the Altoona Area Public Library. The EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia also holds records, though an appointment is required. Two EPA staff members are available to answer questions directly.