Northwest 58th Street Landfill

Overview

Miami-Dade County operated a 660-acre municipal landfill at this site from 1952 to 1982, accepting both municipal and industrial wastes. Improper waste storage and burning contaminated the groundwater beneath the site. The EPA added the landfill to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1983 and removed it in 1996 after cleanup goals were met.

Groundwater is the affected medium. EPA identified 14 contaminants of concern there, including metals such as arsenic, chromium, iron, manganese, mercury, and zinc. Volatile organic compounds found on-site include benzene, vinyl chloride, trichloroethene, dichloromethane, and chlorobenzene. The groundwater also contains 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane and two herbicides, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2-(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)propanoic acid.

Miami-Dade County, as the responsible party, carried out cleanup work between 1988 and 1995 under EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection oversight. Key actions included connecting private well users to the public water system, building leachate collection systems, and closing and capping the landfill. Groundwater monitoring continues as needed.

The site is currently protective of human health and the environment. The landfill is fenced and capped, and the South Florida Water Management District designated the surrounding area as a groundwater delineation zone, meaning any new drinking water well there requires District approval. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions and well-permitting rules under Miami-Dade County Code, prevent land uses that would conflict with cleanup levels. The EPA's sixth Five-Year Review in 2020 confirmed the remedy remains protective, and a seventh review was completed on June 24, 2025. Nearby residents and businesses use the public water system for drinking water.

Portions of the site are already in productive use. County facilities including Mosquito Control, Public Works, and Fire and Public Safety Training now operate on the southern portion. Miami-Dade County also permits school groups and bird watchers to access a restored wetland area with advance notice. Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly.