Cedartown Municipal Landfill

Overview

The Cedartown Municipal Landfill covers 94 acres in Cedartown, Georgia. It operated first as a mine and then as a municipal landfill from the 1880s until 1979. The EPA added it to the National Priorities List (NPL) in March 1989 because of contaminated groundwater, surface water, and solid waste. The site was deleted from the NPL in March 1999 after cleanup was completed, and it achieved sitewide readiness for anticipated reuse in January 2011.

EPA identified 39 contaminants of concern at the site. Metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and nickel are present in solid waste, along with organic chemicals like benzene, toluene, xylene, naphthalene, and phenol. Groundwater contamination includes beryllium, cadmium, chromium, lead, and manganese. All contamination is addressed under a single cleanup area called Operable Unit 01.

Cleanup work ran from 1994 to 1999 and included a landfill cover, seep inspections, and groundwater monitoring. The original cleanup plan, selected in November 1993, used institutional controls, monitoring, monitored natural attenuation, and other tools. A Record of Decision Amendment in May 1998 added engineering controls and modified institutional controls. The City of Cedartown annexed the landfill properties in 1996 and passed an ordinance restricting the installation of wells. Zoning restrictions also prevent residential and other incompatible land uses.

Current conditions at the site are controlled. Human exposure is not at unacceptable levels, and groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. A Five-Year Review is currently underway because hazardous substances remain above levels that allow unrestricted use. The cleanup section notes the most recent completed review was in 2016, while the cleanup progress section notes a review was completed in September 2021, with the next expected between August and October 2026. The City of Cedartown is responsible for inspecting the landfill cover twice a year and maintaining its integrity.

Community members can stay involved through EPA outreach activities, which include public notices, public meetings, and interviews about cleanup and site updates. Once the current Five-Year Review is complete, the final report will be available to the public. Records related to Superfund work at the site can be viewed at the Cedartown Public Library, located at 245 East Avenue in Cedartown, Georgia. Questions can be directed to the EPA staff assigned to the site.