A.L. Taylor (Valley of Drums)

Overview

The A.L. Taylor site, also known as Valley of Drums, sits on 23 acres in Brooks, Kentucky. It operated as a waste disposal and drum recycling facility from 1967 to 1977. Deteriorating drums leaked contaminants into groundwater, soil, surface water, and Wilson Creek. EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. It was deleted from the NPL in 1996 after cleanup was finished.

Eleven contaminants of concern have been identified, all found in groundwater. They include volatile organic compounds such as vinyl chloride, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and methyl ethyl ketone. The site also contains semi-volatile organic compounds including anthracene, naphthalene, and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, along with trans-1,2-dichloroethene. Between 1975 and 1981, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) discharged into Wilson Creek. Contaminated surface water runoff entering the creek was the main exposure pathway. Groundwater posed minimal risk because most nearby properties connect to public water supply.

EPA began emergency response actions in 1979, including drum removal and installation of interceptor trenches and a treatment system. Between 1981 and 1989, remaining drums were removed and the treatment system was upgraded. In 1987, EPA installed a clay cap, perimeter drainage system, groundwater monitoring wells, and security fencing. Construction was fully complete by August 1990. In September 2024, EPA added institutional controls to the remedy through an Explanation of Significant Differences. Potentially responsible parties signed a legal agreement in 1991 to repay EPA costs and fund ongoing monitoring and maintenance.

Since 1990, the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection (KDEP) has led operation and maintenance, including groundwater monitoring and cap inspections. The landfill cap is in good condition and is effectively containing contaminants. Human exposure is currently under control and groundwater migration is stabilized. The most recent Five-Year Review, completed in September 2023, found the remedy protects human health and the environment in the short term. The next five-year review is estimated between September and November 2028. EPA and KDEP plan to implement land use restrictions on groundwater use and activities on the cap to maintain long-term protection.

Community members can access site records at the Ridgeway Memorial Library, 127 North Walnut Street, Shepherdsville, Kentucky 40165. EPA keeps the public informed through public notices, public meetings, and interviews about cleanup activities and updates. Questions about the site can be directed to the Remedial Project Manager.