Lewisburg Dump

Overview

Lewisburg Dump is a former landfill in Lewisburg, Tennessee, that was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983. The NPL is the federal government's list of the most serious hazardous waste sites in the country. Cleanup construction wrapped up in September 1993, and the site was deleted from the NPL in February 1996. It reached sitewide ready for anticipated reuse in August 2016.

EPA identified 31 contaminants of concern at the site. These include organic compounds such as dichloromethane, acetone, and bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, as well as metals including lead, arsenic, chromium, mercury, and zinc. Contaminants have been detected in solid waste, debris, groundwater, surface water, and sediment. Groundwater contamination remains at the site and may extend beyond its boundaries. In April 2012, EPA sampled nearby private drinking water wells. Testing found metals, but none at levels exceeding federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. No volatile organic compounds or semi-volatile organic compounds were detected in those wells.

The City of Lewisburg is the responsible party leading cleanup activities, with oversight from EPA and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC). The long-term cleanup plan, selected in September 1990, called for installing a security fence and deed restrictions, removing surface debris, replacing and reconstructing the landfill cap, and setting up groundwater monitoring. Between 1992 and 1993, crews removed more than 382 cubic yards of debris and soil, 172 tires, 50 empty drums, and two drums of lead paint and sludge. All removed material was disposed of at approved facilities. The selected cleanup technology for the site's main operable unit is monitored natural attenuation, which allows contaminants to break down naturally while EPA tracks progress.

Human exposure is under control. The entire site is fenced, and a restrictive covenant prevents activities that could disturb the landfill cap. Deed restrictions also block incompatible land uses such as residential development. The city periodically inspects the cap. EPA completed its sixth Five-Year Review in September 2022, confirming the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. The next Five-Year Review is planned for 2027.

Community members can stay informed through public notices, public meetings, and interviews that EPA conducts throughout the cleanup process. Residents can also contact EPA directly.