The Wayne Waste Oil site covers 35 acres in Columbia City, Indiana, and sits along the Blue River. From 1975 to 1980, about one million gallons of oil-related wastes were deposited there through leaking drums, waste areas covered in sand, and disposal ponds. Those practices pushed hazardous chemicals into both soil and groundwater. The site was added to the National Priorities List on September 8, 1983, which formally made it a priority for EPA cleanup.
EPA has identified 28 contaminants of concern at the site. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane are found mainly in groundwater. Heavy metals including arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, and zinc are present in soil. Soil also contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and the phthalate bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate. Some contaminants, including vinyl chloride, 1,2-dichloroethene, and lead, appear in groundwater, soil, solid waste, and structures.
Cleanup began with removal actions in 1986 and 1988 that cleared drums, liquids, sludges, contaminated soil, and storage tank contents. A remedial investigation ran from June 1985 through August 1987, and EPA selected a final remedy in March 1990. Construction of that remedy ran from May 1994 to June 30, 1995. The remedy includes a slurry wall, a landfill cap, air stripping, pump-and-treat systems, soil vapor extraction, and institutional controls such as zoning restrictions that block residential and other incompatible land uses. The site also receives municipal waste materials from Columbia City in its landfill.
EPA has completed multiple five-year reviews to confirm the remedy still protects public health. The most recent review, completed January 11, 2024, found the remedy protective. Ongoing operation and maintenance, plus enhanced institutional controls, are required to keep that protection in place. City wells are not contaminated, and all nearby residences connect to the public water supply. EPA has determined that human exposure is under control and that groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to the Blue River. The site achieved ready-for-anticipated-reuse status in September 2014 but has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List.
Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.
