Neal's Landfill (Bloomington)

Overview

Neal's Landfill sits on about 18 acres near Bloomington, Indiana, in karst terrain full of sinkholes and caves. The landfill accepted industrial and municipal waste from 1949 to 1972. Between 1962 and 1970, Westinghouse Electric Corporation (now CBS Corporation) disposed of electrical capacitors containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) there. The karst geology allowed contaminated groundwater to move quickly through the ground and into springs feeding Conard's Branch and Richland Creek, spreading PCBs into sediments and fish in both waterways.

PCBs are the sole contaminant of concern at the site. They have been found in debris, soil, groundwater, sediment, and fish tissue. The site was divided into three areas to manage cleanup: the source control area (the landfill itself), the groundwater area, and the sediment area. Nearby residents who rely on groundwater wells faced potential exposure, and people who ate fish from Conard's Branch or Richland Creek faced health risks from PCBs in fish tissue. During heavy rainfall, spring water bypassing the treatment plant could also reach surface waters.

Cleanup began in 1983 with fencing and removal of visible capacitors. The site was added to the National Priorities List in October 1981. A 1985 Consent Decree brought EPA, Indiana, the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, and CBS Corporation together to carry out remedial work. From April to November 1999, crews excavated over 41,000 tons of PCB-contaminated material and removed more than 4,000 capacitors, then installed a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)-compliant cap. A water treatment plant has been running since 1990 to reduce PCB discharge to surface waters. In the summer of 2011, about 922 tons of PCB-contaminated soils and sediments were removed from Conard's Branch. CBS Corporation continues to operate and maintain the water treatment plant. The Sycamore Land Trust now owns the property and is exploring reuse options through the EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Program.

All cleanup goals have been met. Fish tissue sampling confirmed target PCB concentrations were reached. Human exposure is currently under control, and groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site was deleted from the National Priorities List on September 14, 2021. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions, prevent residential development and limit groundwater use on the site. A five-year review is planned for 2027, and long-term monitoring continues.

Community members with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.