The Alsco Anaconda site covers 4.8 acres near the Tuscarawas River in Gnadenhutten, Ohio. From 1965 to 1978, Alsco operated an aluminum product manufacturing facility there and disposed of wastewater and treatment sludges on-site. Wastewater went directly into the river. Sludge was placed in two unlined lagoons and a pit, and overflow spread into a nearby wooded area. Soil, sludge, and groundwater all became contaminated with hazardous chemicals.
The contaminants found at the site span several categories and media. Soil contains organic chemicals such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, naphthalene, tetrachloroethene, and 2-hexanone, plus metals including arsenic, chromium, cadmium, and mercury. Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, were found in soil, sediment, and sludge. Groundwater contains chlorinated benzene compounds, metals such as arsenic, lead, chromium (including hexavalent chromium), nickel, zinc, and manganese, organic solvents, and nitrate. Sediment contains chromium.
Cleanup was organized into two operable units. The first addressed source material through excavation and off-site incineration, treatment, and disposal. The second addressed groundwater through monitored natural recovery and ongoing monitoring. The site was added to the National Priorities List in June 1986. Remedial investigation began in January 1987. Physical construction of the cleanup wrapped up by July 1996, with all source material and groundwater remediation actions finishing by 1998 and 1996 respectively.
EPA determined the cleanup eliminated health threats from the site. Human exposure is currently under control across the entire site, with no unacceptable pathways for people to come into contact with contamination. Groundwater migration has been stabilized, and there is no unacceptable discharge to surface water. All cleanup goals for current and anticipated future land uses have been met, and required land-use controls are in place. The site was deleted from the National Priorities List in November 2001. It achieved sitewide ready-for-anticipated-reuse status in June 2006.
Part of the site is planned for development as a wildlife observation area. Responsible parties are actively working to return the property to productive use. The EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Program offers site-specific guidance to support communities in bringing contaminated properties back into active use. Five key documents related to the site are available for public review.
