The Kohler Co. Landfill covers 82 acres in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Kohler Company used about 40 acres of the site from the 1950s through the 1970s to dispose of foundry and manufacturing wastes, including oils and solvents placed in at least four disposal pits. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in 1984. Cleanup is divided into two operable units: one focused on capping the landfill and controlling the source of contamination, and one focused on controlling groundwater.
More than 80 chemical substances have been identified as contaminants of concern. These include volatile organic compounds such as trichloroethene, benzene, toluene, and vinyl chloride, as well as metals including lead, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, and nickel. Contamination appears in groundwater, leachate, landfill waste, surface runoff, and sediment. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, and polychlorinated biphenyls are also present in waste and runoff.
Cleanup construction finished in September 1998. Work included closing the landfill in phases, installing a multilayer soil cap, and installing a perimeter drain system to collect contaminated leachate. Groundwater and leachate collected from the southern and eastern sides of the landfill are sent to the City of Sheboygan's water treatment facility. Zoning restrictions limit land use and prevent residential development on the site. The site reached sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in September 2016, meaning cleanup goals were met and the property can be reused under appropriate conditions. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List.
Human exposure is under control, with no unacceptable pathways for people to come into contact with contaminants. Groundwater migration is also under control, with contaminated groundwater stabilized and no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The most recent five-year review was completed in September 2022, confirming the cleanup remains protective. The next five-year review is estimated to occur between September and November 2027. Operation, maintenance, and treatment continue on an ongoing basis. The site's owner is also working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on plans to expand the landfill for non-hazardous industrial waste.
Community members with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly, or contact the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
