Hunts Disposal Landfill is a former gravel pit in Caledonia, Wisconsin, that accepted municipal and industrial waste starting in 1959. The site burned much of that waste in an open pit, sending contaminants into soil, groundwater, and sediment in the nearby Root River. Drinking water sources have not been affected. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1987. The NPL is the federal list of the most serious hazardous waste sites in the country.
Investigators found 41 contaminants of concern at the site. Groundwater holds the widest range, including chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethene and vinyl chloride, benzene, toluene, xylene, and metals like arsenic, chromium, lead, nickel, and cadmium. Soil and sediment contain volatile organic compounds and metals. Surface water has tested positive for arsenic, barium, chromium, manganese, and nickel.
EPA selected a cleanup plan in September 1990. That plan included capping, groundwater extraction and treatment, a slurry wall, landfill gas collection, and other measures. Construction finished in May 1997, and the site reached Site-Wide Ready for Anticipated Use status in September 2009, meaning all cleanup goals had been met. In January 2020, EPA approved a change to the groundwater remedy, replacing the active extraction system with monitored natural attenuation. This method lets natural processes reduce contaminant levels now that the contamination source has been removed.
Human exposure is currently under control across the entire site. Groundwater contamination is stabilized, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water expected. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions, are in place to prevent residential development and other land uses that would be incompatible with remaining contamination levels. EPA continues to monitor groundwater to confirm contamination stays within the original area.
EPA completed the most recent five-year review in August 2021 and found the cleanup continues to protect human health and the environment in the short term. The next review is estimated between August and October 2026. EPA is working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to update operation and maintenance plans. Community members who want to share information or concerns about site conditions can reach out through the Community Information Center (CIC) or contact the EPA staff assigned to the site. Public records are available at Caledonia Village Hall, located at 5043 Chester Lane in Caledonia.
