Hagen Farm

Overview

Hagen Farm is a 28-acre former sand and gravel pit in unincorporated Dunkirk Township near Stoughton, Wisconsin. The site accepted waste from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s. EPA added it to the National Priorities List (NPL) on July 22, 1987. The NPL is the federal government's roster of contaminated sites that need investigation and cleanup. Physical construction of cleanup measures finished on August 27, 1996, and the site was declared ready for anticipated reuse in October 2010.

EPA has identified 51 contaminants at the site. These include volatile organic compounds such as vinyl chloride, benzene, toluene, and tetrahydrofuran. Heavy metals found there include arsenic, lead, mercury, barium, and manganese. The site also contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides like dieldrin and DDEs, phthalate esters, and other industrial solvents. Contamination affects groundwater, soil, and solid waste. EPA determined all 51 substances pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.

Cleanup is organized into two areas. The Source Control Operable Unit covers the landfill itself, using an engineered cap over contaminated soil, soil vapor extraction to pull out vapors, revegetation, and institutional controls that restrict land and groundwater use in the disposal area. The Groundwater Control Operable Unit manages contamination both on and off the property. Waste Management of Wisconsin carried out the earlier cleanup work in the 1990s, removing roughly 68,000 cubic yards of waste including municipal refuse, paint sludge, grease, rubber, plastic sheeting, and industrial chemicals. In 2017, EPA approved an amended plan that switched the groundwater remedy from pump-and-treat to low-flow air sparging, a method that injects air into the aquifer to break down contaminants in place. Groundwater operations and maintenance are expected to continue through late 2027 or early 2028.

Human exposure is currently under control, meaning there are no unacceptable pathways for people to contact contamination. Groundwater migration is also under control, with contaminated water stabilized and no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site remains on the NPL. EPA is conducting a five-year review, examining cleanup effectiveness and potential future steps, with results expected by July 2026. These reviews are required whenever hazardous waste remains managed on-site after cleanup, to confirm ongoing protection of human health and the environment.

Community members can review site records at the Stoughton Public Library at 304 South 4th Street or the Dunkirk Town Hall at 654 County Road N in Stoughton. EPA also invites the public to submit comments on the five-year review through the Public Notice announcement. For questions, contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator Meshach Padilla or Remedial Project Manager Christopher Black.