Stage of Clean-up: Construction Underway

Conditions at listing (December 1982): The Juncos Landfill covers 2 acres in Juncos, Puerto Rico. Thermometers containing MERCURY may have been dumped on the site, a closed municipal landfill. A small underground fire is burning at the landfill. A small leachate seep and soil erosion were evident during two site inspections. The site rises approximately 20 feet above grade. Of greatest concern is a new housing development built over the landfill. Although most of the homes are not yet occupied, there is concern about potential impact when they are occupied. The new community will be served from a public water supply. Soil and air contain higher-than-background concentrations of MERCURY. No barriers exist to prevent local residents or animals entering the site. Status (July 1983): In February 1983, EPA conducted field studies at the site to ascertain the health hazard posed to local residents. Late in 1983, EPA plans to start a Remedial Action Master Plan outlining the investigations needed to determine the full extent of cleanup required at the site. It will guide further actions at the site.

Sources of Contamination:

• Dumping - unauthorized
• Landfill

The groundwater and soil are contaminated with HEAVY METALS and CHLOROFORM. Touching or accidentally ingesting the contaminated soil could LEAD to potential health hazards. Pollutants may seep from the landfill into the groundwater. Ingestion of contaminated groundwater may pose a health hazard.

Contaminants Detected
	Ground Water	Surface Water	Air	Soil	Other
MERCURY	X	X	X

Groundwater and Drinking Water
Were drinking water wells shut down due to contamination?	No
Are drinking water wells potentially threatened?	Yes
Population served by the threatened wells:	1,001 - 5,000

EPA Hazard Ranking System scores for JUNCOS LANDFILL:

Less Hazard

National Average

More Hazard

0%					50%					100%

Overall site:

Surface water migration:

Ground water migration:

Air migration:

Rank Superfund sites in the U.S., PUERTO RICO, or in JUNCOS County by EPA Hazard Ranking Scores.

*Note: EPA's Hazard Ranking System is designed to screen and prioritize sites for the Superfund program, based on limited data available at time of listing. These scores are not based on a comprehensive risk assessment of the site and do not reflect conditions after initiation of cleanup work.

Number of PRPs currently associated with this site:	5
Hazardous waste received from off-site generators/transporters?	Yes
Number of past and present PRPs who contributed less than 1% of the waste:	2 - 10
Number of owners/operators which are also municipalities:	1

EPA Site Information

• NPL Fact Sheet
• Government Accounting Office (GAO) assessment
• Record of Decision (ROD) Abstracts
• NPL Site 5 Year Reviews
• Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information System (CERCLIS) Hazardous Waste Site Information
• Superfund Hazardous Waste Site Advanced Query Form

Scorecard reports for JUNCOS County on:

• Potential Sources of Land Contamination