Laurel Park Incorporated
The Laurel Park, Inc. site, also known as Hunters Mountain Dump, or Murtha's Dump to locals, is a capped landfill that occupies approximately of a parcel of land in Naugatuck, Connecticut. The landfill has been in existence since the late 1940s, and several industries disposed of solvents, oils, hydrocarbons, chemical and liquid sludge, chemical solids, tires, and rubber products there. The facility continued to operate as a municipal landfill until 1987. It was owned and operated by Terrence and Howard Murtha. Description The centrally developed portion of the Town of Naugatuck, which has an estimated population of 31,000 people, is located approximately northeast of the site. Homes are located around three sides of the landfill. Approximately 50 homes are located within a of the site, with the closest residents located approximately from the site. The nearest homes used groundwater from private wells as a drinking water source, but have since been connected to the public water supply. The homes at the bottom of Huntington Hill, downslope of the landfill, are served by a public water supply line. Most of the area immediately bordering the site is forested. The maximum depth of the landfill is about . The bedrock is shallow, and leachate was visible on all major slopes at the landfill. Leachate sampling at the base of the refuse slope confirmed the presence of toxic organic chemicals. In addition, various inorganic contaminants were measured in the unnamed tributary north of the site. This site was first listed under the name "Laurel Park Landfill." It is the top priority site in Connecticut. Site history The site was in operation from 1949 to 1987. In the 1960s the site was excavated in some areas to bedrock. According to a 1972 Inventory of clients serviced by the landfill conducted by the CT DEP, of solid waste and of liquid waste were disposed of per year at the Laurel Park Landfill. These include rubber products, tires, chemicals, oils, solvents, chemical solids and municipal wastes. In the late 1980s the landfill accepted approximately per day of municipal and industrial wastes. The landfill was known to have operational problems. Fires were common, the facility used fly ash as a cover which was inadequate to prevent litter from being blown off-site. Spills on the roads leading to the landfill were common according to local residents. In addition, local residents reported seeing leachate flowing into an unnamed creek along Andrew Avenue. Leachate is produced by rain percolating into the ground and coming into contact with contaminated waste buried in the landfill. Leachate overflow has been a problem at the site. In the late 1980s, leachate collected in the leachate system overflowed a manhole on the Laurel Park site entering a stream that passes by several residences and a school playground. Tests of the leachate and the stream revealed the presence of hazardous substances, including benzene, toluene, and ethyl benzene. In the early 1970s, the CT Department of Public Health recommended steps to eliminate the migration of contaminants into