PARKLAND TERRACE RD & LAPP RD
The Novak Sanitary Landfill site occupies 65-acres in a residential community near Allentown. This privately owned landfill operated from the late 1950s until 1990. The landfill accepted demolition wastes in its abandoned quarry and later accepted municipal and industrial wastes. By 1972, the owner had obtained a solid waste permit from the state and was reportedly disposing organic wastes such as spent solvents and electroplating wastes that contained heavy metals. These organics were placed in trenches that, at the time, were newly excavated. In 1984, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER - now known as the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection or PADEP) attempted to revoke the owner's permit because of various violations but was overruled by a state environmental board. By 1988, the last trench on the site was filled to capacity, and the owner only accepted small quantities of refuse. Contamination from wastes threaten the environment because the landfill was poorly engineered. Because the landfill was not adequately covered, rain and surface water formed ponds throughout the site. These ponds mobilized contaminants in the decaying wastes. Because the landfill was not lined underneath, contaminants migrated into the groundwater. The landfill is located in a fractured limestone region, where groundwater can move through the bedrock rapidly and in unpredictable directions. About 17,300 people use 855 public and private wells within 3 miles of the site. Jordan Creek, located 1,000 feet south of the site, is used for recreation. Site Responsibility Cleanup of this site is the responsibility of federal, state, and local governments and also parties that EPA holds responsible for cleanup. NPL Listing History
822 |
People living within a 1 mile radius |
$85,891 |
Average Income |
303 |
Occupied homes |
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