Analysis of Conceptual Designs for Remedial Measures at Lipari Landfill, New Jersey

During the two-week period from March 12 through March 26, 1982, a preliminary conceptual design analysis on various remedial measures for the Lipari Landfill, New Jersey, was performed. This site is currently ranked at the top of the EPA's Superfund Cleanup List. This report demonstrates the practical benefits and limitations of applying models (both analytical and numerical) to a hazardous waste site in a restricted period of time. The numerical model was used to simulate current flow conditions at the site and provide initial conditions for a series of sensitivity simulations. These sensitivity simulations were designed to test (1) a slurry wall, (2) drain location, (3) drain depth, and (4) a clay cap. Analytical solutions were designed to analyze (1) water in place, (2) flow through an underlying layer, the lower Cohansey, (3) draining the lower Cohansey, (4) flushing the contaminated area using wells, and (5) convective arrival time of contaminants to drains. This analysis quantified discharge to drains, flow rates to a swamp downstream of the landfill, time required to drain the landfill, and contaminant travel times that would result from the implementation of each of the remedial measures that were suggested. The conclusions from this study were used by engineers and planners who incorporated, economics and engineering decisions for the various remedial measures considered.