Munisport
Encyclopedia
Munisport Landfill is a closed landfill located in North Miami, Florida
adjacent to a low-income community, a regional campus of Florida International University
, Oleta River State Park
(a state recreational park), and estuarine Biscayne Bay
.
The 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) Munisport landfill contains approximately 6.2 million cubic yards of municipal waste, and was in operation for 7 years.
Munisport was found to contain contaminants, and a "small amount" of hospital biohazard
waste was found on the site and drums of toxic chemicals during its operation. Audubon Society compiled a list of chemicals Munisport employees admitted had been buried in the dump. EPA officials never detected dangerous levels of those in the landfill and concentrated their efforts on the mangrove preserve south of the site, where the chief concern was the seepage of ammonia, created naturally as organic debris decomposes.
The 1992 Consent Decree between the City of North Miami and the United States redefined and shrunk the National Priorities List boundaries of the site to a 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) site is in wetlands to the east, away from the actual dump.
Location: North Miami, Florida
Congressional District: 22
site.
There are 4 areas: a 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) landfill, 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) of uplands, 93 acres (376,358 m²) of altered wetlands, and 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) adjacent to Biscayne Bay that are separated from the rest of the site by the State of Florida mangrove preserve
, a primary source for drinking water in South Florida. The solid waste was disposed of without the use of a liner and with no leachate control mechanisms, so rainfall percolating through the solid waste has caused the release of elevated levels of ammonia and other contaminants into the underlying groundwater and discharges into adjacent surface water.
The remainder of Munisport site beyond the landfill area unfortunately lies below the mean high water line, further increasing risk. Both inside and outside a dike constructed along the southeastern edge of the property are mangrove swamps. Biscayne Aquifer lies 150 feet (45.7 m) below the ground surface. The flow of regional groundwater is southeastward, towards Biscayne Bay, but varies locally due to mounding.
When the Environmental Protection Agency originally released their evaluation and report on the Munisport superfund site, it clearly stated that the land should never be developed and that an impermeable "cap" should be placed on the area so that toxic chemicals could not potentially leak into the air, water and soil, as the impact on human and aquatic health were unknown.
The original EPA evaluation of the site stated that the onsite samples originally tested contained di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, dieldrin, pentachlorophenol, and PCBs. Other samples contained lead, cadmium and ammonia. The ASTDR Public Health report stated:
The report stated that the dumping of 2,600 pounds of styrene in 1989, and 12,000 pounds in 198, occurred by just one boatyard. Governmental regulatory agencies at that time indicated that the extent of contaminants on the entire property remained unknown. The report indicated that it was necessary to go down more than two feet below ground (soil had only been tested superficially at one inch deep) to know what was really brewing beneath the surface. There is no evidence that this was ever done.
The Public Health Assessment concluded: "Inhalation of contaminated dust is a past and future air exposure pathway. Contaminated soils and fill material are sources of contaminated dust."
The Western portion of Munisport Dump was backfilled with solid waste consisting, among other things, of solid waste consisting of trash and municipal garbage. Among the non-permitted dumping discovered and documented were 12 drums containing tricresyl phosphate
, ethylcyanoacetate, and acetate
. "Small amounts" of hospital waste was found on the site.
The contamination in soil, sediments, surface water, and ground water sampled and documented include
North Miami, Florida
North Miami is a suburban city located in northeast Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, about north of Miami. The city lies on Biscayne Bay and hosts the Biscayne Bay Campus of Florida International University, and the North Miami campus of Johnson & Wales University...
adjacent to a low-income community, a regional campus of Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
, Oleta River State Park
Oleta River State Park
The Oleta River State Park is a Florida State Park system on Biscayne Bay in the municipal suburb of North Miami in metropolitan Miami, Florida...
(a state recreational park), and estuarine Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay is a lagoon that is approximately 35 miles long and up to 8 miles wide located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida, United States. It is usually divided for purposes of discussion and analysis into three parts: North Bay, Central Bay, and South Bay. Its area is...
.
The 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) Munisport landfill contains approximately 6.2 million cubic yards of municipal waste, and was in operation for 7 years.
Munisport was found to contain contaminants, and a "small amount" of hospital biohazard
Biohazard
Biohazard may refer to:* Biological hazard* Biohazard , a book by Ken Alibek* Biohazard , a New York hardcore punk band** Biohazard , a self-titled album from Biohazard...
waste was found on the site and drums of toxic chemicals during its operation. Audubon Society compiled a list of chemicals Munisport employees admitted had been buried in the dump. EPA officials never detected dangerous levels of those in the landfill and concentrated their efforts on the mangrove preserve south of the site, where the chief concern was the seepage of ammonia, created naturally as organic debris decomposes.
The 1992 Consent Decree between the City of North Miami and the United States redefined and shrunk the National Priorities List boundaries of the site to a 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) site is in wetlands to the east, away from the actual dump.
Location: North Miami, Florida
North Miami, Florida
North Miami is a suburban city located in northeast Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, about north of Miami. The city lies on Biscayne Bay and hosts the Biscayne Bay Campus of Florida International University, and the North Miami campus of Johnson & Wales University...
Congressional District: 22
History
| Year | Action |
|---|---|
| 1970 | City of North Miami purchased 350 acres (1.4 km²) parcel of land on Biscayne Bay for $12 million in bonds. |
| 1972 | City of North Miami leased 291 acres (1.2 km²) of this land to Munisport, Inc. for development of a golf course |
| 1974 | Munisport, Inc began operating a landfill to fill in low-lying areas of site. Materials dumped included hospital biohazard Biohazard Biohazard may refer to:* Biological hazard* Biohazard , a book by Ken Alibek* Biohazard , a New York hardcore punk band** Biohazard , a self-titled album from Biohazard... waste as well as drums of toxic chemicals. |
| 1976 | Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management(DERM) finds twelve 55-gallon drums (labeled as containing tricresyl phosphate, ethyl cyanoacetate, and acetone) leaking onto the ground surface in the eastern portion of the dump. The drums were later removed by a contractor of the City of North Miami. |
| 1977 | County cites dump for leaking drums, medical waste, odor. |
| 1980 | Munisport stopped landfill operations |
| 1981 | Florida Department of Environmental Regulation Florida Department of Environmental Regulation Florida Department of Environmental Regulation was the agency which, from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, handled regulation, management, conservation, compliance and enforcement of a wide range of environmental and natural resource activities in the state of Florida, USA... (DER) revoked Munisport, Inc. operating permit |
| 1983 | (EPA) United States Environmental Protection Agency The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress... added Munisport Landfill to the (NPL). |
| 1985 | EPA conducted a remedial investigation and found that leachate Leachate Leachate is any liquid that, in passing through matter, extracts solutes, suspended solids or any other component of the material through which it has passed.... from this landfill (primarily ammonia) threatens the environmental health of Biscayne Bay |
| 1989 | Dade County Public Health Unit personnel discovered and removed a small pile of hospital waste, including human biopsies, from the landfill |
| 1992 | In the first step to delist Munisport without the expense of a cleanup, a Consent Decree Consent decree A consent decree is a final, binding judicial decree or judgment memorializing a voluntary agreement between parties to a suit in return for withdrawal of a criminal charge or an end to a civil litigation... between the property owner, the City of North Miami (principal responsible party [PRP]), and the United States redefined and shrunk the National Priorities List boundaries of Muninsport to exclude the actual dump. Re-defined by the PRP, the new 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) Superfund site is in wetlands to the east, away from the dump. |
| 1993 | In Federal cost-recovery litigation, the PRP proved that drums and significant quantities of hazardous substances are buried in the dump. Despite this, ATSDR-recommended soil testing is rejected, as this would interfere with proposals to build an ampitheter at the Munisport site. |
| 1994 | A Public Health Assessment concluded that the dump is of "Indeterminate Health Hazard." Completed exposure pathways include air, contaminated soil, contaminated surface water, and ingestion of fish and oysters from Biscayne Bay. Among contaminants of concern are arsenic, ammonia, benzene, barium, cadmium, carbon disulfide, chromium, chlordane, dieldrin, lead, manganese, PCBs, strontium, and styrene. |
| 1996 | The EPA conducted what many consider inadequate samples testing designed to minimize the toxicity results and pave the way for delisting the Munisport site to make way for future development for residential and/or recreational uses. Despite protests from those who had examined the Munisport site and the original scientific findings, including respected scientists, marine biologists, local citizens, and environmental groups, the EPA used these pretextual test results to remove Munisport from the Superfund list. |
| 1999 | EPA deletes Munisport site from National Priorities List. See: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/d990924.htm |
| 2005 | Boca Developers, a development group partnering with Michael Swerdlow Michael Swerdlow Michael Swerdlow is a real estate developer responsible for many large-scale projects in South Florida.-Time line:-Projects and controversies:*International Swimming Hall of Fame*Two skyscraper beach condos on a public beach.... , begins construction of "Biscayne Landing Biscayne Landing Biscayne Landing is a 193 acres master-planned community located in North Miami, Florida within a 2,000 acre enclave on Biscayne Bay. The site is bordered to the east by Biscayne Bay and Oleta River State Park, Florida’s largest urban park, to the west by commercial developments... ", a $1 billion, 5,000-unit condo project. |
| 2007 | First two condo towers open. |
Location
Munisport is about 2000 feet (609.6 m) northwest of Biscayne Bay. Munisport is bordered on the north by Northeast 151st Street., on the south by N.E. 135th Street on the east by Florida International University, and on the west by Biscayne Blvd.Description
Munisport Landfill comprises some 291 acres (1.2 km²), containing 6.2 million cubic yards of municipal, biohazardous, and industrial waste. It is a registered SuperfundSuperfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
site.
There are 4 areas: a 170 acre (0.6879662 km²) landfill, 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) of uplands, 93 acres (376,358 m²) of altered wetlands, and 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) adjacent to Biscayne Bay that are separated from the rest of the site by the State of Florida mangrove preserve
Environmental Risks
The Munisport Landfill is located about 2000 feet (609.6 m) from Biscayne Bay. Natural soils in the landfill area had been removed prior to dumping, increasing risk of pollution seepage, especially into the Biscayne AquiferBiscayne Aquifer
The Biscayne Aquifer, named after Biscayne Bay, is a surficial aquifer. It is a shallow layer of highly permeable limestone under a portion of South Florida...
, a primary source for drinking water in South Florida. The solid waste was disposed of without the use of a liner and with no leachate control mechanisms, so rainfall percolating through the solid waste has caused the release of elevated levels of ammonia and other contaminants into the underlying groundwater and discharges into adjacent surface water.
The remainder of Munisport site beyond the landfill area unfortunately lies below the mean high water line, further increasing risk. Both inside and outside a dike constructed along the southeastern edge of the property are mangrove swamps. Biscayne Aquifer lies 150 feet (45.7 m) below the ground surface. The flow of regional groundwater is southeastward, towards Biscayne Bay, but varies locally due to mounding.
Documented Contamination
For 7 years, nearby residents have suffered as wastes were dumped into groundwater and piled up to 50 feet (15.2 m) high. After heavy rains, contaminated water flows from the dump, flooding and contaminating the area.When the Environmental Protection Agency originally released their evaluation and report on the Munisport superfund site, it clearly stated that the land should never be developed and that an impermeable "cap" should be placed on the area so that toxic chemicals could not potentially leak into the air, water and soil, as the impact on human and aquatic health were unknown.
The original EPA evaluation of the site stated that the onsite samples originally tested contained di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, dieldrin, pentachlorophenol, and PCBs. Other samples contained lead, cadmium and ammonia. The ASTDR Public Health report stated:
The report stated that the dumping of 2,600 pounds of styrene in 1989, and 12,000 pounds in 198, occurred by just one boatyard. Governmental regulatory agencies at that time indicated that the extent of contaminants on the entire property remained unknown. The report indicated that it was necessary to go down more than two feet below ground (soil had only been tested superficially at one inch deep) to know what was really brewing beneath the surface. There is no evidence that this was ever done.
The Public Health Assessment concluded: "Inhalation of contaminated dust is a past and future air exposure pathway. Contaminated soils and fill material are sources of contaminated dust."
The Western portion of Munisport Dump was backfilled with solid waste consisting, among other things, of solid waste consisting of trash and municipal garbage. Among the non-permitted dumping discovered and documented were 12 drums containing tricresyl phosphate
Tricresyl phosphate
Tricresyl phosphate, abbreviated TCP, is an organophosphate compound that is used as a plasticizer and diverse other applications. It is a colourless, viscous liquid, although commercial samples are typically yellow...
, ethylcyanoacetate, and acetate
Acetate
An acetate is a derivative of acetic acid. This term includes salts and esters, as well as the anion found in solution. Most of the approximately 5 billion kilograms of acetic acid produced annually in industry are used in the production of acetates, which usually take the form of polymers. In...
. "Small amounts" of hospital waste was found on the site.
The contamination in soil, sediments, surface water, and ground water sampled and documented include
- 4-DDE
- ammoniaAmmoniaAmmonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
- arsenicArsenicArsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
- asbestosAsbestosAsbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
- bariumBariumBarium is a chemical element with the symbol Ba and atomic number 56. It is the fifth element in Group 2, a soft silvery metallic alkaline earth metal. Barium is never found in nature in its pure form due to its reactivity with air. Its oxide is historically known as baryta but it reacts with...
- benzeneBenzeneBenzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
- beta-BHC
- Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalateBis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalateBisphthalate, commonly abbreviated DEHP, is an organic compound with the formula C6H42. It is sometimes called dioctyl phthalate and abbreviated DOP. It is the most important "phthalate," being the diester of phthalic acid and the branched-chain 2-ethylhexanol. This colourless viscous liquid is...
- cadmiumCadmiumCadmium is a chemical element with the symbol Cd and atomic number 48. This soft, bluish-white metal is chemically similar to the two other stable metals in group 12, zinc and mercury. Similar to zinc, it prefers oxidation state +2 in most of its compounds and similar to mercury it shows a low...
- carbon disulfideCarbon disulfideCarbon disulfide is a colorless volatile liquid with the formula CS2. The compound is used frequently as a building block in organic chemistry as well as an industrial and chemical non-polar solvent...
- chlordaneChlordaneChlordane, or chlordan, is an organochlorine compound that was used as a pesticide. This white solid was sold in the U.S. until 1983 as an insecticide for crops like corn and citrus and on lawns and domestic gardens.-Production and uses:...
- chlorobenzeneChlorobenzeneChlorobenzene is an aromatic organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5Cl. This colorless, flammable liquid is a common solvent and a widely used intermediate in the manufacture of other chemicals.-Uses:...
- chromiumChromiumChromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
- coliform bacteriaColiform bacteriaColiform bacteria are a commonly used bacterial indicator of sanitary quality of foods and water. They are defined as rod-shaped Gram-negative non-spore forming bacteria which can ferment lactose with the production of acid and gas when incubated at 35-37°C...
- dieldrinDieldrinDieldrin is a chlorinated hydrocarbon originally produced in 1948 by J. Hyman & Co, Denver, as an insecticide. Dieldrin is closely related to aldrin, which reacts further to form dieldrin. Aldrin is not toxic to insects; it is oxidized in the insect to form dieldrin which is the active compound...
- ethylbenzeneEthylbenzeneEthylbenzene is an organic compound with the formula C6H5CH2CH3. This aromatic hydrocarbon is important in the petrochemical industry as an intermediate in the production of styrene, which in turn is used for making polystyrene, a common plastic material....
- leachateLeachateLeachate is any liquid that, in passing through matter, extracts solutes, suspended solids or any other component of the material through which it has passed....
- leadLeadLead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
- manganeseManganeseManganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
- mercuryMercury (element)Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
- methylene chloride
- molybdenumMolybdenumMolybdenum , is a Group 6 chemical element with the symbol Mo and atomic number 42. The name is from Neo-Latin Molybdaenum, from Ancient Greek , meaning lead, itself proposed as a loanword from Anatolian Luvian and Lydian languages, since its ores were confused with lead ores...
- nickelNickelNickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
- pentachlorophenolPentachlorophenolPentachlorophenol is an organochlorine compound used as a pesticide and a disinfectant. First produced in the 1930s, it is marketed under many trade names...
- pesticides
- polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- strontiumStrontiumStrontium is a chemical element with the symbol Sr and the atomic number 38. An alkaline earth metal, strontium is a soft silver-white or yellowish metallic element that is highly reactive chemically. The metal turns yellow when exposed to air. It occurs naturally in the minerals celestine and...
- styrene
- vanadiumVanadiumVanadium is a chemical element with the symbol V and atomic number 23. It is a hard, silvery gray, ductile and malleable transition metal. The formation of an oxide layer stabilizes the metal against oxidation. The element is found only in chemically combined form in nature...
- VOCsVolatile organic compoundVolatile organic compounds are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary, room-temperature conditions. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate or sublimate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and...
- zincZincZinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
Resident Exposure to Contamination
In the early 1990s Highland Park residents expressed concerns that contaminated soil and water at Munisport has exposed adjacent Higland Village mobile home park, population est. 1,500, by stormwater run-off and contaminated airborne pollution (by dust). In addition, Highland Park residents expressed concerns that children have been directly exposed when trespassing on the site. There was a 1990 landfill fire that residents believe could have caused additional toxic exposure, although air sampling was not done in time.Documented Complaints from Adjacent Highland Village
The following are documented complaints from Highland Village Residents after dumping began at Munisport Landfill.- rashes, respiratory illnesses, and infections suffered in the 1970s and 1980s, caused by exposure to dust from landfill.
- toxic smoke from the March/April 1990 landfill fire aggravated existing respiratory conditions
- increased rates of eye irritation and infection from swimming at the Oleta State Recreation Area and in the lagoon adjacent to Florida International University.
- children developed serious skin infections after being cut or scratched.
- inordinately high number of cancers in their neighborhood after dumping began
External links
- Engineering firm not legally responsible for pollution
- lawsuit
- condo tries to bury its past life as a dump
- Off the hazwaste hook - history of Munisport problems
- Center for Public Integrity - Munisport Landfill Information
- Unusual Cleanup Plan For Miami's Munisport Landfill Remains Controversial (Solid Waste Digest: Southern Edition, September, 1995)
- EPA Superfund (CERCLIS) records for Munisport site