United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
2003 Superfund Annual Report
A status report on the New England
Superfund remedial, removal,
brownfields, oil spill and
emergency response programs.
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U.S. EPA New England ma United States
Environmental Protection
Table of Contents %# Agency New England
MAINE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction .... 1
Overview 2
National Prionties List 6
Map .... ... .12
Sites of Special Interest 1 4
Watch List 1 8
Emergency Planning & Response Program 20
Brownfičlds 23
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U.S. EPA New England I % Un ed States
w Environmental Protection
Introduction Agency New England
WELCOME TO EPA NEW ENGLAND
The New England office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is
dedicated to protecting all New Englanders from environmental health threats
while also preserving and protecting our unique environmental resources.
This 2003 annual report details EPA New England’s Office of Site
Remediation and Restoration programmatic accomplishments and
presents important information about funding for our Superfund and
Brownfields programs. The Superfund program directs the clean up of
National Priorities List (NPL) sites as well as the cleanup of smaller, often
less complex, sites that pose a significant risk to people or the environ-
ment. This office is prepared to handle a broad spectrum of environmen-
tal emergencies, ranging from those posed by chemical or oil spills to
those presented by potential acts of terrorism. This office also administers
the region’s Brownfields program, oversees the regulation of underground storage tanks, and works
with hazardous waste facilities to clean up contamination and create better systems for managing
environmental threats.
Our New England Superfund program remains vital and boasts strong successes. Three-quarters of
the 111 sites on The NPL are either undergoing or have completed construction of cleanup technolo-
gies. Nearly one-third of the sites are already being reused or have agreed upon productive reuse
plans. Ten sites have been deleted from the NPL, having met all cleanup goals. Through an aggres-
sive regional program to recoup federal expenses at these sites or to have responsible parties pay
for the cleanup, we have restored $2.1 billion to the Superfund Trust Fund since the program began.
In early 2004, EPA added the Pike Hill Copper Mine in Corinth, Vermont to the NPL.
in addition, this office joins the entire agency in a focused federal effort to ensure that all New
England residents enjoy the benefit of a healthy environment. The federal government recognizes the
importance of environmental lustice, and EPA seeks to protect all our communities from environmen-
tal threats.
Homeland Security continues to be a regional priority, and we have made many advances in
our ability to respond to chemical, biological and radiological incidents. EPA has purchased
updated chemical and radiological agent monitoring equipment and new protective equipment for
response personnel. The region’s mobile command post has been equipped with cell, satellite, and
radio communications, a weather station, satellite television, and broadband internet. The region’s
emergency response staff have received advanced training that well prepares them to respond, along
with local, state and federal response partners to environmental or other catastrophic events.
The agency’s Land Revitalization Agenda has resulted in many underused or unused real estate
parcels being redeveloped and contributing to the local economy in the way of taxes and lobs.
I encourage you to visit EPA’s Brownfields website to read case studies of redevelopment projects
across the region, www.epa.gov/ne/Brownfields .
We look forward to another year of working with our Congressional delegation, states and tribes,
the public and others to promote a cleaner, healthier and more productive environment.
Please visit EPA’s Internet web pages to find a great deal of useful information as well as detailed
descriptions of each of the Superfund sites in New England. Bookmark the following web addresses:
www.epa.gov/ne/superlund and www.epa.gov/ne/brownfields
RobertW. Varney
Regional Administrator
SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003 1
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Overview
Following is a quick summary of EPA New England’s Office of
Site Remediation and Restoration (OSRR) programs highlighted
in this report.
National Priorities List (Superfund) Program
OSRR’s remedial branches oversee long-term cleanups at sites that ore typically on EPA’s Notional
Priorities List Short-term cleanups can correct many hazardous waste problems and eliminate most
threats to human health and the environment Some sites, however, require lengthier and more
complex cleanups These may include large-scale soil remediation, restoring groundwater ond
taking measures to protect wetlands, estuaries, and other ecological resources These sites are often
caused by years of pollution and may take several years, even decades, to clean
Emergency Planning and Response Program
OSRR’s Emergency Planning and Response branch prepares for and conducts responses to
discharges of oil and releases of hazardous substances In addition to planning and preparing for
regional emergency responses, getting ready for counter-terrorism activities, inspecting oil storage
facilities, cleaning up emergency oil and chemical spills, this branch oversees time-critical short-
term cleanups in New England
Short-term cleanups, also referred to as “removal actions,” address immediate threats to public
health and the environment Short-term cleanups may toke anywhere from a few days to a few years,
depending on the type and extent of contamination
Brownfields Program
Originally established as an EPA initiative ri January 1995, the Brownfields program has evolved
into an effort involving more than 1 5 federal partners This collaborative effort, referred to as the
Brownitelds National Partnership, was created in June 1 997 to promote beneficial reuse of contami-
nated sites EPA’s Brownfields Program consists of various initiatives designed to work with local,
state and tribal partners to reuse brownfields in environmentally sound ways driven by the comrnu-
nity Key Brownfields programs include Site Assessment Demonstration Pilots, Targeted Brownfields
Assessments, Cleanup Revolving Loan Funds, Job Training Grants, Showcase Communities and
financial help to state brownfields programs, including Voluntary Cleanup Programs
2/ SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003
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U.S. EPA New England
Overview
EPA United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
SUPERFUND
FromDjscovery to Cleanup
Browi l4s P ogrwn .
jstudy Type a
I Extent of
I ContaminetIon
0
SUPERFUND ANNUM REPORT 2003 3
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Number of National Priorities List Sites
in each phase of the Superfund Process
Remedial
Assessment
not Begun*
L
Study Remedy Selected;
Underway* Design Underway*
Construction
Underway
4 SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003
* may include sites where early action has occurred ** long-term monitoring, operation, and maintenance ongoing
Source: Superfund e-facts, February 2004
Overview
60 —
50 —
40 —
0
1
a)
I’ .)
1,
C
C)
C
u - I
a)
z
9-
0
a)
-c
E
z
30
20
10
U
0
Construction
Complete**
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SUPERFUND SITE CLEANUP STATUS SUMMARY
U.S. EPA New England I p unite states
Overview I Environmental Protection
Agency New England
emediaI Study Remedy Construction Construction
Assessment Underway Selected; Design Underway Complete”
not Begun Underwoy
CONNECTICUT
Brood Brook Mill”
Durham Meadow
Linemoster Sw
Beacon Heights
Nutmeg Volley Rd
N London Sub
Cheshire GWater
Precision Plating
Old Southington
Gallups Quarry
Scovill Landfill
Roymark
Kellogg-Deenng
SRS
Laurel Park
Revere Textile
Yaworski Lagoon
Barkhamsted
MASSACHUSETTS
Hoverhill Landfill
Sutton Brook
Blackburn&Union
GE-Housatonic”
Hoth & Patterson
Nuclear Metals
Shpack Landfill
Atlas Tack
Natick Army Lab
Naval Weapons
S Weymouth NAS
Fort Devens
Honscom AFB
lndustnplex
Iron Horse Park
Army Matls Tech
New Bedford
Nyanza
Otis ANG Base
Silresim
WR Grace/Acton
Wells G&H
Baird & McGuire
Cannon Eng
Charles George IF
Devens-Sudbury Ann
Groveland Wells
Hocomonco Pond
Norwood PCBs
Plymouth Harbor
PSC Resources
Re-Solve, Inc
Rose Disposal Pit
Salem Acres
Sullivan’s Ledge
J
Eastland Woolen
West Site/Hows Cor
Beede Waste Oil
Dover Landfill
Portsmouth NSY
Fletcher’s Paint
N H Plating”
Ottoti & Goss
Savage Muni
Somersworth LF
Brunswick NAS
Eastern Surplus
Loring AFB
McKin Co
O’Connor Co
Pinette’s Salvage
Saco Municipal LF
Saco Tannery
Union Chemical
Winthrop landfill
Auburn Road LF
Coakley Landfill
Kearsarge Mefollurg
Keefe Enviro
Mottolo Pig Farm
Pease AFB
South Mum Well
Sylvester
Tibbetts Road
Tinkham Garage
Town Goroge/
Radio Beac
RHODE ISLAND
Centredole Manor
W Kingston/URI
Rose Hill Landfill
Central Landfill
Davis Liquid
Davisville NCBC
Newport NETC
Peterson/Puritan
Davis GSR Landfill
Landfill & Res Rec
Picillo Form
Stamina Mills
WestemScind&Grrzvel
Elizabeth Mine
Ely Copper Mine
Parker Landfill
Pine Street Canal
Pownal Tannery
Bennington Landfill
BFI Landfill
Burgess Bros IF
Darling Hill Dump
Old Spnngfield LF
Tansitor Electronics
may include sites where early actions (e g, removal actions) have occurred or are underway
long-term monitoring, operabon, and maintenance ongoing
“proposed NPL site
CA past wetlands purchase considered “remedial action’, awaiting funding for actual construction work
Note Statistics represent most-advanced Operable Unit at each site, additional activities may be ongoing at these sites
MAINE
Callahan Mine
NEW HAMPSHIRE Troy MIlls Landfill Mohawk Tannery”
VERMONT
SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003 / 5
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National Priorities List Sites
Summary of Superfund Status—New England
EPA has worked aggressively to clean up hazardous waste problems in
New England In cooperation with our state counterparts, final cleanup
activities are completed, underway, or in design at most of New England’s
111 NPL sites.
• 76% of New England Superfund sites (proposed, final, and deleted)
on the National Priorities List - 82 of 111 sites - have undergone or
are undergoing cleanup construction
• 53 sites have all cleanup construction completed, 29 sites have
cleanup construction underway
• 10 New England sites have been deleted from the NPL
• EPA has helped promote economic development by removing 1,594
sites in New England from the CERCLIS list of waste sites
• The Superfund program has spent over $1.3 billion in New England
to cleanup Superfund National Priorities List sites
• EPA has spent over $21 1.2 million on site assessment, investigation,
and cleanup at non- National Priorities List sites in New England
• EPA, with the cooperation of the U S Department of Justice,
continues to ensure that companies responsible for contamination at
sites pay their fair share of cleanup costs Since the inception of the
program, responsible pony commitments to cleanups in New
England, via direct payments to the Superfund Trust Fund or via
funding of studies and cleanup work, exceeds $2.1 billion
Source EPA New England, January , 2004
Cumulative Federal Superfund Dollars Expended at
National Priorities List Sites in New England (1 980-2003)
CT $1979 million
MA $759 2 million
ME $1 1 7 million
NH $156 2 million
RI $73 5 million
VT $45 million
NEW ENGLAND TOTALS:
$1,348,800,000
Source EPA New England, January 1, 2004
MAINE
6/ SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003
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U.S. EPA New England I United States
National Priorities List Sites Iul A Environmental Protection
Agency New England
Source EPA New England, January 1, 2004
2003 Superfund Fast Facts—Maine
EPA has worked aggressively to clean up hazardous waste problems in
Vermont In cooperation with the Maine Department of Environmental
Protection, final cleanup activities are completed, underway, or in design at
most of Maine’s 14 NPL sites.
• 79% of Maine’s Superfund sites on the National Priorities List - 11 of
14 sites - have undergone or are undergoing cleanup construction,
or are in final design.
• 10 Superfund sites have all cleanup construction completed, 1
Superfund site has cleanup construction underway
• 2 Superfund sites have been deleted from the National Priorities List;
Pinette’s Salvage Yard in Washburn and Saco Tannery Waste Pits
in Saco.
• Region 1 has helped promote economic redevelopment by removing
165 Maine sites from the CERCLIS waste list.
• The Superfund Program has spent over $117 million in Maine to
clean up Superfund National Priorities List sites
• EPA has spent over $29.3 million on site assessment, investigation,
and cleanup at non-National Priorities List sites in Maine
• EPA, with the cooperation of the U S. Department of Justice,
continues to ensure that companies responsible for contamination at
sites pay their fair share of cleanup costs Since the inception of the
program, responsible party commitments to cleanups in Maine, via
direct payments to the Superfund Trust Fund or via funding of studies
and cleanup work, exceeds $106.3 million, including $100,000
in 2003.
SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003 / 7
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Status of New England National Priorities List Sites
for more information on this pioject, see www.epo goy/ne/superfund/sites/oconnor
NPL Status Listed in 1 983
Cleanup Status All Construction Completed in 2002
SuperIund$$Spent $22million
[
for more information on this project see
NPL Status Listed in 2002
Cleanup Status Remedial Assessment Not Begun
Superfund $$ Spent $457,000
Brunswick
Brunswick Niaval Air Station
for more information on this pioject, see www epa . gov/ne/superfund/sites/brunswick
NPL Status Listed in 1987
Cleanup Stotus All Construction Completed in 2002
Superfund $$ Spent $2 million
Corinna
Eastland Woolen Mill
for more information on this project, see www epa.gov/ne/superfi.ind/sites/eastlond
NPL Status Listed in 1 999
Cleanup Status Remedy Selected, Design Underway, Removal Activities
u erIund $$ Spent $43 2 million
Gray
McKin Company
for more information on this project, see www epa gov/ne/superfund/sites/mckin
NPL Status Listed in 1983
Cleanup Status All Construction Completed in 1 992
Superfund $$ Spent $3 4 million
MAINE
Augusta
O’Connor Company
Brooksville
Callahan Mining Corp.
8/ SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003
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U.S. EPA New England I United States
Environmental Protection
Status of New England National Priorities List Sites I , rI Agency New England
Kittery
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
for more information on this project, see www epa gov/ne/superfund/sites/
portsmouth
L
NPL Status listed in 1994
Cleanup Status Construction Underway
Other Areas Study Underway
Superfund $$ Spent $882,000
Limestone
Loring Air Force Base
for more information on this project, see www epa gov/ne/superfund/sites/lor,ng
NPL Status Listed ri 1990
Cleanup Status All Construction Completed in 2001
L__Superfund $$ Spent $3 3 million
Meddybemps
Eastern Surplus Company
for more information on this project, see www epa gov/ne/superfund/sites/eastern
NPL Status Listed in 1996
Cleanup Status All Construdion Completed in 2001
L Superfund $$ Spent $20 2 million
Plymouth
West Site/Hows Corner
for mare information on this project, see www epa gov/ne/superfurid/sites/hows
NPL Status Listed ri 1 995
Cleanup Status Remedy Selected, Design Underway
Superfund $$ Spent $6 4 million
SUPERFUND ANNUAl. REPORT 2003 / 9
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Status of New England National Priorities List Sites
for more information on this project, see www.epo gov/ne/superfund/sites/
sacolondf ill
C NPL Status Listed in 1990
Cleanup Status All Construction Completed in 2000
( _ Superfund $$ Spent $2 2 million
for more information on this project, see www epa gov/ne/superfund/siles/
sacotannery
Saco Tannery Waste Pits
NPL Status Deleted in 1 999
Cleanup Status All Construction Completed in 1 993
L_Superfund$$Spent $12 3 million _j
South Hope
Union Chemical
for more information on this project, see www.epa aov/ne/suaerfund/sites/union
I
NPL Status Listed in 1 989
Cleanup Status All Construction Completed in 1 997
Superlund $$ Spent $3 2 million
Washburn
Pinette’s Salvage Yard
I
for more information on this project, see www epa gov/ne/superfund/sites/oinette
NPL Status Deleted in 2002
Cleanup Status All Construction Completed in 1 997
Superfund$$Spent $13 7 million
I
Winthrop Landfill
for more information on this project, see www epa gov/ne/superfund/sites/winthrop
( NPL Status Listed in 1 983
Cleanup Status All Construction Completed in 1 998
Superfund $$ Spent $3 4 million
MAINE
Saco
Saco Municipal Landfill
Winthrop
JO/SUPERFUND ANNUM REPORT 2003
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U.S. EPA New England I EPA States
Environmental Protection
Status of New England National Priorities List Sites I Agency New England
SUPERFUNDANNUA REPORT2OO3 / 1]
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Map
12/SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003
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U.S. EPA New England I EpAufhted states
Map Environmental Protection
Agency New England
SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003 / 13
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Sites of Special Interest
EASTLAND WOOLEN MILL FACT SHEET
Corinna, Moine
April 2004
Lead EPA
Listed on the NPL July 1999
Site Description
• Eostland Woolen Mill Company operated as a wool and blended wool textile facility from
1909 to 1996
• Liquid wastes from the Mill were dischorged to the East Branch of the Sebasticook River until
1 969 when the iocai sewage treatment plant was built
• Contamination of groundwater was discovered in 1 983
• In 1 983, carbon filters were installed on five private water supplies By 1 988, ten private
water supplies were fitted with carbon filters
• Eostland Woolen Mill Company performed investigations to assess the contamination from
1984-1995
• A water line was installed in 1 995 to provide water for those with contaminated wells
• Eastland Woolen Mill ceases to exist in 1996
• Maine DEP removed 54,673 pounds of various hazardous substances from the closed Mill
• EPA begins investigation of the Eastland Woolen Mill in December 1 998
• EPA places the Eastland Woolen Mill on the Notional Priorities List (Superfurid list) in
July1999
• Action Memorandum to initiate a Non-Time-Critical Removal Action (NTCRA) to address
contaminated soil signed in July 1 999
• Rl/FS performed 1 999 - 2004
• Record of Decision for Operable Unit I (groundwater remedy) signed in September 2002
Current Site Status and Cleanup Adions to Date :
• EPA has completed the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study for the entire Site and is
planning to release a Proposed Plan for the final Site cleanup action during 2004
• Under the NTCRA, 100,000 tons of contaminated soil were sub 1 ect to treatment 1 0,000
pounds of contamination were removed from the soil In-situ treatment of the deep source
area soils will continue through 2005 The NTCRA should be completed in 2005/2006
The cost of the NTCRA is expected to be $46 million upon completion
• EPA is preparing a design for the groundwater remedy and is considering the results of the
NTCRA, including the institutional control zone
Current Funding Status
• EPA has provided $44 million for the NTCRA activities to date An additional $2 million is
expected to be provided to complete the NTCRA
• EPA has provided $6 million for the RI/FS activities No additional funding is necessary for
the RIIFS
• EPA has provided funding for the Operable Unit I, groundwater cleanup, design
MAINE
14,’ SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003
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United States
U.S. EPA New England I
Sites of Special Interest EPAEnvro meta1 Protection
Agency New England
Key Accomplishments
• Demolition of former Eastland Woolen Mill
• Excavation and treatment of 100,000 tons of contaminated soil
• Completion of Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study
• Town of Corirwia completed one of the pilot Superfund Re-Development Initiative
Grant protects
• Portions of the Site are being developed for productive reuse in 2004/2005
SUPERFUND ANNUM REPORT 2003 ,‘ 15
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Sites of Special Interest
WEST SITE! HOWS CORNER SUPERFUND SITE FACT SHEET
Plymouth, ME
April 2004
Lead: PRP
Listed on the NPL: September 1 995
Site Description! History :
The Hows Corner Superfund Site is a former waste oil reclamation facility located in Plymouth,
Maine The site is defined as the entire 1 7-acre parcel of land owned by George West and the
surrounding area where groundwater has become contaminated The site is comprised of mostly
forested land surrounded by a mixture of residential properties and vacant land
A cleared two acre fenced area is all that remains of the facility
• From 1 965 to 1 980, George West operated a waste oil reclamation facility on a two acre
portion of the site Facility operations consisted of collecting waste oil (pnmarily used motor oil &
lubricating oil) and pumping it into one of 8 above-ground storage tanks (ASTs) where the au
was allowed to separate into various fractions and latersold as either fuel for paper mills or dust
control on dirt roads
• Sampling of a pnvote well in October 1987 led to the discovery that the site hod contaminated
nearby private wells with PCE, PCBs and other chemicals Among other things, spills during the
transfer of waste oil to the facility’s above-ground storage tanks (ASTs) resulted in the contamina-
tion of soil and groundwater at the site
• Subsequent to the discovery of groundwater contamination, the Maine Department of
Environmental Protection (MEDEP) provided boliled water to affected residents and later
requested that EPA provide a permanent alternative safe drinking water supply
• In November 1 990 EPA initiated a Time-Critical Removal Action to address the immediate
risks posed by the Site The removal action included (1) the excavation and removal of approxi-
mately 847 tons of heavily contaminated soil from the site, (2) fencing of the 2 acre portion of the
site where the waste oil was stored, and (3) the installation of a permanent waler supply to
provide on alternative potable water source to residents whose private wells were contaminated
by the site
Current Site Status and Cleanup Actions to Date :
• A Remedial Investigation! Feasibility Study (RI/FS) was performed at the site from October
1 999 through May 2002 Based on the findings of the Rl/FS, EPA finalized a Record of Decision
(ROD) for the site in September 2002 that established the following cleanup action (1) installa-
tion of a groundwater extraction and treatment system to minimize migration of contominoted
groundwater, (2) public water for those residents whose private well is at risk of contamination,
(3) property restrictions to prevent exposure to contaminated groundwater
• The design of the groundwater extraction and treatment system required by the 2002 ROD will
begin in Spring 2004 and will likely conclude in Spring 2005 In addition, studies will be per-
formed in Summer 2004 to determine the technical practicability of eliminating the contamina-
tion beneath the 2-acre area of the site The outcome of this evaluation will help EPA determine
whether additional cleanup actions at the site are appropriate or technically impracticable
MAINE
16/ SUPERFUND ANNUM REPORT 2003
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U.S. EPA New England II A United States
Environmental Protection
Sites of Special Interest # Agency New England
Current Funding Status :
EPA has spent approximately $6 million in response costs related to the site The malority of
these costs were associated with the removal of contaminated soil and the installation of the
alternative drinking water supply
• EPA recovered approximately 40% of its past response costs through two Consent Decrees
(CD) that were negotiated with the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) in December 2001 ond
April 2002, respedively All recovered costs are being held in a Special Account that was estab-
lished for the site
• The PRPs funded both the Rl/FS and EPA’s oversight costs in accordance with on Administra-
tive Order by Consent (AOC) that became effective in June 2000 The total cost of the RIIFS
including EPA oversight was approximately $2 million An additional $1 million will likely
be spent to evaluate the technical pradicability of eliminating the contamination beneath
the 2-acre area of the site
• The PRPs will fund the Remedial Design (RD) and EPA’s oversight costs in accordance with an
AOC that was finalized in May 2004
• The cleanup presented in the 2002 ROD was estimated to cost approximately $8 million EPA
plans to negotiate a CD with the PRPs for funding of the cleanup after the design of the contain-
ment system is finished and a decision regarding the technical prodicability of further work in the
2-acre area of the site has been reached
Issues :
The most significant issue regarding this site is funding Response actions to date hove been
funded by both EPA and the PRPs as mentioned above However, given that the maiority of the
PRPs who remain are either individuals or small businesses located exclusively within the State of
Maine (i e , auto repair shops, auto dealers) there is considerable uncertainty as to their ability
to fund future costs associated with the site EPA has already released a large number of parties
based on their documented “ability to pay” or deminimis status as defined by the Small Business
Relief and Brown fields Revililizotion Act of 2002 Consequently, the cost to implement the $8
million dollar remedy will have to be addressed by the remaining parties (approximately 00),
EPA or a combination of both Regardless of the funding source, it is likely that a number of the
parties who remain will have legitimate “ability to pay” issues when negotiations for the cleanup
commence given that many of them ore continuing to payoff their past cost settlement through
installments based on 0% interest loans that were coordinated by EPA and the State of Maine
Key Accomplishments :
• EPA addressed immediate threats posed by the site by removing 847 tons of heavily
contaminated soil and providing a permanent alternative safe drinking watersupply
• EPA recovered approximately 40% of it $6 million in past costs associated for the site
• EPA successfully negotiated two Administrative Orders by Consent (AOC) with PRPs whereby
they performed the RI/FS and will perform the RD of the containment system specified in
the ROD
SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003 /17
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Watch List
MAINE WATCH LIST
Sites included on the 11 Watch List” are those that both the state and EPA Site Assessment
programs agree merit increased stote-federal coordination and oversight These sites are a small
subset of the several thousand “active” sites included in the EPA Region 1 and New England
state inventories of known and suspected hazardous waste disposal sites Criteria for including
sites on the Watch List are loosely defined In general, the Watch List includes sites that warrant
special monitoring because they are strong NPL candidates, are the sub ect of considerable
public interest, ore particularly large and/or complex, are requiring significant agency or state
resource expenditures, or are state-lead sites that may be referred to EPA in the future Watch List
sites may be, but are not necessarily, listed in the federal CERCLIS inventory Sites may be added
or dropped if their status changes
The purpose of the Watch List is to facilitate rapid information exchange between the states and
EPA regarding the current status of these high profile sites, and to ensure agencies are kept
abreast of key site issues Agencies have agreed to share site information and to revise the status
of sites as needed At a minimum, however; the entire list will be reviewed and revised, as
appropriate, annually
KERR-AMERICAN MINE, BLUE HILL
MED05571 5775
Kerr-Amencan Inc received permits from the Maine Mining Commission and the Environmental
Improvement Commission to construct and operate a mine facility to produce zinc and copper
in 1971 The facility ceased operation in 1 977 Historical analytical data shows that Carleton
Stream has been impacted by metals discharged from the site and that the diversity of benthic
invertebrates has decreased Data collected in 1 995 indicates the surface water and soil are still
impacted by contornination from the site
After discussions with the Maine DEP in 1 999, Kerr-American agreed to remediate the
Kerr-American Mine site with DEP oversight under the Maine Uncontrolled Sites Program An
Administrative Order by Consent was drafted in early 2000 and a Remedial Investigation (RI)
was initiated in March 2000 The RI, consisting of an environmental geochemistry investigation,
a site investigation of soil, surface water and groundwater, a fisheries resource investigation, a
screening-level ecological risk assessment, and a human health risk assessment, was approved
in December 2002 The results of these investigations confirm that heavy-metal contaminants
from the site have impacted site soil and local surface water Onsite groundwater contaminants
are at levels above recommended state drinking water standards, but the site has impacted no
offsite domestic drinking water wells
The Department provided three copies of the final RI for inspection and comment in the
Blue Hill town library in the fall of 2002 The final Remedial Investigation Report was approved
by ME DEP in late December 2002 DEP held a meeting in the Blue Hill Town Hall in late
January 2003 in which the results of the Human Health Risk Assessment portion of the RI were
presented together with the prefinal Feasibility Study (FS) report A tentative schedule for the start
of construction in the summer of 2003 was also discussed
A draft remedial action plan was reviewed and discussed at several meetings in early 2003 and
most of the engineering details and issues were setiled Kerramerican held up submission of the
Feasibility Study for final approval until the details of the remedial action were settled Kerramencan
contacted the US Army Corps (ACCE) and EPA regarding obtaining a construction permit for
the pro ed The remedial action plan called for the placement of a soil cover on the tailings
MAINE
18/ SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003
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U.S. EPA New England 1F A United States
Environmental Protection
Watch List # Agency New Eng?and
impoundment area The ACOE insisted that Kerramerican conduct a wetland survey of the
tailings impoundment area
This requirement effectively delayed the beginning of construction in 2003 as envisioned
Kerramerican conducted a wetlands delineation survey and submitted a report in late August
2003 The result of the survey indicated that a significant portion of the tailings impoundment
area contained ‘high value’ wetland vegetation DEP met with Kerramericon, Kerromerican’s
consultants, the ACOE, the USEPA and the representative of U S Fish and Wildlife Service in
Ellsworth in October 2003 to discuss the results of the wetlands study, and in Augusta in
December 2003 to discuss a modification of the remedial action that would meet approval from
the federal agencies
The Department agreed to scale back the aerial extent of the tailings impoundment soil cover by
80% in order to preserve the designated wetlands This decision was ustified by the site specific
mathematical model calculation that the tailings impoundment portion of the site was respon-
sible for less than 8% of the release of metals from the site Kerramencan is presently preparing
a wetlands permit for federal approval Following this the Department will review the Feasibility
Study and Remedial Action Plan reports for final approval and construction is expected to
commence in the spring (2004)
At this time, it is anticipated that Kerr American Mine will not be pursued for potential NFL
listing
SUPERFUND ANNUM REPORT 2003 /19
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Emergency Planning & Response Program
9EPA
• •
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4 L PRO
REGION 1
EMERGENCY
RESPONSE
EMERGENCY PLANNING AND
RESPONSE PROGRAM
EPA New England’s Emergency Planning and Response
Program prepares for, and responds to oil and chemical spills
to the environment, and supports and supplements local, state,
and private parties’ efforts to address emergencies.
EPA also oversees short-term cleanups across New England. Short-term
cleanups, called “removal actions,” reduce immediate threats to public health and the environ-
ment at sites that are typically less complex to cleanup than sites on the Notional Priorities List.
Short-term cleanups may take anywhere from a few days to a few years to complete, depending
on the type and extent of contamination.
An emergency occurs when hazardous or toxic chemicals are released into the environment
causing potential health or environmental risks. EPA may need to respond within hours of the
event.
Time-Critical Actions ore those cleanups where, based on an evaluation of the site, EPA deter-
mines that on-site cleanup activities must be initiated within six months of determining that a
short-term cleanup is appropriate. For time-critical actions, EPA conducts an investigation of
the contamination and produces on “action memorandum” authorizing and outlining the cleanup
process before beginning work.
Examples of the types of situations where EPA may be asked to respond immediately include
those involving a fire, explosion or imminent, catastrophic contamination of a drinking water
reservoir. In cases where an abandoned property has been identified with drums of toxic
chemicals left behind, EPA may still assist in the cleanup but the timetable need not be as imme-
diate. The following charts show the funds spent at each of the sites EPA has worked on in 2003.
For further information on EPA
New England’s oil and chemi-
cal emergency response pro-
grams, visit our web site at
www.epa.gov/ne/superfund/erl
enndex.htm .
- ,. ,
MAINE
20 SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003
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U.S. EPA New England
Emergency Planning & Response Program
‘ EPA United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
SITES WITH SHORT-TERM CLEANUP ACTIVITIES COMPLETED IN 2003
Site Name City Date CERCLA
Completed Funds Expended
Connecticut
American Thread Company
Willimantic
05/01/03
$
1,625,868 13
Inter Royal Corporation
Plainfield
07/22/03
$
239,058 25
Beany’s Cleaners
Naugatuck
08/07/03
$
1 50,978.28
Chase Brass and Copper
Waterbury
08/10/03
$
3,772,999.14
Maine
Tuttle Estate
Lyman
09/16/03
$
87,519 64
Buckfield Trailers
Buck{ield
07/18/03
$
224,11302
Green Street Property
Houlton
10/24/03
$
216,558.08
One Market Square
Houlfon
05/20/03
$
242,446.46
Massachusetts
Sonborn Wood Factory
Evelyn Porter Estate
Hathewoy & Patterson
Route 44
Nuclear Metals
Coastal Metal Finishing
New Hampshire
A C Lawrence Leather
$ 60,608 63
$1 ,024,900 84
$ 1,026,64002
$1,353,466 33
$1,193,800.00
$ 528,782 27
$ 240,784.88
Rhode Island
I D Mack East
Vermont
Buckley Drive Waterline
Howe Cleaners
TLR Mill Complex
$ 543,715 79
1
$ 629,813 80
$ 225,397 22
$ 183,239 61
Winchendon
Foxboro
Mansfield
Tauriton
Concord
Merrimac
10/09/03
08/08/03
10/17/03
05/27/03
04/30/03
08/24/03
12/12/03
Winchester
Providence
Bennington
Barre
Bellows Falls
06/30/03
04/30/03
09/11/03
12/09/03
SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003 / 21
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Emergency Planning & Response Program
Bristol
Plainfield
Plo infield
Waterbury
Bridgeport
Fitchburg
Bo ldwinville
Grofton
Worcester
Tau nfon
Salem
Wobu rn
Norwood
03/10/03
04/09/03
04/09/03
11/18/03
10/06/03
11/25/02
08/28/02
05/10/02
10/31/03
06/12/02
09/26/02
03/28/03
10/16/02
$ 77,59] 52
$ 151,144 35
$ 104,556 32
$ 31,032.21
$ 406,894 13
$ 21,077.80
$1,704,926 53
$2,985,446 45
$ 2,297 62
$ 614,945.27
$1,977,199 05
$ 59,038 00
$ 272,053.42
New Hampshire
Spoulding Fibre
B & S Leasing
Eastern Parcel
Grugnale Waste Disposal
Troy Mills Landfill
Milton
Ploinfield
H en n I ker
Mi Iford
Troy
1 0/08/03
1 0/31/01
1 0/31/01
11/11/03
1 0/03/02
$ 340,608.20
$ 425,835 99
$ 230,340.11
$ 431,642 79
$ 327,000 00
Rhode Island
Cenfredale Manor
Restoration Proiect
20 Green Hill Road
Vermont
Elizabeth Mine
North Providence
Johnston
1 0/22/03
02/25/03
03/19/03
$ 65,000 00
$1,624,859 15
MAINE
SITES WITH ONGOING CLEANUP ACTIVITIES
Site Name City Date CERCLA
Started Funds Expended
Connecticut
Bnsfol Franklin Street PCBs
Brunswick Mill
Carvill Combing
E PAC
Chrome Engineering
Massachusetts
Sawyer Passway
Temple-Stuart
Fisherville Mill
Sutton Lane Plating
Oak Street
Witchcraft Heights
Wells G&H
Zimble Drum
Strafford
$1,266,366 00
22/ SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003
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U.S. EPA New England I k United States
Environmental Protection
Brownfields Overview ‘ #‘ Agency New England
EPA NEW ENGLAND BROWNFIELDS:
RESTORING COMMUNITIES
Environmental contamination can rob a community of its
economic potential and its social structure even when
contamination is not severe enough for a Superfund
designation Any amount of contamination—or even the
perception of possible contamination—can prevent the use
of valuable property Across New England, hundreds of properties are abandoned or underused
because of the fear of environmental contamination, a contamination that may not even exist
And at the same time these sites are left unused, development is consuming valuable open
space elsewhere Although such idle properties, called brownfields, ore usually urban
warehouses or abandoned factories, they can also be found in rural areas When mines ore
abandoned or fields host illegal dumping, the value of the property can plummet
EPA New England’s Brownlields Program provides solutions by helping communities restore the value
to these abandoned sites The program focuses on providing grants and services to help communities
assess contamination, plan for new uses, and clean sites to ready them for redevelopment
“The term ‘brownfield site’ means real property, the expansion, redevelopment,
or reuse of which moy be complicated by the presence or potential presence
of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant
(from the federal Brownf ,e!ds Act of 2002)
Summary of Brownfields Program
Originally begun as an EPA initiative in January 1995, the US EPA National Brownfields
Program has since evolved into a collaborative effort involving many federal, state and local
partners In January 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act
(“the Brownfields law”) was signed This law expanded potential federal assistance for Brownfrelds
revitalization, including grants for assessment, cleanup, and ob training The law also includes
provisions to establish and enhance state and tribal response programs, which will continue to
play a critical role in the successful cleanup and revitalization of brownfields Below is a
summary of the US EPA Region 1 funding for each of the key Brownfields initiatives
Summary of Brownfields Funding in New England by State (1994-2003)
Program CT ME MA NH RI VT
Assessment Grants $5,265,000 $ 1,609,01 7 $11 ,733, 131$ 1,540,000 $1,103,000 $2,600,000
EPATBA $1,582,343 $362,181 $2,542,782 $242,533 $305,000 $250,000
Cleanup Grants $60,000 $0 $852,000 $0 $200,000 $0
Revolving Loan Fund $5,750,000 $2,650,000 $10,468,000 $2,450,000 $4,700,000 $1,000,000
JobTraining $1,000,000 $0 $1,550,000 $0 $200,000 $0
Showcase Communities $300,000 $0 $600,000 $0 $300,000 $0
Voluntary Cleanup Program $2, 1 75,667 $750,892 $2,729,974 $1,908,369 $1,338,820 $307,030
StateSiteAssessments $714,960 $519,545 $781,000 $1,255,293 $598,115 $458,000
TOTAL $16,847,970 $5,891,635 $31,256,887 $7,369,195 $8,744,935 $4,615,030
I
Lund & Comn unrty R vitulizufton
BROWN Fl ELDS
SUPERFUND ANNUM REPORT 2003 , 23
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Brownfields Overview
Brownfields Assessment
Program
The Brownfields Assessment Program
consists of grants of up to $400,000 ini-
tially to local, tnbal and state governmental
entities to conduct site assessment and
related activities at brownfields sites Funds
can be utilized to assess properties contcimi-
nated with petroleum Supplemental funds
are available in later years
Targeted Brownfields
Assessments
Under this initiative, EPA uses its contradors
to conduct brownfields assessments at sites
identified by the local entity as being a high-
priority for reuse Brownlields assessments
typically involve a review of existing site
records, site sampling and preparation of
a preliminary clean-up cost estimate
The information gathered allows iocal
government officials and developers to make
informed decisions regarding the redevelop-
ment potential of a site
Recipient Funding
Bath $200,000
Ellsworth $200,000
Lewiston $425,000
Maine State Planning Agency $199,017
Portland $335,000
Westbrook $250,000
TOTAL $1,609,017
Site City Value
Ayers Island
Orono
$111 ,770
Lily Tulip
Old Town
$18,966
WS Libbey Mill
Lewiston
$71,294
Lewiston & Auburn RR Co
Lewiston
$60,151
Former Diamond Mill
Peru
$100,000
TOTAL
$362,181
Cleanup Grant Program
Under this initiative, EPA funds are awarded to eligible local, state, tribal and non-profit entities
to conduct cleanup activities on eligible brownfields properties Grants are for up to $200,000
per property Entities must own the property at the time of award to be eligible for funding
Revolving Loan Fund Pilots
Under this initiative, pilots are awarded to
eligible local, tribal and state entities to
establish and capitalize revolving loan funds
to assist private and public entities in clean-
ing up contaminated sites Grants are for
up to $1 ,000,000 and eligible communi-
ties may team together to establish larger
revolving loan funds pools
Recipient Funding
Lewiston
Orono
Portland
Westbrook
TOTAL
$500,000
$750,000
$500,000
$900,000
$2,650,000
MAINE
24/ SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003
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U.S. EPA New England II A United States
Environmental Protection
Brownfuelds Overview Ii Agency New England
Brownfields Job Training Pilots
The Brownfields Job Training Program funding is used to train workers in the field of hazardous
waste assessment and remediation To be eligible for these pilots, the applicants must be
affiliated with an existing Brownfields-funded grant recipient
Showcase Communities
As part of the multi-federal agency Brownfields National Partnership, sixteen communities were
selected to receive Showcase Community designation following a national competition
The federal partners work with selected communities to revitalize brownfields properties
EPA provided each with a $200,000 Brownfields Demonstration Pilot and assigned an EPA
employee to work full lime in the designated community fortwo years
Financial Assistance to State Brownfields Programs
EPA also offers funding to directly support state brownfields activities including funds to estab-
lish and enhance state brownfields programs (also known as voluntary cleanup programs), to
conduct site specific assessment and cleanup, to develop revolving loon fund programs and to
develop insurance tools Below is a summary of the type and amount of funding received in
Maine ___________________________________________________
Program Funding
Voluntary Clean-up Program $750,892
Brownfields Site Assessment
and Cleanup: $519,545
Summary of EPA Brownfield Funding in Maine (1994-2003)
Program Funding
Assessment Pilots
Targeted Brownfields Assessment
Cleanup Grant Program
Revolving Loan Fund Pilots
Job Training Program
Showcase Communities
Voluntary Cleanup Program
State Brownfields Site Assessments
GRAND TOTAL
$1,609,017
$362,181
$0
$2,650,000
$0
$0
$750,892
$51 9,545
$5,891,635
SUPERFUND ANNUAL REPORT 2003 ,‘ 25
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