L United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA Superfund Division
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Durham Meadows
Community Update
June 2009
This community update provides you with information on the activities ongoing at the Durham Meadows Superfund site in Connecticut
Environmental Field Work Scheduled this Summer at the Former
Location of Merriam Manufacturing Company
ERA will conduct additional work at and near the former location of the Merriam Manufac-
turing Company this summer to more fully define the nature and extent of contamination
on the property. Work will
consist primarily of sampling
both soil and groundwater,
and will supplement previ-
ous investigative work done
on the property.
The selected remedy for
the Merriam Manufactur-
ing Company Study Area
includes soil excavation and
off-site disposal to address
risks to human health from
contamination in surface soil
and to address source con-
tamination at depth. In 2006,
EPA collected additional
surface and sub-surface soil
samples at Merriam Manufacturing to more fully define the nature and extent of contami-
nation on the property, and allow for a better design of the soil excavation component
of the remedy.
The 2006 sampling results showed that most subsurface soil samples contained unexpected
levels of total and leachable lead. ERA after consultation with the Connecticut Department
of Environmental Protection (CT DEP), has determined that additional investigations are
needed to determine whether this lead is potentially naturally occurring and if it is leaching
into local groundwater, and ultimately how much of the lead may require excavation.
Beginning the week of June 15, EPA will collect surface and subsurface soil samples at
nearby locations to compare to the Merriam Manufacturing area results. Collection of
subsurface soil samples involves drilling into the ground, which is noisy but only lasts for
short periods of time. The week of June 22, EPA will collect groundwater samples from
wells located at the Merriam area.
Town residents can expect to see EPA contractor vehicles within the fenced portion of
the Merriam Manufacturing property and may see EPA contractor vehicles traveling in
the neighborhood. EPA expects that all field investigations will be completed by the end
of June.
Additional Activities
EPA continues to work with the Durham Manufacturing Company on pre-design work
for the remedy at that location. The Town of Durham is currently working with state
and federal agencies, as well as local officials, regarding the design of an alternate water
supply to the area. Filtering and monitoring of affected residential drinking water wells
in the area continues under State order. Currently, Durham Manufacturing Company
continues to perform this work at homes in its area. The Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection is performing this work for the homes in the Merriam Manu-
facturing Company area.
If you have any questions about the
Durham Meadows Superfund Site or
I would like more information, you may
call or write:
EPA Contacts:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ME/VT/CT Superfund Section (HBT)
II Congress Street, Suite I 100
Boston, MA 021 14-2023
ph. 888-372-7341
www.epa.gov/ne/superfund/sites/durham
Anni Loughlin
Project Manager
617-918-1273
loughlin.anni@epa.gov
Jim Murphy
Community Involvement Coordinator
617-918-1028
murphy.jim@epa.gov
State of Connecticut:
Mike Beskind
CT Dept. of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Water Protection and Land
Reuse, Remediation Division
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
860-424-3763
e-mail: martin.beskind@po.state.ct.us
Information Repository:
Durham Public Library
7 Maple Avenue
Durham, CT 06422-21 12
For current library hours, or assistance
locating information in the repository,
please call Valerie Kilmartin at 860-
349-9544.
SDMS DoclD451977
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