Return to Use Initiativ
2007 Demonstration Project
Eastland Woolen Mi
Corinna, Maine
THE SITE: The 21 -acre Eastland Woolen Mill site, located in Corinna, Penobscot
County, Maine, was the location of the Eastland Woolen Mill, which operated as
a textile mill beginning in 1909. Mill operations such as wool dyeing processes
contaminated soils, ground water, and surface water and sediment associated
with the East Branch of the Sebasticook River (EBSR). The site includes the
former mill area where most of Eastland's plant operations took place, various
Eastland properties throughout Corinna, downstream sections of the EBSR, and
other areas where waste material was located. Beginning in 1998, U.S. EPA and
the Maine Department of Environmental Protection undertook a comprehensive
cleanup of the former mill area and other site-related properties. Cleanup
activities included removing several underground storage tanks and addressing
soil and sediment contamination and abandoned materials and wastes. In
2002, U.S. EPA selected a remedy to clean up ground water contaminated with
chlorinated benzene compounds, and to return ground water to drinking water
standards. Until those drinking water standards are met, the remedy imposes
restrictions on the extraction and use of ground water within an area denned as
the Institutional Control Zone (ICZ), which includes portions of the former mill
area. The Town of Corinna is expected to develop an ordinance formalizing the
ICZ and other mandated restrictions on ground water use. EPA completed the
soil and sediment cleanup in 2003. The soil within the former mill area now
meets residential cleanup standards. Construction of the site's ground water
remedy was completed in 2006. The ground water cleanup activities continue
on only a small portion of the former mill property.
THE OPPORTUNITY: After Eastland's operations ceased, the Town of
Corinna experienced severe economic hardships and profound disruption to the
community due to the loss of locally-based jobs, tax revenue, sewer fees, and
even the cultural identity that the mill provided. As with many New England
mill towns, the former mill complex physically dominated the downtown area.
Leaving the site unusable following cleanup would have had devastating and
permanent consequences for the Town's future. The Town recognized that
the cleanup represented an opportunity to revitalize the downtown area if the
cleanup could be aligned with their long-term vision for the downtown. They
were determined not to lose this chance.
THE BARRIERS: To achieve this alignment, the Town had to prepare a
revitalization plan that would meet the needs of the community and be compatible
with the comprehensive site cleanup. In addition, it was recognized that if the
Town's revitalization plans were to be realized, it would be necessary to satisfy
potential investors, developers, and users that the property would be safe to use.
EPA also had to communicate any post-cleanup use restrictions that would need
Barriers:
A small New England mill town with limited
resources had a one-time opportunity to
develop a reuse plan for its downtown
area that could be integrated with the
Superfund cleanup of a large mill complex
that physically dominated that area. It
was also essential that the stigma of past
contamination be overcome in order to
stimulate revitalization
Solution:
An EPA reuse planning grant enabled the
community to develop their vision for a new
downtown area. Close coordination among
the various stakeholders through frequent
meetings and informal exchanges, such as the
reuse assessment process, resulted in making
clean, usable space available to implement
the Town's vision. Institutional controls, a
Ready for Reuse Determination, and the
delisting of the portions of the site where the
cleanup is complete will clearly communicate
site use restrictions and minimize perceived
barriers to reuse
21-acre former industrial property that
created an economically disadvantaged
community
After:
The development of a residential and
commercial enterprise zone with public
green space, including a riverside walking
trail,a senior housing project,and a general
store and restaurant in a historic structure
that was preserved as part of the cleanup
all contribute to the march towards a
revitalized community
urmea btates
Environmental Protection
Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
J
updated June 2009
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to be met to ensure that safe use. The scale and complexity of this effort was daunting, especially to a town with a population
of only 2200.
THE SOLUTION: In 2001, U.S. EPA's Superfund Redevelopment Initiative provided Corinna with a grant to develop a
reuse plan for the site and surrounding area. Completed in 2002, this Reuse Plan for Corinna Village Center aims to revitalize
the Town by bringing commercial enterprises back into the downtown area along with residential and recreational activities.
Importantly, the community established a stakeholder committee that met regularly to help guide the reuse planning process
and to oversee the integration of the revitalization and cleanup activities. The community at large also took an extremely
active interest in this process. U.S. EPA made it a priority to work with the Town of Corinna, the Maine Department of
Environmental Protection, Maine Department of Transportation, and several other state agencies and stakeholder groups to
implement cleanup activities in a manner that fit the future vision for the community while achieving the objectives of the
cleanup. This involved coordinating numerous informational meetings involving the Town. To further ensure that the cleanup
and reuse were being properly aligned, U.S. EPA issued a Reuse Assessment for the site in September 2003. The Reuse
Assessment summarized EPA's understanding of the current and potential future uses of the site, and identified potential
reuse related barriers, issues, and data gaps needing resolution. The Reuse Assessment also provided useful information to
developers and other interested parties about the cleanup status of the various site parcels.
Notably, in 2004, the site was selected by the Associated General Contractors of America to receive its prestigious national
Build America Award for innovative achievements in site remediation and restoration. In the near future, U.S. EPA plans to
issue a Ready for Reuse (RfR) Determination and remove from Superfund designation those portions of the site where the
cleanup activities are complete (a so-called "partial de listing"). The RfR Determination will identify those portions of the
site that EPA has determined are ready for specified uses and clarify any cleanup-related restrictions that might exist. The
RfR Determination and partial delisting will provide additional assurances that the site is ready for reuse and thereby help
facilitate redevelopment.
THE SITE NOW: Most of the cleanup has been completed and significant progress has already been made to achieve
the community's reuse vision. Construction of a senior housing facility on the back portion of the site was completed in
2005. A historic structure that was relocated as part of the site cleanup now serves as a restaurant and general store. Over
80% of the area that was formerly contaminated or impacted by the cleanup action is now available for use, and in 2009 a
bandstand was constructed on a cleaned up portion of the site. Corinna residents can be proud of their outstanding efforts to
rejuvenate the downtown area. The complete transformation of the downtown - including the realignment of the highway
and river, development of recreational trails (walking and snowmobile), and the resurgence of economic activity with the
senior housing project, general store, and restaurant - did not seem possible as little as 10 years ago after the mill locked its
doors and walked away from the community. The site is a testament to the success that can be achieved through an EPA,
State, Local Government, and community partnership, and the critical role that reuse planning and planning grants can have
on the revitalization of a community. The institutional controls should have minimal impact on the productive reuse of the
site. The controls will prevent the installation of water supply wells or the installation of septic systems. There is a public
water line and sewer line accessible to the properties available for reuse. In addition, soil excavated from the former cleanup
areas is required to remain within a designated reuse zone. The soil can be used for grading or any other purpose as long as
it remains on site. Although the soils meet residential use standards, this requirement was established to prevent transferring
any lingering stigma to off-site locations that might otherwise receive this fill.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Ed Hathaway, Remedial Project Manager, at (617) 918-1372 or
hathaway.ed@epa.gov: or John Podgurski, Region 1 Superfund Redevelopment Coordinator, at (617) 918-1296 or
podgurski. i ohn@,epa. gov.
Environmental protection Superfund Redevelop merit Initiative
updated June 2009
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