Return to Use Initiativ
2007 Demonstration Project
Auburn Road Landfi
Londonderry, New Hampshire
THE SITE: The Auburn Road Landfill in Londonderry, New Hampshire, is a 200-
acre site that contains three separate disposal areas covering just over 12 acres,
as well as large areas of wetlands. Set in a rural residential area, the site includes
streams, drainage trenches, and wetlands that flow northward to Whispering Pines
Pond and Cohas Brook, a tributary of the Merrimack River. All surface water
runoff from the site drains into Whispering Pines Pond, which lies partially on the
northern boundary of the site. In order to offset the damage sustained by original
wetlands as a result of landfill contamination, the Town created approximately
seven acres of mitigating wetlands at the base of the disposal areas. Construction
of the site's remedy was completed in 1998, and included capping the three
disposal areas, establishing institutional controls, performing monitored natural
attenuation of arsenic-contaminated ground water, and installing a water-line to
provide non-contaminated drinking water to residents surrounding the site.
THE OPPORTUNITY: The site is easily accessible and is directly adjacent to
Auburn Road, Old Deny Road, State Highway 28 Bypass, and the Londonderry-
Auburn Road. The cleaned-up site remained vacant and attracted little interest
until 2005, when a local Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) club known as
the New Hampshire Flying Tigers noticed the vacant land and approached EPA
and the Town of Londonderry about the possibility of using a small portion of the
site as a model airplane flying field.
THE BARRIERS: Both EPA and the Town of Londonderry expressed concerns
about the potentially harmful effects that the club's activities could have on the
ongoing maintenance efforts at the site. Disruption of the cap during runway
construction was one concern. Another was the possible effect that minor fuel
spills could have on the accuracy of ground water samples from monitoring wells.
Finally, because the site's institutional controls limit access to the site, EPA and
the Town had questions about how the club would maintain security and limit site
access.
THE SOLUTION: From AMA's original inquiry about the site in August 2005
to the completion of negotiations with the Town two years later, EPA maintained a
pivotal role in each step of the process. EPA took the lead in facilitating discussions
among the various stakeholders to ensure that all concerns about AMA's use of
the site were addressed. In addition to collaborative discussions and meetings,
a site walk was scheduled to assess both the opportunities afforded and the
limitations presented by the site's hydrology, topography, and existing remedy.
Representatives from EPA, AMA, and the Town of Londonderry took part in the
site walk together to ensure that the needs of the AMA club and the realities of the
site were a suitable match.
Barriers:
Concerns about the effects of reuse
on the integrity of the site's remedy
Solution:
Frequent and informed communica-
tion among stakeholders to address
concerns about reuse and find a com-
mon ground
Before:
Underutilized vacant land
After:
Recreational model airplane flying
field
THE SITE NOW: A Grand Opening event at the Auburn Road Flying Field,
hosted by local AMA Club the New Hampshire Flying Tigers, took place in August
2008. The celebration marked EPA and AMA's first successfully established flying field at a Superfund site in New
England. This partnership has produced substantial benefits for each of the stakeholders involved. The site's remedy is
United States
Environmental Protection
.Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
updated January 2009
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enhanced by the Flying Tigers new stewardship activities, including bringing in loam for a runway and establishing user
rules . Londonderry officials are pleased that the site's reuse by responsible stewards will deter trespassing, vandalism, and
vagrancy. The Flying Tigers enjoy a much-needed field in a convenient location.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Byron Mah, Remedial Project Manager, at (617) 918-1249 or mah.
byron@epa.gov; or John Podgurski, Region 1 Superfund Redevelopment Coordinator, at (617) 918-1296 or podgurski.
john@epa.gov.
eaeveiopmen: initiative
updated January 2009
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