Wyre Wynd Fact Sheet Introduction The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are requesting public comment on a proposal by the Wyre Wynd Division of Southwire Company to complete various environmental restoration activities. These activities include excavation of impacted soils, construction of an engineered soil cover, and placement of an environmental land use restriction (ELUR) at the former Wyre Wynd facility at 77 Anthony Street, Griswold, CT (the Site). This fact sheet has been prepared to inform the public of the proposed restoration activities and to request input from the public regarding the proposed cleanup. The proposed activities are being carried out under DEP's Voluntary Remediation and Property Transfer Programs and the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which include requirements for investigating and cleaning up industrial facilities. In accordance with these programs, Southwire has worked closely with DEP and EPA to investigate the Site and develop a restoration proposal that is protective of both human health and the environment. Background/History The 62-acre Site includes three parcels: 1) landfill parcel: a closed ash landfill; 2) manufacturing parcel: a former wire manufacturing facility; and, 3) hydro parcel: an active hydroelectric plant and dam (Figure 1). Originally, Aspinook Mills, a textile manufacturer, owned and operated on the Site from approximately 1893 to 1964. Aspinook Mills operated two coal-fired boilers and disposed of the coal ash on the landfill parcel. Southwire purchased the Site in 1970 and manufactured wire products on the Site through 1996. Southwire sold the manufacturing parcel to Live Wire, Inc. in 1996 and the hydro parcel to Summit Hydropower, Inc. in 1997. Southwire has retained ownership of the landfill parcel and in 1997 recorded a conservation easement for the property on the Griswold land records. The conservation easement ensures that the property will be maintained in its natural, scenic, and open condition in perpetuity. The Site is bordered by the Quinebaug River to the west and southwest; railroad tracks to the east; and Anthony Street and a cemetery to the southeast. The adjacent areas to the north, east, and south are a high-density, mixed commercial/ residential, urbanized area. The groundwater at the Site and in the immediate vicinity is classified by DEP as "GB". Groundwater classified as GB is intended for industrial process water and cooling waters and is presumed not suitable for human consumption. A public water system has been in place since the late 1800s and is currently serviced by the Jewett City Water Company. Past Investigations and Restoration Since 1995, Southwire has completed numerous soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater investigations throughout the Site to identify and characterize potentially —-"Manufacturing & 'Parcel,' * •&,' *. Figure impacted areas. The findings of these investigations were provided in reports completed by AARON Environmental (1995, 1998, and 2000), Superior Environmental and NewFields (2003), and NewFields (2002, 2003, and 2010). These documents have all been submitted to the DEP and are available to the public at the Slater Library (see reverse for location and hours). The majority of the impacts at the Site are related to past disposal of coal ash and placement of debris from previous site demolition activities and structure fires. Various soil cleanup activities have occurred including the excavation and removal of over 6,000 cubic yards of soil impacted with arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the removal of 5 underground storage tanks (USTs). Human health and ecological risk assessments completed for the site concluded that implementation of the planned restoration activities will result in conditions that are safe for human health and the environment. RDMSDocID 109261 ------- Proposed Restoration Activities The following restoration measures are proposed for each of the parcels associated with the Site. The goals of the proposed measures are to: 1) mitigate exposed ash/soil and other impacted areas at the landfill; 2) enact land use restrictions at all three parcels to prevent future residential development; and 3) comply with the EPA and DEP regulations. Figure 2 • LANDFILL PARCEL The following five activities are proposed at the landfill parcel (as indentified on Figure 2). I. Placement of two feet of clean soil over 4 acres of soil impacted with arsenic and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) likely from coal ash from the former Aspinook Mill; 2. Removal and off-site disposal of approximately 200 cubic yards of plating sludge-like material; 3. Removal and off-site disposal of approximately 100 cubic yards of soil from one area containing very low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), likely from the residue of fluorescent light ballasts contained in past demolition/structure fire debris; 4. Placement of clean soil over existing areas where exposed coal ash is visibly present (approximately 75 square feet); and, 5. Recording an environmental land use restriction (ELUR), a restrictive land use covenant, on the landfill parcel deed to limit disturbance of subsurface soils and prevent future residential development. • MANUFACTURING PARCEL An ELUR is proposed on the manufacturing parcel to limit property use to Industrial/Commercial uses only (as identified on Figure 2) and to limit disturbance of subsurface soil in certain areas. • HYDROELECTRIC PARCEL An ELUR is proposed on the hydro parcel to limit property use to Industrial/Commercial uses only (as identified on Figure 2) and to limit disturbance of subsurface soil in certain areas. What's Next? Public comments on this restoration proposal are an important contribution to DEP and EPA's decision making. Members of the public are invited to: • Review the restoration proposal at the Slater Library (address and hours below); • Provide their written comments to DEP (address below) during the 45 day public comment period from June 15, through July 29, 2011; and, • A public meeting will be held at the Griswold Town Hall on June 27 at 6:30p.m., which will include a brief presentation on the proposal and an opportunity for questions and discussion. Following the public comment period, DEP and EPA will determine the final restoration plan. Southwire anticipates performing the restoration activities this fall. Paul Sims Southwire (Wyre Wynd) One Southwire Drive Carrollton, GA30119 770-832-4679 paul_sims@southwire.com Stephanie Carr US Environmental Protection Agency 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 Mail Code: OSRR07-3 Boston, MA 02109-3912 617-918-1363 carr.stephanie@epa.gov Mark Lewis Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse, Remediation Division 79 Elm Street Hartford, CT 06106-5127 860-424-3768 mark.lewis@ct.gov Southwire9 WE DELIVER PO WER... RESPONSIBLY FOR MORE INFORMATION: Technical documents related to the above-described activities can be found in the information repository at the following location: Slater Library Hours: 26 Main Street Monday - Thursday noon - 7:00pm Jewett City, CT 06351 Friday noon - 5:00 pm 860-376-0024 Saturday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Learn more about RCRA Sites on the Internet at: www.epa.gov/correctiveaction www.epa.gov/regionl/cleanup/rcra/wyrewynd ------- |