RETURN TO USE INITIATIVE
2007 Demonstration Project
EASTLAND WOOLEN MILL:
Corinna, Maine
THE SITE: The 21-acre Eastland Woolen Mill site (the 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). 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 defined 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 Woolen Mill'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
BARRIERS: Asmall 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 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 clearly
communicate site use restrictions and minimize
perceived barriers to reuse.
PICTURED: An aerial view of the Eastland
Woolen Mill site, (source: EPA)
BEFORE: A 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.
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 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.
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
Updated: August 2010 1

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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 delisting"). 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. An 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
and 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. 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, PLEASE CONTACT: Ed Hathaway, Remedial Project Manager,
at (617) 918-1372 or hathawav.ed@epa.aov: or John Podgurski, Region 1 Superfund Redevelopment
Coordinator, at (617) 918-1296 or podaurski.iohn@epa.aov.
United States
Environmental Protection
i Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
Updated: August 2010 2

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