U.S. EPA’s Regional Administrator honors new “green” AS-EPA office building

Press release:

For Immediate Release: August 17, 2012
US EPA Contact:  Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov                  

U.S. EPA’s Regional Administrator honors new “green” AS-EPA office building
Top environmental official in islands for coral reef meeting

HONOLULU – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld met with the staff of American Samoa EPA and recognized their significant achievement in the construction of AS-EPA’s new “green” office building, beginning a visit that will include participating in the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force meetings being held in American Samoa.

“The American Samoa EPA has done an excellent job in creating the first Platinum Level LEED government office building in the South Pacific,” said Blumenfeld. “It is an honor to learn about their work to protect the American Samoa environment and follow their example in designing more green government office spaces.”

The building when certified will be the first of its kind in the South Pacific and U.S. Territories. It is designed to meet Platinum Level Certification of the United States Green Building Council and a net zero energy performance standard.  The “Net Zero” criteria indicates that the building will produce more energy through renewable power generation than it will consume annually.  Construction of the new building commenced in June 2011 and is scheduled for completion in September 2012.

Dr. Toafa Vaiaga’e, the Director of AS-EPA, orchestrated a multi-agency collaboration for funding and design of the project.  U.S. EPA contributed over 45 percent of the funding for the building, with the rest of the funding coming from the Territorial Energy Office via Department of Energy ARRA funds and Territorial Office of Financial Reform through FEMA funds, and funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A design objective was to maximize the workers’ connection to nature while minimizing the building’s ecological impact. Naturally lit and ventilated work places for the staff are connected by inside and outside corridors. Environmental and energy demonstration spaces and “huddle sized” group conversation areas are included throughout the building and park-like landscape.

The building uses 60 kilowatts of photovoltaic panels, an innovative hybrid turf roof, ultra-insulated building envelope, solar shading, and optimization of a hurricane-proof window system to minimize energy consumption. In addition, the building uses environmentally preferred sustainable woods, and recycled materials for all major components.

Low flow water fixtures are employed to maximize water use efficiency.  Rainwater accumulation off the roof is detained by a turf deck to mimic the speed of natural vegetation runoff.  The storm water from the roof and parking areas are captured and treated through drainage enhancements and an onsite bio-retention treatment facility which improve the quality of the storm water before it leaves the site.

The building is located in walking distance of other principal agencies, the Utulei Government Campus, and an established public transportation corridor.  It utilizes previously used land preventing further encroachment on undisturbed forest, and includes bike racks and pedestrian changing rooms to facilitate alternative transportation.

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EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Plan for Final Phase of Cleanup At Diaz Chemical Superfund Site

Press release:

EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Plan for Final Phase of Cleanup

At Diaz Chemical Superfund Site

Contact: John Martin (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj@epa.gov 

(New York, NY – August 13, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a plan to clean up contaminated soil and ground water at the Diaz Chemical Corporation Superfund site in Holley, New York. The soil and ground water are contaminated with volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, which can cause serious damage to people’s health. The EPA’s proposed plan calls for the use of a technology to treat six areas of soil and ground water that continue to cause contamination of ground water in a broader area.

The EPA will hold a public meeting on September 5, 2012 at 7 p.m. at the American Legion, 5 Wright Street, Holley, NY to explain the proposed plan and to answer questions. Comments will be accepted until September 12, 2012.

Diaz Chemical Corporation purchased the site in 1974 and began manufacturing specialty chemicals for the agricultural, pharmaceutical, photographic, color and dye and personal care products industries at the site.

In January 2002, a safety valve at the facility ruptured, causing a release of a chemical mixture into the neighboring residential area. Area residents experienced sore throats, headaches, eye irritation, nosebleeds and skin rashes and some residents voluntarily relocated to temporary housing with assistance from Diaz Chemical.

In May 2002, after Diaz Chemical said that it could not continue to pay the costs of housing residents who remained relocated after the incident, the EPA assumed responsibility for the housing expenses. The EPA then initiated an assessment of the affected neighborhood and sampled air, soil, interior surfaces and household items for contamination. In June 2003, Diaz Chemical filed for bankruptcy and abandoned the facility, leaving behind large volumes of chemicals in drums and tanks. The EPA began providing 24-hour security at the site and operating a ground water treatment system previously installed by Diaz Chemical. In addition, the EPA:

·         shipped approximately 8,600 drums and over 112,000 gallons of bulk waste from tanks and containment areas off-site for re-use or disposal

·         emptied, decontaminated and disposed of 105 reactor vessels and 34 tanks

·         dismantled and removed 51,280 linear feet of facility piping

·         recovered approximately 800 gallons of waste from within the pipes

·         removed and recycled 767 tons of structural steel, motors and scrap steel

·         removed and disposed of 5,750 tons of concrete, of which 500 tons were recycled

·         removed and disposed of 9 PCB-containing transformers

·         removed and disposed of 175 cubic yards of lead-contaminated wood and 20 cubic yards of asbestos debris

·         decontaminated a warehouse

• dismantled all of the production buildings and tank containment areas, another warehouse and boiler room, electrical room, laboratory and an oil tank storage area. 

The EPA added the Diaz Chemical site to the Superfund list of the most contaminated hazardous waste sites in 2004. In 2005, the EPA reached a decision, following a public comment period, to purchase eight vacated homes and provided the owners financial assistance to permanently relocate. The agency also provided assistance to two tenants in relocating to new rental properties. The proposed plan announced today calls for the sale or transfer of the properties.

The proposed plan calls for a method of treating the soil and ground water in six areas using electrodes that will heat the soil and ground water, causing the contaminants to evaporate and turn into vapor and steam. The vapor and steam would then be collected and treated. For contaminated ground water outside of the six sources of contamination, the EPA is proposing to rely on natural processes that allow the contaminants to disperse, dilute and degrade to ground water cleanup levels.

Superfund is the federal cleanup program established by Congress in 1980 to investigate and clean up the country’s hazardous waste sites. The Superfund program operates on the principle that polluters should pay for the cleanups, rather than passing the costs on to taxpayers. Cleanups are only funded by taxpayer dollars when those responsible for the contamination cannot be found or are not financially viable. In this instance, the EPA has spent approximately $12 million to-date to clean up the Diaz Chemical site. The estimated total cost of the EPA’s proposed plan is $14.5 million.

Written comments may be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to:

John DiMartino

Remedial Project Manager

Central New York Remediation Section

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

290 Broadway, 20^th Floor

New York, NY 10007-1866

phone: (212) 637-4270

fax: (212) 637-3966

email: dimartino.john@epa.gov

For more information on the Diaz Chemical Corporation Superfund site and to view EPA’s Proposed Plan, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/diazchemical.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2, visit our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2.

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EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Plan for the White Chemical Corporation Superfund site in Newark, New Jersey

Press release:

EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Plan for the White Chemical Corporation Superfund site in Newark, New Jersey

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – July 25, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a plan to clean up contaminated ground water beneath the White Chemical Corporation Superfund site in Newark, New Jersey. The ground water was contaminated with volatile organic compounds by past industrial activities at the site. Volatile organic compounds can cause serious damage to people’s health and the environment. The proposed plan calls for the injection of chemicals into the ground water that will break down the contamination. The ground water will be monitored and its use will be restricted. The EPA will hold a public meeting on August 2, 2012 to explain the proposed plan and is encouraging public comments. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Newark City Hall Council Chambers, 920 Broad Street, Newark. Comments will be accepted until August 21, 2012.

The former White Chemical Corporation site, which covers 4.4 acres, is located at 660 Frelinghuysen Avenue in Newark, and is surrounded by many residential, commercial and industrial properties. Beginning in the 1930s, portions of the site were used by multiple businesses for industrial activities including the manufacture of acid chlorides and fire retardants. The White Chemical Corporation operated a chemical manufacturing facility at the site from 1983 to 1990 and was cited by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for multiple environmental violations before the company abandoned the facility. Thousands of drums were left behind, with many of them leaking hazardous chemicals. The site was added to the federal Superfund list of the country’s most hazardous waste sites in 1991.

Because of the nature and complexity of the contamination at the site, the investigations and cleanups have been divided into three phases. The proposed plan announced today is for the third phase of the long-term cleanup.

The first phase of the work alleviated immediate threats to the surrounding community. The work was complex and dangerous and included removing drums of potentially explosive chemicals, addressing leaking chemicals throughout the site and decontaminating some buildings. In all, the EPA supervised the removal of about 9,000 drums, 12,500 chemical containers, 50,000 gallons of liquid contained in process tanks and addressed many other hazards at the facility. Some of the hazardous materials were treated on-site to neutralize the contamination. Others were removed for re-use or disposed of at off-site facilities with permits to receive them.

Under phase two of the cleanup, the EPA focused on ongoing sources of harmful vapors that could impact the surrounding area, including contaminated buildings and soil and abandoned storage tanks. In this phase, the EPA excavated and removed 23,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the site, demolished nine buildings and removed an above ground storage tank. The EPA then placed clean soil over the contaminated areas and placed a stone cover over the entire property to prevent erosion.

The third phase and final phase of the cleanup announced today addresses the contaminated ground water. After extensive study, the EPA has concluded that it is not technically feasible to pump out and treat the contaminated ground water because of the complex rock formations underlying the site. The depth, nature and variety of the rock formations would present extreme technical challenges.

Instead, the proposed plan calls for bioremediation, the injection of chemicals into the ground water to promote the breakdown of the pollutants. The specific process to be used to inject the chemical additive will be determined by the EPA as part of the design of the cleanup. Once the process has begun, the EPA will collect samples to confirm that the bioremediation is effective. The EPA is proposing to install additional monitoring wells to monitor the ground water and to put into place restrictions that will prevent its use as a source of drinking water in the future.

The EPA is requiring periodic collection and analysis of ground water samples to verify that the level and extent of contaminants are declining and that people’s health and the environment are protected.

To date, the EPA has spent about $20 million on the cleanup of the White Chemical site. The estimated cost of the proposed final phase of the cleanup is $25 million.

Written comments may be mailed or emailed to:

Ray Klimcsak, Remedial Project Manager

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 2

290 Broadway - 19th Floor

New York, N.Y. 10007-1866

(212) 637-3916

klimcsak.raymond@epa.gov

           

For more information on the White Chemical Superfund site, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/whitechem.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2.

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EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Plan for the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Superfund site in South Plainfield, New Jersey

Press release:

EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Plan for the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Superfund site in South Plainfield, New Jersey

Protecting Drinking Water EPA Priority

Contact: Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – July 20, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a plan for the contaminated ground water at the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Superfund site in South Plainfield, New Jersey that will prevent its use as a source of drinking water. The ground water associated with the site, located at 333 Hamilton Boulevard in South Plainfield, became contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and volatile organic compounds from past industrial activities. PCBs are likely cancer causing chemicals and can have serious neurological effects. Volatile organic compounds can cause serious damage to people’s health. Under a plan proposed by the EPA today, the ground water will be monitored and the use of that ground water will be restricted.

The ground water at the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics site is contained within underground layers of rock and soil. Municipal water supply wells in Middlesex County draw ground water from some portions of the rock formations to the north of the site. The plan proposed today will require enhanced and continued monitoring of the ground water and will prevent the contaminated site ground water from being used as a source of drinking water in the future. The Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Superfund site is part of a Borough of South Plainfield redevelopment area.

The EPA will hold a public meeting on Tuesday August 7, 2012 at 7 p.m. to explain the proposed plan and is encouraging public comments. The meeting will be held at the South Plainfield Senior Center located at 90 Maple Avenue, South Plainfield. Comments will be accepted until August 20, 2012.

Cornell-Dubilier Electronics, Inc., manufactured electronics parts at the 26-acre facility from 1936 to 1962. PCBs and solvents were used in the manufacturing process and the company disposed of PCB-contaminated materials and other hazardous wastes at the facility property.

Because of the nature and complexity of the contamination at the site, the EPA divided the investigation and cleanup into four phases. The proposed plan announced today is for the third phase of the long-term cleanup.

Under the first phase of cleanup, which is continuing, the EPA has cleaned up nearby residential, commercial, and municipal properties. PCB-contaminated soil has been removed from four residential properties near the former facility property. EPA has since identified eight additional properties and expects to begin to clean up these properties in August 2012. This work will be completed before the winter. Investigations are still being performed on several other properties as part of this phase of the cleanup.

Under phase two of the cleanup, the EPA cleaned up the contaminated buildings and soils at the former facility property. EPA has demolished 18 contaminated buildings and removed 26,400 tons of building debris off-site to be disposed of properly. The EPA has also excavated approximately 21,000 tons of contaminated debris and soil from an undeveloped area of the facility. Using $30 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, the EPA continued the second phase of cleanup by treating contaminated soil on-site using a technology that heats the material so that contaminants can be pulled out and captured. Soil that could not be cleaned using this method was taken off-site for disposal at a licensed facility.

The third phase of the long-term cleanup, and the phase that is the subject of the proposed plan announced today, focuses on the contaminated ground water. After extensive soil and ground water studies, the EPA has concluded that it is not feasible to treat the contaminated site ground water because of the complex rock formations underlying the site. The depth, nature and variety of the rock formations would present extreme technical challenges for any active treatment. The EPA is proposing to install additional ground water monitoring wells to monitor the ground water and to put into place restrictions that will prevent the use of untreated ground water as drinking water. In addition, the EPA’s plan calls for periodic sampling to ensure that potentially harmful vapors from the contaminated ground water do not seep into nearby buildings. Recent periodic indoor air testing inside nearby buildings shows that vapors are not currently getting into the structures.

In the fourth and final phase of the long-term cleanup, the EPA will focus on the contaminated sediment of the Bound Brook. The potential for ground water contamination to impact surface water and sediment in the Bound Brook is also being evaluated as part of this phase. A cleanup plan for phase four is expected in 2013.

The Superfund program operates on the principle that polluters should pay for the cleanups, rather than passing the costs to taxpayers. After sites are placed on the Superfund list of the most contaminated waste sites, the EPA searches for parties responsible for the contamination and holds them accountable for the costs of investigations and cleanups. To date, the EPA’s cleanup costs for this site exceed $133 million. The EPA will seek to recover some of its costs from the parties responsible for the contamination.

Written comments may be mailed or emailed to:

Diego Garcia, Remedial Project Manager

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 2

290 Broadway – 19^th floor

New York, N.Y. 10007-1866

(212) 637-4947

garcia.diego@epa.gov

           

For more information on the Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Superfund site, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/cornell.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2.

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EPA to Hold Public Meeting on the Cayuga County Ground Water Contamination Superfund site in Cayuga County, New York

Press release:

EPA to Hold Public Meeting on the Cayuga County Ground Water Contamination Superfund site in

Cayuga County, New York

Protecting Drinking Water EPA Priority

Contact: Mike Basile, 716-551-4410, basile.michael@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – July 18, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a plan to clean up contaminated ground water at the Cayuga County Ground Water Contamination Superfund site located in Cayuga County, New York. The General Electric Company (GE) owned and manufactured semiconductors at a facility on Genesee Street in the City of Auburn. For a time, Powerex, Inc., a joint venture of GE and others, bought the facility and conducted similar operations there. These companies have been identified as parties potentially responsible for the Cayuga site. Ground water at the site is contaminated with volatile organic compounds, which can cause serious damage to people’s health and the environment. The proposed plan calls for bioremediation of one area of ground water and natural processes for two other areas to reduce the contaminants in the ground water to meet federal and state standards. The EPA will hold a public meeting on August 2, 2012 to explain the proposed plan and is encouraging public comments. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Union Springs High School, Union Springs, N.Y., 13160. Comments will be accepted until August 16, 2012.

The site includes contaminated ground water that covers approximately 4.8 square miles extending from Auburn to the Village of Union Springs within portions of the townships of Aurelius, Fleming and Springport. The site contains mostly residential properties mixed with farmland, woodlands and commercial areas. Many area homes get their drinking water from public drinking water supply wells. Routine testing in 1988 of the Village of Union Springs’ municipal water supply showed that the water contained volatile organic compounds that can negatively impact health. Cayuga county installed a treatment system on the public water supply. The New York State Department of Conservation and the EPA investigated and determined that 51 private residential wells in the area were also contaminated with volatile organic compounds. In 2000, the EPA began supplying bottled water to affected residents while the EPA provided treatment systems in the homes and at three area farms. Later, all but one of the homes sampled by the EPA and impacted by the site were connected to the public water system and no longer get their drinking water from private wells. The EPA continues to maintain the treatment systems at the three dairy farms and the residence.  

The site was added to the federal Superfund list in 2002. The EPA conducted an in-depth investigation of the extent of the contamination in order to determine how best to clean it up over the long term. Today’s proposed plan is a result of those investigations.

The EPA’s cleanup proposal divides the site ground water into three areas for planning purposes. For Area 1, which is located immediately south of the former Powerex facility, the agency will use bioremediation. Bioremediation involves adding chemicals to the ground water to promote the breakdown of the pollutants. The specific type of chemical and process to be used will be determined by the EPA as part of the design of the cleanup. Once the additive is selected and the process begun, the EPA will collect samples to confirm that the bioremediation is effective.

For the two remaining areas of ground water contamination, the EPA is proposing to rely on natural processes that are already reducing the levels of contamination and are expected to reduce the level of contamination in the ground water without an active treatment system. These areas are Area 2, located immediately south-southwest of Area 1, and Area 3 located south and southwest of Area 2. Area 1 has the highest levels of contamination followed by Area 2 and Area 3. In order for natural processes, referred to technically as natural attenuation, to work quickly and completely enough, the right conditions must exist underground. In this case, the EPA believes the right conditions exist in Areas 2 and 3. The EPA is requiring periodic collection and analysis of ground water samples to verify that the level and extent of contaminants are declining.

In addition, an important aspect of the long-term cleanup of ground water at the Cayuga Ground Water Contamination site involves cleanup actions being conducted by GE and overseen by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at the former Powerex facility, which is the major source of the contamination impacting the area ground water. Successful completion of the cleanup of the ground water at the former Powerex facility is important to the full realization of the benefits of the EPA’s proposed cleanup plan. New York and the EPA are working closely in their cleanup efforts.

Superfund is the federal cleanup program established by Congress in 1980 to investigate and clean up the country’s most hazardous sites. The Superfund program operates on the principle that polluters should pay for the cleanups, rather than passing the costs to taxpayers. When sites are placed on the Superfund list, the EPA looks for parties responsible for the pollution and requires them to pay for the cleanups. Cleanups are only funded by taxpayer dollars when those responsible for the pollution cannot be found or are not financially viable. In this instance, the EPA has spent about $10 million in response costs, to date, primarily on investigations and studies and will be seeking to have the cleanup carried out by those responsible for the contamination at the Site. The estimated cost of the EPA’s proposed plan is $24.4 million.

Written comments may be mailed or emailed to:

Isabel R. Rodrigues, Remedial Project Manager

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

290 Broadway, 20th Floor

New York, New York 10007-1866

Telephone: (212) 637-4248

rodrigues.isabel@epa.gov

           

For more information on the Cayuga County Ground Water Contamination Superfund site, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/cayuga.

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EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Liberty Industrial Finishing Superfund Site in the Village of Farmingdale, New York

Press release:

EPA to Hold Public Meeting on

Liberty Industrial Finishing Superfund Site in the Village of

Farmingdale, New York

 Contact: Elias Rodriguez, 212-637-3664, rodriguez.elias@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – July 12, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to change a portion of its plan to build two separate systems to treat contaminated ground water at the Liberty Industrial Finishing Superfund site in Farmingdale, New York. Between 1940 and 1978, various industrial operations took place at the site including aircraft parts and fiberglass products manufacturing and metal plating and finishing. Hazardous substances including cadmium, chromium and trichloroethene were disposed of in unlined basins and other areas on the site. One portion of the ground water under the site was contaminated by activities at the site itself, and another portion was believed to be contaminated by activities at the nearby Farmingdale Plaza Cleaners. The two separate areas of ground water at the 30-acre former industrial park were contaminated by volatile organic compounds, which can cause serious damage to people’s health and the environment. In 2002, the EPA issued a plan to install two separate systems to treat the portion of ground water contaminated by the manufacturing facility and the portion contaminated by the dry cleaner site. The system to treat contamination from the Liberty Industrial site was constructed and is currently operating. EPA is proposing to not build the second system because the dry cleaner site is being cleaned up by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and recent monitoring data shows that the contamination levels in the portion of ground water under the Liberty Industrial site that was contaminated by the dry cleaner site have dropped significantly. The EPA is also announcing a change in restrictions on the future use of a portion of the site to allow recreational use of that area.

The EPA will hold a public meeting on July 26, 2012 at 7:00pm to explain the proposed plan at the Farmingdale Library, 116 Merrits Road, Farmingdale. Comments will be accepted until August 20.

In December 2002, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation began work to clean up the Farmingdale Plaza Cleaners site under the state’s Superfund program. At that time, the EPA requested that the state also cleanup the ground water contamination underneath the Liberty Industrial site that was caused by the dry cleaner site. Since 2002, monitoring data has found that ground water contamination levels from the dry cleaner site have declined to near drinking water standards. Based on the monitoring data and the state’s plan to address the ground water as part of its work to clean up the dry cleaner site, the EPA no longer plans to build the second ground water treatment system at the Liberty Industrial Finishing site. The EPA will require periodic ground water sampling to verify that the level and extent of contaminants are declining and that people’s health and the environment continue to be protected.

The EPA is also announcing a change in restrictions on use of a portion of the site that has already been cleaned up. The original 2002 cleanup plan stated that a 7.5-acre portion of the site known as the Central Sub-Parcel could be used only for commercial or industrial activities after the cleanup. The Town of Oyster Bay, however, has since then acquired the 7.5-acre portion of the site for further expansion of the Ellsworth Allen Park, and has undertaken additional cleanup at the Central Sub-Parcel. After assessing the cleanup that has been completed at the site, the EPA has concluded that the Central Sub-Parcel is suitable for redevelopment with clearance for recreational use.

EPA has overseen a comprehensive cleanup of the Liberty Industrial Finishing site including:

• Excavation and disposal off-site of 70,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil
• Removal of contaminated water and solid material from vaults and sumps under ground
• Removal of underground storage tanks
• Construction and ongoing operation of a system to treat the ground water contaminated by former industrial activities at the site
• Excavation and disposal off-site of 4,200 cubic yards of contaminated pond sediment at the Massapequa Preserve.

Superfund is the federal cleanup program established by Congress in1980 to investigate and clean up the country’s most hazardous waste sites. The Superfund program operates on the principle that polluters should pay for the cleanups, rather than passing the costs to taxpayers. When sites are placed on the Superfund list, the EPA looks for parties responsible for the pollution and requires them to pay for the cleanups. Cleanups are only funded by taxpayer dollars when those responsible for the pollution cannot be found or are not financially viable. The cleanup of the Liberty Industrial Finishing Superfund site is being conducted and paid for by the parties responsible for the pollution with oversight by the EPA.

Written comments may be mailed or emailed to:

Lorenzo Thantu, Remedial Project Manager

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

290 Broadway, 20th Floor

New York, New York 10007-1866

(212) 637-4240

thantu.lorenzo@epa.gov

For more information on the Liberty Industrial Finishing Superfund site, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/libertyindustrial.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2.

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EPA and Mass. DEP Host Public Meeting on Walton and Lonsbury Site in Attleboro

News Release
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
New England Regional Office
April 26, 2012

 Contact Information: Emily Zimmerman, 617-918-1037

EPA and Mass. DEP Host Public Meeting on Walton and Lonsbury Site in Attleboro

(Boaton, Mass.--April 26, 2012)The EPA and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) will be holding a public meeting on Monday, April 30, 2012 to discuss next steps for the Walton & Lonsbury Site at 78 North Avenue, Attleboro, Mass.

EPA, in conjunction with MassDEP, is evaluating the Site for inclusion on the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL is a national list of sites that EPA determines requires further investigation and potential cleanup in order to protect human health and the environment in the long-term. It is anticipated that the Site could be proposed to the NPL in September 2012.

The results from the latest rounds of sampling indicate that contamination does extend beyond the original site boundaries.   MassDEP and EPA continue to work together to address the issues and reduce the potential risks to human health and the environment from the contamination source.

The meeting to discuss this and provide an update on ongoing removal activities will be held on April 30, 2012 from 7:00-9:00pm in Attleboro City Hall 77 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703. 

EPA began its removal action at the 78 North Avenue Site in October 2010.  Since then, the Walton & Lonsbury building has been removed and contaminated soils continue to be addressed. 

Over the past few months, additional soil and water samples have been collected by the MassDEP and EPA on residential properties south of the Site as part of an investigation to determine the nature and extent of contamination at the former Walton & Lonsbury site. 

This ongoing investigation is part of an effort by MassDEP and EPA to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the impacts from the former Walton and Lonsbury site.  During previous sampling events, it was evident that contamination from the Walton & Lonsbury Site migrated from the facility due to rain and surface water.

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News Release from EPA Region 2 - Universal Oil Superfund Site

EPA Proposes $16.4 Million Action to Remove Pollution from Universal Oil Products Superfund Site in

East Rutherford, N.J.

EPA to Hold Public Meeting on March 6 to Discuss Proposed Plan

Contact: David Kluesner (212) 637-3653, kluesner.dave@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – March 1, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a plan to clean up contaminated sediment, soil and debris in streams and in an area near lagoons in which industrial wastewater was stored at the Universal Oil Products Superfund site in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The proposed cleanup plan will eliminate the threat of contaminants spreading off the site through the streams that carry water into Berry’s Creek, located on the eastern border of the site. The EPA is simultaneously overseeing a comprehensive study of the site to determine what other measures may be necessary to address the contamination.

The EPA is encouraging the public to comment on the plan through March 30, 2012 and will hold a public meeting on March 6, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at the East Rutherford Memorial Library, 143 Boiling Springs Avenue, East Rutherford, New Jersey. The plan is available at the library and on line at http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/universaloil/.

"This is a heavily contaminated site which includes mercury, PCBs and other pollutants that could potentially spread off the site by streams. EPA is taking action to protect public health and, the environment and wildlife. This is a complex, toxic site. I urge the public to become informed and involved in this important issue," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck.

Volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls and metals from the former chemical laboratory and recovery facility have contaminated soil, ground water, sediment and surface water. Mercury, PCBs and other chemicals impact Berry’s Creek as they move to and from the site through the tidal action of the creek. Fish and crabs in Berry's Creek and adjacent water bodies are contaminated with chemicals at levels that exceed U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines for human consumption.

PCBs can cause cancer in humans, as well as a variety of other adverse health effects on the immune, reproductive, nervous and endocrine systems. Mercury exposure at high levels can harm the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs and immune system of people of all ages. Birds and mammals that eat fish are also affected by mercury and PCBs in contaminated water and sediment, and can be harmful to the health of people who eat them.

Beginning in 1932, Trubeck Laboratories operated an aroma chemicals laboratory and later a solvent recovery operation at the site. Universal Oil Products acquired the property and facilities in 1960. Operations at the facility ended in 1979 and the buildings were demolished in 1980. In 1999, Honeywell acquired the site through a merger.

The Universal Oil Products site is approximately 74 acres, which are divided into uplands and stream areas. The uplands, located in the northwest corner of the site, are man-made lands and municipal trash placed there years ago on top of native soils and peat. Cleanup work there has been completed, including the excavation of contaminated soil. Honeywell is currently conducting a long-term study of the nature and extent of contamination in and around streams under a legal agreement with the EPA. Sampling has shown that contamination in the vicinity of lagoons where wastewater was once stored is substantially higher than the rest of the site and that contamination has the potential to move into other areas.

Under the proposed cleanup plan about 27,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, soil and debris from the area in and around the previous wastewater lagoon and adjacent stream channels will be excavated, dewatered and taken off site for disposal. A tide gate will be installed at Murray Hill Parkway and water will be taken out of the lagoon and channels to allow for dry excavation down to the natural clay layer that is present throughout most of the site. Soil will be added to provide cover and allow vegetation to grow to provide habitat for wildlife. The estimated cost of this proposed cleanup is $16.4 million. Honeywell has agreed to pay for and perform the cleanup work.

A document, called an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis, which evaluates the various cleanup options considered in developing the proposed cleanup plan is available at the East Rutherford Memorial Library and on the website http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/universaloil/. The EPA encourages the public to submit comments to the EPA. The EPA is accepting public comment on the proposed cleanup until March 30, 2012. Written comments may be mailed or emailed to:

Doug Tomchuk, Remedial Project Manager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
290 Broadway, 19th Floor
New York, New York 10007-1866
Email: tomchuk.doug@epa.gov

The EPA has a website to inform the community about the site at: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/universaloil.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2.

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Public Meeting on Floyds Fork Pollution Control Plan

News release from EPA Region 4:

EPA to Host Third Public Meeting on Floyds Fork Pollution Control Plan

Contact Information: EPA, Davina Marraccini, (404) 562-8293, marraccini.davina@epa.gov

KDOW, Allison Fleck (502) 564-3410, Allison.Fleck@ky.gov

(Atlanta, Ga. – Feb. 17, 2011) – On Tuesday, Feb.21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 will conduct a public meeting to obtain comments from stakeholders on the work completed thus far on the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Floyds Fork watershed in north-central Kentucky. This meeting is a follow-up to the well-attended TMDL development meetings held in Louisville in August and November.

The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. (EDT) in the Eastern High School auditorium. The school is located in the Middletown community of Louisville at 12400 Old Shelbyville Road.

At the Feb. 21 meeting, EPA Region 4 will present the completed land use and stormwater runoff model for the watershed and describe how the water quality model will be developed. The agency is seeking public feedback on the completed watershed model and the development of the water quality model.

Total Maximum Daily Load is a term used to describe the amount of pollution a stream can receive and still meet water quality standards. Water quality standards are regulations based on federal or state law that set numeric or narrative limits on pollutants. TMDLs are required for water bodies that are determined to be impaired. Floyds Fork fails to meet state standards for recreation and aquatic life.

EPA Region 4 awarded a contract to Tetra Tech consulting firm for the development of a water quality model for the entire Floyds Fork Watershed to the confluence with the Salt River to address nutrient pollution. Technical assistance is being provided by the Kentucky Division of Water.

Members of the public who wish to obtain additional information regarding this public meeting may e-mail floydsfork@epa.gov. Inquiries regarding EPA's approach to developing the Floyds Fork TMDL should be directed to Tim Wool, EPA Region 4, at wool.tim@epa.gov or 404-562-9260.

Additional information about this meeting can be found online at: http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/tmdl/