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  • 30 Jul 2024 1:10 PM | Michael Lazo (Administrator)

    July 30, 2024

    Contact Information

    Stephen McBay (mcbay.stephen@epa.gov)

    (212)-637-3672

    NEW YORK (July 30, 2024) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public input on a proposed draft update to the 2008 cleanup plan for the Emmell’s Septic Landfill Superfund Site in Galloway Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Based on scientific study and new information, EPA is updating its cleanup plan to address soil contamination at the site that continues to impact groundwater quality.

    The 30-day public comment period begins on July 30, 2024. EPA will host a virtual public meeting on August 7, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the proposed plan, which will not be finalized until the agency considers public comments. You can register for the meeting by signing up at this link.

    “The EPA encourages people to provide input on its proposal to use several cleanup methods at the Superfund site to further protect the Galloway Township community,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “This updated plan will allow us to effectively tackle the remaining sources of pollution in the soil and ensure the continued protection of the local community.”

    The proposed update to the cleanup plan includes several key steps. The EPA will remove soil down to 5 feet and dispose of soil with elevated levels of contamination at a licensed facility off-site. For the remaining deeper soil, which is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the EPA will use treatments that either bind or break down the contaminants and help prevent the contamination from moving off-site. After treatment, the excavated area will be filled with clean soil and replanted.

    Additionally, the cleanup update proposes to eliminate the installation of specialized wells that were required under the original cleanup. These wells, called biosparging wells, were designed to inject air into the groundwater, aiding naturally occurring bacteria in breaking down vinyl chloride, a harmful contaminant. However, recent sampling shows that vinyl chloride levels have decreased naturally and because of other remediation efforts at the site, making the biosparging wells unnecessary.

    This updated plan builds on earlier efforts by EPA to control groundwater contamination at the site, including the construction of a groundwater pump and treatment system completed in 2010, followed by an expansion of the system in 2012. In 2017, the EPA further refined its cleanup plan by replacing drinking water wells that had been impacted by site-related contamination, and this project was completed in 2022.

    Written comments on the proposed plan may be submitted to Joseph Gowers, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway – 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007 or via email: gowers.joe@epa.gov.

    For additional background and to see the proposed cleanup plan, visit the Emmell’s Septic Landfill Superfund site profile page.

  • 15 Jul 2024 1:42 PM | Michael Lazo (Administrator)

    July 15, 2024

    Contact Information

    Jo Anne Kittrell (kittrell.joanne@epa.gov)

    (857) 262-3789

    BOSTON, MASS (July 15, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a plan to clean up the Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site in Farmington, NH. EPA will hold a public meeting to update the community on the proposed remediation plan and a public hearing to accept verbal comments. The deadline to submit written public comments is August 30, 2024.

    EPA's proposed plan summarizes risks posed by contamination at the site and presents an evaluation of cleanup options. The proposed plan also includes the Agency's preferred cleanup alternative along with the other cleanup options it considered.

    The community is invited to attend the public meeting and hearing in person: 

    When: July 16, 2024 - 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.  

    Where: Old Town Hall located at 531 Main St in Farmington, NH  

    Those interested in attending virtually can register at: www.epa.gov/superfund/collins. One must register before the meeting in order to attend virtually.

    EPA has also extended the comment period from 30 to 60 days. EPA will now accept written public comments from July 1, 2024 – August 30, 2024. 

    No later than August 30, 2024, please email comments to Hull.Richard@epa.gov, or mail comments to:  

    Richard Hull 

    EPA Region 1 New England 

    5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 

    Mail Code: 07-1 

    Boston, MA 02109-3912 

    Additionally, verbal comments may be made during the formal public hearing immediately following the informational meeting on July 16, 2024.  

    Links to Proposed Plan and Administrative Record:

    Proposed Plan, 6/26/2024 (pdf) (9.3 MB)

    Administrative Record for Proposed Plan

    Additional information about the Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site can be found at: www.epa.gov/superfund/collins.   

    Background

    The Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site (the Site) is comprised of the former Collins & Aikman facility and property, located on two parcels south of NH Route 11 in Farmington, NH: (i) a 96-acre parcel on Davidson Drive; and (ii) a 10-acre parcel located at 56 Davidson Drive (collectively, the Property). The Site also extends into and includes an approximate 152-acre area north of NH Route 11 affected by Site-related contamination, including a groundwater plume. The affected area north of NH Route 11 is roughly bounded by NH Route 11, Pokamoonshine Brook to the north/northwest, and the boundaries of several properties containing the plume to the east.

    Most of the 106-acre Property consists of undeveloped wooded areas and contains the concrete foundation/floor of the former 267,000 square foot (ft2) (6.1 acres) manufacturing building, which was demolished in 2010, and the surrounding paved parking areas and driveways for the building. The former actively used area of the Property reportedly occupied approximately 33 acres, and included the manufacturing building, a 60,000-ft2 warehouse, and paved areas.

    From 1966 to 2006, operations included the manufacture of instrumentation panel pads bumpers, fascias, and other parts for automobiles and trucks. Manufacturing processes conducted at the facility included polyurethane foam molding, construction of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shells, and the assembly of the finished panels. Painting operations were also conducted at the facility. The manufacturing processes involved the use of solvents, some of which were released to groundwater, soil, and surface water at the facility. Solvents used at the facility reportedly included: acetone, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), methylene chloride, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), tetrachloroethene (PCE), toluene, trichloroethene (TCE), and xylene.

    The Site has been the subject of numerous investigations and remedial activities since 1983 when low concentrations of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) were detected in a Town of Farmington municipal drinking water supply well located approximately 3,500 feet northeast and downgradient of the former manufacturing facility. In December 2013, EPA added the Site to the National Priorities List (NPL). Between 2014 and 2024, EPA conducted a remedial investigation of the nature and extent of contamination at the Site, and a feasibility study of remedial options to address the contamination.

  • 12 Jul 2024 1:46 PM | Michael Lazo (Administrator)

    For your information:

    The Environmental Quality Board (Board) published the above-referenced regulation in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on July 13, 2024.

    The proposed regulation is available on the Pennsylvania Bulletin website at the following link.

    Pa Bulletin (pacodeandbulletin.gov)

    The proposed regulation is also available on our website at the following link.

    https://www.irrc.state.pa.us/regulations/RegSrchRslts.cfm?ID=3424

    The Board is inviting the public to submit written comments on the proposal. Please reference Regulation #7-575 (IRRC #3409) on the correspondence. The deadline for submitting comments to the Board is September 11, 2024.

    Please note that all correspondence, public comments, and documents submitted relating to a regulation are a matter of public record and will appear on IRRC’s website – www.irrc.state.pa.us.

    If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

    Thank you. 

    Michelle L. Elliott

    Regulatory Analyst

    717.787.8491 direct line

    melliott@irrc.state.pa.us


    Independent Regulatory Review Commission

    333 Market Street, 14th Floor

    Harrisburg, PA 17101

    717.783.5417 main line

    www.irrc.state.pa.us

  • 02 Jul 2024 1:48 PM | Michael Lazo (Administrator)

    Households on public water systems are willing to pay an average of $13.07 a month, or $156.84 annually, on their monthly bills to protect themselves from PFAS — potentially cancer-causing chemicals — according to new research from the University of New Hampshire.  

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  • 25 Jun 2024 1:50 PM | Michael Lazo (Administrator)

    Transformation of Allegheny Shores, a 52-acre brownfield along the Allegheny River in Sharpsburg, got a boost of nearly $25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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  • 20 Jun 2024 8:56 AM | Michael Lazo (Administrator)

    Vermont has committed more than $4 million in grants to cleanup contaminated properties in more than seven communities across the state.

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  • 18 Jun 2024 1:53 PM | Michael Lazo (Administrator)

    Several run-down properties in Connecticut are in the process of transforming into hundreds of apartments and job opportunities, as the state works to fix up everything from old paper and textile mills to former greyhound racetracks.

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  • 10 Jun 2024 9:11 AM | Michael Lazo (Administrator)

    June 10, 2024

    Contact Information

    Jo Anne Kittrell (Kittrell.JoAnne@epa.gov)

    (617) 918-1822

    LOWELL, Mass. (June 10, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, met with Congresswoman Lori Trahan, the town leaders of Clinton, Lawrence and Lowell, other stakeholders, to celebrate their awards from the pot of $34,646,400 in grant awards from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to expedite the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites in Massachusetts while advancing environmental justice.

    The town of Clinton received $500,000, the City of Lawrence received $1 million, and the City of Lowell received $5.5 million.

    "Brownfields grants are gamechangers—they turn polluted, abandoned sites into thriving community spaces. This isn't just about cleaning up the environment; it's about revitalizing neighborhoods, creating good jobs, and ensuring healthier living for everyone—it's a win-win-win-win-win-win," said EPA Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "This additional funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping to transform contaminated properties into valuable community assets, making a real difference for Massachusetts families, especially in the areas that need it most."

    "I'm over the moon that we'll be able to invest in our communities, create jobs, and clean up sites across the Commonwealth with this funding," said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. "This is a great win for our environment, our communities, and our kids who are going to reap the benefits for generations to come."

    "It's simple—we know that Brownfields grants unlock vital funding to free our towns and cities from dangerous pollution and toxic contamination," said U.S. Senator Edward Markey. "This historic investment will bring cleaner water, land, and air to communities across the Commonwealth and deliver a more livable future with green spaces to work, live, and play."

    “I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make long overdue improvements in communities large and small across the Commonwealth," said Congresswoman Lori Trahan. "This federal funding will give Lowell, Lawrence, Clinton, and the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission the resources necessary to complete revitalization projects that will improve life for hardworking families, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen our local economy for years to come."

    “The industrial legacy in the Merrimack Valley has resulted in many sites with contaminated soil and groundwater – especially in historically overburdened areas,” said Undersecretary Stephanie Cooper of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. “The Healey-Driscoll Administration is grateful to President Biden and the EPA for providing Massachusetts with increased funding for brownfield cleanups and redevelopments, which will have a transformative benefit in these disadvantaged communities.”

    “We are thrilled to announce that the City of Lawrence has been chosen to receive a $1 million dollar grant through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for a Comprehensive Brownfields Multipurpose project,” said Lawrence Mayor Brian A. DePeña. “This grant will enable us to undertake crucial environmental assessments and cleanups, including at important sites like the Bennington Triangle and Florence Street Garage. We are indebted to all our partners and the community for their support and look forward to making this vision a reality."

    The Town of Clinton has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to clean up the Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable Corp. facility located at 172 Sterling Street. The 8.4-acre cleanup site operated as a mill until the 1910s and then as a wire manufacturing facility until 2006 and is currently unoccupied. It is contaminated with petroleum, heavy metals, chlorinated solvents, and inorganic contaminants. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement activities.

    The City of Lawrence has been selected to receive $1 million for a Brownfields Multipurpose Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant funds will be used to conduct six Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments, prepare four cleanup plans, and conduct community engagement activities. Grant funds also will be used to clean up four sites, including the Bennington Triangle and Florence Street Garage priority sites. The target area for this project is the area surrounding the Lawrence Manchester Rail Corridor in downtown Lawrence, a 1.4-mile former railroad line slated for redevelopment into a rail trail.

    The City of Lowell has been selected to receive $500,000 for a Brownfields Assessment Grant and $5 million for a Brownfields Cleanup Grant funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law:

    The Brownfields Community-wide Assessment Grant funds will be used to conduct four Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments, develop five cleanup plans and five reuse plans, and conduct community engagement activities. Assessment activities will focus on the City of Lowell's JAM Urban Renewal Plan Area and Hamilton Canal Innovation District. Priority sites include five parcels comprised of former mill and manufacturing sites ranging from .5 to 2.4 acres.

    The Brownfields Cleanup Grant will be used to clean up the Veterans of Foreign War Highway at the Beaver Brook site at 644 Aiken, 650 Aiken, and 432 W. Sixth Streets. The 5.7-acre cleanup site consists of three contiguous parcels that include a riverfront, vegetated land with a paved pathway, and a single-story vacant building. Historical information indicates the site was built up with contaminated fill to build a flood control system. The site is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, extractable petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and coal ash. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community engagement activities.

    EPA selected 13 communities in Massachusetts to receive 14 grants totaling $25,646,400 in competitive EPA Brownfields funding through the Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grant programs. In addition, the agency is announcing $9 million in supplemental funding to four existing, high-performing Brownfields RLF Grant Programs to help expedite their continued work at sites in Massachusetts.

    Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA's Brownfields Program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity, and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.

    To see the list of all FY 2024 Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup applicants selected for funding, visit EPA's FY 2024 Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup Applicants webpage.

    Additional Background:

    EPA's Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.7 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. Prior to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this program made approximately $60 million available each year. Thanks to the President's historic investments in America through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA has now increased that yearly investment nearly 400 percent. More than half of the funding available for this grant cycle (approximately $160 million) comes from the historic $1.5 billion investment from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This investment has also allowed the MAC grants' maximum award amounts to increase significantly from $500,000 to a new maximum of $5 million per award.

    For more information on EPA's Brownfields Program, visit EPA's Brownfields webpage.

  • 07 Jun 2024 9:10 AM | Michael Lazo (Administrator)

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven), and Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-Hartford) today announced that the State Bond Commission this morning approved the release of approximately $74 million in state funding to support the fourth round of grants under the Community Investment Fund 2030.

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  • 07 Jun 2024 8:55 AM | Michael Lazo (Administrator)

    Redding, Connecticut, is receiving a $1.9 million federal grant to clean up a contaminated former industrial site that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

    Read more...


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