EPA Announces Explanation of Significant Differences
for the Eastern Surplus Superfund Site, Meddybemps, Maine
BostonThe United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is proposing an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) for Eastern Surplus Superfund Site in Meddybemps, Maine. The ESD presents the reasoning for modifying the remedy selected in 2000 by EPA in the Record of Decision (ROD) site. The modifications under the ESD do not fundamentally alter the remedy with respect to scope, performance or cost.
Environmental investigations revealed that soil and groundwater at the Eastern Surplus Co. Site had been contaminated with at least 31 hazardous materials, including PCBs, solvents, heavy metals, acids, paints, oils, asbestos and pesticides. Contamination at the privately-owned site could endanger the public health of an estimated 200 local residents who rely on the groundwater as their drinking water. The site also posed an environmental threat to natural resources such as Meddybemps Lake, Dennys River and a nearby national refuge. The site was listed on the National Priorities list and became designated a Superfund site in 1996.
The ROD included extraction and treatment of contaminated groundwater from the two contaminant plumes and enhancement of the extraction systems by flushing with treated water and/or injection of a chemical reagent to facilitate the removal of contamination. The extraction systems were to be designed to prevent off-site migration of contaminated groundwater and restore the aquifer to drinking water standards.
The proposed changes to the 2000 ROD for the Eastern Surplus Company Superfund Site are as follows:
The ESD changes the selected remedy with the suspension of the operation of the extraction and treatment system for further in situ application and the change of the application material from chemical reagents to enhanced bioremediation.
The basis for this change is the successful demonstration of enhanced bioremediation through the 2012-2013 pilot study and post-injection monitoring.
The 2016 updated risk assessment for the Site concluded that the protectiveness of the selected remedy in 2000 ROD did not change
This ESD formally incorporates these changes into the CERCLA remedy. The State of Maine has been consulted with during preparation of this ESD, and the State's comments have been incorporated into the ESD, as appropriate.
On Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at 6 pm at the Meddybemps Community Hall in Meddybemps, Maine, EPA will hold an informational public meeting to explain the proposed changes to the remedy at the Eastern Surplus Superfund site and solicit public feedback. In addition, EPA will be accepting comments on the proposed ESD from August 9, 2017 through September 8, 2017. Comments may be sent to Terrence Connelly, EPA Project Manager at connelly.terry@epa.gov.
The ESD will become part of the Administrative Record for the Eastern Surplus Company Superfund Site and will be available for public review in the site repositories located at the EPA Region 1 Record Center, 5 Post Office Square in Boston, Massachusetts and at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection BRWM File Room, Ray Building, 28 Tyson Drive, Augusta, Maine or maybe accessed online at http://www.epa.gov/superfund/eastern
For more information, please contact: Terrence Connelly, EPA Project Manager at 617 918-1373
Toll fee: 1-888-372-7341 ext. 8-1373 Email connelly.terry@epa.gov
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