Emergency Response in New England

Emergency Response Sites

EPA Emergency Response staff are on the front line of responding to environmental emergencies and other time-critical clean ups in New England. This portion of the Web site provides updated information on clean up and response work by EPA staff within the six New England states.

EPA Emergency Response Clean Up Sites in New England

» Danbury, Conn. Anthrax Clean Up

» Mitral Corp. Site, Harwinton, Conn.

EPA is working with the Conn. Dept. of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) and the towns of Harwinton and Burlington to address contaminated soil at the 5-acre Mitral Corp. Site, located in Harwinton. Between the mid-1960's and late- 1980's, the company was engaged in several activities, including metal stamping and tooling, aqueous tumbling, chlorinated solvent vapor degreasing, sanding and degreasing along with other general machining work. Waste materials generated from these processes included spent degreasing solvents, tumbling sludges, waste oil, and scrap metal.

The Site is contaminated with chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs), most notably trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE).

Cleanup Activities

• EPA has completed treatability studies to evaluate how contaminated soils will be treated.
• Asbestos-containing materials, drums, containers, and universal wastes such as batteries, light bulbs, mercury switches, etc. will be removed.
• The factory building will be fully demolished and the demolition debris will be properly disposed of.
• EPA will coordinate with CTDEP to remove residual fuel oil sludges and to dispose of underground storage tanks.
• Above-ground storage tanks located in the area of excavation will be sampled and properly disposed of.
• Soil will be excavated and put through decontamination treatment.
• Water will be treated at the source of the contamination.
• Any areas that may be disturbed/damaged by the removal activities will be stabilized and restored once the removal work is finished.

EPA and CT DEP will attempt to minimize disruption to neighbors and the surrounding community as work proceeds. EPA will also ensure that necessary precautions are in place to protect public health as cleanup work is underway. All contaminated debris removed from the site will be disposed of at properly-licensed facilities. Trucks carrying contaminated debris off-site for disposal will be inspected prior to departure, to ensure that all tie-downs are secure and all soil will undergo a tire inspection and any necessary cleanup to ensure that contaminated soil is not leaving the work area.

Press Release:

9/13	EPA Begins Clean Up Harwinton, Conn.; Public Meeting Scheduled for Wed. Oct. 3 at 7 PM

 

» Baldwinville Residential Properties, Baldwinville, Mass.

» Danversport Explosion, Danvers, Mass.

» Mohawk Tannery Site, Nashua, N.H.

Asbestos Levels in the Air Pose No Health Risk at Mohawk Tannery site

EPA and the N.H. Dept. of Environmental Services responded to a fire at the Mohawk Tannery Superfund site which took place over the weekend of Oct. 6-7, 2007. The two environmental agencies investigated the possibility of asbestos contamination resulting from the fire, and concluded that levels of asbestos present do not pose a human health risk.

Analytical results of debris samples taken from properties downwind of the fire confirmed that asbestos was not present. Additionally four air samples were collected, of which only one detected a very low level of asbestos fibers. The levels detected do not pose a health risk and were well below the normal screening levels used by EPA and NH DES to evaluate a potential threat posed by asbestos fiber content in the ambient (open) air.

Questions and concerns about responding to the fire at Mohawk Tannery site may be addressed to:

Pamela Schnepper, Senior Toxicologist, NH DES Environmental Health Program, (603) 271-3994

Tom Niejadik, NH DES, Environmental Health Program, (603) 271-6865

More information about the Mohawk Tannery Superfund site:
Fact Sheet
EPA Web page

 

» VAG Mine Site, Eden/Lowell, Vermont

Vermont Asbestos Group Mine site with asbestos tailings in the background

Vermont Asbestos Group Mine site with asbestos tailings in the background From the early 1900's to 1993, the Vermont Asbestos Group (VAG) mine site located on Belvidere Mountain in Eden and Lowell, Vermont was an active asbestos mine. During the mine's operation, millions of tons of 2-3% chrysotile asbestos ore was excavated. The ore excavation process generated tons of waste rock and mine tailings.

In 2004, investigations were conducted by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VT ANR) that revealed ecological impacts due to contaminated runoff from the mine tailings to surface water, stream sediments and the macro invertebrate communities within two distinct watersheds.

EPA became involved in the VAG mine site in July 2007, after VT ANR sent a letter requesting assistance. In August 2007, officials from the EPA and VT ANR visited the site to inspect water diversion trenches previously constructed, areas of the site that were being impacted by precipitation and drainage pathways, and to discuss short term solutions.

In October 2007, EPA mobilized to the VAG mine site to begin a time critical removal action. Actions conducted before winter weather halted work included construction of diversion trenches, berms, and sedimentation basins to keep the contaminated runoff from the tailing piles from reaching the tributaries and brooks.

In June 2008, EPA re-mobilized to the site to continue efforts to keep asbestos laden runoff water from leaving the property. Actions included inspection of features completed the previous fall and reworking a number of areas to be able to accept additional flow and sediment, which was necessary due to extremely heavy precipitation and ensuing runoff. New berms and trenches were constructed around the mine’s original tailings pile. These structures were designed to carry runoff beyond the pile and reconnect to Hutchins Brook, maintaining the hydrologic flow to down-gradient wetlands.

In addition, EPA is performing a preliminary assessment/site inspection (PA/SI) for the site. The purpose of this PA/SI is to evaluate the site for potential listing on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL), which would make it eligible for Federal funding for a comprehensive cleanup.

Next Steps

EPA has worked closely with the VT Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) throughout the removal action. EPA also has communicated with the current owner of the mine site, the Vermont Asbestos Group, Inc. (VAG), regarding the need to maintain the containment features constructed by EPA to ensure that sedimentation basins and storage areas behind the berms continue to function as designed. VT DEC will work with VAG to ensure that this work is done in a timely and safe manner. EPA's pre-remedial program is assessing this Site for potential listing on the National Priority List.

Links

• VAG Mine Press Release
• Asbestos Fact Sheet
• Status Reports from Time-Critical Removal
  • Pollution Report #1 (PDF) (3 pp., 257 KB, about PDF)
  • Pollution Report #2 (PDF) (2 pp., 255 KB, about PDF)
  • Pollution Report #3 (PDF) (2 pp., 256 KB, about PDF)
  • Pollution Report #4 (PDF) (2 pp., 257 KB, about PDF)

For more information contact:

Gary Lipson (lipson.gary@epa.gov), US EPA
On-Scene Coordinator
US Environmental Protection Agency
One Congress Street/ HBR
Boston, MA 02114-2023
Phone: 617-918-1274
Toll Free: 1-800-372-7341

David Deegan (deegan.dave@epa.gov)
EPA Office of Public Affairs
US Environmental Protection Agency
One Congress Street
Boston, MA 02114-2023
Phone: 617-918-1017

VAG Mine Site Photos:

 

» Middlebury, Vermont Train Derailment

EPA's New England emergency response team is coordinating with local, state and federal agencies responding to a train derailment in Middlebury, Vermont where gasoline is leaking onto surrounding soils and a nearby creek. 

A train carrying 18 rail cars, 15 of which contained approximately 25,000 gallons of gasoline each, derailed at approximately 2:15 p.m. on Monday, October 22, 2007.  Several cars were leaking gasoline.  The volume of the release is still undetermined, but is estimated to be between one and two thousand gallons. Gasoline has leaked into Otter Creek, a tributary to Lake Champlain. Boom has been deployed in Otter Creek to contain any leaking gasoline.

Approximately 400-500 people located within a half-mile radius of the spill were evacuated and access roads to the site were closed. As of 5:00 a.m. on Oct 23, the evacuation order was lifted and most roads have been reopened.

EPA Emergency Responders are conducting air monitoring in support of the incident. Results from the air monitoring indicate that the concentration of gasoline in the air is not exceeding safety levels. Also, EPA requested that the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team be mobilized to provide air monitoring and health and safety support to the emergency response crews at the scene. Other response agencies at the site include the Vermont Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Federal Railroad Administration and State and local hazmat crews.  EPA is also consulting with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) on health issues.

Vermont Railway, owner of the derailed cars, has pumped some of the gasoline out of the rail cars prior to safely re-railing them. It took approximately two hours to re-rail each car. EPA anticipates the operation to be completed by October 25, 2007.

Based on available information, the Vermont Dept. of Health (VDH) and ATSDR have determined there is no immediate health risk for people in the Middlebury area resulting from this gasoline spill.  The VDH will continue to monitor for possible health risks in coordination with EPA's emergency response team and various state agencies including Vermont Emergency Management. If residents are concerned that they are experiencing health symptoms related to exposure to gasoline vapor, they should seek medical attention.

More information:

• Reporting Strong Gasoline Odor in Basements: Middlebury Fire Department, (802) 388-4462
• ATSDR health information on exposure to gasoline
• David Deegan (deegan.dave@epa.gov), EPA Office of Public Affairs, (617) 918-1017
• Vermont Dept. of Health, (800) 439-8550 or Middlebury local health office (802) 388-4644

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EPA's emergency responders are highly trained and experienced to protect public health and our environment during clean up work in New England sites. - Robert Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England office