EPA proposes plan to clean up groundwater at Tri-Cities Barrel Superfund Site
8/5/11

NEW YORK — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed an amended plan to clean up groundwater at the Tri-Cities Barrel Superfund Site in Fenton, N.Y. using a variety of natural processes known as "monitored natural attenuation," according to a press release.

The groundwater is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds, pesticides and metals, which can cause serious damage to people's health and the environment.

EPA will oversee the periodic collection and analysis of groundwater samples to verify that the level and extent of contaminants are declining and that people's health and the environment are protected, the release stated.

To read the full press release, click here.

EPA addresses dioxin contamination in Woonasquatucket River
7/25/11

BOSTON — On July 22, representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Department of Health provided the public with an update on the environmental investigations and actions at the Centredale Manor Restoration Project Superfund Site, according to a press release.

The Woonasquatucket River, which forms the border between Johnston and North Providence, R.I., has widespread dioxin contamination resulting from the former operations of a chemical company and a drum recycler from the early 1940s to the early 1970s.

EPA presented the findings of the Remedial Investigation that was conducted to better understand the nature and extent of site contamination and collect information needed to identify any potential human health and ecological risks, the release stated.

Elevated levels of contaminants, including dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-VOCs and metals, have been found in soil, sediment, wetlands and surface water at the site.

To read the full press release, click here.

EPA to begin first phase of Newtown Creek Superfund cleanup
7/12/11

NEW YORK — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced an agreement with six entities to begin the first phase of the Superfund cleanup of Newtown Creek in New York City, according to a press release.

The agreement includes an investigation of the contamination in Newtown Creek and a study that will outline options to clean up the contamination.

EPA added Newtown Creek to its Superfund National Priorities List of the country's most hazardous waste sites in September 2010 because its water and an estimated 1 million cubic yards of its sediment contain a range of contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the release stated.

"Newtown Creek is one of the most polluted urban water bodies in the country, and EPA is committed to making sure this waterway receives a thorough cleanup," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck. "This agreement is an important step that will provide a comprehensive study of the contamination in Newtown Creek and the development of options to clean it up. The agreement also ensures that the parties responsible for the pollution, not the taxpayer, will foot the bill."

To read the full press release, click here.

Final phase of Hudson River cleanup resumes
6/7/11

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the dredging of sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has resumed in the Upper Hudson River, marking the start of the second and final phase of the Hudson River cleanup, according to a press release.

The historic dredging project targets approximately 2.4 million cubic yards of PCB-contaminated sediment from a 40-mile section of the Upper Hudson River between Fort Edward and Troy, N.Y., the release stated.

This final phase of the cleanup project is expected to take five to seven years to complete.

Between 1947 and 1977, an estimated 1.3 million pounds of PCBs were discharged into the river from two GE capacitor manufacturing plants located in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls, according to the release.

To read the full release, click here.

Carcinogen discovered in Colorado groundwater
4/11/11

DENVER — Colorado state regulators have discovered high levels of a cancer-causing chemical in the groundwater around an old uranium mill outside Cañon City, Colo., The Denver Post reported.

According to the report, trichloroethene, which was used to remove polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the 1980s, was detected at concentrations up to 360 times the federal health limit in groundwater around Cotter Corp.'s defunct uranium mill.

Cotter employees originally discovered the contamination in water samples taken in October and the company plans to conduct further groundwater sampling in May to determine the amount of trichloroethene and its spread, the article stated.

The site has been placed on The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) national list for Superfund cleanups, according to the story.

"Vapors can seep up through the soil and get into homes. Then you have not only a drinking issue but an inhalation risk," EPA spokeswoman Sonya Pennock said. "We need to find out how much there is and where it is. Then you would make a decision as to whether people could be exposed to it."

To read the full article, click here.