U.S. EPA Launches Investigation Program at Eastland Woolen Mill Facility

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Community Update #1
Eastland Woolen Mill Site
Corinna, Maine
December 1998

 

Overview

The Eastland Woolen Mill Site (the Site) is located on Main Street in Corinna, Maine, and was constructed at the beginning of this century, with additions constructed in the 1960's. Chemicals used in the wool dying process while the facility was in operation, including chlorobenzene, ended up in the Sebasticook River, which flows directly underneath the building. This contamination eventually reached the groundwater from dumping of chlorobenzene into the soil or leaks in the tanks onsite. The former Eastland Company declared bankruptcy in 1996, leaving the building abandoned.

 

EPA is on the move!

During the first week of December 1998, EPA started an investigation program in the mill building to determine whether substantial quantities of contaminated soil are located beneath the structure. EPA is also working to locate areas of contaminated soils on the rest of the Site that may be the source of the existing contamination in the groundwater and Sebasticook River. 

At the request of EPA, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) is coordinating the investigation activities, due to their expertise in waterways and wetlands management. During this investigation, EPA and ACOE will:

  • drill 25 - 30 holes in the ground for subsurface sampling

  • collect samples from these new wells and existing monitoring wells in January 1999

  • analyze samples to evaluate the extent of contamination, if any, beneath the building

  • establish several groundwater monitoring wells using some of the newly-drilled holes

  • conduct additional sampling of the building material

EPA expects that the drilling work should last 2 to 3 weeks. The results of this investigation program should be available by late spring 1999 at the Corinna Town Office, P.O Box 2900, Corinna, Maine 04928.

 

Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) retains role of lead agency

Over the last several years, DEP has invested significant resources and worked extensively with the Corinna community to identify contamination at the site. DEP has also played a key role in supporting the supply of clean drinking water that was provided by Eastland to residents who have been affected by groundwater contamination related to the Site. 

Reports of unsafe conditions and the presence of hazardous materials in the building prompted DEP to conduct a site investigation in February 1997. During this investigation, DEP identified various hazardous substances and materials, and tanks containing fuel. DEP removed these hazardous substances and materials from the building and shipped them to licensed disposal facilities.

Over time, contamination from beneath the building reached the groundwater and spread to the surrounding area. As a result, DEP encouraged the Eastland Company to install a water supply system to serve affected homes with a clean source of water for drinking and other domestic purposes. However, due to their 1996 bankruptcy, the Eastland Company was no longer able to service the water system. Since that time, the DEP has provided the Corinna Water District with financial support to continue to operate the water supply system.

Currently, DEP is working with the Corinna Water District to identify long-term needs to maintain the system and help the Water District develop tools to financially support themselves. To facilitate this capacity, the state is providing the Water District with interim financial assistance. In addition, DEP continues to monitor several homes and businesses in the area currently not served by the water system to ensure that residents are not being exposed to unsafe levels of contamination. 

DEP remains the lead agency on cleanup activities at the Site and has completed the work needed to allow EPA to determine if the Site should be proposed for designation on the National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund Sites 

 

Planning for Corinna's future
The proposed reconstruction of Route 7, coupled with the need for economic revitalization and the development of a comprehensive plan, has sparked tremendous local interest in exploring opportunities for beneficial reuse of the former Eastland Woolen Mill property. Many different agencies, organizations, and citizens influence the planning and eventual implementation of Corinna's revitalization plan. These entities include state and federal agencies, state and local planning groups, local citizens and town officials, and U.S. congressional representatives. To harness the expertise of these various entities and coordinate this large planning effort, the Corinna New Beginning Committee (formerly known as the Revitalization Committee) was formed. The committee is comprised of Corinna citizens, business representatives, and town officials. 

On Tuesday, November 17, the New Beginning Committee invited representatives from various federal (including EPA), state, and local agencies to meet at the Fire Annex in town and discuss first steps in coordinating the various regulatory and planning efforts. A centerpiece of the discussion was the status of the Eastland Woolen Mills site as a candidate for Superfund Site designation. 

Please contact Linda Smith for more information about the Corinna Revitalization Committee at (207) (207) 278-4353.

 

What is the status of the Eastland Woolen Mill Site as a candidate for NPL designation?
The National Priority List (NPL) is EPA's list of uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites identified for possible long-term cleanup under the Superfund Program. This program was established by Congress in 1980 under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) in response to growing concern over health and environmental risks posed by hazardous waste sites. The Superfund program was created to locate, investigate and clean up hazardous waste sites throughout the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers the Superfund program in cooperation with individual states and tribal governments. 

EPA uses a scoring system called the Hazard Ranking System (HRS) to rank hazardous waste sites. Sites that score high enough are eligible for the National Priorities List. The HRS score is based on information EPA and/or DEP collects during the initial investigations of a site to determine the dangers it may pose to public health and the environment. The score also indicates whether hazardous substances have moved, or may move, through ground water, surface water, soil or air.

Using EPA funding, DEP has completed the work needed to allow EPA to determine if the Site should be designated on the NPL. EPA's current investigation work will supplement the significant work already completed by DEP at the site. Until the site is officially placed on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL), DEP will be the lead agency for cleanup activities. 

Once EPA completes its preliminary investigation program, the agency will evaluate the need for an early cleanup of any contaminated soils at the Site. EPA could perform this cleanup work without obtaining official NPL designation of the Site. However, funds for longer term cleanup activities, such as groundwater cleanup and monitoring, would be more difficult to obtain without NPL designation. 

In the interim, EPA will begin assembling a technical team to develop a plan for the full scale investigation program that will take place if the site is placed on the NPL. EPA will continue to work with local officials, residents, DEP, and the Corinna New Beginning Committee to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the Site. 


If you have questions or concerns about the Eastland Woolen Mill Site, please contact one of the following officials:

U.S. EPA
Ed Hathaway, Project Manager
(617) 918-1372

Erin Heskett, Public Affairs
(617) 918-1054
heskett.erin@epamail.epa.gov

Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Kathy Niziolek
(207) 287-4861
kathy.d.niziolek@state.me.us

Town of Corinna 
Judy Doore
(207) 278-4183
corinna@tdstelme.net
 

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