U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Community Update #5
Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund Site 
Corinna, Maine 
April 2000

Lately, at the Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund Site..........

EPA has nearly demolished the entire Eastland Woolen Mill complex. Demolition work has been going strong since December 1999 and is expected to be complete by April 15, 2000. For daily updates and photographs of the demolition work, check out Ken Dow's website, www.cattailpress.com.

EPA has also completed the initial phase of an investigation to evaluate the extent and nature of contamination resulting from the site.

Remember that....

EPA is implementing two cleanup phases simultaneously. These phases are the:

• Early Cleanup {or, Non-Time Critical Removal Action (NTCRA)}
• Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS).

First, the goal of EPA's early cleanup/NTCRA is to remove the source of contamination in soils, thereby reducing the amount of contamination that is migrating into the groundwater and the East Branch of the Sebasticook River. EPA's overall goal of the soil cleanup program has not changed. 

Rather, EPA is proposing a more cost efficient approach to access and remove deep pockets of contaminated soils outside of the main excavation area. 

Second, the purpose of EPA's RI/FS is to determine the extent and types of contamination in soils, sediments, surface water, ground water, air, and/or fish at the site. The initial phase of this RI/FS work is now complete, and provides important information to evaluate possible long-term cleanup solutions. 

What changes are EPA proposing for the soil cleanup work?

This community update presents changes to EPA's soil cleanup approach that was originally proposed in July 1999. EPA is seeking public feedback on these proposed changes.

In July 1999, EPA proposed thermal desorption as a cleanup technology for soils. This 
proposal was finalized after consideration of public input during a 30-day comment period. At the time of the initial proposal, the soil sampling and geological data indicated that thermal desorption was a soil cleanup alternative that provided the best balance of protecting human health and the environment, while meeting state and federal requirements, and at a reasonable cost. 

However, careful planning by EPA has changed several components of the early cleanup plan that were not specified in EPA's July 1999 proposal. Nevertheless, EPA believes that these components are still consistent with the overall cleanup goals for soils proposed in the original decision. 

Furthermore, EPA is asking that the community and other interested parties do consider the proposed changes to the early cleanup and provide feedback. 

EPA is proposing the following changes to the early cleanup for soils:

• cleaning up certain areas of deep soil contamination by using an in-situ (in-ground) technology, rather than excavating contaminated soils from the ground, treating those soils, and placing them back into the ground;
• reducing the volume of contaminant liquids in soils that provide a significant source of contamination in groundwater;
• diverting the river, and re-locating the new highway bridge along the proposed traffic detour, as permanent solutions. The Maine Department of Transportation (DOT) will complete the road work to make the proposed detour a permanent re-alignment of Route 7;
• excavating contaminated soil/sediment areas downstream of the railroad trestle; and,
• pre-treating the highly contaminated soils to reduce volatile chemical air emissions during excavation.

Each of these changes, in sequence, is discussed in more detail next.

In-situ soil cleanup technology

EPA's fall 1999 field investigation program has revealed that contamination disposed by the Eastland Company into the soil beneath the mill has migrated down to the bedrock surface. Some of this contamination has migrated outside of the most heavily impacted area. Consequently, an area of contaminated soils has formed that is several feet thick just over the bedrock, with 20 feet of clean soil resting on top of this contaminated zone (See Figure 1 for a cross-sectional view of this soil contamination). 

Instead of digging up 20 feet of clean soil to access the contaminated soils beneath, and then excavating and treating those contaminated soils, EPA is proposing a new technology to address this soil contamination. This technology, called in-situ chemical oxidation, involves the installation of either vertical wells or trenches to allow for the injection of a chemical that would react with the contaminants in the soil. The reaction would destroy the contaminants in place, leaving no hazardous chemical byproducts in the ground. 

During 2000, EPA will complete a pilot program to test this technology onsite. If the results of this pilot program are successful, then EPA will implement it as a full-scale soil cleanup technology. 
(See Figure 3 for the areas that are being considered for in-situ chemical oxidation).

Contaminant Liquid Reduction

EPA has also revealed very high contaminant concentrations in soils beneath the mill complex. This contamination is in a non-aqueous phase, which means that the contamination has not dissolved and is sitting in the soil as a pool of dye aid. EPA's cleanup program will include a system to recover as much of this material as possible using sumps in the ground. This approach will decrease the chance of this material migrating during the excavation program (See Figure 2 for areas of soil contamination).

River Diversion and Route 7 Traffic Detour

EPA has determined that both diverting the East Branch of the Sebasticook River, and re-aligning Route 7, is the most cost effective and environmentally sound approach to addressing contaminated soils onsite (See Figure 4). 

As part of the original early cleanup plan, EPA proposed to divert the river and detour traffic on Route 7 to the north of Main Street as temporary changes during cleanup construction activities. But, after further discussions and input from the town of Corinna and the Maine Department of Transportation (MEDOT), EPA has been notified that MEDOT will convert the traffic detour into the permanent road re-alignment. Therefore, EPA's cleanup design has identified the traffic detour and river diversion as permanent features.

EPA believes that a permanent solution is the most cost effective approach to this cleanup, and is consistent with the town of Corinna's economic planning. The more costly alternative for EPA would be to move the river back into alignment and reconstruct Main Street after the cleanup work is complete.

The new highway bridge will be installed along the new alignment of Route 7. When EPA's cleanup is complete, MEDOT will convert the traffic detour into a permanent road re-alignment. MEDOT will then be responsible for long-term ownership, maintenance, and all property and right-of-way issues related to the detour and re-alignment. EPA's proposed Route 7 alignment is also consistent with the plan approved by the town of Corinna in fall 1999. 

The river diversion will also eliminate the need for maintaining the existing dam beneath the Eastland Woolen Mill. As a result, the East Branch of the Sebasticook River will run free from Corundel Lake through downtown Corinna. 


Downstream soil/sediment contamination

EPA's investigations have confirmed that soil and sediment contamination above established cleanup levels exists farther downstream in the East Branch of the Sebasticook River than originally identified. To address this contamination, EPA will extend the excavation program at least several hundred yards downstream from the railroad trestle, which may include excavation of soils just upstream of the Moosehead Mill dam. (See Figure 5 for a view of the river remediation area).

Pre-Treatment of Highly Contaminated Soil

Open excavation of highly contaminated soils could result in unacceptable chemical air emissions. To prevent these emissions, EPA is proposing to pre-treat the soil in the ground with a vapor recovery system. EPA will design this system to remove a sufficient quantity of chemical vapors from the soils, and thereby allow for soil excavation to proceed more safely.

What is EPA's anticipated work schedule?

In 2000, EPA expects to complete the following cleanup activities, after consideration of public input:

• Route 7 traffic detour
• soil and sediment excavations downstream
• river diversion
• Odd Fellows Building relocation to a lot on Spring Street

EPA will attempt to address the deep excavation work along Main Street in 2000, but anticipates that this work will likely occur in 2001. 

Once excavation is complete, EPA will re-grade the area so that surface water drains properly to the river, minimizing erosion and correcting for low spots where water may pool. 

If through further investigations EPA determines that long-term groundwater control and treatment may be necessary, then EPA may propose to leave the groundwater extraction and treatment system in place.

EPA plans further field investigation work

Although EPA has completed the major portion of the field investigation program, EPA anticipates performing additional work to better define the extent of contamination in groundwater and in the East Branch of the Sebasticook River downstream.

Thus far, EPA has determined that contamination has migrated very deep into the groundwater. EPA will install additional wells to locate this deep contamination. EPA will also use data from periodic water chemistry and elevation monitoring to define the nature and extent of the contamination (See Figure 6: Conceptual Plume).

In addition, EPA must evaluate the significance of contamination at the old dump and further downstream before the need for and type of cleanup can be determined.

EPA expects to release by mid-summer 2000 a summary data report of results from the 1999 field investigation program.

Technical Assistance Grant Awarded

An EPA Technical Assistance Grant has been awarded to the Sebasticook Committee for a Clean Environment (SCCE). SCCE has retained Summit Environmental to provide technical expertise to the committee regarding cleanup activities at the site. 

SCCE meetings are held the first Monday of every month at Corinna Town Offices, 7:00 p.m. Representatives of SCCE will be available at the April 11 public information meeting to meet with interested citizens.

EPA would like to thank SCCE member Mr. Ken Dow and all those involved in developing the website: www.cattailpress.com. This site provides daily updates, including digital and aerial photographs of EPA's cleanup work at the Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund Site. 

Next Steps

EPA is in the process of completing the design for upcoming cleanup activities.

EPA will provide additional newsletters in the coming months that will explain proposed changes to the cleanup work. These newsletters will also outline the cleanup work schedule.

EPA is evaluating whether the proposed cleanup changes under consideration would require further public comment prior to implementing those changes to the work plan.

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

U.S. EPA
Technical Questions:
Ed Hathaway, Project Manager
(617) 918-1372
hathaway.ed@epa.gov

Community Outreach:

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

Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Rebecca Hewett
Project Manager
(207) 287-8554
rebecca.l.hewett@state.me.us

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


Sebasticook Committee for a Clean Environment
Lynn Cianchette 
(207) 487-3311

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