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EPA to Provide Update on Oak Street Buried Drum Removal: to Hold Public Information Meeting

Release Date: 11/20/2002
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1064

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hosting a public information meeting on December 3rd from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Mulcahey School, 28 Clifford St. in Taunton, MA to discuss the cleanup activities at a vacant lot located on Oak Street between Anderson and Highland Streets in Taunton, MA. EPA began work in September to excavate buried drums from the site. At the information meeting EPA will present a slide show demonstrating the progress of the cleanup to date.

EPA found buried drums containing hazardous substances, including toluene and trichloroethylene (TCE) on the property when it went to do a site investigation. EPA, the city of Taunton and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection are working cooperatively to remove the buried drums. To date, approximately ten cubic yards of soil have been excavated and more than 40 drums have been recovered. The soil is being sampled and stockpiled and the recovered drums are being sampled and overpacked before being transported off-site for disposal at a permitted facility. EPA expects the project to continue for the next three to four months, weather permitting.