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EPA to Review Cleanup Progress at Barkhamsted - New Hartford Landfill Superfund Site

Release Date: 06/12/2003
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Community Involvement Office, 617-918-1064

Boston-- The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is undertaking a review of the cleanup remedies in place at the Barkhamsted - New Hartford Landfill Superfund Site in Pleasant Valley, Barkhamsted, Connecticut. An open house will be held on June 24, 2003, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Landfill Office, to discuss recent and upcoming site activities.
In this study, called a five year review, EPA will be looking at whether the landfill cap that was constructed in 1998 and a process that allows for the contamination to dissipate by natural forces over time (referred to as natural attenuation) continue to be effective in meeting the cleanup levels set for the site. EPA has formed a team to plan and conduct the review. The five-year review process involves a comprehensive evaluation of the site remedies including:

• interviewing local officials and community members
• inspecting the landfill cap
• collecting surface water, sediment, and groundwater data to determine progress of natural attenuation processes.

The June 24, 2003 open house will be held at the Landfill Office at 31 New Hartford Road, Pleasant Valley, CT. For Directions contact Jim Hart at 860-379-1972.

The Barkhamsted - New Hartford Landfill Superfund site, located on Route 44 in Pleasant Valley, CT was placed on the EPA's National Priorities List in 1989 when extensive volatile organic compounds and metal grindings were discovered in the soil, surface and groundwater. An impermeable landfill cap was constructed in 2001 that prevents rain and runoff from further transporting contaminants in the groundwater to surrounding areas. The groundwater will be cleaned up through natural attenuation processes that will be monitored until cleanup levels are achieved.

More information about cleanup activities at the Barkhamsted - New Hartford Landfill Superfund Site may be found on the EPA New England web site at: https://www.epa.gov/region01/superfund/sites/barkhamsted/