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Work Continues at Troy Mills Superfund Site

Release Date: 05/06/2005
Contact Information:

Contact: David Deegan, EPA Office of Public Affairs, (617) 918-1017, deegan.dave@epa.gov

For Immediate Release: May 6, 2005; Release # dd050502

Troy, N.H. - EPA's work to excavate contaminated soils at the Troy Mills Landfill recently resumed, after being suspended over the winter due to the snow accumulation and frozen ground conditions. Currently, the cleanup effort focuses on the excavation of additional contaminated soil and restoration of the 2-acre work area.

Before winter conditions caused work to stop for several months, EPA’s cleanup activities in the landfill area resulted in the excavation of 7,678 buried drums. Thus far, EPA has removed 25,000 gallons of flammable liquid waste, 2,100 cubic yards of waste sludge and 21,000 tons of contaminated soil. The wastes have been transported offsite and disposed of at EPA-approved disposal facilities.

Over the next few months, EPA will remove approximately 5,000 additional tons of contaminated soil before re-grading the site and placing a cap over the two-acre excavation area. The cap will include a layer of geo-textile fabric followed by two feet of clean soil and a layer of topsoil. Once the cap has been built, the area will be seeded. While on site, EPA will also regularly monitor the temporary interceptor trench and remove the collected material. During the work, EPA will be once again using a portion of the Cheshire Branch Rail Trail to transport materials on and off the site. Signs directing people to the by-pass trail are posted.

Later this spring and summer EPA expects to complete a comprehensive investigation of the site to determine the nature and extent of any remaining contamination and evaluate cleanup options for the site. Before EPA makes a decision on any next steps at the site, the public will have an opportunity to formally comment on EPA’s cleanup proposal.

The site was listed on the National Priorities List (NPL), commonly known as the Superfund, in Sept. of 2003. EPA's Superfund program makes public funds available to clean up toxic waste sites when private financing is unavailable. In Sept. 2002, EPA performed 14 test pit excavations at the landfill and found deteriorated drums containing liquids and/or sludge in each. The drums contained hazardous materials including petroleum-based degreasers such as Varsol solvent, and plasticizer wastes.

The Troy Mills Landfill (also called the Rockwood Brook Landfill), is located about 1.5 miles south of downtown Troy off of a dirt road. The 10-acre landfill, located within a large 270-acre parcel owned by Troy Mills, was used from 1967 until 2001 as an industrial waste disposal area by the owner, a local fabric manufacturer. From 1967 to 1978, the two-acre portion of the landfill was used to dispose of drums containing liquid wastes and sludge.

Related Information:
Troy Mills Fact Sheet
Superfund in New England