The Site is currently a developed residential area that consists of three building apartment buildings each containing approximatley 20 apartments known as the Colony Square Apartments (the site).
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In 1870, the St. Albans Gas & Light Company (later known as the Vermont Lighting Company) purchased the property and conducted gas manufacturing operations until 1953.
From 1953 to 1971, the property was only utilized for summer carnivals and other public events. Sometime prior to 1962, the five on-site buildings were demolished. Prior to 1968, Water Street was renamed Maple Street and was extended over the eastern portion of the Site to connect LaSalle Street to Pearl Street.
In 1971, the Colony Square Apartments and the two single-family residences were constructed on the site. In May 1975, the site was subdivided into three lots and the two residential properties were sold. In 2005/06 EPA conducted removal actions att he two residential properties to address surficial soils that were contamianted with residual wastes from the former coal gassification plant.
During the spring of 2011 heavy rains overwhelmed the sump pumps in two of the apartment building basements. The groundwater containing coal tar constituents entered the basements. The Vermont DEC Emergency Response and the St Albans Fire Department responded to the tenants complaints of oders in their apartments and water in the basements by pumping the water out of the basements and ventelating the buildings.
During the week of May 6-11, 2012 EPA conducted extensive sampling of surficail soils, soil cores, indoor air, soil gas and surficial sampling on adjacent properties. The EPA's PHILIS mobile laboratory provided analytical support by analyzing approximatly 250 soil and air samples.
The results of the May 2012 sampling identified soil contamination at the site. Elevated concentrations of coal tar compounds were also detected in occupied apartments. The determinaiton was made that the water entering the sump pumps contained coal tar constituents which were being discharged onto the lawn area outside the apartment buildings. This process was also impacting the indoor air quality.
A time critical removal action will be implimented during the summer of 2012 to address the contaminated surficial soils and the indoor air issues at the site.
