United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region I
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

From approximately 1952 to 1977, the A.C. Lawrence Tannery (Tannery) facility, formerly located on the west bank of the Little Androscoggin River, used a metal trough to transport their waste to settling lagoons on the southeast bank of the Little Androscoggin River.

In the 1970’s, the South Paris Publicly Owned Treatment Works was constructed and began accepting waste from the Tannery.  In 1977, the lagoons ceased receiving wastes and a soil cap was placed over the sludge lagoons. The Tannery closed in 1985.

The land surrounding the Site is primarily wooded. A residential development is planned immediately south of the Site and currently the nearest residences are approximately 2000 feet northeast along Oxford Street. The land use on the west side of the river is industrial/commercial.  The Site is located over a mapped sand and gravel aquifer.

This inactive seven acre Site is referred to as lot 7 on the Town of Paris, Maine Property Map R2. The cause of the contamination is from a non-oil manufacturing source (Tannery).

It is bounded:

• to the north by Little Androscoggin River;
• to the south by a residential development;
• to the east by Oxford Street; and,
• to the west by a railroad right-of-way and the Little Androscoggin River.

Week of 27 November 2006

On 30 November 2006, OSC McKeown, RM Lutsic and Shaw professional engineer (P.E.) Larry Nesbitt conducted a Site walk with four sheet piling contractors.

Week of 4 December 2006

RM Lutsic and one operator mobilized on 4 December 2006 and one laborer mobilized on 7 December 2006.  Activities for the week included the relocation of the drainage swale from the middle of the Site.  The original drainage basins on the southeast side of the site were lined with Geotech fabric and 8 to 12 inch riprap erosion stone.  The basins were connected with a 24 inch diameter 170 foot long section of Sherlock HDPE piping.  The northern most drainage basin was set up to drain into the Little Androscoggin River using a 30 inch diameter 240 foot long section of Sherlock HDPE pipe.  The new drainage system will minimize the amount of water flowing into excavated lagoons on the north side of the Site.

Week of 11 December 2006

RM Lutsic, one operator and one laborer mobilized.  Activities for the week include soil pile relocation and road preparation for soil load-out.

1,274 tons of chromium-contaminated soil was shipped to Crossroads Landfill in Norridgewock, ME.  The MEDEP coordinated and paid for the disposal at a cost of $76,450.20.   MEDEP representative Wayne Paradis was on Site.  

On 15 December 2006, the crew used dry decontamination methods on the two excavators and demobilized.  

Week of 29 January 2007

OSCs McKeown and Muller, Shaw RM Lutsic and one operator mobilized. OSC Muller took over OSC duties for the week.  Activities for the week included the relocation of soil piles near Lagoon 1, construction of a crane pad, and tree removal along the riverbank of Lagoon 1.
  
Equipment delivered: Hertz delivered two excavators during the week - a John Deere 330 on 29 January 2007, and a John Deere 270 on 1 February 2007.

The sheet piling sub-contractor, HB Fleming, performed additional site reconnaissance and conducted test boring along the riverbank of Lagoon 1. Equipment for the sheet piling installation, including the crane and hydraulic hammer, was delivered and assembled.

DPW Frank Danforth was on Site to review the drainage plan that had been implemented in December 2006.

Week of 5 February 2007

OSC McKeown, RM Lutsic, one operator and one laborer mobilized.  Activities for the week included excavation of Lagoon 1, soil stockpiling, and preparation of the loading zone.  The storage box was relocated from the northeast corner of Lagoon 1 to a previously excavated area.  HB Fleming continued to install sheet piling at the southern end of Lagoon 1.  MEDEP representative Wayne Paradis visited the Site.

Week of 12 February 2007

RM Lutsic and one operator mobilized.  Activities for the week included excavation of Lagoon 1, soil stockpiling, and preparation of the loading zone.  HB Fleming continued installing sheet piling along the riverbank of Lagoon 1.  Hertz delivered a Bobcat on 15 February 2007 to help in snow removal activities.  MEDEP representative Wayne Paradis visited the Site.

Week of 19 February 2007

OSC Rice, who was covering for OSC McKeown, SL Burton, RM Lutsic, one operator and one laborer mobilized to the Site.   Activities for the week include soil pile relocation and soil load-out.  HB Fleming continued installing sheet piling along the riverbank of Lagoon 1.

842 tons of chromium contaminated soil was shipped to the Juniper Ridge Landfill in Alton, ME at a cost of $35,137.  

Week of 26 February 2007

OSC Rice, RM Lutsic, one operator and one laborer mobilized.  Activities for the week include soil pile relocation.  HB Fleming continued installing sheet piling along the riverbank of Lagoon 1.

Week of 5 March 2007

SL Lynch, RM Lutsic two operators and one laborer mobilized.  SL Burton, who assumed duties from SL Lynch and OSC McKeown mobilized on 6 March 2007.  Activities for the week include soil pile relocation and soil load-out.  HB Fleming completed the installation of 507 feet of sheet piling on 7 March 2007.  

1,225 tons of chromium-contaminated soil was shipped to the Juniper Ridge Landfill in Alton, ME at a cost of $51,117.

To date EPA has obligated $2,082,000 to Shaw.

Number of Samples collected:      12
Samples Analyzed on-site:         12
Samples analyzed by NERL:         3
Samples analyzed by Shaw-Procured
Laboratory for Disposal Purposes: 2

• Excavate the sludge from the lagoons and the river bank;
• Dispose of the materials in accordance with the Off-Site Rule; and
• Install sheet piling along the Little Androscoggin River to facilitate the excavation of Lagoon 1 and the river bank.

*       Continue with the excavation of chromium-contaminated soil.
*       Continue shipping contaminated off-site for disposal.

On 20 December 2006, a "Request to Continue the Removal Action, Extend Beyond 12 Months, a Ceiling Increase/$2 Million Exemption and a change in Scope for the A.C. Lawrence Superfund Removal Site, South Paris, Oxford County, Maine. - Action Memorandum Amendment" was submitted to the Office of Site Remediaton and Restoration Director for approval. Deputy Director Richard Cavagnero signed the Action Memorandum Amendment on December 21, 2006 approving the ceiling increase from $1,732,500 to $4,375,000 and the change of scope to allow for the installation of sheet piling along the river, adjacent to Lagoon 1.

Non-Hazardous Waste: Chromium contaminated soil was landfilled.