United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region I
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Site is located principally on property owned by the Milton Mills Cemetery Association on Applebee Road, and to a lesser degree on adjacent residential property at 524 Applebee Road.  Lot numbers 111 and 112 on Map 9 in the Milton Tax Assessor’s Office represent their location together with surrounding parcels.  The boundaries of the Site are residential property to the north, the Salmon Falls River (the NH/ME state boundary) to the east, residential property to the south, and Applebee Road to the west.

The Site is located in a rural-residential setting, with approximately 186 people in a one-half mile radius.  Site property is generally flat and at-grade with Applebee Road, then drops steeply to the Salmon Falls River and flood plain/wetland below.  At this time, graves are limited to a small portion of the available land.  There is a baseball field between existing graves and the slope leading down to the River.  There is one single-family home on the residential parcel at 524 Applebee Road.   The eastern portion of this parcel is wooded, and slopes less steeply toward the River.  The Salmon Falls River is a Class B water body, suitable for fishing and swimming.


The results of tests performed on samples collected from the site reveal that chromium and lead are present in exposed tannery waste at concentrations as high as 37,500 ppm and 9,850 ppm, respectively, which are significantly higher than the corresponding benchmarks of 1000 ppm and 400 ppm identified in New Hampshire's Risk Characterization and Management Policy (RMCP).

For activities prior to 23 July 08, please refer to POLREP 2.

23 Jul 08 - The site was demobilized this date after the Town's contractor completed hydroseeding the grassy field at the cemetery impacted by heavy equipment.

19 Sep 08 - The OSC received a Completion of Work report prepared by the Town's supervising contractor. The report includes the estimated cost for the town to complete this project:  $301,887.61.

24 Sept 08 - The OSC approved the Completion of Work report via correspondence this date.  This certifies all actions required by the administrative order have been completed, and marks the completion date for this removal action.

Heavy equipment will be used to excavate tannery waste, soil, and sediment consistent with the relevant RCMP threshold.  Excavated material will be transported off site to a secure landfill, and the impacted area restored to the extent practical.  Capping and administrative controls may also be employed if, for example, contamination is deeper than three feet, or for other reasons approved by the OSC.  Restoration includes, but is not necessarily limited to, backfilling excavated areas, and establishing a vegetative cover.  

Personnel will collect samples of waste, soil, and air to comply with the requirements of the Site’s health and safety plan, characterize waste, document the effectiveness of the cleanup, and assure the quality of backfill obtained from off-site vendors.

No further activities are anticipated. All planned removal actions have been completed, and all the requirements of the administrative order have been completed.

None.

A total of 1,362.36 tons of tannery waste and associated contaminated soil has been shipped off site in 25 truck loads to Waste Management's Turnkey Landfill in Rochester, New Hampshire.