United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region I
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

In December of 2007, Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MEDEP) requested EPA assistance regarding abandoned containers located inside and around the Stenton Trust Mill in Sanford, Maine.  In April 2007, EPA conducted a Preliminary Assessment (PA) and Removal Site Investigation (SI).  EPA also obtained significant amounts of historical and analytical data from the EPA Region I Brownfields program. EPA used this information and the findings from the PA/SI to document the presence of hazardous substances including PCBs, ignitable and corrosive characteristic wastes (D001 and D002), universal wastes, and a variety of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds.

The Stenton Trust Mill initially operated as a textile mill during the 1920s.  The 270,000 square foot mill building consists of six distinct areas.  These include the five-story Tower A, five-story Tower C, one-story Section B, one-story Section D, the loading dock along the north end of the building and the basement that underlies the entire structure except the loading dock.

Gateway Properties, LLC purchased the property in 1999 from the Stenton Trust.  From 1999 to the present, Gateway leased portions of the facility to a variety of light-industrial operations.  During this period, the mill building has accumulated a large collection of containers (of various size, condition and contents).  The majority of abandoned containers are located in the basement, loading dock area, Section D or along the east side of the building.  The building does not have an operating temperature-control system or sprinkler system.

During this period, EPA OSC John McKeown completed the time-critical removal objectives listed in the Action Memorandum.  EPA OSC McKeown coordinated with MEDEP, City of Sanford, Gateway LLC (current owner), Gardner Savings Bank (holder of lien) and current businesses operating on the property.  

EPA divided the cleanup into four separate actions:

Task 1 - Transformer removal and disposal.  ERRS subcontracted the removal, transportation and disposal (T&D) of the eleven (11) tranformers to ENPRO, who subcontracted the T&D to Transformers Services Inc. (TSI).  On 30 September 2008, TSI used a crane to move the transformers from the transformer pad and loading dock onto a flatbed truck.  TSI drained the transformer oil into a 500 gallon poly tote.  TSI transported the transformer oil and the empty containers to an EPA-approved disposal facility.

Task 2 - 55-gallon drum inventory, recovery and disposal.  ERRS characterized, overpacked and staged all 55 gallon drums containing hazardous substances in section D of the mill building.  ERRS subcontracted the T&D of the 55 gallon drums to Clean Venture General Chemical (CVGC).  On 30 September 2008, CVGC completed the T&D of all 55 gallon drums to an EPA-approved disposal facility.

Task 3 - Inventory, recovery and disposal of all remaining containers of hazardous substances.  ERRS completed characterizing the hazardous substances in containers smaller than 55 gallons, then staged the containers in Section D of the mill building.  ERRS subcontracted CVGC to complete T&D of the containers.  On 30 September 2008, CVGC completed the T&D of the containers to an EPA-approved disposal facility.

Task 4 - Recovery and disposal of Universal Waste.  On 13 and 15 September 2008, ERRS shipped two rolloffs of computer related universal waste (monitors, CPUs, keyboards, printers..) to an EPA approved disposal facility.  EPA grouped the flourescent bulbs and PCB ballasts with the small containers for T&D.  On 30 September 2008, CVGC completed T&D of the flourescent bulbs and PCB ballasts to an EPA-approved disposal facility.

On 30 September 2008, EPA, START and ERRS completed work at the Stenton Trust Mill Site.
EPA demobilized all equipment and personnel from the Site.

No further actions planned.

EPA will support MEDEP and City of Sanford on any follow up actions to this time-critical removal.  No further actions are anticipated at this time.

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