The Eastern Fine Paper (EFP) property is located at 517 South Main Street in Brewer, Maine (44°46.3' north latitude and 68°46.8' west longitude) and is situated in a mixed residential/commercial area of Brewer. The nearest residences are one block to the north and to the south of the site. EFP is bordered by the Penobscot River to the west and the Sedgeunkedunk Stream to the south.
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) contacted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 1, Emergency Planning and Response Branch (EPRB), the week of February 9, 2004 to request assistance in assessing a number of environmental threats at the EFP site posed by both potential freezing conditions and abandonment of the facility. Although the threats associated with the mill were documented by EPA during a site investigation along with the DEP in February, a response was not initiated until June, 2004 due to efforts by the state of Maine and the city of Brewer to find a purchaser for EFP who could continue to operate the facility as a paper mill. During that time period, a skeleton crew worked at EFP keeping the process chemicals heated to avoid any freeze related discharges to the environment. In addition, the DEP consolidated hundreds of drums, totes and assorted chemical containers in a central warehouse on the EFP property for potential reuse by other facilities. When the attempts to revitalize the mill ultimately failed, EPA was given the go ahead in mid May 2004 to mobilize to the site and begin cleanup operations.
From mobilization in June 2004 through September 2004, EPA and their cleanup contractor, Shaw E & I, conducted a number of removal activities including: draining charged chemical lines; collecting, consolidating and appropriately staging totes/drums/containers; inventorying and staging laboratory chemicals; removing, consolidating and staging thousands of fluorescent bulbs, mercury switches and thermostats, fire extinguishers, and PCB ballasts; consolidating and staging empty containers; bulking contents of similar totes; and facilitating and assisting in the loadout of chemicals and oils for reuse and recycling. (see POLREP #2 for additional information)
The following removal activities were conducted by EPA and their cleanup contractor from September 2004 through demobilization on November 19, 2004:
* Drained PCB oil from two transformers and arranged for transportation and disposal. This involved de-energizing and carrying out lockout/tagout procedures of the transformers;
* Facilitated and assisted in the loadout of bulk chemicals for reuse/recycling and disposal which involved vendor coordination (the receiving entity as well as their transportation subcontractor) while procuring and setting up pumps and hoses;
* Removed previously drained PCB transformers from buildings and arranged for off-site transportation and disposal. This involved some demolition and subsequent restoration of the buildings;
* Staged, inventoried, and arranged for transportation and disposal of empty containers;
* Staged, inventoried and arranged for transportation and disposal of laboratory pack items;
* Inventoried items to be left at the mill subsequent to demobilization (e,g. electric pallet jacks, propane cylinders, forklifts, batteries, etc.);
* Arranged for transportation and disposal of the previously staged universal hazardous waste (e.g. fluorescent bulbs, mercury switches and thermostats, fire extinguishers, and PCB ballasts);
* Staged and arranged for transportation and disposal of the remaining hazardous waste and pollutants and contaminants (see attached Waste Disposition and recycle/reuse tables).
This removal action at the Eastern Fine Paper Site has been completed. No additional activities are expected.
The After Action Report which documents all site activities will be prepared by the OSC and his Superfund Technical Assistance and Response Team (START) contractor. This report will be distributed to local and state authorities.
State and local environmental officials are currently investigating another portion of the Eastern Fine Paper Site that was not included in the scope of this removal action. Any assistance provided by EPA in the future will be considered a new action.
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