The Site is located at the corner of Maple Street and LaSalle Street in St. Albans, Vermont. The geographic coordinates, as measured from the approximate center of the property, are 44° 48’ 46.8” north latitude and 73° 05’ 24.0” west longitude. The Site is further identified as Lot Nos. 23057024, 23057038, and 23057040 on the City of St. Albans Tax Assessor’s Map No. 10. The Site is bordered by Maple Street and residential properties to the east, Lasalle Street and residential properties to the south, Stevens Brook and residential properties to the west, and residential properties to the north.
The property usage prior to 1870 is unknown. 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. In 1971 the property was subdivided and redeveloped for residential use. The SAGLF property is approximately 1.3 acres and is occupied by an apartment complex (the Colony Square Apartments) for low-income families. On-site features include three two-story apartment buildings, a paved parking area, a children’s play area, and grassy areas. The two other properties (Nos. 38 and 40 Maple Street) are approximately 0.3 acre in size, each contain a single family raised-ranch style house, grassy areas, vegetable gardens and unpaved driveways. The owner of No. 38 Maple Street also operates a day-care business within the house.
On May 10, 2005, EPRB initiated a preliminary assessment and site investigation (PA/SI) at this Site. EPA, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) regional representative, and EPA’s Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor met onsite to conduct a site walk-through and to establish a sampling grid system. Sampling activities commenced on May 11, 2005, which included collecting 61 surface soil samples, 43 subsurface soil samples, 5 sediment samples and 1 surface water sample from Stevens Brook. The samples were analyzed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), pesticides/polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Target Analyte List (TAL) metals and cyanide. Analytical results for these samples indicate the presence of elevated concentrations of PAHs in the surface and subsurface soils. PAH concentrations within the surface and subsurface soils have been detected as high as 6,600 ug/kg and 29,000 ug/kg, respectively.
Based upon the sampling results and an evaluation of the environmental data from ATSDR, the PA/SI was closed on August 23, 2005 with the recommendation that a time-critical removal action be conducted.
EPA, ERRS. and START mobilized to the Site on October 17, 2005 to initiate the removal action. Activities include establishing work zones, implementing erosion control measures, and identifying underground utilities. Between October 18, 2005 through November 3, 2005, ERRS excavated contaminated soils from the yards of 38 and 40 Maple Street down to an average depth of 2 feet. 84 trailer truckloads of contaminated soils were shipped to New England Waste Services of NY at 286 Sand Road, Morrisonville, NY for disposal.
Post excavation soil samples were collected by START for further site characterization. ERRS placed geotextile fabric into the excavated areas and backfilled with clean fill material. Site restoration activities for this construction season was completed on November 9, 2005. These activities included backfilling, final grading, hand seeding of yards, and placement of erosion matting onto the yards of 38 and 40 Maple Street. EPA and its contractors will return in the spring of 2006 to complete the remaining site restoration work.
Collect surface soil samples from 48 Maple Street, which abuts 40 Maple Street, to determine the extent of contamination during the week of November 28, 2005. Continue final site restoration activities in the spring of 2006.
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