The Site was purchased by Miller Industries, Inc., (Miller) in 1939. Miller conducted textile manufacturing operations at the Site until 1992, at which time the mill ceased operations. The mill is currently used by Miller for storage.
During the process of certifying hazardous waste generator closure at properties owned by Miller, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME DEP) identified several properties with potential contamination issues. At the requested of ME DEP, EPA initiated a preliminary assessment and site investigation (PA/SI) at this Site.
On August 28, 2003, EPA initiated the PA/SI. EPA, ME DEP, EPA’s Superfund Technical Assistance Response Team (START) contractor, and Miller’s environmental consultant, Sevee & Maher Engineering, Inc. (SMEI) conducted a site walk. On September 18, 2003, EPA and START mobilized to the Site to conduct sampling activities. EPA collected 9 surface soil samples, 1 interior soil sample from the basement of the building, and 3 dye vat samples from pits within the building for analysis. The samples were analyzed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), pesticide/polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and Target Analyte List (TAL) metals. Analytical results for these samples indicated the presence of elevated concentrations of lead in the surficial soils.
On May 20, 2004, EPA and START mobilized to the Site to conduct additional sampling activities to further characterize the extent of contamination. START established a 10-foot grid system consisting of 3 north/south transects, and 16 east/west transects. START collected 48 surface soil samples from this grid system for lead analysis. Analytical results confirmed lead concentrations in surface soils as high as 3420 mg/kg and indicated that additional sampling transects would be needed to define the full extent of contamination.
The site investigation was closed on September 21, 2004 with the recommendation that a time critical removal action be conducted. Miller and SMEI requested the opportunity to develop a work plan for the investigation of the extent of lead contamination. With the winter approaching, it was agreed that sampling activities should commence in the spring of 2005, given that site conditions would not be amenable to sampling and the snow cover would minimize the contact threat. On April 19, 2005, SMEI submitted a sampling work plan for EPA review. SMEI subsequently incorporated EPA’s comments and commenced their sampling activities during the week of July 11, 2005. While conductiing the extent of contamination survey, SMEI identified lead contamination on the abutting property owned by Florida Power Light and Energy (FPLE).
Under an Administrative Order on Consent, Miller submitted a workplan to address the contamination on their property. The remediation option selected for the Site is the construction of an asphalt cap to remove the contact threat. FPLE and Miller Industries are working together in constructing a cap that will cover the contamination on both properties.
A pre-construction meeting and site walk among FPLE, Miller, and their response contractors was held on May 30, 2006. The cleanup contractor mobilized and began site preparation activites on May 30, 2006.
The PRP's contractors placed and compacted the 12-inch aggregate subbase layer of the cap from June 1, 2006 through June 9, 2006. The contractors also worked on modifying a water main and the abandonment of a hydrant located within the proposed capping area. SMEI personnel were onsite to conduct field screening of surface soils on the south side of FPLE's Bates Lower Facility.
During the week of July 10, 2006, the binder layer of the asphalt cap was completed.
The PRP's contractor will finish constructing the asphalt cap, which includes placement of a pavement fabric and the top asphalt layer.
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