From approximately 1952 to 1977, the A.C. Lawrence Tannery (Tannery) facility, formerly located on the west bank of the Little Androscoggin River, used a metal trough to transport their waste to settling lagoons on the southeast bank of the Little Androscoggin River.
In the 1970’s, the South Paris Publicly Owned Treatment Works was constructed and began accepting waste from the Tannery. In 1977, the lagoons ceased receiving wastes and a soil cap was placed over the sludge lagoons. The Tannery closed in 1985.
The land surrounding the Site is primarily wooded. A residential development is planned immediately south of the Site and currently the nearest residences are approximately 2000 feet northeast along Oxford Street. The land use on the west side of the river is industrial/commercial. The Site is located over a mapped sand and gravel aquifer.
3. Site characteristics
This inactive seven acre Site is referred to as lot 7 on the Town of Paris, Maine Property Map R2. The cause of the contamination is from a non-oil manufacturing source (tannery).
It is bounded:
• to the north by Little Androscoggin River;
• to the south by a residential development;
• to the east by Oxford Street; and,
• to the west by a railroad right-of-way then the Little Androscoggin River.
On August 2, 2006, OSC McKeown conducted a site walk with staff from the ERRS contractor, Shaw, and with Wayne Paradis of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The group toured the site and discussed the work plan.
Week of 14 August 2006
OSC AmyJean McKeown, EPA Chemist Scott Clifford, START member John Burton, RM Mike Quinlin with two operators and two laborers mobilized. RM Pete Lutsic on site to cover RM responsiblities for two weeks. Site Leader Alysha Lynch mobilized on 15 August 2006.
Activities for the week included:
* grubbing and clearing of vegatation in preparation for excavation activities;
* installing haybales and silt fence along the riverbank edge;
* placing crushed gravel on the staging area of the conex box; and
* placing rip rap at the command area for the mobilization of the office trailer.
Equipment mobilized included one excavator, two dump trucks, one front end loader, one water truck, and one dozer. An office trailer, conex box, and two porta-Johns were delivered.
On 14 August 2006, OSC McKeown and EPA ERT member Scott Fredrickson attended a meeting with South Paris Selectman to discuss repair work areas after the removal action was completed.
On 15 August 2006, SL Lynch began collecting samples to be analyzed by EPA Chemist Clifford using the portable Niton XRF. Samples were collected throughout the duration of removal activities of areas of concern on site to determine the extent of contamination. SL Lynch photodocumented site activities for the remainder of the removal action.
On 16 August 2006, MEDEP representative Wayne Paradis was on site to observe removal activities. EPA ERT representative Harry Compton was on site to discuss the treatment of the contaminated soil and the excavation of the riverbank and subsequent restoration.
On 17 August 2006, SL Lynch began relocating the lagoon locations using previously collected GPS points. ERRS excavated the clean soil layer on Lagoon 1. The clean soil was staged in the western portion of the site while Lagoon 1 would be used as the staging area for the contaminated soil.
The loader was demobilized.
Week of 25 August 2006
On 21 August 2006, OSC McKeown, EPA Contractor Chemist Eugene Wafo, SL Lynch, RM Lustic with two operators and two laborers, and MEDEP Paradis were on site.
Activities for the week included:
* completion of the site preparation;
* excavation of clean layer of soil from Lagoon 1;
* excavation of contaminated soil from Lagoon 10; and
* samples were collected and analyzed on-site.
One porta-John was delivered on site to the Contamination Reduction Zone (CRZ) area and one excavator was delivered
EPA Health and Safety Officer Tony Honnellio arrived on site to complete a health and safety audit of the site. Rebecca Goldfind from the Sun Journal arrived on site to interview OSC McKeown. The article appeared in the Sun Journal on 24 August 2006.
• Excavate and segregate the historical cap material from the underlying sludge;
• Excavate the sludge from the lagoons and the river bank (soil containing levels above 1000 ppm of chromium). Estimate of soil excavation is 6200 cubic yards;
• Backfill excavated areas with the original cap material;
• Evaluate the addition of an organic amendment (i.e., possible residuals like biosolids or compost) which will reduce the bioavailability of any waste left in place, and improve the soil health to enable re-vegetation of the surface with native plants;
• Possible excavation of contaminated sediment from the exposed river bed adjacent to the river bank;
• Stabilize the slope to minimize erosion and conduct ecological restoration;
• Dispose of the materials in accordance with the Off-Site Rule;
• If necessary, provide security; and
• Coordinate with local community to evaluate preferred future land use in order to guide restoration activities to support beneficial site reuse.
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