On February 28, 2022, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s (MEDEP’s)
hazardous waste management unit was asked by the town of East Millinocket, the Site
owner, to investigate reports that hazardous waste was stored outside the former
paper mill’s boiler house. On March 29, 2022, MEDEP visited the location and on
March 31, 2022, requested EPA’s assistance. On May 25, 2022, EPA and its Superfund
Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor conducted a site walk
with MEDEP, the town, Katahdin KI 50 (the prior owner) and Karma Environmental
(a contractor) to investigate the Boiler House portion of the former mill
property, and upon request, the Chemical Storage Building, adjacent to the
former Recycle Fiber building, as well. The site walk included an initial site reconnaissance
to observe and discuss current site conditions. During the visit, EPA identified
two main areas of concern, the Boiler House, which is being addressed separately
in another proposed action memorandum, and the Chemical Storage Building, the
subject matter of this proposed Action Memorandum. During the site walk it was
observed that the Chemical Storage Building contains nearly a dozen large ASTs,
including a 16,500-gallon sodium hydroxide tank, an 8,200-gallon sulfuric acid
tank, and multiple tanks reportedly holding water polishing polymer. The quantity of chemicals remaining in the ASTs
and containers is unknown. Additionally, there are two 55-gallon drums
labeled silicone waste, and a pallet of 5-gallon containers with flammable
materials. Several of the above-ground storage tanks and containers were
observed to be in deteriorating condition with at least one tank valve crystallized
with a strong base chemical.
From June 27 - 28,
2022, EPA and START performed preliminary assessment/site investigation (PA/SI)
sampling activities. START collected a total of four solid and liquid samples
from various containers, including ASTs, 55-gallon drums, and 5-gallon containers.
These samples were delivered to the EPA New England Regional Laboratory for
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pH, and flashpoint analyses. During the PA/SI, personnel from the Town of
East Millinocket identified 2 inactive electrical transformers on the mill property
that will warrant further investigation during the proposed removal action to determine
whether its contents contain polychlorinated biphenyls.
The June 2022 PA/SI sampling results have documented the presences of
corrosive acids and bases, VOCs such as toluene and ignitable wastes with
flashpoints below 60°C. Based upon site conditions
documented during the PA/SI and sampling results indicating presence of
hazardous substances, the Site Investigation Closure Memorandum, dated August 23,
2022, recommends a time-critical removal action be performed to address the threat
of release of hazardous substances from the Site.
