On February 28,
2022, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MEDEP) hazardous waste
management unit was asked by the Town of East Millinocket to investigate reports
that hazardous waste was stored outside the former paper mill’s boiler house. On
March 29, 2022, MEDEP visited the Boiler House to evaluate the condition of the
containers. Based on its observations, MEDEP had concerns about the quantity and
condition of the seemingly abandoned containers. On March 31, 2022, MEDEP requested that EPA
evaluate the Boiler House for a potential time-critical removal action under
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
(CERCLA).
On May 25, 2022, EPA
and its Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor conducted
a site walked with MEDEP, the town, Katahdin KI 50, LLC (the prior and/or
current 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.
From June 27 - 28,
2022, EPA and START performed preliminary assessment/site investigation (PA/SI)
sampling activities. START collected a total of 24 solid and liquid samples
from various containers, including ASTs, 250-gallon totes, 55-gallon drums,
wrangler boxes, and 5-gallon containers. These samples were delivered to the EPA
New England Regional Laboratory for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), PCB, pH,
and flashpoint analyses. In addition,
START collected 5 bulk samples of suspected asbestos containing materials for asbestos
analysis.
The June 2022 PA/SI sampling results have documented the presence of corrosive
acids and bases, and VOCs such as naphthalene.
Based upon site
conditions documented during the PA/SI and sampling results indicating presence
of hazardous substances in abandoned containers, the Site Investigation Closure
Memorandum, dated August 23, 2022, recommended that a time-critical removal
action be performed to address the threat of release of hazardous substances.
The Administrative Record -- Collection 67268-- is available for review online at:
Or using this QR Code.
These Administrative Records (Collections 67268 ) was prepared to support the public comment period on the removal action beginning December 16, 2022.
Any future amendments to the Administrative Record file will be available using the same URL, above.
Please contact the SEMS Records and Information Center at 617-918-1440 with technical questions pertaining to accessing the Administrative Record.
