October | 2018 | YPGG - Why Green?

EPA Finalizes Plan to Remove Contamination Source and Expand Groundwater Treatment at the Combe Fill South Landfill Superfund Site in Chester Township, N.J.

October 11, 2018 / Lee Ann Rush / 0 Comments

NEW YORK, NY - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has finalized a plan to address a newly identified contaminant and enhance treatment of contamination at the Combe Fill South Landfill site located in Chester Township in N.J., an inactive municipal landfill covering 65 acres. EPA’s cleanup plan includes expanding and enhancing the existing groundwater treatment system that is currently operating at the site in addition to excavating and removing an area of materials that are a contributing source of contamination.

"This cleanup targets a deeper layer of groundwater contamination by expanding and enhancing on-site treatment capabilities,”said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “The enhancements to groundwater cleanup at the Combe Fill South site will provide further protections to Chester residents and underscores EPA’s commitment to addressing toxic legacies such as non-compliant landfills and open dumps.”

The cleanup targets the landfill's impact on a deeper layer of groundwater that is contaminated with volatile organic compounds, including 1,4 dioxane. The current system extracts and treats mostly shallow groundwater directly under the landfill, along with a limited amount of deeper groundwater from the bedrock aquifer below the landfill. EPA will make improvements to this treatment system, including, the addition of deeper groundwater extraction wells to capture more contamination. In addition, EPA will make improvements to the plant to handle the additional groundwater and effectively treat 1,4-dioxane, a contaminant that has recently been detected at the site but not treated by the current groundwater treatment system. Additionally, EPA will remove waste materials from a portion of the landfill that is contributing to the contamination of the deep groundwater. EPA’s cleanup plan also includes long-term monitoring of deep groundwater contamination in areas outside the Combe Fill South Landfill Superfund site.

EPA held a public meeting in August 2018 to explain its cleanup proposal, discuss the other cleanup options that were considered, and to solicit public comments. To read the EPA’s selected cleanup plan, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/combe-fill-south

For a direct link to the Record of Decision, visit: https://semspub.epa.gov/src/document/02/550182

Background

The Combe Fill South Landfill, in Morris County, NJ, served as a municipal landfill from the 1940s until 1981. Soil and groundwater at the site were contaminated by volatile organic compounds from the landfill. Combe Fill Corporation went bankrupt in 1981 and the landfill was not properly closed. The original cleanup plan for the site included capping the landfill, installing a landfill gas collection system, pumping and treating the shallow groundwater beneath the site, and installing storm water runoff controls. By 1997, these actions were successfully completed. The system to treat shallow groundwater continues to operate at the site.

Starting in the early 1990s, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection began providing in-home water treatment systems to residents whose wells were potentially impacted by contamination coming from the landfill.

In 2015, EPA extended a water line to provide a permanent safe source of drinking water to 73 homes and businesses threatened by contaminated groundwater from the site. With the water line extension providing a permanent safe water supply to the neighborhood around the landfill, homes and local businesses no longer needed treatment systems.

The Superfund program has been providing important health benefits to communities across the country for more than 35 years. Superfund cleanups also strengthen local economies. Data collected through 2017 shows that at 487 Superfund sites in reuse, approximately 6,600 businesses are generating $43.6 billion in sales and employ 156,000 people who earned a combined income of $11.2 billion.

Under the Trump Administration, the Superfund program has reemerged as a priority to fulfill and strengthen EPA’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment.

On the one-year anniversary of the EPA’s Superfund Task Force Report, EPA announced significant progress in carrying out the report’s recommendations. These achievements will provide certainty to communities, state partners, and developers that the nation’s most hazardous sites will be cleaned up as quickly and safely as possible.

EPA’s “Superfund Task Force Recommendations 2018 Update” is available at: https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-task-force-recommendations-2018-update.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/eparegion2.

EPA Marks Cleanup Milestone at Former Synergy Site in Claremont, N.H.

October 10, 2018 / Lee Ann Rush / 0 Comments

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the former Synergy manufactured gas facility in Claremont, N.H., is now suitable for reuse and redevelopment after a successful hazardous waste cleanup at the site. EPA and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services oversaw the cleanup, which began in 2015 and concluded in July 2018. On October 11, AmeriGas will transfer ownership of the property to the City of Claremont.

"Today's milestone is a testament to how strategic partnerships can clean up pollution while creating opportunity for local communities," said EPA New England Regional Administrator Alexandra Dunn. "This outcome exemplifies EPA's commitment to working with cities like Claremont to put once-contaminated land back to use while ensuring public health safeguards are in place."

Commissioner of the NH Department of Environmental Services, Bob Scott, said that "NHDES is very pleased to mark the formal completion of this important project which restored a high-visibility former industrial parcel to conditions that will allow any number of beneficial re-uses under the leadership of the City of Claremont, consistent with the on-going revitalization of Claremont's City-Center District".

"This collaborative clean-up effort has not only protected the quality of one of the City's drinking water sources, but also reclaimed valuable land that runs along the Sugar River for future economic development in the heart of the community," said Claremont Mayor Charlene Lovett.

"Sites that are historically impacted by pollutants reside in many communities in America and remediating brownfield sites is challenging work," said Claremont City Manager Ryan McNutt. "Returning this site's potential for future use is only possible because of our Community Development team and their partnership with NHDES, the EPA, and AmeriGas."

In 2015, in coordination with New Hampshire DES, EPA and AmeriGas Propane LP began a cleanup project to address pollution at the former Synergy site in Claremont. AmeriGas is legally responsible for addressing the environmental conditions at the Synergy site. The site was contaminated with coal tar, an oil-like substance that was a byproduct of industrial processes that made gas to illuminate two local towns from 1859 to 1946. Coal tar contains several chemicals that are hazardous to human health, like benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, xylene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The contamination impacted sediment in the Sugar River and soil at the Synergy site and on an adjacent property.

The cleanup included removing soil, sludge and sediment contaminated with coal tar, installing a sewer line, monitoring groundwater for residual coal tar, stabilizing an area of river bank and demolishing several dilapidated buildings.

EPA Awards Close to $19 Million to Vermont to Support Local Clean Water Projects

October 9, 2018 / Lee Ann Rush / 0 Comments

BOSTON - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the State of Vermont was awarded a total of $18,966,000 in Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) grants to finance community-based water infrastructure projects, such as upgrades to municipal sewage plants and public drinking water systems.

"Communities across Vermont will enjoy cleaner water and make important infrastructure upgrades thanks to this funding," said EPA New England Regional Administrator Alexandra Dunn. "These low-cost loans further EPA's commitment to ensuring American communities have access to clean water, safe drinking water and the infrastructure necessary to support local needs."

"As we work together to ensure clean water across Vermont, I appreciate that all Vermont's 251 towns and cities will be eligible to apply for these Drinking Water and Clean Water SRF funds," said Governor Phil Scott. "These loans are especially important to our smallest communities, helping pay for crucial infrastructure upgrades, and can be used to enhance drinking and wastewater treatment facilities, keep pollution in check, support green infrastructure projects and more."

The total amount of funding came through separate grants to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in the amount of $7,859,000 for its Clean Water SRF program and for $11,107,000 for its Drinking Water SRF program. With the funds awarded to the state, DEC will fund a series of long- and short-term community-based projects that address high priority water quality and health based concerns. In partnership with the Vermont Municipal Bond Bank, the DEC administers the State Revolving Fund programs at the state level. DEC will oversee the engineering and construction aspects of the Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF programs, as well as the individual projects funded by it, while the bond bank executes the loan agreements for both programs.

Under the Clean Water and Drinking Water SRF programs, EPA provides grants to all 50 states plus Puerto Rico to capitalize state water loan programs. States contribute an additional 20 percent to match federal grants. EPA also provides direct grant funding for the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas. Since 1987, the SRFs have provided more than $160 billion in financial assistance to 38,000 water quality infrastructure projects and 14,000 drinking water projects.

Under the Drinking Water SRF, states provide various types of assistance, including financing to improving drinking water treatment, fixing leaky or old pipes, improving source of water supply, and replacing or constructing finished water storage tanks. Clean Water SRF programs provide loans to construct municipal wastewater facilities, control nonpoint sources of pollution, build decentralized wastewater treatment systems, create green infrastructure projects and protect estuaries.

For more information on the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund, visit https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf.

For more information on the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund, visit https://www.epa.gov/drinkingwatersrf.

EPA Proposes Cleanup Plan for the Creese & Cook Tannery Superfund Site in Danvers, Massachusetts

October 9, 2018 / Lee Ann Rush / 0 Comments

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a cleanup plan for the Creese & Cook Tannery Superfund Site in Danvers, Massachusetts. The plan fully addresses soil contamination for parcels in the East and West Study Areas.

"Proposing a cleanup plan for the Creese and Cook Superfund Site is a significant milestone," said EPA Regional Administrator Alexandra Dunn. "Proposed cleanup plans are the result of extensive environmental investigations and feasibility studies. Now we can seek the public's input on these plans before EPA moves forward with a final cleanup decision."

EPA added the site to the Superfund Program's National Priorities List (NPL) in May 2013. The cleanup proposal is detailed in a document called a Proposed Plan, which gives specifics on the cleanup actions being proposed. Some actions include:

Excavation of contaminated soil from certain paved and unpaved locations within both the East and West Study Areas.
Disposal of some contaminated soil at an appropriate off-site facility.
Consolidation and capping of some soil in the northwest portion of 55 Clinton Avenue.
Restoration of affected areas.
The overall remedy will also include land use controls to protect the remedy where unrestricted use standards are not achieved, long-term monitoring and maintenance, and periodic five-year reviews to ensure protectiveness of the remedy.

EPA estimates that the proposed cleanup plan will cost approximately $24 Million. EPA estimates that work on the east side of the Crane River will take 6-14 months. Work on the west side of the Crane River, which includes consolidation and capping of excavated soil from the both the east and west side areas, is expected to take 33 months to complete.

The public is invited to submit written input on the Proposed Cleanup Plan from October 9, 2018 until November 9, 2018. To access a copy of the Proposed Plan and learn how to submit input, visit our website at www.epa.gov/superfund/creese.

EPA also will host a Public Information Session on October 25, at 6:00 pm at the Riverside Elementary School in Danvers, followed by a Public Hearing at the same location at 7:30 pm. The public will be able to provide oral comments at this event.

Background

The Creese & Cook Site is comprised of seven parcels totaling about 22 acres situated along opposite banks of the Crane River, and several parcels were used for disposal and treatment of hazardous substances from about 1903 until 1983. Three parcels were at one time owned by the Creese & Cook Tannery Co., which operated a tannery and finishing facility at the site. Leather tanning and finishing operations began in 1903 in the East Study Area. Most operations, except for finishing operations and offices, moved to a larger, new facility in the West Study Area, located on the opposite side of the Crane River, in 1914. Creese & Cook used raw animal hides to produce leather shoes, handbags, gloves and garment leather, primarily from cowhide stock. Tannery operations continued on both sides of Crane River until about 1983. Wastes from tanning operations were disposed of in two landfills on the 55 Clinton Avenue property in the West Study Area. Liquid effluent was discharged to the Crane River until 1975 and later to sewers, while sludge waste was deposited into an on-site lagoon system. The former Creese & Cook property was later subdivided and the 33 Water Street parcel was redeveloped into.

Yellow Pages Goes Green® Announces Eight Online Petitions for Ban on Print Phone Directories

October 8, 2018 / Chris Boyle / 0 Comments

Online Phone Number Publisher continues push for more legislative action against phone companies printing unwanted phone books in the United States

EAST NORTHPORT, NEW YORK -- Yellow Pages Goes Green is helping municipalities and local governments around the country establish ordinances to mandate Yellow Pages and White Pages only be delivered to home and offices that actually request them. Municipalities and local government that provide trash services are concerned about the landfill cost and why they must absorb the cost of handling telephone directories. YPPG supports this mission.

Telephone directories generate clutter, while straining environmental resources and burdening taxpayer funded recycling programs. While consumers increasingly turn to online search engines and digital directories for phone numbers, yellow pages publishers continue to produce and deliver printed phone books to U.S. residences, sometimes multiple times per year. Virgin paper production for phone books in the U.S. uses an estimated 4.68 million trees worth of wood fiber annually – that’s a forest the size of 14 football fields. Yet, in 2009 (the last year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) provided data on phone book recycling), only 37% of all phone books were recycled. Instead, 410,000 tons of directories went to landfills or incinerators - at a cost of about $60 million to local governments (and taxpayers) nationwide.

To participate in the online petitions visit these links:

"Cities and Towns can use their litter laws as tools to enforce these efforts." said YPGG CEO Michael Keegan.

YellowPagesGoesGreen.org asks the question "Why do we get three to four pounds of paper dropped on out front door multiple times per year by various telephone directory companies and we are supposed to dispose of them?" Stop the nonsense and the cost placed on the consumer. If we want a book we will request one. If we do not want a book delivered, stop delivering them. YellowPagesGoesGreen.org had spent years contacting local telephone companies to provide them with consumer’s names and addresses telling them to stop the nonsense. This did not cost users anything.

YellowPagesGoesGreen.org has developed its own eco-friendly alternative to the Yellow Pages which is free for consumers to use to find local business listings. Our service is continually changed and kept current so you are not potentially looking at several months or even year old information.

Month: October 2018 (page 2 of 7)