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Action at Rhode Island Superfund Site Restores Area To Productive Use Within Community

Release Date: 06/18/04
Contact Information: Contact: David Deegan, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1017

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2004; Release # 04-06-22

Boston, MA - A national truck body manufacturer's recently-completed 20,000 square-foot facility in Burrillville, R.I. is evidence that once-contaminated land can be turned back into productive real estate. The site of the new facility was once so contaminated that it was listed on EPA's national Superfund List for clean up efforts. Due to coordinated efforts of EPA, the Supreme Mid-Atlantic Corporation and state and local officials, the former Superfund site is now being returned to a productive economic use after years of being fenced and abandoned.

Supreme Mid-Atlantic Corp. purchased a 25-acre former Western Sand and Gravel Inc. quarry in 2001 to construct a new, larger facility. The company, headquartered in Indiana, employs about 25 people at the Burrillville facility, in addition to approximately 2000 employees in six states nationwide.

"This is good news for everybody - for the people of Burrillville, for the people of Rhode Island and for the environment," said Robert W. Varney, Regional Administrator of EPA's New England regional office. "The best results are achieved when we all work together. Today, we are witnessing a piece of property being put back in into productive use, generating jobs and helping Rhode Island's economy. Supreme Mid-Atlantic can be proud of their role in this accomplishment."

"We are pleased to be formally opening our new facility," commented Paul Bolduc, General Manager of the Supreme Mid-Atlantic's Burrillville facility. "Supreme Mid-Atlantic Corporation is proud to be doing it's part on behalf of the environment."

Supreme Mid-Atlantic is just one of dozens of companies throughout the U.S. taking advantage of real estate once believed too risky to invest in. Former Superfund and Brownfield sites are routinely providing second life to communities as thriving shopping malls, five-star golf courses, parks and playgrounds, schools and other municipal buildings.

EPA spent approximately $3.4 million to remove toxic wastes from the site and to oversee the overall clean up at the 25-acre former sand and gravel quarry. Liquid wastes were also dumped into the quarry after quarrying operations stopped. EPA estimates that every acre of reclaimed abandoned sites, such as former Superfund and Brownfields sites, saves 4.5 acres of greenspace.
For more information about EPA New England's Superfund cleanup activity, see: https://www.epa.gov/region01/superfund/index.htm .

Related Information:
Superfund
Cleanup
Hazardous Waste
Western Sand & Gravel Superfund Fact Sheet