All News Releases By Date

Removal Effort to Begin at Vassalboro, Maine Site

Release Date: 07/29/2011
Contact Information: Paula Ballentine, 617-918-1027

 (Boston, Mass. – July 29, 2011) – On August 1^st EPA will begin an effort to remove hazardous materials from the Lucas Enterprises site, in Vassalboro, Maine. The removal project is expected to take 4 to 6 weeks.

Located on 1499 Riverside Drive, the Lucas Enterprises facility is currently a 3.5 acre inactive automotive junkyard. An EPA site investigation of this property revealed that the surface soils on the premises are contaminated with lead and volatile organic compound (VOCs). Due to the proximity of this facility to 17 neighboring residences, EPA will remove the contaminated soil and return clean fill to the areas that are disturbed.   The hazardous soil collected will be disposed of at an offsite facility certified to handle contaminated material.

During the first few days of excavation activities, workers handling the contaminated soil may be dressed in protective clothing as a routine precautionary measure, including white tyvek coveralls. Throughout the clean up, EPA staff and contractors will take measures to ensure that conditions are not harmful for people in the surrounding area, such as conducting area air monitoring and taking precautions to limit dust. Workers will be at the site Monday-Saturday from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

In addition, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection will be hiring a contractor to remove tires from the property, and will testing nearby drinking water wells to confirm that the water is safe for consumption.

More information: EPA Emergency Response and Removal Program (http://epa.gov/region1/superfund/er/index.html)

###