All News Releases By Date

Cleanup Scheduled to Begin in Late-January at Hillsborough, N.H. Site

Release Date: 01/12/2011
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Jan. 12, 2011) – In several weeks EPA will begin cleanup work at the Davison site, a one-acre residential parcel on Route 31 in Hillsborough, N.H. in order to remove hazardous materials that could pose risks to people and the environment.

The cleanup, scheduled to begin in late January, is expected last about six months and cost approximately $763,000. Hazardous substances, including arsenic, lead, chromium, mercury, zinc and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds have been found in water and soil samples. These substances continue to be released into the environment through erosion and runoff, infiltration to the groundwater and pose a potential public health threat.

The property at 471 Second NH Turnpike includes a condemned 200-year-old house, two sheds, remnants of a third shed and a cinderblock building, a former chicken coop, a trailer and many piles of electronic equipment, metal and wood debris and numerous containers.

The property was purchased in 1970 by Celia Davison, who lived and held a flea market on the property for many years. In 2001, Davison gave the property to her son, Milton Davison; both lived there until June, when the elder Davison died. A disabled veteran, Milton Davison, had no way to deal with the accumulated materials. Neighbors asked for town assistance to get rid of the materials. The town tried to help Davison move since there is no water or drinking water on site and the building is not structurally safe. In October, the town found Davison left the property and in November foreclosed on the property due to late taxes.

This site was referred to EPA in late May by the NH Department of Environmental Services following a state inspection earlier that month.

The piles of broken electronic equipment include TVs, stereos and refrigerators. The land also holds about 28 55-gallon, 60 five-gallon and 50 one-gallon containers, some coated with or filled with paints, primers, cements, solvents, gas and waste oil.

# # #

Follow EPA New England on Twitter: http://twitter.com/epanewengland