All News Releases By Date

EPA Proposes Adding Hatheway Patterson Site in Mansfield, Mass. to Superfund List

Release Date: 09/17/2001
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office (617-918-1014)

BOSTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it is proposing to add the Hatheway Patterson property in Mansfield to the EPA's National Priorities List (known as the "Superfund List"). The National Priorities List is EPA's list of the country's most serious hazardous waste sites identified for possible long-term cleanup.

"Adding the Hatheway Patterson Site to the Superfund List ensures that EPA will be there to oversee and manage the cleanup, and allows federal funds to be used if necessary " said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA's New England office. "This is a big step towards getting this site cleaned up."

The proposal appeared in Thursday's Federal Register. EPA is taking public comments on the proposed listing for 60 days.

The Hatheway Patterson Site is comprised of about 40 acres on County Street in Mansfield. Hatheway and Patterson Company, Inc. operated a wood treatment plant at the site from 1953 until 1993, when the company stopped operations and filed for bankruptcy. EPA performed an emergency removal action in 1993 to remove abandoned wood-treating solutions and other hazardous materials. The site remains contaminated with arsenic, metals, dioxins, and semi-volatile organic compounds. Some of the contaminants have been detected in water and fish samples from the adjacent Rumford River.

EPA is planning a full investigation of the site.

EPA also proposed adding the Callahan Mine Site in Brooksville, Me. to the NPL and finalized approval of the Ely Mine in Vershire, Vt. to the Superfund list.