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Environmental Officials will Discuss Ongoing Superfund Cleanup at Public Meeting in Gray, Maine

Release Date: 05/03/2006
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – May 3, 2006) – Community members in Gray, Maine will have an opportunity on May 10 to meet with federal and state environmental officials, who will discuss upcoming environmental investigations at the McKin Superfund Site. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. at Stimson Hall, 4 Shaker Road.

Beginning May 18, EPA and Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection (ME DEP) will sample both groundwater and soil gases in several locations in Gray, where contaminated groundwater is located. The sampling will occur at the roadways of Mayall, Depot and Route 115. The work is designed to evaluate areas west of the contamination source, to determine if further investigation or action may be necessary.

EPA expects sampling results to be available within approximately two months of the sampling date. Based on the results of this first sampling event, EPA may plan further testing.

At the public meeting, state and federal environmental officials will be available to address questions concerning the upcoming work and follow up efforts.

The McKin Site covers approximately seven acres of land. A collection and transfer station for waste oil and industrial process waste, the McKin facility was constructed in 1972 on property previously used as a sand and gravel pit. From 1972-1977, the facility handled between 100,000 and 200,000 gallons of waste annually.

Volatile organic chemicals from the facility contaminated local residential wells through the groundwater, as well as soil at the McKin facility. This prompted an EPA and ME DEP Superfund cleanup to begin in the mid 1980’s. Under a legal agreement, the responsible parties removed drums and contaminated soil from the site and performed soil aeration. All residential homes in the effected area are connected to the Gray public water supply system.

A groundwater pump and treat system was also implemented which operated between 1991 and 1995. EPA and the ME DEP approved a shutdown of the groundwater treatment system in 1995 and frequent sampling of groundwater and surface water is currently being conducted to confirm the protectiveness of human health and the environment.

Additional information: http://www.epa.gov/ne/superfund/sites/mckin

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