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EPA STARTS INNOVATIVE CLEAN UP AT HOCOMONCO SITE

Release Date: 03/04/1996
Contact Information: Liza Judge, Community Relations, (617) 918-1067

BOSTON - At an afternoon event today at the Hocomonco Pond Superfund Site in Westborough, Mass., EPA-New England Superfund Director Linda Murphy flipped the switch on a new system which uses an innovative technology to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater. The use of potentially cleaner, cheaper solutions, such as the bioremediation approach now in use at Hocomonco, is one EPA's priority Superfund reforms.

"While much is still being said to criticize Superfund, we are making changes that benefit the people and environment of New England," Murphy said. "We are here at Hocomonco to celebrate the efforts of EPA and our partners in cleanup by turning on a system that will allow bioremediation to cleanse contaminated soil and groundwater."

Murphy joined representatives from Beazer East, Inc., the Town of Westborough, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) and others to switch on the on-site bioremediation system for contaminated soil and groundwater at the Kettle Pond area of the Hocomonco Site. The innovative technology will target both contamination dissolved in the groundwater and contamination adhering to deep soils by stimulating microorganisms already present in the soil and groundwater with small quantities of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, and large amounts of oxygen. This form of bioremediation is presently in use, or planned for, 20 other similarly contaminated sites nationally.

"We're very pleased to see the cleanup of this site take another major step forward," said MA DEP Commissioner David Struhs. "This innovative technology is another tool we've added to our arsenal, as we constantly look for new and more efficient ways to clean up the environment and protect public health."

Site History:
The Hocomonco Pond Site was used from 1928 through 1946 for saturating wood products with creosote for wood preservation. Wastes were discharged into an unlined lagoon south of the pond and nearby Kettle Pond. Contamination extends into Hocomonco Pond, which has been an active fishing and swimming spot, and Hocomonco Brook.

In 1992, EPA altered the cleanup plan for this site, changing from excavation, dewatering and landfilling to limited excavation and landfilling, bioremediation and soil flushing. Beazer East, Inc. has been funding and performing the cleanup with EPA and MA DEP oversight. The property is owned by the Town of Westborough.