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EPA TARGETS HAZARDS AT NASHUA SITE

Release Date: 07/18/1996
Contact Information: Frank McIntyre, Office of External Programs; (617) 918-1095

BOSTON --- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today it would substantially increase its investment in reducing the health threat posed by the Johns-Manville site in Nashua, N.H., by spending an additional $650,000. This funding brings the EPA expenditure at the site to more than a million dollars and will pay to remove friable asbestos and demolish the most dangerous building on the site.

"Six hundred and fifty thousand dollars to protect residents against the toxic threat at the Johns- Manville site is six hundred and fifty thousand dollars well spent," said John P. DeVillars, administrator for EPA's New England region. "Our primary concern is the safety of the people of Nashua. Despite progress made earlier this year by EPA and our state and local partners, this site still calls for immediate attention and that's what we're giving it."

Plans call for removing the concentrated deposits of friable asbestos contained in the baghouses on the roof and demolition of building 10. The building, containing four large drying ovens filled with amosite asbestos and four pressure vessels encapsulated with chrysotile asbestos, is within 50 feet of a revitalized commercial complex. DeVillars said that EPA had worked closely with the NH Department of Environmental Services and the city to identify the highest priority areas of the site to be addressed with the additional funds.

"EPA and the citizens of Nashua have had a critical ally in Senator Bob Smith in securing this additional funding," DeVillars added. "His leadership and cooperative spirit have been essential ingredients in achieving further public health protections at this site."

Earlier this year, using $500,000 in federal hazardous waste clean up funds, EPA removed stockpiles of 500 containers of hazardous materials, a leaking transformer containing 630 gallons of PCB oil, eight capacitors containing PCB oil, and 140 cubic yards of friable asbestos waste. In addition, NH DES coordinated removal of oil from six underground tanks and four vaults last October.

The Johns-Manville facility consists of two warehouses, abandoned since 1992, on Bridge and Sanders Streets in Nashua. Baghouse dust, asbestos sheeting, PCB-contaminated oil, sludge, flammable liquids and other hazardous materials resulting from illegal operations were left on the site. The buildings, in particular the roofs, are deteriorating and water and electricity services to the site have been cut off. Trespassers, entering to salvage equipment, have been common at the site that is located in a residential neighborhood that includes more than a dozen schools.

The City of Nashua has condemned the building and has constructed a fence to restrict access. Nashua will continue to provide landfill space for disposal of asbestos from the site and police and fire support.