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EPA Proposes Toxic Waste Sites to Superfund

Release Date: 07/27/2000
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today added Scovill Industrial Landfill of Waterbury, Conn., to the National Priorities List (NPL), commonly known as the Superfund. The Superfund is EPA's list of the country's hazardous waste sites that have been identified for possible long-term cleanup by the federal government. Superfund makes public funds available to clean up toxic waste sites when private financing is unavailable.

The decision to add Scovill to the Superfund list comes after a 60-day public comment period following an announcement that EPA was proposing to list the site on the NPL.

"Adding the former Scovill Industrial Landfill to the NPL will let EPA address contamination at the site," said Mindy S. Lubber, EPA New England regional administrator. "The partnerships already established between the federal, state, and local environmental and health agencies will ensure a cooperative approach in cleaning up this site."

"We feel that the EPA has made the right decision, based on the history of this property and the results of the extensive sampling that has been done on the site," said Mayor Philip A. Giordano. "This is a major step forward in getting this property remediated and I applaud the professionals at the EPA for the time and effort put into the studies that have been done, and I also applaud the professionals in the Health Department here in the City of Waterbury. Through this combined effort we have been able to move forward to protect the health and safety of the citizens of our city, especially those in the Store Avenue area."

The 30-acre site was used by the Scovill Manufacturing Company from 1919 until the mid-1970s for disposal of ash, cinder, and other wastes generated at the nearby Scovill Manufacturing facility. About 23 acres have been developed with two- and three-story houses and small commercial buildings, including a landscaping firm, adult daycare facility, social club, department store, cab service, medical office, car repair shop, and shopping plaza.

The remaining seven-acre parcel is undeveloped and was in the initial stages of development when industrial wastes were found. Construction was halted and 2,300 tons of soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and an additional 18 capacitors were removed from the surface in the spring of 1998. The area was temporarily covered with a foot of top soil, hydro-seeded, and then fenced and posted. Soil samples collected from the parcel and surrounding area in April 1999 showed elevated levels of organic chemicals; metals such as cadium, nickel, silver, and zinc; and PCBs.

EPA also proposed two Massachusetts sites to the NPL today: Nuclear Metals Inc. in Concord, and the Sutton Brook Area in Tewksbury.

Copies of the listing documents are available for public review at the following locations:

EPA Records Center
One Congress St., Suite 1100
Boston MA 02114
Hours: M - F 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Terry Parker, File Room Manager
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-424-3936
Hours: T, W, Th from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m

Silas Bronson Library
267 Grand St.
Waterbury, Ct. 06702
Phone: 203-574-8225
M - W 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Th - F 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.