All News Releases By Date

EPA ORDERS MONTVILLE, CT COMPANY TO CLEAN HAZARDOUS WASTE

Release Date: 05/18/1999
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week ordered a Montville, Conn., manufacturer to take further steps to clean up hazardous waste contamination on its property.

EPA's New England Office ordered the Thomas G. Faria Corp., which makes gauges used in motor vehicles, to present a written schedule for monitoring, testing and analyzing its hazardous waste within 30 days. EPA also ordered the company to evaluate the environmental risk posed by its wastes and to propose methods for cleaning up the waste.

Since 1997, EPA has been encouraging Faria to voluntarily investigate and, if necessary, clean environmental contamination to meet federal laws. While progress has been slow to date, during an April 14 meeting, company officials showed a real interest in performing the site studies and clean-up necessary to protect human health and the environment.

"The agency looks forward to progress reports from Faria in the future," said John P. DeVillars, EPA's New England Administrator. "EPA is optimistic the company will meet the requirements of this order to protect the safety of citizens and the environment."

Faria is located on Pink Row in the village of Uncasville in the town of Montville. The company sits on Oxoboxo Brook, which discharges into the Thames River. It has been at this location since the 1950s.

In the early 1980s, drinking water wells near the facility were found to be contaminated with trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene and 1,1,1 -trichloroethane, all believed to be from the facility. In 1982, the company and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection signed an agreement that required Faria to provide an alternative water supply to affected residents.

The company met its obligation and has been providing public water to residents since 1983. In addition, the company set up a pumping system on its property to prevent further migration of contaminated groundwater. However, further work is necessary to ensure the groundwater contamination is being adequately controlled and confirm that all potential sources of groundwater contamination on the company's property have been removed.