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EPA to Discuss Testing Results from Hatheway and Patterson Site, Mansfield, MA PUBLIC MEETING: July 25, 2002

Release Date: 07/18/2002
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1064

Boston - EPA New England is holding a public information meeting in Mansfield, MA to discuss results from groundwater, sediment and surface water samples taken from the Rumford River between Fulton Pond and Glue Factory Pond as part of its study of the Hatheway & Patterson Site. EPA found levels of arsenic, pentachlorophenol (PCP), lead and dioxin in some of the samples, which will be discussed further at next week's meeting.

EPA also took samples from two of eight vernal pools that were found on the site. Vernal pools are potentially important habitat for certain salamanders and other organisms. These results are not yet available.

EPA has previously spent $1.4 million dollars to address hazardous substances in soil and bulk storage tanks. In 1998, when the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection discovered dioxin in the river, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued an advisory warning against eating fish caught from the river and arranged to discontinue stocking fish in its waters.

EPA has proposed the Hatheway & Patterson Site to the National Priorities List, or Superfund, that could make federal monies available for long term cleanup if other parties are unavailable or unable to do the work.

The meeting will be held:

Date: July 25, 2002

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Where: Mansfield Town Hall
6 Park Row, 3rd floor, Room 1A/B
Mansfield, MA

The building facility is fully accessible.