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Cleanup Progress under Review for Wells GandH Superfund Site in Woburn

Release Date: 06/24/2009
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – June 24, 2009) – EPA has begun a five-year review of the remedies implemented at the Wells G&H Superfund Site in Woburn, Mass. The site, located in east Woburn along the Aberjona River, is undergoing a scheduled review to ensure that the selected site remedies are effectively protecting public health and the environment.

Five-year reviews of work done at Superfund sites are required by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA, the law that governs clean up of Superfund sites). This is the third five-year review that has been conducted for this site, the last of which was completed in 2004.

The Wells G & H site was listed on the Superfund “National Priorities List” in 1982. To manage clean up of contamination sources, there have been a number of targeted projects and responsible parties held to account for clean up costs. So far, the work done under the clean up has resulted in the treatment of more than 481 million gallons of groundwater and the removal of over 4,700 pounds of volatile organic compounds.

EPA has formed a review team to plan and conduct the review and to complete a five-year review report. This process involves an evaluation of the site remedies that may also include: interviewing local officials and community members; collecting information from local officials; checking the groundwater treatment system to ensure that it is operating as designed and is being properly maintained; and assessing treatment system records and reports.

The purpose of the five year review is to evaluate whether the remedies in place at the site remain protective of public health and the environment. EPA will document its findings and will remain in touch with the community regarding any issues that arise. The review process is likely to be completed later this summer. EPA will conduct interviews with any interested parties regarding the site and will solicit concerns and comments as the review progresses. Public participation is encouraged and welcomed.

More information:

- Cleanup activities at the Wells G & H Superfund site: (www.epa.gov/ne/superfund/sites/wellsgh)

- EPA technical reports and documents are also available for public review in the site information repository located at the Woburn Public Library in Woburn.

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