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Annual Cornell Pond Fishing Derby in North Dartmouth, Mass. is Sat. Oct. 4

Release Date: 10/01/2014
Contact Information: Kelsey O’Neill, (617) 918-1003

BOSTON – Registration is open for the annual Cornell Pond Fishing Derby in North Dartmouth, Mass. The derby takes place at Cornell Pond on Sat., Oct. 4 between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 Noon. In case of inclement weather, the derby may be moved to Sunday, Oct. 5.

The first twenty local fishermen who sign up will be able to participate in the fish monitoring event. Weston Solutions Inc. will oversee the fishing derby and distribute awards for the largest fish caught. All participants over the age of 15 must have a current Massachusetts Fishing License to participate in the derby.

This fishing derby is part of EPA's community outreach regarding the Re-Solve Inc. Superfund Site. The Re-Solve Inc. site is on North Hixville Road in North Dartmouth and was listed as a Superfund Site in 1983 when extensive PCB and volatile organic compounds were discovered in the soil and groundwater. A groundwater treatment system was installed in 1998 and continues to treat contaminated groundwater and prevents contamination from migrating from the site. The facility will operate until groundwater is cleaned to appropriate levels.

Since 1988, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MassDPH) has maintained a fish advisory for Cornell Pond and the Copicut River due to elevated levels of PCBs in fish. Catch and release fishing is permitted in the pond and river.

The Cornell Pond Fishing Derby intends to keep the local community involved in the fish monitoring program, an essential part of the annual assessment of environmental conditions and improvement at the pond. The derby also helps to serve as a reminder for local residents of the MassDPH fish advisory that is still in effect.

More Information:

- For registration, directions and any additional information please contact:
Michael O'Reilly, Environmental Coordinator for the Town of Dartmouth (508) 910-1822 Arthur Thibodeau, community fishing derby coordinator at (508) 678-5054
James Saylors, Weston Solutions, assistant fishing derby coordinator at (508) 998-4796

- Cleanup of the ReSolve Superfund site (https://www.epa.gov/region1/superfund/sites/resolve)

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