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EPA Completes Cleanup in Newhall Street Neighborhood

Release Date: 08/30/2002
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1064

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced completion of cleanup activities in the Newhall Street neighborhood in Hamden, CT. EPA excavated lead-contaminated surface soils from 13 residential properties, and then re-landscaped and restored the properties.

Approximately 1,354 tons of surface soils, were removed from these residential properties and shipped off-site for disposal at a permitted facility. Ten of the residential properties were identified during EPA’s surface soil investigation in April 2001 and three additional properties were identified once the cleanup began.

From late August 2001 until early January 2002, EPA took numerous samples in the Newhall Street neighborhood to identify the extent of contamination so that cleanup plans could be developed. EPA met individually with each resident of the thirteen properties to discuss a restoration plan prior to beginning the excavation work. Restoration activities included repairing driveways and portions of damaged sidewalks, replacing a few small trees on specific properties and hydro-seeding disturbed yard areas. EPA returned later in the summer to apply weed control herbicide, spread additional topsoil in selected areas, rake and apply additional seed to affected areas.

“The cooling temperatures expected this weekend and the extended forecast for rain is a welcome sight for all landscaping projects,” said Tito Irizarry, EPA’s On-Scene Coordinator. “This has been a very hot and dry growing season.”