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Community Forum to be Held for Olin Chemical Superfund Site in Wilmington, Mass.

Release Date: 05/12/2008
Contact Information: Sarah White, (617) 918-1026

(Boston, Mass. – May 12, 2008) – In May, representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Town of Wilmington and Wilmington Environmental Restoration Committee (WERC), will host a community forum to discuss environmental issues related to the Olin Chemical Superfund site. The forum will be held at the Wilmington Middle School Auditorium 25 Carter Lane, Wilmington at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, 2008.

This forum, which is open to all, is an opportunity for EPA and Mass DEP Project Managers to answer questions and listen to community concerns about environmental issues related to the Olin site. These concerns will be incorporated into a community involvement plan, which is a document that will guide EPA on community outreach during the Superfund process. Although a brief presentation regarding site conditions and ongoing activities will be provided by EPA and MassDEP Project Managers, the primary focus of this forum is to invite residents and other community members to ask questions and express concerns.

The 53-acre Olin Chemical Superfund site was listed on the National Priorities list (the Superfund sites list) in April 2006. In June 2007, EPA reached a voluntary settlement agreement with Olin Corporation, American Biltrite Inc. and Stepan Company. Under this agreement, these parties will perform a comprehensive study of the nature and extent of contamination originating from the Olin Chemical Superfund Site, and then evaluate clean-up options through a Superfund process referred to as a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS). The agreement also requires these parties to continue operation of an ongoing treatment system, monitor an on-site containment area and install an off-property pilot extraction well. These parties are also required to fund EPA’s oversight of these studies.

Chemical manufacturing began at the property located on Eames Street in Wilmington in 1953. Prior to 1970, chemicals were discharged into several unlined pits and ponds in the central portion of the property. In 1980, the site was purchased by Olin Chemical Corporation. The facility was used to produce blowing agents, stabilizers and antioxidants and other specialized chemicals for the rubber and plastics industry. The site has a long history of investigations and clean-up actions which date back to the 1980's.

Principle contaminants historically found at the site include ammonia, chloride, sodium sulfate, chromium, trimehtylpentenes, petroleum hydrocarbons and N-nitrosodiumdimethyamine (NDMA).

More information: Olin Chemical Superfund Site (epa.gov/region1/superfund/sites/olin )

For more information about the Olin Community forum, please contact:
Jim DiLorenzo, EPA Project Manager at 617-918-1247
Sarah White, Community Involvement Coordinator 617-918-1026
Joe Coyne, MassDEP Project Manager at 617- 348-4066

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