USDA Makes Record-Breaking $14.3 Million Investment in Farm to School Grants
WASHINGTON, July 15, 2024 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is awarding a record-breaking $14.3 million in Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants to 154 projects in 43 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico. These investments will help 1.9 million children eat more tasty, nutritious foods in school, while supporting farmers and producers in their local and regional communities.
EPA Announces New, Earlier Protections for People from Pesticide Spray Drift
WASHINGTON – Today, July 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is putting protections in place sooner for farmworkers, their families, and the general public near where pesticides are applied. EPA will now assess the potential for people to be exposed to a pesticide when it drifts away from where it is applied earlier in the agency’s review process. This applies to new active ingredient pesticide registrations and new use decisions. This updated process will protect people from pesticide spray drift 15 years sooner in the review process for new pesticides than has historically occurred.
During and after application, pesticides can drift to unintended areas like residential or recreational areas where people can get it on their skin or eyes, causing different symptoms depending on the pesticide. By assessing the amount of a pesticide that drifts beyond its intended target, EPA can identify measures that will protect people from unintended pesticide exposure. This change is also consistent with the agency’s commitment to address environmental justice concerns from pesticide use in and around farm communities and to comply with the Endangered Species Act, where EPA is working to improve how it evaluates risk to and protects endangered species.
“People who live or work near farms can be unintentionally exposed to pesticides, and it’s our job to do as much as possible to prevent that from happening and to protect their health,” said Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “Our new policy will ensure that vital public health protections are in place when a pesticide is initially approved – so people don’t have to wait years for the protections they deserve and need.”
Historically, EPA has only conducted a chemical specific assessment of the potential for people to be exposed to pesticide ‘spray drift’ during registration review, which happen every 15 years after a pesticide is approved to ensure that it can carry out its intended functions without creating unreasonable adverse effects to human health and the environment. Starting now, the agency will also complete a chemical specific spray drift analysis during the initial registration process or the review process for new and amended uses of existing products, to ensure that any needed protections are put in place from the beginning of the pesticide’s use, rather than delaying them for 15 years. This will also ensure both new and old pesticide registrations are held to the same standard.
EPA will use chemical specific human health spray drift analyses to determine specific label instructions to protect against and reduce the occurrence of spray drift, such as droplet sizes and buffer distances, for each pesticide and use. Additionally, if EPA identifies spray drift risks for people living or working nearby or non-target species, the agency will protect against those risks.
As part of this action, going forward EPA will now include a chemical specific human health spray drift analysis for:
New active ingredients: any new submissions for domestic uses of new active ingredients.
New uses and amended uses: any new use and amended use registration submissions where that active ingredient has previously received a chemical specific spray drift analysis.
Currently pending registrations: registration actions that are currently under review with the agency, when possible.
To read more about how the agency will implement this change, see the document entitled Implementing Chemical Specific Human Health Spray Drift Analysis into Pesticide Registration Actions, July 2024. Information on the methodology for conducting human health quantitative spray drift analysis can be found in the document entitled Residential Exposure Assessment Standard Operating Procedures Addenda 1: Consideration of Spray Drift. These documents can be found at docket ID EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0676 at the Regulations.gov page.
During and after application, pesticides can drift to unintended areas like residential or recreational areas where people can get it on their skin or eyes, causing different symptoms depending on the pesticide. By assessing the amount of a pesticide that drifts beyond its intended target, EPA can identify measures that will protect people from unintended pesticide exposure. This change is also consistent with the agency’s commitment to address environmental justice concerns from pesticide use in and around farm communities and to comply with the Endangered Species Act, where EPA is working to improve how it evaluates risk to and protects endangered species.
“People who live or work near farms can be unintentionally exposed to pesticides, and it’s our job to do as much as possible to prevent that from happening and to protect their health,” said Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “Our new policy will ensure that vital public health protections are in place when a pesticide is initially approved – so people don’t have to wait years for the protections they deserve and need.”
Historically, EPA has only conducted a chemical specific assessment of the potential for people to be exposed to pesticide ‘spray drift’ during registration review, which happen every 15 years after a pesticide is approved to ensure that it can carry out its intended functions without creating unreasonable adverse effects to human health and the environment. Starting now, the agency will also complete a chemical specific spray drift analysis during the initial registration process or the review process for new and amended uses of existing products, to ensure that any needed protections are put in place from the beginning of the pesticide’s use, rather than delaying them for 15 years. This will also ensure both new and old pesticide registrations are held to the same standard.
EPA will use chemical specific human health spray drift analyses to determine specific label instructions to protect against and reduce the occurrence of spray drift, such as droplet sizes and buffer distances, for each pesticide and use. Additionally, if EPA identifies spray drift risks for people living or working nearby or non-target species, the agency will protect against those risks.
As part of this action, going forward EPA will now include a chemical specific human health spray drift analysis for:
New active ingredients: any new submissions for domestic uses of new active ingredients.
New uses and amended uses: any new use and amended use registration submissions where that active ingredient has previously received a chemical specific spray drift analysis.
Currently pending registrations: registration actions that are currently under review with the agency, when possible.
To read more about how the agency will implement this change, see the document entitled Implementing Chemical Specific Human Health Spray Drift Analysis into Pesticide Registration Actions, July 2024. Information on the methodology for conducting human health quantitative spray drift analysis can be found in the document entitled Residential Exposure Assessment Standard Operating Procedures Addenda 1: Consideration of Spray Drift. These documents can be found at docket ID EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0676 at the Regulations.gov page.
EPA Announces a Settlement Amount of $173,000 with the Louisiana Organization International-Matex Terminals LLC
DALLAS, TEXAS (July 15, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has entered into a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) with International-Matex Tank Terminals LLC (IMTT). The CAFO requires the respondent to pay a civil penalty of $23,568 to EPA Region 6 within 30 days of receipt of the CAFO. IMTT also agreed to perform a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) in the amount of $150,000 to reduce annual air emissions and unsafe pressure build-up in its storage tanks. A SEP is an environmentally beneficial project or activity that is not required by law, but that a defendant voluntarily agrees to undertake as part of a settlement of an enforcement action.
“Our society expects companies to take chemical accident prevention requirements seriously, and when they don’t, EPA will hold them accountable,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Not only is IMTT taking the steps needed to comply with the law and pay a penalty, they also agreed to implement a project that will reduce air emissions and the overall risk to the community.”
EPA found several violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) following an on-site inspection, including failing to identify hazards which may result from accidental releases using appropriate hazard assessment techniques, the respondent did not conduct appropriate hazard assessments such as internal, external, or ultra sonic testing on equipment to detect deficiencies, and failing to develop and maintain safe work practices to control hazards during operations. Under the CAFO, IMTT must correct these violations and pay the civil penalty of $23,568.
IMTT also agreed to perform a SEP by installing 15 Varec Model 221 Emergency Pressure Relief Manway Covers on several roof storage tanks. This will result in the reduction of IMTT’s annual air emissions by four percent and reduce the overall risk to public health and the environment by preventing unsafe pressure build-ups inside the roof tanks. The total cost of these installations will be $150,000.
EPA has long encouraged the inclusion of SEPs in enforcement settlement agreements as a way to provide real environmental or public health benefits to communities impacted by violations. For more information on SEP's, please visit our webpage. To learn more about the Clean Air Act’s accident prevention provisions, see our Risk Management Program webpage.
Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), or visit our homepage.
“Our society expects companies to take chemical accident prevention requirements seriously, and when they don’t, EPA will hold them accountable,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Not only is IMTT taking the steps needed to comply with the law and pay a penalty, they also agreed to implement a project that will reduce air emissions and the overall risk to the community.”
EPA found several violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) following an on-site inspection, including failing to identify hazards which may result from accidental releases using appropriate hazard assessment techniques, the respondent did not conduct appropriate hazard assessments such as internal, external, or ultra sonic testing on equipment to detect deficiencies, and failing to develop and maintain safe work practices to control hazards during operations. Under the CAFO, IMTT must correct these violations and pay the civil penalty of $23,568.
IMTT also agreed to perform a SEP by installing 15 Varec Model 221 Emergency Pressure Relief Manway Covers on several roof storage tanks. This will result in the reduction of IMTT’s annual air emissions by four percent and reduce the overall risk to public health and the environment by preventing unsafe pressure build-ups inside the roof tanks. The total cost of these installations will be $150,000.
EPA has long encouraged the inclusion of SEPs in enforcement settlement agreements as a way to provide real environmental or public health benefits to communities impacted by violations. For more information on SEP's, please visit our webpage. To learn more about the Clean Air Act’s accident prevention provisions, see our Risk Management Program webpage.
Connect with the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), or visit our homepage.
La EPA anuncia nuevas protecciones tempranas para las personas contra la deriva al fumigar pesticidas
WASHINGTON – Hoy, 15 de julio, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos (EPA, por sus siglas en inglés) está implementando protecciones más pronto para los trabajadores agrícolas, sus familias y el público en general cerca de donde se aplican los pesticidas. La EPA ahora evaluará la posibilidad de que las personas estén expuestas a un pesticida cuando se aleje de donde se aplica anteriormente en el proceso de revisión de la agencia. Esto corresponde a los nuevos registros de pesticidas de ingredientes activos y a las nuevas decisiones de uso. Este proceso actualizado protegerá a las personas contra la deriva al fumigar pesticidas 15 años antes de lo que ha ocurrido históricamente en el proceso de revisión de nuevos pesticidas.
Durante y después de la aplicación, los pesticidas pueden desplazarse a zonas no deseadas, como áreas residenciales o recreativas, donde las personas pueden exponerse al contacto con la piel o los ojos, causando diferentes síntomas dependiendo del pesticida. Al evaluar la cantidad de un pesticida que se desvía más allá de su objetivo previsto, la EPA puede identificar medidas que protegerán a las personas de la exposición involuntaria a pesticidas. Este cambio también concuerda con el compromiso de la agencia de abordar las preocupaciones de justicia ambiental por el uso de pesticidas en y alrededor de las comunidades agrícolas y de cumplir con la Ley de Especies en Peligro de Extinción, donde la EPA está trabajando para mejorar la forma en que evalúa el riesgo y protege a las especies en peligro de extinción.
“Las personas que viven o trabajan cerca de granjas pueden estar expuestas involuntariamente a los pesticidas, y es nuestro trabajo hacer todo lo posible para evitar que eso suceda y proteger su salud”, señaló la administradora adjunta de la Oficina de Seguridad Química y Prevención de la Contaminación de la EPA, Michal Freedhoff. “Nuestra nueva política garantizará que las protecciones vitales de la salud pública estén vigentes cuando se apruebe inicialmente un pesticida, facilitando así que las personas no tengan que esperar años para obtener las protecciones que merecen y necesitan”.
Históricamente, la EPA solo ha llevado a cabo una evaluación química específica del potencial de las personas para estar expuestas a la “deriva de la fumigación” de pesticidas durante la revisión del registro, que ocurre cada 15 años después de que se aprueba un pesticida para garantizar que pueda llevar a cabo sus funciones previstas sin crear efectos adversos irrazonables para la salud humana y el medioambiente. A partir de ahora, la agencia también llevará a cabo un análisis de la deriva de la fumigación específica de productos químicos durante el proceso de registro inicial o el proceso de revisión de usos nuevos y modificados de los productos existentes, para garantizar que se establezcan las protecciones necesarias desde el comienzo del uso del pesticida, en lugar de aplazarlas por 15 años. Esto también garantizará que tanto los registros de pesticidas nuevos como los antiguos se rijan por la misma norma.
La EPA utilizará análisis químicos específicos de la deriva de la fumigación para la salud humana a fin de determinar las instrucciones específicas de la etiqueta para proteger y reducir la aparición de la deriva de la fumigación, como el tamaño de las gotas y las distancias de mitigación, para cada pesticida y uso. Además, si la EPA identifica riesgos de deriva de fumigación para las personas que viven o trabajan cerca o especies no objetivo, la agencia protegerá contra esos riesgos.
Como parte de esta acción, en el futuro, la EPA ahora incluirá un análisis de deriva de fumigación orientado a la salud humana específico para productos químicos en cuanto a:
Nuevos ingredientes activos: cualquier nueva presentación para usos domésticos de nuevos ingredientes activos.
Nuevos usos y usos modificados: cualquier presentación de registro de uso nuevo y uso modificado en el que ese ingrediente activo haya recibido previamente un análisis de deriva de fumigación específico de un producto químico.
Registros actualmente pendientes: procedimientos de registro que se encuentran actualmente en revisión con la agencia, cuando sea posible.
Para obtener más detalles sobre cómo la agencia implementará este cambio, consulte el documento titulado Implementing Chemical Specific Human Health Spray Drift Analysis into Pesticide Registration Actions [Implementación del análisis de deriva de la fumigación para la salud humana específica de productos químicos en los procedimientos de registro de pesticidas], julio de 2024. La información sobre la metodología para llevar a cabo el análisis cuantitativo de la deriva de la fumigación en la salud humana se puede hallar en el documento Residential Exposure Assessment Standard Procedures Addenda 1: Consideration of Spray Drift [Suplemento 1 de procedimientos estándar de evaluación de la exposición residencial: Consideración de la deriva de fumigación]. Estos documentos en inglés se pueden encontrar en el ID de expediente EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0676 en la página Regulations.gov.
Durante y después de la aplicación, los pesticidas pueden desplazarse a zonas no deseadas, como áreas residenciales o recreativas, donde las personas pueden exponerse al contacto con la piel o los ojos, causando diferentes síntomas dependiendo del pesticida. Al evaluar la cantidad de un pesticida que se desvía más allá de su objetivo previsto, la EPA puede identificar medidas que protegerán a las personas de la exposición involuntaria a pesticidas. Este cambio también concuerda con el compromiso de la agencia de abordar las preocupaciones de justicia ambiental por el uso de pesticidas en y alrededor de las comunidades agrícolas y de cumplir con la Ley de Especies en Peligro de Extinción, donde la EPA está trabajando para mejorar la forma en que evalúa el riesgo y protege a las especies en peligro de extinción.
“Las personas que viven o trabajan cerca de granjas pueden estar expuestas involuntariamente a los pesticidas, y es nuestro trabajo hacer todo lo posible para evitar que eso suceda y proteger su salud”, señaló la administradora adjunta de la Oficina de Seguridad Química y Prevención de la Contaminación de la EPA, Michal Freedhoff. “Nuestra nueva política garantizará que las protecciones vitales de la salud pública estén vigentes cuando se apruebe inicialmente un pesticida, facilitando así que las personas no tengan que esperar años para obtener las protecciones que merecen y necesitan”.
Históricamente, la EPA solo ha llevado a cabo una evaluación química específica del potencial de las personas para estar expuestas a la “deriva de la fumigación” de pesticidas durante la revisión del registro, que ocurre cada 15 años después de que se aprueba un pesticida para garantizar que pueda llevar a cabo sus funciones previstas sin crear efectos adversos irrazonables para la salud humana y el medioambiente. A partir de ahora, la agencia también llevará a cabo un análisis de la deriva de la fumigación específica de productos químicos durante el proceso de registro inicial o el proceso de revisión de usos nuevos y modificados de los productos existentes, para garantizar que se establezcan las protecciones necesarias desde el comienzo del uso del pesticida, en lugar de aplazarlas por 15 años. Esto también garantizará que tanto los registros de pesticidas nuevos como los antiguos se rijan por la misma norma.
La EPA utilizará análisis químicos específicos de la deriva de la fumigación para la salud humana a fin de determinar las instrucciones específicas de la etiqueta para proteger y reducir la aparición de la deriva de la fumigación, como el tamaño de las gotas y las distancias de mitigación, para cada pesticida y uso. Además, si la EPA identifica riesgos de deriva de fumigación para las personas que viven o trabajan cerca o especies no objetivo, la agencia protegerá contra esos riesgos.
Como parte de esta acción, en el futuro, la EPA ahora incluirá un análisis de deriva de fumigación orientado a la salud humana específico para productos químicos en cuanto a:
Nuevos ingredientes activos: cualquier nueva presentación para usos domésticos de nuevos ingredientes activos.
Nuevos usos y usos modificados: cualquier presentación de registro de uso nuevo y uso modificado en el que ese ingrediente activo haya recibido previamente un análisis de deriva de fumigación específico de un producto químico.
Registros actualmente pendientes: procedimientos de registro que se encuentran actualmente en revisión con la agencia, cuando sea posible.
Para obtener más detalles sobre cómo la agencia implementará este cambio, consulte el documento titulado Implementing Chemical Specific Human Health Spray Drift Analysis into Pesticide Registration Actions [Implementación del análisis de deriva de la fumigación para la salud humana específica de productos químicos en los procedimientos de registro de pesticidas], julio de 2024. La información sobre la metodología para llevar a cabo el análisis cuantitativo de la deriva de la fumigación en la salud humana se puede hallar en el documento Residential Exposure Assessment Standard Procedures Addenda 1: Consideration of Spray Drift [Suplemento 1 de procedimientos estándar de evaluación de la exposición residencial: Consideración de la deriva de fumigación]. Estos documentos en inglés se pueden encontrar en el ID de expediente EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0676 en la página Regulations.gov.
EPA Announces Settlement with Amerikal Products in Waukegan, Illinois, for Sale of Unregistered Pesticide Product
Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement with Amerikal Products Corp. located at 2115 Northwestern Ave., Waukegan, Illinois, for allegedly selling and distributing an unregistered pesticide product in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Amerikal Products will stop producing and selling the product and will pay a $138,762 penalty.
Amerikal Products allegedly sold or distributed the unregistered pesticide, Genesis 950 Concentrate, which it claimed could be used to kill bacteria, germs, and viruses. Under FIFRA, products that claim to kill, destroy, prevent, or repel bacteria or viruses are considered pesticides. All pesticides distributed or sold in the United States are required to be registered by the EPA to ensure that the products perform as intended, and will not harm people, non-target species, or the environment when used as directed. Pesticidal claims can only be made for products that have been registered with EPA.
For more information about EPA’s enforcement program, visit the Agency’s website.
For more information about pesticides, visit EPA’s pesticides website.
Amerikal Products allegedly sold or distributed the unregistered pesticide, Genesis 950 Concentrate, which it claimed could be used to kill bacteria, germs, and viruses. Under FIFRA, products that claim to kill, destroy, prevent, or repel bacteria or viruses are considered pesticides. All pesticides distributed or sold in the United States are required to be registered by the EPA to ensure that the products perform as intended, and will not harm people, non-target species, or the environment when used as directed. Pesticidal claims can only be made for products that have been registered with EPA.
For more information about EPA’s enforcement program, visit the Agency’s website.
For more information about pesticides, visit EPA’s pesticides website.
Deadline for public input extended for EPA's proposed cleanup plan for the Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site
BOSTON, MASS (July 15, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a plan to clean up the Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site in Farmington, NH. EPA will hold a public meeting to update the community on the proposed remediation plan and a public hearing to accept verbal comments. The deadline to submit written public comments is August 30, 2024.
EPA's proposed plan summarizes risks posed by contamination at the site and presents an evaluation of cleanup options. The proposed plan also includes the Agency's preferred cleanup alternative along with the other cleanup options it considered.
The community is invited to attend the public meeting and hearing in person:
When: July 16, 2024 - 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Where: Old Town Hall located at 531 Main St in Farmington, NH
Those interested in attending virtually can register at: www.epa.gov/superfund/collins. One must register before the meeting in order to attend virtually.
EPA has also extended the comment period from 30 to 60 days. EPA will now accept written public comments from July 1, 2024 – August 30, 2024.
No later than August 30, 2024, please email comments to Hull.Richard@epa.gov, or mail comments to:
Richard Hull
EPA Region 1 New England
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100
Mail Code: 07-1
Boston, MA 02109-3912
Additionally, verbal comments may be made during the formal public hearing immediately following the informational meeting on July 16, 2024.
Links to Proposed Plan and Administrative Record:
Proposed Plan, 6/26/2024 (pdf) (9.3 MB)
Administrative Record for Proposed Plan
Additional information about the Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site can be found at: www.epa.gov/superfund/collins.
Background
The Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site (the Site) is comprised of the former Collins & Aikman facility and property, located on two parcels south of NH Route 11 in Farmington, NH: (i) a 96-acre parcel on Davidson Drive; and (ii) a 10-acre parcel located at 56 Davidson Drive (collectively, the Property). The Site also extends into and includes an approximate 152-acre area north of NH Route 11 affected by Site-related contamination, including a groundwater plume. The affected area north of NH Route 11 is roughly bounded by NH Route 11, Pokamoonshine Brook to the north/northwest, and the boundaries of several properties containing the plume to the east.
Most of the 106-acre Property consists of undeveloped wooded areas and contains the concrete foundation/floor of the former 267,000 square foot (ft2) (6.1 acres) manufacturing building, which was demolished in 2010, and the surrounding paved parking areas and driveways for the building. The former actively used area of the Property reportedly occupied approximately 33 acres, and included the manufacturing building, a 60,000-ft2 warehouse, and paved areas.
From 1966 to 2006, operations included the manufacture of instrumentation panel pads bumpers, fascias, and other parts for automobiles and trucks. Manufacturing processes conducted at the facility included polyurethane foam molding, construction of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shells, and the assembly of the finished panels. Painting operations were also conducted at the facility. The manufacturing processes involved the use of solvents, some of which were released to groundwater, soil, and surface water at the facility. Solvents used at the facility reportedly included: acetone, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), methylene chloride, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), tetrachloroethene (PCE), toluene, trichloroethene (TCE), and xylene.
The Site has been the subject of numerous investigations and remedial activities since 1983 when low concentrations of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) were detected in a Town of Farmington municipal drinking water supply well located approximately 3,500 feet northeast and downgradient of the former manufacturing facility. In December 2013, EPA added the Site to the National Priorities List (NPL). Between 2014 and 2024, EPA conducted a remedial investigation of the nature and extent of contamination at the Site, and a feasibility study of remedial options to address the contamination.
EPA's proposed plan summarizes risks posed by contamination at the site and presents an evaluation of cleanup options. The proposed plan also includes the Agency's preferred cleanup alternative along with the other cleanup options it considered.
The community is invited to attend the public meeting and hearing in person:
When: July 16, 2024 - 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Where: Old Town Hall located at 531 Main St in Farmington, NH
Those interested in attending virtually can register at: www.epa.gov/superfund/collins. One must register before the meeting in order to attend virtually.
EPA has also extended the comment period from 30 to 60 days. EPA will now accept written public comments from July 1, 2024 – August 30, 2024.
No later than August 30, 2024, please email comments to Hull.Richard@epa.gov, or mail comments to:
Richard Hull
EPA Region 1 New England
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100
Mail Code: 07-1
Boston, MA 02109-3912
Additionally, verbal comments may be made during the formal public hearing immediately following the informational meeting on July 16, 2024.
Links to Proposed Plan and Administrative Record:
Proposed Plan, 6/26/2024 (pdf) (9.3 MB)
Administrative Record for Proposed Plan
Additional information about the Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site can be found at: www.epa.gov/superfund/collins.
Background
The Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site (the Site) is comprised of the former Collins & Aikman facility and property, located on two parcels south of NH Route 11 in Farmington, NH: (i) a 96-acre parcel on Davidson Drive; and (ii) a 10-acre parcel located at 56 Davidson Drive (collectively, the Property). The Site also extends into and includes an approximate 152-acre area north of NH Route 11 affected by Site-related contamination, including a groundwater plume. The affected area north of NH Route 11 is roughly bounded by NH Route 11, Pokamoonshine Brook to the north/northwest, and the boundaries of several properties containing the plume to the east.
Most of the 106-acre Property consists of undeveloped wooded areas and contains the concrete foundation/floor of the former 267,000 square foot (ft2) (6.1 acres) manufacturing building, which was demolished in 2010, and the surrounding paved parking areas and driveways for the building. The former actively used area of the Property reportedly occupied approximately 33 acres, and included the manufacturing building, a 60,000-ft2 warehouse, and paved areas.
From 1966 to 2006, operations included the manufacture of instrumentation panel pads bumpers, fascias, and other parts for automobiles and trucks. Manufacturing processes conducted at the facility included polyurethane foam molding, construction of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shells, and the assembly of the finished panels. Painting operations were also conducted at the facility. The manufacturing processes involved the use of solvents, some of which were released to groundwater, soil, and surface water at the facility. Solvents used at the facility reportedly included: acetone, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), methylene chloride, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), tetrachloroethene (PCE), toluene, trichloroethene (TCE), and xylene.
The Site has been the subject of numerous investigations and remedial activities since 1983 when low concentrations of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) were detected in a Town of Farmington municipal drinking water supply well located approximately 3,500 feet northeast and downgradient of the former manufacturing facility. In December 2013, EPA added the Site to the National Priorities List (NPL). Between 2014 and 2024, EPA conducted a remedial investigation of the nature and extent of contamination at the Site, and a feasibility study of remedial options to address the contamination.
ILA says strike ‘more likely’ as contract deadline looms with no progress
The president of the International Longshoremen’s Association said maritime employers “are running out of time” to sign a new contract before the current deal’s expiration on Sept. 30.
ILA says strike ‘more likely’ as contract deadline looms with no progress
The president of the International Longshoremen’s Association said maritime employers “are running out of time” to sign a new contract before the current deal’s expiration on Sept. 30.