Superfund Site Cleanup to Cost Millions

Beginning in April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will begin removal of soil at the former location of the Merriam Manufacturing Company along Main Street in Durham.

On Tuesday residents voiced their concerns about the cleanup to representatives from the EPA and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection at an informational meeting held at the Durham Public Library.

Anni Loughlin, a project manager with the EPA, explained in detail the exact state of the superfund site and how the removal will be completed.

“We are very concerned about the residents nearby and the public at large,” said Loughlin. “We’re going to be conscious of their health and safety.”

Starting in April, contractor Metcalf and Eddy will begin the process of eliminating the contaminated soil at the Merriam Manufacturing location, also known as the Durham Meadows Superfund site. According to Loughlin, Metcalf and Eddy is currently reviewing bids to contract out the job and should be making a decision within a week.

For the first month, the site will be cleared. This will include the demolition and removal of the existing warehouse building at the back of the lot. Afterwards crews will begin the removal of the contaminated soil, which in some spots is up to 20 feet down and will equal almost 33,000 cubic yards of soil.

“The amount of soil is the same as a NFL football field filled with 15 feet of soil,” said Loughlin.

After the soil removal, the contracted company will come back in and refill and replant the site so it can then be reused. This includes the restoration of wetlands in the rear of the property that make up 14,000 cubic feet of the contaminated soil. The site will be restored to a residential standards according Connecticut state law, according to Loughlin.

“The EPA really likes to see Superfund sites reused in a productive manner,” she said.

Loughlin assured residents that the process will cause as little disruption as possible. While she said there wasn’t much she could do about the noise, the workers would only be there from the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. The area would also be fenced off to keep the public from accessing the site.

The soil will be watered down when it is being worked on to prevent dust from being kicked up in the air, Loughlin said. Each truck leaving the site with the contaminated soil will be covered and cleaned to prevent any of the contaminated soil from spilling onto the street.

A state trooper will provide traffic detail.

The one house that will be greatly affected by the removal, 275 Main St., will be empty and work will not begin in that area until July 1. While the historic house will remain intact, the septic tank and the waterline to the well will be removed during the soil removal.

The project should be done by the end of the year Loughlin said.

 The former Merriam Manufacturing Company, EPA and the town will share in the cost of the cleanup, which will range between $6 million and $8 million according to Loughlin.

The Durham Manufacturing plant, which is also included in the Durham Meadows Superfund site, will continue working with the EPA to test and remove contaminated soil on the site.

The EPA will be taking public comment at this time on the wetlands issue. If you wish to make a comment you can send a letter or email Loughlin (loughlin.anni@epa.org) by April 15.