Cleanup Complete
at Pownal Tannery Superfund site in Pownal, VT
Contact: Peyton Fleming, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1008
For Immediate Release: October 19, 2004; Release #
04-10-32
POWNAL, VT -- Flanked by community residents, state officials
and local officials, the regional administrator of EPA's
New England Office today visited the Pownal Tannery Superfund site
in Pownal, VT to celebrate the recent completion of a $8.4 million
cleanup at the property.
The celebration took place at a former lagoon area on the 28-acre
property which has been cleaned up over the last year as the third
and final phase of the Superfund cleanup. The town is planning
to build a wastewater treatment plant at the site and other recreational
uses for the property are being evaluated as well.
"The cleanup of the Pownal Tannery site is a great Superfund
success story," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator
of EPA's New England Office, which has spent more than $23
million on the overall cleanup. "It is a shining example
of what federal, state and local officials can achieve when they
work together toward a shared goal."
"This project builds on a long history of effective partnerships
between the state of Vermont and EPA," added Jeffrey Wennberg,
commissioner of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. "Most
importantly, it's made a real difference for the community
of North Pownal."
Placed on the Superfund list in 1999, the extensive investigation
and cleanup effort on the site took just under six years. Among
the keys of the project was the town receiving a Superfund Redevelopment
Initiative grant to plan for future reuse of the site. The reuse
plan for the tannery property was completed in 2001 by a consultant
hired by the town.
"The Town of Pownal is very grateful for all the support
and effort put forth by EPA and the Vermont agencies," said
Nelson Brownell, a Pownal selectman. "Because of everyone's
support, and now the completion of the Superfund cleanup, the town
will be able to move forward into the future with its vision for
a large recreational complex and a town wastewater treatment facility
on the site."
Before reusing the property, tannery buildings located on Dean
Road were demolished and contaminated soils were removed and placed
in a nearby tannery landfill on the opposite side of the the Hoosic
River. EPA constructed a multi-layered cap over this landfill,
which was completed in 2002. Cleanup of the lagoon area was initiated
in 2003, and included excavation, consolidation and capping of
contaminated lagoon sludge. This action was completed in September
2004 and concludes EPA's multi-phased cleanup at the site.
Prior to the site's listing, EPA's investigations
revealed widespread contamination of the tannery property and an
emergency removal was conducted in 1993 to remove contaminated
materials from the former tannery building.
The Pownal Tannery specialized in chrome tanning of sheepskins
which began operations in 1937. Tannery wastes, including chromium,
a toxic metal, were dumped into large open unlined lagoons near
the tannery building. The site became vacant after the Pownal Tannery
Corp. filed for bankruptcy in 1988.
METADATA
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TITLE: Cleanup Complete at
Pownal Tannery Superfund site in Pownal, VT
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ABSTRACT: Flanked by community
residents, state officials and local officials, the regional
administrator of EPA's New England Office today visited
the Pownal Tannery Superfund site in Pownal, VT to celebrate
the recent completion of a $8.4 million cleanup at the property.
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PURPOSE: Public Information
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ORIGINATOR: Regional Administrator's
Office
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PUBLICATION DATE: 10/22/04
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ACCESS CONSTRAINTS: N/A
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AVAILABILITY: N/A
a. Distributor:
b. Order Process:
c. Technical Prerequisites:
d. Automated Linkage:
e. Downloadable Files:
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COVERAGE: N/A
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TIME PERIOD OF COVERAGE: N/A
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POINT OF CONTACT FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION:
Peyton Fleming
Office of the Regional Administrator
EPA New England
1 Congress Street, Suite 1100 (RAA)
Boston, MA 02114-2023
(617) 918-1008
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RESPONSIBLE PARTY:
Peyton Fleming, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1008
Office of the Regional Administrator
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DATE OF CREATION: 10/22/04
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AGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
N/A
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EXPIRATION DATE: 11/22/04
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