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Site Type: Long Term/National Priorities List (NPL)  |
SOLVENTS RECOVERY SERVICE OF NEW ENGLAND |
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| Southington, Connecticut |
Hartford County
| Street Address: | LAZY LANE |
| Zip Code: | 06489 |
Congressional
District(s): |
01 |
| EPA ID #: | CTD009717604 |
| Site ID #: | 0100124 |
| Site Aliases: | Solvents Recovery, Inc.
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| Site Responsibility: | Federal, Potentially Responsible Parties |
| NPL LISTING HISTORY |
| Proposed Date | 12/30/1982 |
| Final Date | 09/08/1983 |
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Site Description
The Solvents Recovery Service of New England (SRSNE) site is a fenced 2 acre facility located in the Town of Southington. The facility operated as an EPA-approved hazardous waste treatment and storage facility. The facility received various waste industrial solvents that were blended for use as a fuel product. From 1957 to 1967, stillbottom sludges were disposed of in two unlined lagoons. In 1967, sludge disposal was discontinued, and the lagoons were drained and covered with fill. After the lagoons were closed, wastes were burned in an open pit on site or disposed of off site. In the 1970s, the State ordered that the incineration practice be discontinued. Past operating practices, spills, and poor housekeeping are sources of contamination. In 1991, all activities at the site ceased in preparation for closure under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). No hazardous waste disposal currently takes place at the site. The Town of Southington Well #4 is located approximately 2,000 feet south of the site, and Well #6 is located 1,300 feet to the south of the site. Both of these wells were closed in 1979 because of contamination. The population of Southington is 38,000. The area near the site is a mixture of commercial, light industrial, residential, and some agricultural uses. The facility is located approximately 500 feet to the west of the Quinnipiac River.
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with isopropyl alcohol, acetone, toluene, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The soil is contaminated with lead, cadmium, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and VOCs. People who accidentally ingest contaminated groundwater may be at risk. However, since the two municipal wells have been taken out of service, this health threat has been reduced. Both dense non-aqueous phased liquids (DNAPLs) and light non-aqueous phased liquids (LNAPLs) have been identified at the site.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed through two long-term remedial phases focusing on cleanup of groundwater and soil. A final remedy for the site was selected in September 2005 with the Record of Decision.
Response Action Status
| Initial Action | In 1983, under the authority of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), EPA settled a lawsuit filed against SRSNE in 1979. Under the settlement, SRSNE was required to make improvements to its solvents handling procedures; construct a groundwater pump and treatment system to prevent the migration of overburden contaminated groundwater; and install an off-site interceptor system to capture contaminated groundwater beyond the facility boundaries. In 1985, SRSNE installed the on-site groundwater pump and treat system, and began operating it in 1986. The off-site interceptor system was also installed, though this system never became operational because SRSNE never was issued a state discharge permit. SRSNE also paved the operations area with asphalt, installed berms to contain spills, improved fire protection and suppression measures by extending the public water supply line to the facility and improved general housekeeping measures to some degree. Despite these efforts, numerous deficiencies remained. |
| Groundwater | In 1983, under the authority of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), a groundwater pump and treatment system was built to address overburden contaminated groundwater. In 1995, the potentially responsible parties, under EPA oversight, installed a slurry wall and a more up-to-date groundwater pump and treatment system that consists of ultraviolet/oxidation to clean up shallow groundwater and prevent it from migrating from the source areas. In 1997, the EPA ordered the potentially responsible parties to expand the groundwater containment system to address bedrock contamination. A final remedy for the site, including groundwater, was selected in the Record of Decision (ROD) in September 2005. |
| Soil | In 1992, EPA conducted a time-critical removal action to address potential health threats associated with PCB contamination in soil and sediment along a drainage ditch on the eastern edge of the operations area. Approximately 19 drums of contaminated material containing up to 100 parts per million (ppm) total VOCs and 350 ppm PCBs were removed. In 1994, the EPA conducted an investigation into the sources and nature and extent of contamination at the site. Subsequent information indicated that the investigation was not complete, and the potentially responsible parties completed the investigation under EPA oversight. A final remedy for the site, including soil, was selected in the ROD in September 2005. |
| Laboratory Chemicals and Asbestos | In 1994, EPA conducted a second time-critical removal action to remove and dispose of laboratory chemicals and asbestos that SRSNE had left at the abandoned site. |
| Non-aqueous Phase Liquid | Dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) is located in the overburden and bedrock aquifers. Light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) is also in the overburden aquifer. Both DNAPL and LNAPL are addressed in the final remedy for the site in the September 2005 ROD. |
| Enforcement Highlights | In 1983, Solvents Recovery Service of New England (SRSNE) signed a Consent Decree with the EPA requiring the installation of a system to recover groundwater on and off site and a plan for on-site storage and management of hazardous wastes. Some of these actions were completed before SRSNE ceased operation in 1991. The EPA signed a final Consent Decree with SRSNE for settlement of its liabilities with respect to the site in early 1994. In addition, the EPA signed a Consent Decree with approximately 880 small potentially responsible parties for release of their liability for the site in late 1994. Approximately 250 parties signed an Administrative Order with EPA in 1994 to construct the groundwater pump and treat system and in 1996, approximately 500 parties signed an Administrative Order to expand the system and complete site investigations. In 2008, EPA entered into a Consent Decree with 59 parties who agreed to perform the site-wide cleanup, and pay past and future oversight and response costs. In 2008, EPA also entered into a Consent Decree with 213 "de minimis" parties who are settling their potential liability for cleanup costs by making cash payments. Settlements with various parties that have limited financial ability are completed or planned. |
Environmental Progress
The closure of the contaminated drinking well has minimized the threat of exposure to affected residences while groundwater pump and treat operations continue at the Solvents Recovery Service of New England site. Contaminated groundwater in both the overburden and bedrock aquifers is being contained and treated on site. The ROD, issued in September 2005, is the final remedy for groundwater and contaminated soil.
Current Site Status
In May 2005, EPA proposed a final remedy for the site. EPA accepted public comment on its preferred alternative from June 9 thru August 8, 2005. After careful consideration of all written and verbal comments received during the comment period, EPA selected the following cleanup plan for the site:
* Treat waste oils and solvents in the overburden aquifer beneath the Operations Area by heating them in place.
* Consolidate and cap contaminated soil and wetland soil.
* Capture and treat on site the contaminated groundwater in both the overburden and bedrock aquifers that exceeds federal drinking water standards. Monitor natural degradation of the plume outside the capture zone until groundwater cleanup levels are achieved.
* Monitor natural degradation of the waste oils and solvents in the bedrock aquifer.
* Implement restrictions on uses of the site property and groundwater.
* Monitor groundwater and maintain the cap in the long term. Perform reviews at least every five years to ensure that the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment.
In 2006, EPA entered into negotiations with the PRP Group to implement the remedy selected in the ROD in 2006. Those negotiations were completed in 2008 (see "Enforcement Highlights" above). The parties performing the remedy ("Settling Defendants") are expected to submit the first draft of the remedial design workplan for EPA and CT DEP review in April 2009.
Site Photos
Links to Other Site Information
Newsletters & Press Releases:
Federal Register Notices:
Administrative Records:
Administrative Record --Index Only-- Record of Decision, September 2005 (346 KB)  | | |
| Public Hearing Comments on the June 2005 Proposed Plan, June 20, 2005 (925KB) | | |
| Public Comments on the June 2005 Proposed Plan (14.6MB) | | |
| Administrative Record Index Addendum I, June 26, 1992 (312 KB) | | |
| Administrative Record Index Addendum II, June 26, 1992 (276 KB) | | |
| Administrative Record Index Addendum III, June 26, 1992 (363 KB) | | |
| Deminimis Settlement Administrative Record Index, September 29, 1994 (1.82 MB) | | |
| Non-Time-Critical Removal Action II (NTCRA) Administrative Record Index, June 1, 1995 (332 KB) | | |
| Early De Minimis Settlement Administrative Record Index, September 28, 1995 (226 KB) | | |
| Preliminary Administrative Record for Future Record of Decision (ROD) Administrative Record Index, June 26, 1992 (479 KB) | | |
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Reports and Studies:
Decision Documents:
Other Links:
Site Repositories
Southington Public Library, 225 Main Street, Southington, CT 07489
EPA New England Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 918-1440
Contacts
| EPA Remedial Project Manager: | Karen Lumino |
| Address: | |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1348 |
| E-Mail Address: | lumino.karen@epa.gov |
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| EPA Community Involvement Coordinator: | Jim Murphy |
| Address: | |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1028 |
| E-Mail Address: | murphy.jim@epa.gov |
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| State Agency Contact: | Mike Beskind |
| Address: | CTDEP |
| Phone #: | (860) 424-3763 |
| E-Mail Address: | martin.beskind@po.state.ct.us |
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