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Site Type: Long Term/National Priorities List (NPL)  |
PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD |
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| Kittery, Maine |
York County
| Street Address: | SEAVEY ISLAND |
| Zip Code: | 03904 |
Congressional
District(s): |
01 |
| EPA ID #: | ME7170022019 |
| Site ID #: | 0101072 |
| Site Aliases: |
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| Site Responsibility: | Federal |
| NPL LISTING HISTORY |
| Proposed Date | 06/23/1993 |
| Final Date | 05/31/1994 |
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Site Description
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) is located on a 278-acre site, two-thirds of which is covered by a high-density industrial area, containing 376 buildings. The shipyard is built on Dennet's, Seavey's, Jamaica, and Clark's Islands, connected by 90 acres of fill. This filling of the tidal flats gradually took place as the space needs of PNS increased. Shipbuilding at the site started in 1690 and PNS became a Navy shipyard in 1800. Ships and submarines have been constructed at PNS, currently the shipyard is used to overhaul nuclear powered attack submarines. PNS consists of three dry docks, 6,500 linear feet of berthing, and 376 buildings and other structures. Hazardous wastes have been stored, disposed of, spilled, or treated at more than 30 acres on the site. From 1945 to 1975, untreated acidic and alkaline wastes, waste battery acid and lead sludge, wastewater and spent baths from an electroplating operation, and other wastes from various industrial shops were discharged into the Piscataqua River via industrial waste outfalls. From 1945 until approximately 1978, 25 acres of tidal flats between two of the islands were filled with wastes including chromium-, lead-, and cadmium-plating sludge; asbestos insulation; volatile organic compounds (VOCs); waste paint and solvents; mercury-contaminated materials; sandblasting grit containing various metal wastes; and dredged sediments from the Piscataqua River. In the late 1970s, dredged sediment samples collected near the industrial outfalls were found to be contaminated with elevated concentrations of metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other contaminants. The Navy has indicated that the probable source of the sediment contamination is the industrial outfalls at PNS. Groundwater supplies drinking water to 10,000 people within 4 miles of the site. However, groundwater beneath the PNS (the island) is not hydraulically connected to the groundwater that supplies drinking water. The mainland on both sides of the river in the immediate vicinity is a thickly settled residential area with commercial/light industrial land use activities.
Threats and Contaminants
Soils contain various contaminants including metals and semi volatile organic contaminants (SVOCs). Sediments contain slightly elevated concentrations of metals and other contaminants. Wetlands bordering Seavey Island have been found to be contaminated with hazardous substances attributable to the PNS site. Salmon Falls, the Cocheco and Piscataqua Rivers, the Great Bay estuary, and coastal tidal waters located within 15 miles downstream of PNS are used for commercial and recreational fishing. Extensive wetlands communities exist along surface water bodies downstream of the PNS site.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two phases: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase focusing on the cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
| Initial Action | Seven of eight underground storage tanks were removed in 1994. A temporary cap was constructed at the DRMO Storage Yard. The cap will prevent wind dispersal, surface run-off of, and direct contact with contaminated soils. The slope at the DRMO, which was found to be heavily eroded, was stabilized in 1999. A mercury burial vault was removed from the Jamaica Island Landfill in 1997. A secondary mercury burial vault was removed from the Jamaica Island Landfill in 2000. |
| Entire Site | An investigation into the nature and extent of contamination at the site has been completed. Data gap investigations are now being conducted. Alternatives for cleaning up the various sites are being evaluated. Several new Site Screening Areas have been identified and are being evaluated to determine whether they should be moved into the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) phase of work. |
| Decision Documents | An Interim Record of Decision (ROD) for the offshore areas (Operable Unit 4) adjacent to PNS was signed in 1999. This Interim ROD called for the establishment of a monitoring program of sediment and biota, until such time that a final decision is made for this OU. This monitoring is ongoing.
A ROD for the Jamaica Island Landfill (JILF) source area was signed in 2001. This ROD requires the construction of a hazardous waste cap over the landfill; construction of a restored salt water wetland, erosion control measures along the shore of the JILF; development, implementation and monitoring of institutional controls; long-term monitoring; and operation and maintenance. Construction is currently underway. |
| Enforcement Highlights | In early 1989, the EPA issued a Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) Permit to PNS requiring corrective action to be evaluated at 13 of the 28 solid waste management units. In 1999 a Federal Facility Agreement was signed by EPA and the Department of the Navy. This agreement supersedes the HSWA permit. |
Environmental Progress
Capping the DRMO Storage Yard, stabilizing the DRMO shoreline, removing underground storage tanks, and removing the mercury burial vaults has provided for the protection of the safety of the public and the environment while investigations into the nature and extent of contamination at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard site are underway.
Phase 1 of the remedy for the OU3 Jamaica Island Landfill, excavation of debris and fill and construction of a salt water marsh was completed in the summer of 2002. The excavated material was placed on the landfill area to be covered with the Phase 2 cap.
Current Site Status
Work is currently underway at seven Operable Units (OUs) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS). In addition, there are several site Screening Areas that are being preliminarily evaluated to determine whether a Remedial Investigation should be performed at these areas.
Monitoring of the Off-Shore Areas (OU4)sediments and biota continues per the 1999 IROD.
Phase 2 construction of the landfill cover and shoreline erosion controls began in 2003 and is currently ongoing.
All of the remaining OUs are in the Remedial Investigation (RI)/Feasibility Study (FS) phase of work. Work plans for investigations are underway at OU7 (site 32 topeka pier site ). Site 34 (former oil gassification plant) will soon undergo a removal action. An additional investigation of site 10 (former battery acid tank) is being developed to determin the extent of lead contaminiation. A study to perform a removal at site 30 (former galvinizing building) is under developement.
Site Photos
 
Constructing a restored salt water wetland at OU3, the Jamaica Inland Landfill. Excavation of Debris & Fill from the OU3, Jamaica Island Landfill
for the restored salt water wetland. Excavated material to be
placed underneath new landfill cap.
Links to Other Site Information
Newsletters & Press Releases:
Federal Register Notices:
Reports and Studies:
Decision Documents:
Other Links:
Site Repositories
Kittery Town Hall, 200 Rogers Road Ext., Kittery, ME 03904
Portsmouth Public Library, 8 Islington Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Contacts
| EPA Remedial Project Manager: | Matthew Audet |
| Address: | |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1449 |
| E-Mail Address: | audet.matthew@epa.gov |
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| EPA Community Involvement Coordinator: | Pamela Harting-Barrat |
| Address: | |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1318 |
| E-Mail Address: | harting-barrat.pamela@epa.gov |
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| State Agency Contact: | Iver McLeod |
| Address: | Maine DEP
State House Station #17
Augusta, ME 04333 |
| Phone #: | (207) 287-8010 |
| E-Mail Address: | iver.j.mcleod@state.me.us. |
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