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EPA Orders Five Parties at Superfund Site to Restore Allendale Dam and Excavate Contaminated Soils and Sediments Near Woonasquatucket River

Release Date: 03/27/2001
Contact Information: Peyton Fleming, EPA Press Office (617-918-1008)

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued a second unilateral administrative order to five potentially responsible parties, requiring them to remove contaminated soils and sediments along the Woonasquatucket River associated with the Centredale Manor Superfund site in North Providence, RI.

The order specifically requires the five parties to excavate, treat and dispose of off-site about 2,500 cubic yards of dioxin-contaminated sediments and bank soils from residential and recreational properties located in the floodplain of the river from Route 44 to the Lymansville Dam. The order also requires the parties to restore Allendale Dam.

The order requires the parties to submit a design and work plan by mid-summer and to begin field work immediately following EPA's approval of the plans.

"Given the unwillingness of these parties to do the work voluntarily, we have no choice but to pursue this order," said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA's New England Office. "As with all cleanup cases, EPA would much prefer a private party cleanup than continuing to use taxpayer dollars."

Since early 1999, EPA has spent approximately $5.3 million to conduct widespread sampling in and along the Woonasquatucket River, to fence and limit access to contaminated areas, and to install a soil cap south of the Centredale Manor parking lot.

Although pleased that the same five parties adequately complied with the first unilateral order issued for the site last spring, EPA is disappointed that the parties have repeatedly declined to perform work voluntarily. Under the first unilateral order, the five parties installed a second soil cap south of the Brook Village building in the spring and summer of 2000. The vegetated caps prevent exposure of humans and wildlife to dioxin and other contaminants, and also prevent migration of the contaminants to the Woonasquatucket River and other parts of the sensitive ecosystem at the site.

The five parties named on the order are: Brook Village Associates Limited Partnership; Centredale Manor Associates Limited Partnership; Crown Metro Inc.; Emhart Industries Inc.; and New England Container Company Inc. EPA is actively seeking information regarding other possible liable parties.

The Centredale Manor Superfund site is located on Smith Street in North Providence and includes the Woonasquatucket River and the floodplain between Route 44 downstream to and including Lymansville Dam, as well as other locations in which site contamination has been found.