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EPA to Review Cleanup Progress at Keefe Environmental Services Superfund Site

Release Date: 11/05/2002
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1064 Cheryl Sprague, EPA Project Manger, 617-918-1244

Boston--The United States Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing the effectiveness of the groundwater treatment system operating at the Keefe Environmental Services Superfund Site in Epping, New Hampshire.

EPA, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and their contractor, Woodard and Curran, who operates the groundwater treatment system, will:

• review sampling data to determine if cleanup levels are being met or are expected to be met at the end of the cleanup action;
• check the groundwater treatment equipment to ensure that it is operating properly;
• review the reports generated to date regarding the cleanup operations and contamination levels:
• interview local officials about decisions that may have an impact on groundwater use (such as changes in local zoning); and
• assess daily logs, records and reports.

Groundwater contaminants have been significantly reduced by the actions taken at the site, yet remain at levels just above health-based standards for drinking water. Groundwater at the site is not currently used for drinking water, although it is classified as a potential drinking water source. The principal contaminants of concern in the groundwater are the chlorinated compounds, including 1,1 DCE, 1,2-DCA, benzene, PCE, TCE,1,1-DCA and tetrahydrofuran (THF).

The review team determine whether the cleanup remedies are protective of public health and the environment. EPA anticipates that this study, called a five year, to be complete this spring. A final report will be made available to the public.

The 7.5 acre site was operated by Keefe Environmental Services from 1978 until 1981 as a spent solvent bulking, recovery and reclamation facility. As a result of these operations, hazardous substances were released into the soils and groundwater.

Both the state of New Hampshire and EPA worked at this site for a number of years. In 1981 EPA removed hazardous materials that had been left stockpiled at the site and reduced the volume of waste in a lagoon on the site. During 1983 and 1984, EPA and the state of New Hampshire removed more than 4,000 drums from the site, as well as four 5,000 gallon above-ground tanks and four 10,000 gallon above-ground tanks containing hazardous waste. The Keefe Environmental Services site was placed on the EPA's National Priorities List in 1983.

More information about cleanup activities at the Keefe Environmental Services site may be found on the EPA New England web site at: https://www.epa.gov/region1/superfund. EPA technical reports and documents are available for public review in the site information repository located at EPA library at One Congress Street in Boston and at the Epping Public Library, 52 Main Street, Epping, New Hampshire.