This Pollution Report (POLREP) documents progress in cleanup activities at the Wampus Milford Associates Site, located at 80 Wampus Lane in Milford, Connecticut. The 24-acre parcel was formerly owned and operated by the Burndy Corporation, beginning in 1956, for the manufacture of electrical components and accessories. Operations included manufacture of rubber and plastic molding, operation of power presses, screw machining, degreasing, plating, wastewater treatment, soldering, assembly, and shipping. All outstanding stock of the Burndy Corporation was purchased by Framatome Connectors International in 1989. In 1993, all operations at the facility ceased. In 1995, the company name was changed from the Burndy Corporation to Framatome Connectors USA. In 1999, ownership of the Site was subsequently transferred to Wampus Milford Associates, LLC.
While the facility was operational, metal hydroxide sludges from the treatment of electroplating wastes were accumulated in two on-site surface impoundments and disposed of in an on-site landfill. These areas of concern were previously remediated by the property owner under the direct oversight of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP).
The current cleanup, being performed under EPA oversight by HRP Associates, on behalf of FCI USA, Inc., is addressing contaminated surface soils within and adjacent to a man-made, earthen drainage swale on the property.
Previous investigations by EPA revealed that contaminants, including beryllium, lead, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and petroleum hydrocarbons are present in soils within the drainage swale. The swale is approximately 210 feet long and of varying width, with a ponding area and weir, and reportedly received treated plating wastewater and stormwater run-off between
1965 and 1991.
Clearing of on-site vegetation and debris and other preparatory work was completed the week ending Friday, September 28, 2007. These preparatory activities included installation of the perimeter fencing and warning signs, construction of two anti-tracking pads and a “haul” road connecting the swale excavation area and the soil staging area (combined, the “exclusion” zone), set-up of the office trailer, set-up of the plastic construction fencing along the haul road, and installation of erosion controls including silt fence and hay bales.
During the week of October 1, 2007 installation of the dewatering system began. Progress was slowed by shallow drilling refusals, resulting in several days’ delay behind the schedule previously submitted to EPA by HRP Associates. By the end of the week of October 8, 2007, 43 dewatering wells, in total, were installed.
Three 20,000-gal frac tanks were delivered to the Site for use in the groundwater treatment system. An untreated groundwater sample was collected, in preparation for dewatering and discharge to Stubby Plain Brook. The sample was submitted for laboratory analysis of of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), metals, pH, settable solids, total suspended solids (TSS), and cyanide. Sample results showed metals and trace levels of VOCs to be present, consistent with previously characterized groundwater conditions at the Site.
The first round of soil excavation was initiated and is projected to be completed by Friday, October 19, 2007. Approximately 200 tons of soils were removed from the swale and placed in the lined, bermed soil staging area. Four waste disposal characterization samples were submitted for laboratory analysis for total cadmium and total lead. Laboratory results for these samples are not yet available.
Post-excavation soil samples were collected and submitted for laboratory analysis of TPH, PAHs, and metals. Laboratory results for these samples are not yet available.
Perimeter air monitoring for particulates (dusts) and VOCs continues, showing no sustained readings above site action levels. Dust levels continue to remain well below the levels detected at the background station. Results from the personal air monitoring and sampling for metals and dusts show no exceedences of site action levels. All concentrations of detected analytes are at trace levels, remaining several orders of magnitude below site action levels.
Planned removal actions include:
(1) continued air monitoring and sampling;
(2) continued erosion control and dust suppression measures;
(3) dewatering and water treatment;
(4) excavation and consolidation of contaminated surface soils within and surrounding the drainage swale;
(5) collection and analysis of post-excavation confirmatory samples to ascertain whether clean-up levels have been met;
(6) backfilling of excavations with clean fill materials;
(7) disposal of waste materials off-site at EPA-approved facilities; and
(8) repair of response-related damage in areas affected by cleanup activities.
EPA continues to coordinate with the City of Milford, CTDEP, and the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CTDPH) to implement the community involvement plan for the Site. EPA OSC Melanie Morash met with officials from the Milford Health Department on Friday, October 12, 2007 to discuss environmental education in Milford schools.
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