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 (TPH) 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.
The first round of soil excavation was completed on Thursday, October 18, 2007. Approximately 200 tons of soils were removed from the swale and placed in the lined, bermed soil staging area.
During the excavation, a temporary overflow pipe was installed in a berm that had been constructed along the northern edge of the swale to direct stormwater overflow to the north for discharge into Stubby Plain Brook. This diversion prevented stormwater discharge into the excavated portions of the swale downstream of the weir.
During the period of excavation in the wetland area adjacent to Stubby Plain Brook, groundwater was pumped via the previously installed dewatering wells to the three 20,000-gallon frac tanks, and subsequently treated and discharged back to Stubby Plain Brook. The discharge area was located to the east of the swale in the woods, with the treated effluent discharged to the brook via a constructed Rip Rap pad that dissipated flow velocity and prevented erosion of the land surface. The extracted groundwater was treated by settling of solids, bag filtration, and carbon adsorption prior to discharge to the brook. Samples were collected of the untreated and treated effluent and submitted for laboratory analysis of metals, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), PAHs, cyanide, pH, settlable solids, and TPH.
Test results of the untreated groundwater showed metals, including cadmium, copper, and lead, and trace levels of VOCs to be present, consistent with previously characterized groundwater conditions at the Site. Test results of the treated effluent showed all contaminants to be reduced to well below site action levels, with the exception of lead, which was detected at levels of 13.4 and 11.5 ug/L, slightly above the site action level of 9.8 ug/L. Subsequent sampling for total and dissolved lead occurred while treated effluent was re-circulated into the settling tank, without discharging water to the brook. Test results showed a lead removal efficiency of about 74%, but indicated that residual suspended sediment was likely passing through the filter and carbon unit. In order to improve treatment efficiency, the 20-micron bag filter was replaced with a 5-micron filter to improve the removal of suspended particles in the water passing through the carbon unit. A second set of samples was then collected to assess the treatment performance for lead resulting from this change. These laboratory results are not yet available.
In total, 83 post-excavation soil samples were collected and submitted for laboratory analysis of TPH, PAHs, and metals, including hexavalent chromium. Laboratory results for these samples have demonstrated compliance with the clean-up levels established for the site, and no further removal of soils in the drainage swale area is planned.
Waste disposal characterization samples that were submitted for laboratory analysis of total cadmium and lead show elevated levels of the contaminants to be present. Additional sampling to further characterize the waste piles was performed, and the sampling results will be used to determine the appropriate disposal facilities.
Excavation equipment, including the skid steer, excavator, and off-road dump truck were decontaminated for removal from the site.
Perimeter air monitoring for particulates (dusts) and VOCs continued throughout the excavation period, showing no sustained readings above site action levels that were attributed to the removal activities occurring on the property. Throughout the work period dust levels remained well below the levels detected at the background station. Results from the personal air monitoring and sampling for metals and dusts showed no exceedences of site action levels. All concentrations of detected analytes were at trace levels, remaining several orders of magnitude below site action levels.
Planned removal actions include:
(1) continued erosion control and dust suppression measures;
(2) backfilling and re-grading of excavations with clean fill materials;
(3) disposal of waste materials off-site at EPA-approved facilities; and
(4) repair of response-related damage in areas affected by cleanup activities.
Following the completion of the Removal Action, quarterly on-site inspections for up to one year will be conducted to evaluate the condition of restored swale area and the newly installed vegetative cover.
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. On Tuesday, October 23rd, OSC Morash gave a presentation on the Wampus cleanup to environmental science students at Platt Technical High School in Milford. On Tuesday, October 30th OSC Morash participated in the "Careers to Health" fair at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.
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