Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a plan to clean up the Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site in Farmington, NH. The EPA will hold a public meeting to update the community on the proposed remediation plan and a public hearing to accept verbal comments. The deadline to submit written public comments is August 30, 2024.
EPA's proposed plan summarizes risks posed by contamination at the site and presents an evaluation of cleanup options. The proposed plan also includes the Agency's preferred cleanup alternative along with other options it considered.
The community is invited to attend the public meeting and hearing in person:
When: July 16, 2024 - 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Where: Old Town Hall located at 531 Main St in Farmington, NH
Those interested in attending virtually can register at www.epa.gov/superfund/collins. Registration is required before the meeting for virtual attendance.
EPA has extended the comment period from 30 to 60 days and will now accept written public comments from July 1, 2024 – August 30, 2024.
Comments can be emailed to Hull.Richard@epa.gov or mailed to:
Richard Hull
EPA Region 1 New England
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100
Mail Code: 07-1
Boston, MA 02109-3912
Verbal comments may be made during the formal public hearing immediately following the informational meeting on July 16, 2024.
Links to Proposed Plan and Administrative Record:
Proposed Plan, June 26, 2024 (pdf)(9.3 MB)
Administrative Record for Proposed Plan
Additional information about the Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site can be found at www.epa.gov/superfund/collins.
Background
The Collins & Aikman Plant (former) Superfund Site comprises the former Collins & Aikman facility and property located on two parcels south of NH Route 11 in Farmington, NH: a 96-acre parcel on Davidson Drive and a 10-acre parcel located at 56 Davidson Drive. The site also extends into an approximate 152-acre area north of NH Route 11 affected by site-related contamination, including a groundwater plume.
Most of the property consists of undeveloped wooded areas containing the concrete foundation/floor of the former manufacturing building demolished in 2010 and surrounding paved parking areas and driveways. The former actively used area occupied approximately 33 acres and included a manufacturing building, a warehouse, and paved areas.
From 1966 to 2006, operations included manufacturing instrumentation panel pads bumpers, fascias, and other parts for automobiles and trucks. Manufacturing processes involved polyurethane foam molding, construction of polyvinyl chloride shells, assembly of finished panels, and painting operations using solvents that were released into groundwater, soil, and surface water at the facility. Solvents reportedly included acetone, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), methylene chloride, methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), tetrachloroethene (PCE), toluene, trichloroethene (TCE), and xylene.
The site has been subject to numerous investigations since low concentrations of chlorinated volatile organic compounds were detected in a municipal drinking water supply well in Farmington in1983. In December2013,the EPA added thesiteto thenational priorities list(NPL). Between2014and2024,the EPA conducted aremedial investigationof thenatureandextentof contaminationatthesite,andafeasibility studyof remedial optionsto addressthecontamination.
