ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS
US Environmental Protection Agency
Located within the Study Area Boundary for the adjacent
Pine Street Canal Superfund site: CERCLIS #VTD980523062

EPA Remedial Project Manager:
Karen Lumino
1 Congress St., Suite 1100 (HBT)
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 918-1348
lumino.karen@epa.gov

VT Department of Environmental Conservation

Contact:
Michael Smith
Site Manager, VTDEC Waste Management Div.
103 South Main St., West Bldg.
Waterbury, VT 05671-0404
802-241-3888
michaels@dec.anr.state.vt.us

Site-Specific Environmental History
Property #8 was listed as an active hazardous waste site (#99-2592) due to the detection of petroleum-impacted soils and shallow groundwater associated with former storage of gasoline, diesel and waste oil [1]. Soil borings and groundwater wells were drilled in vicinity of four USTs and an AST at the site in 1988 to assess the potential for petroleum impacts from these tanks [1]. The four USTs were located in the southwest portion of the property off the north and east walls of the maintenance building. The former waste oil AST and associated petroleum-impacted soils were located along the southern exterior wall of the main on-site building on lands actually contained within adjacent Property #9 to the south [1].
The waste oil AST and associated petroleum impacted soils were removed from the site in 1998 [1]. The four USTs were removed from Property #8 in June of 1999 [2].

UST No. Capacity (gal) Contents Date Removed Date Installed
UST #1 10,000 Diesel 1999 1977
UST #2 3,000 Gasoline 1999 1966
UST #3 1,000 Gasoline 1999 1966
UST #4 2,000 Fuel oil 1999 1966

USTs # 2, and #3 appear to have been removed from the approximate location of gasoline tanks noted on historic Sanborn maps from 1942, 1960, and 1978 [3]. The UST closure report [2] and the VTDEC UST database [4] indicated that the install date for these two gasoline USTs was 1966; therefore, these USTs may represent a second generation of gasoline tanks in this general location.

Two small holes were noted in UST # 3, and petroleum impacts to soils were noted near the fill pipes for each of the USTs. Soils were backfilled and the tanks were cleaned and closed in place, however, due to the potential for coal tar waste associated with the adjacent Pine Street Canal Superfund site [2].

A fifth UST (275-gallon, containing waste oil) was reported to exist off the south wall of the former sand shed. This UST was reportedly excavated and removed during demolition of the sand shed following a fire in 1989 [2]. During 1999 UST removal activities, shallow excavations were made in the reported location of this abandoned UST, and no tank was discovered [2].

However, during the spring of 2000, UST #5 was discovered as stormwater reportedly filled the tank and a dark, oil-like liquid overflowed. This liquid migrated to a nearby catchbasin and stormwater retention basin. This event was recorded as VTDEC Spill # 178 on 8 May 2000 [5]. Approximately 800 gallons of oil and water were extracted from the UST, the retention basin and from the catchbasin during May and June of 2000, and contained for subsequent disposal [6]. The UST removal was assessed on 13 June 2000, and evidence of soil and groundwater impacts were detected [7]. A heavy petroleum sheen was noted floating on groundwater in the excavation, and field screening identified impacts to soils exceeding State guidance levels. Subsequent analytical results for soil samples collected from the base of the excavation, determined several petroleum constituents above State standards [8].

Additional site activities (1999 through 2001) have included installation of additional soil borings and groundwater monitoring wells and associated laboratory analyses of soil, groundwater, stormwater, retention basin sediment, and petroleum product samples to characterize the extent and degree of contamination resulting from past UST and AST releases [9, 6]. Active bioventing of the 50-yard soil stockpile resulting from excavation of waste oil AST release, as well as bioventing of in-situ soils beneath the foundation of the maintenance building adjacent to this past release were begun in June of 1999 [6].

Petroleum impacts to stormwater in the retention basin downgradient of former waste oil UST #5 have declined. Groundwater at the site, both in this western area and in the eastern area adjacent to former diesel and gasoline USTs, is presently monitored on a semi-annual basis. Concentrations of several constituents exceed Vermont Groundwater Enforcement Standards. Concentrations, as yet, do not indicate a definitive declining trend. This is likely due to the considerable mass of subsurface petroleum remaining at the site, as well as the expected low groundwater flow velocities and permeability [6]. Continued site monitoring will be required at this site for some time.

Proximity to Superfund Site
Property #8 is adjacent to the Pine Street Canal Superfund site (CERCLIS #VTD980523062). The western boundary of the lot is positioned along the former (now filled in) northern slip which extended off the turning basin of the barge canal [3]. This slip was preferentially filled following the decline in the barge industry, and filling appears to have been completed by 1977 [10]. Historic fill materials may have included: “sawdust and discharged lumber from the milling operations; municipal and commercial solid waste; manufacturing waste; construction waste; debris from on-site building fires; and ash from local power plants and incinerators” [11, p.146]. In general, highest concentrations of contaminants, and those posing greatest risk of impact to human health and the environment, associated with the neighboring Superfund site, are located farther to the south and southwest of Property #8. However, PAHs are present in groundwater near the northern barge slip in the area of the former bulk petroleum plant (Property #9). Superfund documents cite the former asphalt plant located at Property #8 (see History) as a potential source of the PAH contamination noted within the Superfund site study area [11].