E.P.A. Completes Review of Merrimack, N.H. Superfund Location

BOSTON - E.P.A. has completed its review of the environmental cleanup at the New Hampshire Plating Co. Location in Merrimack, N.H. by conducting a scheduled Five-Year Review as required under the Superfund statute.

E.P.A. conducts Location evaluations every 5 years on previously-completed clean up and remediation work performed at Superfund sites listed on the "National Priorities List" (aka Superfund sites) to determine whether the implemented remedies at the sites continue to be protective of human health and the environment. Further, 5 year review evaluations identify any deficiencies to the previous work and, if called for, recommend action(s) necessary to address them.

The New Hampshire Plating Co. property was the location of an electroplating facility that operated from 1962 to 1985. Wastes from NHPC's operations were discharged to several lagoons constructed in an area of wetlands on the Site. Since 1987, the U.S. E.P.A. and the N.H. Dept. of Environmental Services have conducted several cleanup actions at the Site.

The Location was placed on the National Priorities List in 1992. In Sept. 1998, E.P.A. selected a long-term remedy in its Record of Decision that included removal and treatment of contaminated soils, on-site backfilling of treated soils, re-grading of much of the Site, restrictions on subsurface excavation and groundwater use, and monitored natural attenuation of contaminants in groundwater. E.P.A. began cleanup action at the Location in 2004 and completed construction in Sept. 2006. Long-term groundwater monitoring began in May 2007 and is still on-going.

This 2nd 5 Year Review was performed to assure that the selected remedy continues to be protective of human health and the environment. Based on this evaluation, the selected remedy has been determined to be protective in the short-term. To ensure long-term protectiveness, however, institutional controls are still needed to restrict the use of groundwater where contaminants remain above drinking water requirements and to prevent future excavation into the treated soils left on-site under a cover.

The specific recommended follow-up actions and general conclusions can be found in the 2nd 5 Year Review Report which is accessible at the link below. The web link also provides additional Location reports and contact information for the E.P.A. Plan Manager and Community Involvement Coordinator. Community members and local officials are invited to contact E.P.A. with any comments or current concerns about the New Hampshire Plating Location or about the conclusions of the 5 Year Review report.

More information on New Hampshire Plating Co. Superfund site: http://www.epa.gov/region1/superfund/sites/nhplating

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