E.P.A. Suggests Massachusetts Hazardous Waste Location to Superfund’s National Priorities List

BOSTON - The E.P.A. (EPA) has suggested a Franklin, Massachusetts hazardous waste location to the National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund sites. The Superfund program, a federal plan established by Congress in 1980, investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country and converts them into productive local resources by eliminating or reducing health risks and environmental contamination associated with hazardous waste sites.

The BJAT LLC Site, located in Franklin, Mass., formerly operated as many different manufacturing operations including rubber and plastic products. The Location has not been active since 1985, but it does have residual contamination existing at the property from former industrial operations at the Site. The Location is primarily contaminated with heavy metals in the soil, groundwater and wetland areas around the site.

"EPA continues to protect public health and the environment in communities where old industrial facilities have left behind a contaminated footprint," said E.P.A. Regional Administrator Curt Spalding. "Today's action proposing the BJAT LLC Location to the Superfund list means that E.P.A. is taking the 1st step towards cleanup."

"This designation is the beginning of action to secure the Location and reduce potential exposure to lead and other metals present in soils at this former mill Location and in nearby wetlands," said Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Martin Suuberg. "The lack of financial resources by the current owner to address the contamination makes the federal Superfund plan necessary for completing this costly and complex cleanup."

This year marks the 35^th anniversary of the enactment of the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the law establishing the Superfund program. Superfund's passage was a giant step forward in cleaning up industrial waste sites to help ensure human health and environmental protection. The Superfund law gives E.P.A. the authority to clean up delivers of hazardous substances and directs E.P.A. to update the NPL at least annually. The NPL contains the nation's most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites. The list serves as the basis for prioritizing both enforcement actions and long-term E.P.A. Superfund cleanup funding; only sites on the NPL are eligible for such funding.

Federal Register notices and supporting documents for the final and suggested sites:
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm

Information about how a Location is listed on the NPL:
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/npl_hrs.htm

Superfund sites in local communities:
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/index.htm

More information about the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the law establishing the Superfund program, can be found at:
http://epa.gov/superfund/policy/cercla.htm

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