PetersonPuritan Operable Unit 2 JM Mills Area Superfund

Peterson/Puritan Operable Unit 2 (JM Mills Area) Superfund Site Informational Meeting Thursday, June 22, 2017

Peterson/Puritan OU 2 • Where are we? Settlement reached to design and implement the cleanup (remedy) • How did we get here? • Where are we going? • What to expect?

Superfund Process - 1 Listing. Becoming a Superfund Site. [1983] Remedial Investigation – Evaluate contamination exposure and risk Feasibility Study. Evaluate Remedies to address risk and exposure Record of Decision (ROD). Selection of remedy. [2015]

Superfund Process 2 We are here Enforcement and Settlement. Commit to implement the remedy. 2017 Pre-design and design. Use the ROD and meet Site conditions. Remedy Construction (cleanup) Maintenance and monitoring Reuse, if any

The Peterson/Puritan OU 2 Settlement • Consent Decree (CD) – a contract between government(s) and settling parties • Scope of Work (SOW) – attachment to the CD • technical requirements/standards • Road map/Guide for Design and Construction/Cleanup • Lodging and Approval – finalizing the settlement • The CD/SOW and the Record of Decision (ROD) Together are the guide and “roadmap” for design and construction

Design Investigation (Pre-Design) and Design All with EPA and RIDEM Review and Approval • Pre-Design – sampling and data collection • Fill data gaps – volumes of waste/debris, extent of contamination, etc. • Anything else needed for design • • Modeling Wetlands and floodplain On-site resources Physical access for construction purposes. Etc. • Design • Basis – information and calculations that drawings and specifications are based on • Drawings – construction drawings “blueprints” • Specifications – describe project requirements for materials and actions

Conceptual Timeline • Pre-Design < 1 year • Design 2 years • Remedial Action (Construction/Cleanup) 3 years Note: A great deal of work goes into each step of the process, including the submission for approval of many documents/reports. The quality of submittals, and efficiency of review, comment and approval(time) are the primary criteria resulting a shorter or longer schedule.

What residents can expect and potential impacts • During pre-design and design • sample/survey crews may be visible at times • Impacts should be negligible regarding traffic or noise • During construction • • • Large construction project Construction noise Truck traffic at times transporting materials/equipment Dust suppression and air monitoring will be ongoing Change in Site appearance with vegetation removal and grading or excavation activities

Long Term Goals and Outcomes Remedial Action (Cleanup) Objectives – Simplified Summary – Full List in ROD • Eliminate Exposure to waste and contaminants • Human receptors • Ecological receptors • Prevent migration of contaminants • From leaching • Via erosion/overland flow • To groundwater and off-site • Control stormwater runoff • Provide protection from 500 yr flood • Stability of structures • Preventing migration of contaminants

Long Term Goals and Outcomes(continued) Reuse/Visioning • EPA solicited public input during Proposed plan and reuse visioning in May 2016. Visioning process to be completed early in the design process. • Desired activities expressed by residents during comments or visioning process include trails, public access and aesthetically pleasing landscaped site.

Long Term Goals and Outcomes(continued) • Reuse opportunities • Recreation • Potential limiting factors • Ownership/Access Dependent • Compatibility with remedy • Education – displays associated with habitats, historical park and/or site history/cleanups • Aesthetics • Compatibility with adjacent uses/activities • Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor and National Historical Park • Recreation – biking/walking, water activities • Education - displays associated with river use, habitats, National Heritage Corridor and National Historical Park

Roles and Responsibilities • Towns – Cumberland Lincoln • • Communication with the public Coordination with the EPA Advocacy for good public outcomes Often the most significant stakeholder • Friends of the Blackstone – Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) Recipient • Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor - consists of 25 cities and towns, from Providence and East Providence RI, up through the River’s watershed to Worcester and Leicester, MA. These communities and the region are collectively a remarkably intact landscape that tells the story of the American Industrial Revolution. Textiles, machinery, agriculture – farming to feed the workers, harnessing the river’s power to drive the looms, etc. , providing social services like schools, libraries and community centers… • National Historical Park - In 2014, the support for the National Heritage Corridor remained so strong that Congress established the Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. The National Historical Park focusses on certain areas within the Corridor which do a particularly great job of conveying key stories…. The Blackstone River, its tributaries and the Canal tell about water power and water systems for transportation. The Slater Mill National Historic Landmark tells the story of Sam Slater’s first-ever water powered mill. The Blackstone River State Park (in RI, just upriver of the Peterson Puritan site) and the mill villages of Ashton, Slatersville, Hopedale and Whitinsville all tell particularly stories of the Historical Park.

Roles and Responsibilities (continued) • EPA – Agency responsible for oversight and approval of all design and construction activities. • • • Coordinate with Performing parties Coordinate with communities Coordinate/inform other regulatory entities as necessary Coordinate public outreach Review and Approve documents and actions • RIDEM – Support Agency regarding oversight and approval • Review and Approve documents and actions • Support Agency for many of the same bullets as EPA.

Contacts • EPA • Don Mc. Elroy – EPA Project Manager – mcelroy. don@epa. gov 617 -918 -1326 • Sarah White – EPA Community Involvement Coordinator - white. sarah@epa. gov 617 -918 -1026 • RIDEM • Nicholas Noons – RIDEM Project Manager – Nicholas. noons@dem. ri. gov 401 -222 -2797 x 7517 • Town of Cumberland • Josh O’Neill – Planner, Dept of Planning and Community Development 401 -728 -2400 x 146