News Releases from Region 01

EPA Completes Review of 5 Superfund Site Cleanups in Maine during FY 2020

BOSTON – EPA has completed comprehensive reviews of site cleanups at 5 Priorities List Sites (Superfund Sites) in Maine, including two federal facilities, by performing required Five-Year Reviews of each site. The Superfund program, a federal program established by Congress in 1980, investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country and endeavors to facilitate activities to return them to productive use. In total, there are 16 Superfund sites across Maine.

"One of EPA's major priorities is continuing to make progress cleaning up Superfund sites in the New England region," said EPA New England Regional Administrator Dennis Deziel. "Once a site, or part of a site, is cleaned up, EPA conducts regular reviews of the cleanup to ensure that it remains protective of human health and the environment."

The Superfund Sites where EPA has completed Five-Year Reviews in 2020 are below. The links will direct users to each Superfund Site page, where you can find the FY20 Five-Year Review report.

Completed Five Year Reviews in FY20 – Maine Superfund Sites

Eastland Woolen Mill, Corinna, Maine
www.epa.gov/superfund/eastland

Saco Municipal Landfill, Saco, Maine
www.epa.gov/superfund/sacolandfill

Pinette's Salvage Yard, Washburn, Maine
www.epa.gov/superfund/pinette

Federal Facilities

Brunswick Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine
www.epa.gov/superfund/brunswick

Loring Air Force Base, Limestone, Maine
www.epa.gov/superfund/loring

Throughout the process of designing and constructing a cleanup at a hazardous waste site, EPA's primary goal is to make sure the remedy will be protective of public health and the environment. At many sites, where the remedy has been constructed, EPA continues to ensure it remains protective by requiring reviews of cleanups every five years. It is important for EPA to regularly check on these sites to ensure the remedy is working properly. These reviews identify issues (if any) that may affect the protectiveness of the completed remedy and, if necessary, recommend action(s) necessary to address them.

There are many phases of the Superfund cleanup process including considering future use and redevelopment at sites and conducting post cleanup monitoring of sites. EPA must ensure the remedy is protective of public health and the environment and any redevelopment will uphold the protectiveness of the remedy into the future.

For more information about EPA's Superfund program, visit www.epa.gov/superfund