ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 300

[EPA-HQ-SFUND-1999-0010; FRL --------]

National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan;

National Priorities List: Partial Deletion of the Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund Site

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. 

ACTION: Direct final rule.

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 is publishing a 

direct final Notice of Partial Deletion for portions of the Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund 

Site (Site), located in Corinna, Maine, from the National Priorities List (NPL).

Specifically, EPA is proposing the following properties for deletion from the NPL:

Properties owned by the Town of Corinna that include properties 

described in Quitclaim Deed dated August 18, 1997 and recorded in Book 6471, 

Page 278, also identified as Lot 118 in Tax Map 18 dated 2004 and several 

additional properties that were part of the former Eastland Woolen Mill complex 

that were acquired due to a tax foreclosure. The tax foreclosure properties are 

described in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds in Condemnation Order 

dated December 8, 1999 and recorded in Book 7251, Page 47, and a portion of the 

property has been subdivided in accordance with a plan dated October 19, 2004 

entitled, “Subdivision Plan for the Town of Corinna of Main Street Subdivision 

on Main Street, Hill Street & St. Albans Road in Corinna, County of Penobscot, 

Maine,” recorded in said Registry in Plan File 2004, No. 167 (the “Subdivision 

Plan”). Specifically subdivision Lots 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, the portion of 
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Subdivision Lot 1 north of the Central Maine Power property and a portion of Lot 

54 on Tax Map 18 along with Lot 53 on Tax Map 18, are proposed for deletion. 

The portions of Main Street and Hill Street within the subdivision are also 

proposed for deletion. Lot 53 on Tax Map 18 is also recorded in Book 853, Page 

391 as a warranty deed dated September 26, 1913 and is known as “Winchester 

Park”. 

Property owned by the State of Maine Department of Conservation 

identified in Release Deed dated December 5, 2003 Book 9114, Page 194, also 

identified in Tax Map 18 as Map 15 Lot 10 (which a portion of the State of Maine 

Department of Conservation recreational trail that runs through the Town of 

Corinna).

Property owned by the State of Maine Department of Transportation 

described in a Notice of Layout and Taking dated May 3, 2000 and recorded in 

the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds in Book 7357, Page 29, being generally 

depicted on the Survey Plan Showing Property Subject to Proposed 

Environmental Covenants for Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 

Corinna, Penobscot County, Maine, which is recorded in the Penobscot County 

Registry of Deeds as Plan File 2012 No. 20, dated March 29, 2012, but excluding 

the portion of the Maine Department of Transportation property bounded by 

Town of Corinna Subdivision Lot 1, the East Branch of the Sebasticook River, 

Route 7, and Nokomis Road.

Property owned by Central Maine Power identified in indenture dated 

May 2, 1956 and recorded in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds in Book 
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1532, Page 228, and generally depicted as Central Maine Power Company land in 

the Town of Corinna tax records as Lot 4 on Tax Map 20.

The properties proposed for deletion are shown in Figure 11 of Partial Deletion

Technical Memorandum dated June 2012 and will be referred to hereafter as “the 

properties proposed for deletion”. All Tax Map references are based on the Town of 

Corinna 2004 Tax Maps and the “Survey Plan Showing Property Subject to Proposed 

Environmental Covenants for Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Corinna, 

Penobscot County, Maine” which is recorded in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds 

as Plan File 2012 No. 20, dated March 29, 2012.

The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as 

amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution 

Contingency Plan (NCP). This direct final partial deletion is being published by EPA 

with the concurrence of the State of Maine, through the Maine Department of 

Environmental Protection, because EPA has determined that all appropriate response 

actions at these identified parcels under CERCLA, other than five-year reviews, have 

been completed. However, this partial deletion does not preclude future actions under 

Superfund.

This partial deletion pertains to all Site media (soil and groundwater) of the 

properties proposed for deletion. 

The properties that will remain within Eastland Woolen Mill Site after the partial 

de-listing include property described in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds: Survey 

Plan as Lot 1, a portion of Tax Map 18 – Lot 54 (0.70 acres±) and Tax Map 18 – Lot 55,
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all of which are lands included in the Condemnation Order dated December 8, 1999 and 

recorded in Book 7251, Page 47. The Site will also include the land described in 

Quitclaim Deed dated October 26, 2004 and recorded in Book 9616, Page 201 and 

generally depicted in the Town of Corinna tax records as Lot 56 on Tax Map 18 and the 

only the portion of the property owned by the State of Maine Department of 

Transportation described in a Notice of Layout and Taking dated May 3, 2000 and

recorded in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds in Book 7357, Page 29, and being 

generally depicted on the Survey Plan Showing Property Subject to Proposed 

Environmental Covenants for Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Corinna, 

Penobscot County, Maine which is recorded in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds 

as Plan File 2012 No. 20, dated March 29, 2012 that is bounded by Town of Corinna 

Subdivision Lot 1, the East Branch of the Sebasticook River, Route 7, and Nokomis 

Road. The portions of Route 7 where groundwater contamination remains above Sitespecific cleanup levels will also remain within the boundary of the Eastland Woolen Mill 

Superfund Site.

DATES: This direct final partial deletion is effective [insert date 60 days from the date 

of publication in the Federal Register] unless EPA receives adverse comments by [insert 

date 30 days from date of publication in the Federal Register]. If adverse comments are 

received, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final partial deletion in the 

Federal Register informing the public that the partial deletion will not take effect.

ADDRESSES: 

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-SFUND-1999-0010, by 

one of the following methods:
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• http://www.regulations.gov . Follow on-line instructions for submitting 

comments.

• Email: hathaway.ed@epa.gov

• Fax: 1-617-918-0372

• Mail: Edward Hathaway

U.S. EPA Remedial Project Manager

5 Post Office Square (OSRR07-1)

Boston, MA 02109-3912

• Hand delivery: Edward Hathaway, U.S. EPA Remedial Project Manager, 5 Post 

Office Square (OSRR07-1), Boston, MA 02109-3912. Such deliveries are only

accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements 

should be made for deliveries of boxed information.

Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID no. EPA-HQ-SFUND-1999-0010. 

EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket 

without change and may be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov, 

including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes 

information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 

information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that 

you consider to be CBI, or otherwise protected, through http://www.regulations.gov

or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov web site is an “anonymous access” 

system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless 

you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly 
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to EPA without going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will 

be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the 

public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic 

comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact 

information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. 

If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you 

for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files 

should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any 

defects or viruses. 

Docket: 

All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov index. 

Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or 

other information whose disclosure is restricted by statue. Certain other material, such as 

copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy. Publicly available 

docket materials are available either electronically in http://www.regulations.gov or on 

disk or physical copy at:

EPA Region 1 Record Center 

5 Post Office Square 

Boston, MA 02109

Phone: 1-617-918-1440

Hours: Mon - Fri 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Stewart Free Library

8 Levi Stewart Drive

Corinna, ME 04928

Phone: 1-207-278-2454

Hours: Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Wednesday: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.; 

Thursday: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward Hathaway, Remedial Project 

Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1,OSRR07-1 , 5 Post Office 

Square, Boston, MA 02109-3912 (617) 918-1372 email: hathaway.ed@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents: 

I. Introduction 

II. NPL Deletion Criteria 

III. Partial Deletion Procedures 

IV. Basis for Site Partial Deletion 

V. Partial Deletion Action 

I. Introduction 

EPA Region 1 is publishing this direct final Notice of Partial Deletion for the 

Eastland Woolen Mill (Site), from the National Priorities List (NPL). This partial 

deletion pertains to all site media, including soil and groundwater for the following 

properties:

Properties owned by the Town of Corinna that include properties 

described in Quitclaim Deed dated August 18, 1997 and recorded in Book 6471, 

Page 278, also identified as Lot 118 in Tax Map 18 dated 2004 and several 

additional properties that were part of the former Eastland Woolen Mill complex 

that were acquired due to a tax foreclosure. The tax foreclosure properties are 

described in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds in Condemnation Order 

dated December 8, 1999 and recorded in Book 7251, Page 47 and a portion of the 
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property has been subdivided in accordance with a plan dated October 19, 2004 

entitled, “Subdivision Plan for the Town of Corinna of Main Street Subdivision 

on Main Street, Hill Street & St. Albans Road in Corinna, County of Penobscot, 

Maine,” recorded in said Registry in Plan File 2004, No. 167 (the “Subdivision 

Plan”). Specifically subdivision Lots 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, the portion of 

Subdivision Lot 1 north of the Central Maine Power property and a portion of Lot 

54 on Tax Map 18 along with Lot 53 on Tax Map 18, are proposed for deletion. 

The portions of Main Street and Hill Street within the subdivision are also 

proposed for deletion. Lot 53 on Tax Map 18 is also recorded in Book 853, Page 

391 as a warranty deed dated September 26, 1913 and is known as “Winchester 

Park”. 

Property owned by the State of Maine Department of Conservation 

identified in Release Deed dated December 5, 2003 Book 9114, Page 194, also 

identified in Tax Map 18 as Map 15 Lot 10 (which a portion of the State of Maine 

Department of Conservation recreational trail that runs through the Town of 

Corinna).

Property owned by the State of Maine Department of Transportation 

described in a Notice of Layout and Taking dated May 3, 2000 and recorded in 

the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds in Book 7357, Page 29, and being 

generally depicted on the Survey Plan Showing Property Subject to Proposed 

Environmental Covenants for Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 

Corinna, Penobscot County, Maine ,which is recorded in the Penobscot County 

Registry of Deeds as Plan File 2012 No. 20, dated March 29, 2012, but excluding 
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the portion of the Maine Department of Transportation property bounded by 

Town of Corinna Subdivision Lot 1, the East Branch of the Sebasticook River, 

Route 7, and Nokomis Road.

Property owned by Central Maine Power identified in indenture dated 

May 2, 1956 and recorded in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds in Book 

1532, Page 228, and generally depicted as Central Maine Power Company land in 

the Town of Corinna tax records as Lot 4 on Tax Map 20.

The properties proposed for deletion are shown in Figure 11 of Partial Deletion 

Technical Memorandum dated June 2012 and will be referred to hereafter as “the 

properties proposed for deletion”. All Tax Map references are based on the Town of 

Corinna 2004 Tax Maps and the “Survey Plan Showing Property Subject to Proposed 

Environmental Covenants for Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Corinna, 

Penobscot County, Maine” which is recorded in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds 

as Plan File 2012 No. 20, dated March 29, 2012.

The NPL constitutes Appendix B of 40 CFR part 300, which is the National Oil 

and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), which EPA promulgated 

pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation

and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended. EPA maintains the NPL as the list of 

sites that appear to present a significant risk to public health, welfare, or the environment. 

Sites on the NPL may be the subject of remedial actions financed by the Hazardous 

Substance Superfund (Fund). This partial deletion of the Eastland Woolen Mill

Superfund Site is proposed in accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e) and is consistent with 

the Notice of Policy Change: Partial Deletion of Sites Listed on the National Priorities 
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List. 60 FR 55466 (Nov. 1, 1995). As described in 300.425(e)(3) of the NCP, a portion 

of a site deleted from the NPL remains eligible for Fund-financed remedial action if 

future conditions warrant such actions. 

Because EPA considers this action to be noncontroversial and routine, this action 

will be effective [insert date 60 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register] 

unless EPA receives adverse comments by [insert date 30 days after this publication in 

the Federal Register]

Section II of this document explains the criteria for deleting sites from the NPL. 

Section III discusses procedures that EPA is using for this action. Section IV discusses 

the properties proposed for deletion and demonstrates how it meets the deletion criteria. 

Section V discusses EPA’s action to delete these Site parcels from the NPL unless 

adverse comments are received during the public comment period.

. Along with this direct final Notice of Partial Deletion, EPA is copublishing a Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion in the “Proposed Rules” section of the 

Federal Register. If adverse comments are received within the 30-day public comment 

period on this partial deletion action, EPA will publish a timely withdrawal of this direct 

final Notice of Partial Deletion before the effective date of the partial deletion and the 

partial deletion will not take effect. EPA will, as appropriate, prepare a response to 

comments and continue with the deletion process on the basis of the Notice of Intent for 

Partial Deletion and the comments already received. There will be no additional 

opportunity to comment. 

II. NPL Deletion Criteria 

The NCP establishes the criteria that EPA uses to delete sites from the NPL. In 

accordance with 40 CFR 300.425(e), sites may be deleted from the NPL where no further 
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response is appropriate. In making such a determination pursuant to 40 CFR 300.425(e), 

EPA will consider, in consultation with the State, whether any of the following criteria 

have been met:

i. responsible parties or other persons have implemented all appropriate 

response actions required

ii. all appropriate Fund-financed response under CERCLA has been 

implemented, and no further response action by responsible parties is 

appropriate; or 

iii. the remedial investigation has shown that the release poses no significant 

threat to public health or the environment and, therefore, the taking of 

remedial measures is not appropriate. 

Pursuant to CERCLA section 121(c) and the NCP, EPA conducts five-year 

reviews to ensure the continued protectiveness of remedial actions where hazardous 

substances, pollutants, or contaminants remain at a site above levels that allow for 

unlimited use and unrestricted exposure. EPA conducts such five-year reviews even if a 

site is deleted from the NPL. EPA may initiate further action to ensure continued 

protectiveness at a deleted site if new information becomes available that indicates it is 

appropriate. Whenever there is a significant release from a site deleted from the NPL, the 

deleted site may be restored to the NPL without application of the hazard ranking system.

III. Deletion Procedures 

The following procedures apply to the properties proposed for deletion: 

(1) EPA has consulted with the State of Maine prior to developing this direct 

final Notice of Partial Deletion and the Notice of Intent for Partial
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Deletion co-published in the “Proposed Rules” section of the Federal

Register.

(2) EPA has provided the State 30 working days for review of this notice and

the parallel Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion prior to their publication

today, and the State, through the Maine Department of Environmental 

Protection, has concurred on the partial deletion of the Site from the NPL.

(3) Concurrently with the publication of this direct final Notice of Partial 

Deletion, a notice of the availability of the parallel Notice of Intent for

Partial Deletion is being published in a major local newspaper, Bangor 

Daily News. The newspaper notice announces the 30-day public comment

period concerning the Notice of Intent for Partial Deletion of the Site from 

the NPL. 

(4) The EPA placed copies of documents supporting the partial deletion in the 

deletion docket and made these items available for public inspection and 

copying at the Site information repositories identified above.

(5) If adverse comments are received within the 30-day public comment 

period on this partial deletion action, EPA will publish a timely notice of 

withdrawal of this direct final Notice of Partial Deletion before its 

effective date and will prepare a response to comments and continue with 

the deletion process on the basis of the Notice of Intent for Partial 

Deletion and the comments already received. 

Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does not itself create, alter, or revoke 

any individual’s rights or obligations. Deletion of a portion of a site from the NPL does 
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not in any way alter EPA’s right to take enforcement actions, as appropriate. The NPL is 

designed primarily for informational purposes and to assist EPA management. Section 

300.425(e)(3) of the NCP states that the deletion of a site from the NPL does not preclude 

eligibility for further response actions, should future conditions warrant such actions. 

IV. Basis for Partial Site Deletion 

The following information provides EPA's rationale for deleting the properties 

proposed for deletion: 

Site Location

The Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund Site (MED980915474) (Site) is located in 

the center of the Town of Corinna, Penobscot County, Maine, approximately 6 miles 

north of Newport and 25 miles northwest of Bangor, Maine. Approximately 800 people 

live within one mile of the Site, and 2,500 people live within four miles. 

The Town of Corinna is located within the East Branch of the Sebasticook River 

(EBSR) watershed, which drains to Sebasticook Lake approximately three miles south of 

the Town. Topography within the watershed is typified by gently rolling hills to steeply 

sloping ridges, varying from narrow valleys to fairly expansive low-lying floodplains. 

Elevations within the immediate vicinity of Corinna range from 200 to 320 feet above 

mean sea level (msl). The former Eastland Woolen Mill straddled the EBSR and the 

southern portion of the former Mill Pond. 

Site Description

At the time of the placement of the Eastland Woolen Mill on the EPA NPL, the 

Site included the former Eastland Woolen Mill property and areas where contamination 
14

has migrated or otherwise come to be located due to mill operations. The Eastland 

Woolen Mill property was a 21-acre parcel located on the north side of Main Street, 

Corinna, in central Maine. There was a 250,000 square foot Mill building, two dams, and 

several out buildings on site. The mill building straddled the East Branch of the 

Sebasticook River with one dam located under the building near Main Street; the other 

dam is located approximately 500 feet north of the mill and maintains the water level of 

Corrundel Lake, a portion of the EBSR. The two dams also created an on-site mill pond. 

The Site is bordered to the north by Corundel Lake and residential property, to the south 

by Main Street, to the east by the Dexter Road and the Methodist Church, and on the west 

by Route 43 and several residential properties. As a result of the of the data collected to 

support the Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (EE/CA) for a non-time-critical 

removal action (NTCRA) and the remedial investigation (RI) program, the footprint of 

the Site was better defined to extend south across Main Street and downstream in the 

EBSR. 

Operational History

The Site was formerly dominated by the Eastland Woolen Mill building complex 

which, before its demolition in 2000, was comprised of a large manufacturing building 

and several ancillary structures, with a total area of 250,000 square feet. The buildings 

stood on both sides of and over the EBSR, a State-designated Class C water, which flows 

north to south through the center of Corinna. The original woolen-mill structure was 

built in the late 1800s or early 1900s. The property was a woolen mill as far back as 

1912. Eastland Woolen Mill owned and operated the mill from 1936 to October 1996, 

when they closed the mill. Prior to closing in 1996, Eastland Woolen Mill was a 
15

manufacturer and finisher of wool and blended woven fabric. Fabric finishing included 

dyeing of the fabric to meet product or customer requirements. This dying operation took 

place in dye kettles and utilized various chemicals, including dyes and dye-aids that 

reportedly contained biphenyl and chlorinated benzene compounds, including 1,2-

dichlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene. 

Conditions that lead to placement on National Priorities List (NPL)

Until construction of the Town of Corinna Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) 

in 1969, liquid wastes from the mill were discharged to the ground surface beneath mill 

buildings, to Mill Pond Dam tailrace, and ultimately the EBSR. It was not until 1977 that 

all liquid waste streams were finally directed to the WWTP. As a result of these 

discharges, overburden soil and bedrock underlying mill buildings and river sediment and 

underlying soil extending several hundred feet downgradient were contaminated with 

chlorinated benzene compounds. Groundwater was contaminated at concentrations well 

above federal drinking water Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and State of Maine 

drinking water Maximum Exposure Guidelines (MEGs). Routine pumping of nearby 

residential bedrock wells spread the contamination laterally along bedrock bedding-plane 

fractures. Groundwater contamination was first documented in Corinna in 1983, when a 

MEDEP employee noticed a strange odor and taste in drinking water at the Gallison 

Restaurant located across the street from the Mill. Several water samples collected from 

the restaurant showed the presence of monochlorobenzene, dichlorobenzenes and 

trichlorobenzenes. Later in 1983, granular activated carbon (GAC) filters were installed 

on five water supply wells (residential and business) near the Mill to mitigate exposures 

to chlorinated benzene compounds.
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Eastland Woolen Mill initiated formal environmental investigations in 1984 by 

performing a preliminary hydrogeologic investigation of the downtown area. The work 

included the completion of soil borings, installation of monitoring wells and piezometers, 

sampling and analysis of soil and groundwater, and a preliminary fracture-trace analysis. 

The investigation concluded that additional work was needed to identify a contaminant 

source area. By 1988, Eastland Woolen Mill had completed a study of residences and 

businesses at risk from the groundwater contamination and had investigated potential 

locations for installation of a public water supply system. It was concluded that 

contamination had likely spread via bedrock fractures and faults. Five additional private 

water supply wells were fitted with granular activated carbon filters based on results of 

water supply well sampling performed between 1983 and 1988.

In 1993, Eastland Woolen Mill completed Phase I of a chlorinated benzene 

contamination investigation in the downtown area. The report identified the tailrace 

beneath the Eastland Woolen Mill and the UST area where dye-aid had been stored as 

possible source locations.

Eastland Woolen Mill removed three underground storage tanks (USTs) from the 

UST Area in 1994. Chlorinated benzene compounds were detected in soil samples 

collected from the bottom of the excavation. Because free product was reported in the 

excavation and soil staining was observed, an overburden groundwater recovery well (R1), consisting of a 30-inch-diameter corrugated metal pipe with slits in the bottom five 

feet and surrounded by crushed stone, was installed at the Site after removal of the USTs. 

In addition, a drum containing a dark oil-like substance was unearthed in the UST 

excavation. Recovery Well R-1 was pumped to collect chlorinated benzene-
17

contaminated groundwater and flush contaminants from the “smear” zone between 

August 1994 and sometime in 1995. In conjunction with the pumping of groundwater 

from Well R-1, Eastland Woolen Mill instituted pumping of groundwater from the 

bedrock well on Lot 122, south of Main Street, now referenced as Recovery Well R-2.

In the fall of 1995, during the installation of water supply lines to serve residences 

affected by contamination, a dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) was reportedly 

observed within the till material beneath the gravel riverbed just downstream of the Main 

Street bridge. A consultant for Eastland Woolen Mill, Acheron, Inc., performed 

additional sampling of the sediments in the riverbed downstream of the Eastland Woolen 

Mill and found chlorinated benzene compounds and petroleum hydrocarbons both within 

the silty till layer beneath the rocky gravel riverbed and in a floodplain on the west side 

of the river.

After closure of the Eastland Woolen Mill in 1996, MEDEP sampled soils around 

the former USTs to evaluate whether residual soil contamination was present and acting 

as a source of groundwater contamination. This effort was supplemented in 1998 with 

additional analytical parameters and sampling of a background location. In 1997, 

MEDEP performed sediment sampling with field chemical screening to gain information 

on the magnitude of river bottom contamination documented by Acheron, Inc. in 1995. 

Additional sediment and surface water samples were collected from the river in 1998 for 

analysis. These investigations confirmed that high concentrations of chlorinated 

benzenes were present in the riverbed downstream of the Eastland Woolen Mill complex. 

This data was used to prepare the Hazard Ranking System scoring package that was 

submitted to EPA for placement of the Site on the National Priorities List (NPL).
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National Priorities List Designation:

The Site was proposed for inclusion on the NPL on April 23, 1999 (64 Fed. Reg. 

19968). It was listed for final inclusion on the NPL on July 22, 1999 (64 Fed. Reg. 

39878-39885).

State Response Action

In 1997, MEDEP performed an emergency response action to remove 54,673 

pounds of various hazardous substances from process pipes, containers and vessels 

located within the Mill. 

Land Use Assumptions

Future land use assumptions for the Site and surrounding areas (included the 

parcels proposed for deletion) are based on the Reuse Plan developed by the Town of 

Corinna. A large portion of the Site in the center of town has been targeted for a mix of 

commercial, residential and mixed-use development. The water supply system was

expanded by the local water district to support future growth. The land use for properties 

proposed for deletion include: the Town of Corinna subdivision parcels 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ,8, 9,

10, a portion of Lot 54 on Tax Map 18, and Lot 118 on Tax Map 18, which are part of the 

targeted mix of commercial, residential, and mixed use development; one property owned 

by the Town of Corinna (Lot 53 on Tax Map 18) that will remain a public park 

(Winchester Park); the State of Maine Department of Conservation property which is a 

mixed use rail-trail that is primarily used for snowmobile travel; the Central Maine Power 

property that is expected to remain an electrical sub-station; and the State of Maine 
19

Department of Transportation property that is essentially right of way property related to 

Route 7. These land assumptions are expected to be valid for the foreseeable future.

Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) 

From 1998 to 2002, USEPA performed a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility 

Study (RI/FS) for Operable Unit I (OUI) at the Eastland Woolen Mill site. OUI is the 

groundwater operable unit and includes overburden and bedrock groundwater 

contamination and also includes areas of deep soil contamination remaining after the 

NTCRA. All of the properties proposed for deletion are within the study area for OUI. 

The details of the OUI RI/FS can be found in the Remedial Investigation Report, 

Supplemental Remedial Investigation Report, Human Health Risk Assessment Report, 

and Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment Report that are included in the Administrative 

Record for the OUI Record of Decision (ROD). The RI for the OUI Study Area 

identified two areas where site-related contaminants exceeded federal and state drinking 

water criteria in overburden groundwater. One area is associated with the UST 

Area/Building 14 sub-area, and the other is downgradient of the former location of 

Buildings 1, 1A, and 3 within the Eastland Woolen Mill complex where liquid wastes 

were discharged. The RI also identified an area of bedrock groundwater contamination 

associated with the release of contamination from Buildings 1, 1A, and 3 (Area 1). The 

major groundwater contaminants of concern (COCs) were determined to be benzene, 

chlorobenzene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, and 

1,2,4 trichlorobenzene. The OUI RI and ROD also documented that three satellite areas 

of suspected contamination (School Street Yard, Moosehead Mill, and Bulk Fuels 

Storage Area) were not considered part of the Site based on the absence of contamination 
20

that would represent an unacceptable threat to human health or the environment. A

fourth area, known as Lot 88, was also identified as not requiring any further action after 

the NTCRA removed the soil contamination from this property.

In September 2002, EPA created OUII to address the sediment and associated 

floodplain areas of the EBSR downstream of NTCRA excavation, as well as an area of 

solid and liquid waste disposal known as the old dump. During 2002 and 2003, EPA 

performed a series of studies to better define the potential for ecological impacts in the 

OUII area. Surface water, sediment, floodplain soil, and crayfish tissue samples were 

collected, and biological assessments of the benthic macro-invertebrate community were 

performed. The information from these studies was presented in a Supplemental RI 

Report. The information was also combined with the initial RI data to prepare a revised 

Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment Report that found there was no unacceptable risk to 

ecological receptors in the OUII area. Both reports were released in 2004 as part of the 

Administrative Record and were available for review during the public comment period 

for the OUII Proposed Plan. On September 30, 2004, EPA signed a ROD selecting No 

Further Action for OUII of the Site. EPA activities in the OUII Study Area are complete, 

and no further activities are anticipated for the OUII study area. 

Components of RI Relating to Properties Proposed for Deletion

The RI evaluated the properties proposed for deletion. The Town of Corinna 

subdivision lots 8, 9, and 10, a portion of Lot 54 on Tax Map 18, along with Winchester 

Park were outside the footprint of the former Eastland Woolen Mill. The electrical substation owner by Central Maine Power was also outside of the footprint of the former 

Eastland Woolen Mill. Background research and Site reconnaissance activities as part of 
21

the RI and NTCRA along with the absence of groundwater contamination in the area led 

to the conclusion that these properties were not contaminated. Subdivision lots 8, 9 and 

10 were included in the areas that were used for soil handling during the NTCRA, and 

cleanup confirmation work was performed at the completion of the NTCRA. The Town 

of Corinna subdivision lots 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are located in an area that was occupied by 

the dry processing operations at the Eastland Woolen Mill. This area was known as the 

“Slab Area”. As part of the OUI RI, five confirmation soil borings (SB-00-95 through 

SB-00-99) were completed within Slab Area (Figure 5-5 of the RI). The soil borings 

were spaced approximately 100 to 120 feet apart in the Slab Area (Figure 5-3 of the RI). 

One additional soil boring, (SB-01-106), was installed as part of the NTCRA by Weston 

in 2001. Table 5-3 of the RI provides a summary of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) 

detected in these Slab Area soil borings. Several VOCs were detected at concentrations 

that were below levels of concern for human contact. A monitoring well pair was 

installed to determine if the 1,1-dichloroethene detected in the soil was present in 

groundwater downgradient of the Slab area. VOCs were not detected in groundwater 

downgradient of the Slab, confirming that this area was not a significant source of 

groundwater contamination. The soil treatment facility for the NTCRA was located on 

the Slab Area. After the completion of the soil treatment, the Slab Area was further 

characterized to document that absence of significant contamination.

The State of Maine Department of Transportation, State of Maine Department of 

Conservation, and Town of Corinna (Lot 118 Tax Map 18) all owned property that 

included the contaminated sections of the EBSR. The extent of the contamination in the 

EBSR was documented by the NTCRA and RI investigations. In addition, State of 
22

Maine Department of Conservation also owned property within the former Eastland 

Woolen Mill complex near the former pump house and the State of Maine Department of 

Transportation owned property that was within and adjacent the former Eastland Woolen 

Mill Complex. The RI and NTCRA investigation activities documented that these areas 

contained contaminants of concern above the Site specific cleanup levels.

Selected Remedy

There have been three major decision documents for the Eastland Woolen Mill. 

The 2004 Record of Decision for Operable Unit II clarified that no action was necessary 

for the areas within the East Branch of the Sebasticook River study area of the Site

located south (downstream) from the OUI area. The 2002 Operable Unit I Record of 

Decision, which was amended in 2006, and the 1999 Non-Time Critical Removal Action

Action Memorandum are the decision documents relevant to the partial delisting.

Non-Time-Critical Removal Action

In January 1999, following the evaluation of data collected during an expanded 

site inspection, EPA signed an Approval Memorandum authorizing the preparation of an 

Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (EE/CA) to evaluate potential response 

alternatives for a NTCRA at the Site. The EE/CA recommended demolishing the mill 

complex buildings to allow for the excavation and treatment of the contaminated soils on 

the Site. After completion of a public comment period and consideration of the 

comments, EPA signed an Action Memorandum in July 1999 to authorize a NTCRA for 

the Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund Site. The Action Memorandum was amended in

June 2000, September 2000, May 2001, and June 2004.
23

The NTCRA included the removal of the mill buildings (performed during the 

winter of 1999/2000) and contaminated soils from four areas (performed from 2000-

2001). NTCRA work areas include: Area 1: Region underlying Mill Buildings 1, 1A, and 

3 (2001); Area 2: River segment down river from the mill to the abandoned railroad 

trestle (2000); Area 2a: River segment under the abandoned railroad trestle and 

overlapping Area 2 and Area 3 (2000); Area 3: River segment for a distance several 

hundred feet beyond the railroad trestle (2000); and Area 4: Lot 88, Building 9, UST 

Area, and other miscellaneous areas (2000 and 2001)

During 2000 and 2001, approximately 75,000 cubic yards (yd3) of chlorinatedbenzene contaminated soils were excavated and stockpiled at the Site in lined 

containment structures. In 2001, pilot testing of an on-site low temperature thermal soil 

treatment system was performed. The results of this pilot test indicated that the treatment 

system could meet established treatment goals. Full-scale on-site treatment of 

contaminated soil began in October 2002 and was completed in October 2003. Testing of 

the soil after treatment documented that all of the soil that was used for on-site backfill 

contained residual levels of contamination below residential cleanup standards and met 

the NTCRA groundwater leaching criteria that were developed during the NTCRA. To 

support the NTCRA excavation and thermal treatment activities, a temporary 

groundwater extraction and treatment system (referred to as the groundwater 

management system) was constructed to aid in control of groundwater infiltration during 

excavation activities. One bedrock well and four overburden wells were connected to a 

temporary treatment system. The system remained operational until November 2004 to 

provide hydraulic control over the groundwater plume during the initial phase of the 
24

NTCRA. A detailed summary of the NTCRA source removals was presented in the 

November 2006 Final Overall Completion Report for the NTCRA. 

Three areas of contaminated soil were not accessible to the NTCRA excavations. 

One area was located within Area 1 and the other two were within the Area 4 UST Area 

and Building 14 Area. These remaining soils are located in the saturated zone between 

depths of 6 to 40 ft below ground surface (bgs). The final phase of the NTCRA targeted 

the reduction of contamination in these source areas using in-situ chemical oxidation 

(ISCO). 

ISCO treatment as part of the NTCRA consisted of two full-scale injections of 

iron-catalyzed sodium persulfate (ICP), followed by confirmatory soil borings and 

groundwater sampling. These injections were performed in July and October/November 

2005. The NTCRA program ended in May 2006 as documented by the Final Pollution 

Report (POLREP) for the Eastland Woolen Mill NTCRA that was finalized in September 

2006.

OUI Record of Decision

EPA signed a ROD in September 2002 OUI ROD to address overburden and 

bedrock groundwater and the remaining areas of contaminated soil/DNAPL.

Specifically, the 2002 OUI ROD includes the following major components:

• Extraction and treatment of the contaminated overburden and bedrock 

groundwater. The extraction system will be designed to prevent off-site 

migration of contaminated groundwater, prevent contaminated groundwater 

from having an adverse impact on the benthic community in the EBSR, and 
25

restore the aquifer to federal and state MCLs, federal non-zero MCLGs and 

more stringent state MEGs.

• In-situ treatment of the contaminated overburden and bedrock groundwater 

and remaining areas of contaminated soil and DNAPL. A chemical reagent 

(e.g., Fenton’s Reagent or another oxidizing agent) will be added to the 

overburden and bedrock aquifer to reduce the mass of contaminants in the 

system. If the mass reduction is not sufficient to achieve cleanup levels, then 

enhanced flushing (using surfactants/solvents) and biological degradation 

(using bio-stimulants) will be attempted to further reduce the mass of 

contamination.

• Connection of certain residences to the water supply lines to prevent their 

wells from becoming contaminated, and to prevent expansion of the 

contamination in the groundwater.

• Implementation, monitoring and maintenance of institutional controls (i.e., 

deed restrictions) in the form of groundwater use restrictions (e.g., easements 

or restrictive covenants) to prevent ingestion of groundwater and disturbance 

of the groundwater extraction and treatment system.

• Long-term monitoring of groundwater, surface water and sediments to 

evaluate the success of the remedial action.

• Implementation of five-year reviews to assess the protectiveness of the 

remedy until cleanup goals have been met.

The 2002 OUI ROD was written prior to the completion of the NTCRA that 

commenced in 1999. Therefore, the impact of the NTCRA-related excavation and 
26

treatment of the contaminated overburden source areas was uncertain at the time of the 

ROD. Subsequent to the signing of the 2002 OUI ROD and the completion of the 

NTCRA excavation and treatment program, EPA performed assessment monitoring of 

the groundwater. EPA also developed an improved conceptual site model through 

additional hydro-geologic investigations and groundwater modeling.

Based on the information developed after the 2002 OUI ROD, EPA decided to 

amend the 2002 OUI ROD. The September 2006 OUI ROD Amendment eliminated the 

groundwater extraction and treatment system because the contaminant plume was stable 

and groundwater extraction was not necessary to contain the plume. The OUI ROD 

Amendment also eliminated the enhanced flushing component with surfactants or cosolvents because this technology was not considered viable for the fractured bedrock after 

further evaluation. The OUI ROD Amendment retained the emphasis on the in-situ 

chemical oxidation, long-term monitoring, and institutional controls. 

Based on the groundwater modeling that was performed for the OUI Remedial 

Design, the OUI ROD Amendment revised the area where institutional controls would be 

necessary and defined three categories of properties within the institutional control zone. 

The three property categories were identified as IC Zone A (ICZ-A), IC Zone B (ICZ-B), 

and IC Zone C (ICZ-C). 

ICZ-A identified those properties that will be subject to environmental covenants 

prohibiting use of groundwater over the entire property. All of the ICZ-A properties had 

been connected to the water line prior to the OUI ROD. Within the ICZ-A boundary, all 

existing bedrock and overburden water supply wells will be formally decommissioned, 

unless the wells are converted to monitoring wells for use in the long-term remedial 
27

action. ICZ-B identified those properties where connection to the water line and 

implementation of an environmental covenant prohibiting use of groundwater over the 

entire property was determined to be necessary as part of the OUI ROD and Remedial 

Design. All of these properties were connected to the water line as part of the OUI 

Remedial Action, moving these properties to ICZ-A; there is therefore no longer a 

functional application for ICZ-B.

ICZ-C identified those properties where the current well is not contaminated and 

does not appear to be impacting the groundwater contamination, however, the 

groundwater modeling suggested that a modification to the existing well to increase 

yield, or the installation of a new well at locations on the property closer to the Site,

could have an adverse impact on the groundwater contamination by inducing migration 

of the groundwater contamination. The restrictions on these properties will prohibit 

installation of future groundwater wells in locations or at depths that differ from existing 

water supply wells located on these properties. ICZ-C properties may continue to use 

their private water wells within this zone for domestic or other uses. There are two 

properties included in ICZ-C. 

OUI ROD and OUI ROD Amendment Risk Characterization Summary

The 2002 OUI ROD included an assessment of the potential threats to human 

health in the OUI study area. Based on the Human Health Risk Assessment prepared as 

part of the RI and the 2002 OUI ROD, the only pathways that exceeded EPA’s acceptable 

cancer risk range and/or a hazard quotient of concern were ingestion of groundwater in 

the overburden and bedrock plumes by a future resident. The lifetime cancer risk 

estimate for a combined child and adult exposure to the bedrock plume groundwater is 6 
28

x 10-3. Seventy-five percent of this risk is due to arsenic, with twenty-five percent 

attributable to the 1,4-DCB. EPA’s hazard index of concern for non-carcinogenic risk is 

exceeded for children and adults for several target organs. The major contributors to 

these exceedances are chlorobenzene, 1,2-DCB, 1,3-DCB, 1,4-DCB, 1,2,4-TCB and 

arsenic. These COCs also were detected at concentrations above federal and state 

maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) and any more stringent state maximum exposure 

guidelines (MEGs). The lifetime cancer risk estimates for the overburden plume 

groundwater was 2 x 10-3. Sixty-seven percent of this risk is attributable to 1,4-DCB, 

with arsenic contributing to the remainder of the cancer risk. EPA’s hazard index of 

concern for non-carcinogenic risk is exceeded for children and adults for several target 

organs. The major contributors to these exceedances are chlorobenzene, 1,2-DCB, 1,3-

DCB, 1,4-DCB, 1,2,4-TCB and arsenic. These COCs also were detected at 

concentrations above federal and state MCLs and any more stringent state MEGs. The 

Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment concluded that the estimated risk for the soils, 

surface water, or sediments within the OUI area do not represent an unacceptable threat 

to human health. Only groundwater represents a threat to human health. Soil 

contamination that is causing groundwater contamination is also relevant to the cleanup 

action. 

Based on the OUI Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment, the OUI ROD concluded 

that contaminant levels in surface waters, surface soils and sediments within the entire 

OUI area of the EBSR are not sufficiently elevated to pose a substantial risk to 

invertebrates, fish or wildlife. Exposure to the contaminated water at the 

groundwater/surface water interface, however, was identified as an unacceptable risk to 
29

those organisms dwelling in this zone. Data gathered since the 2002 OUI ROD, 

however, demonstrates that the concentration of contaminants in the groundwater do not 

exceed the levels that have the potential for an unacceptable risk to organisms dwelling in 

the groundwater/surface water interface. Therefore, the successful implementation of the 

NTCRA and OUI remedy has eliminated this risk.

Based on the successful removal of any soil contamination above the Site-specific 

contaminants of concern by the NTCRA, the only viable exposure pathway for the 

properties proposed for deletion is potential future consumption of contaminated 

groundwater. This would only occur upon the expansion of the groundwater contaminant 

plume, resulting from a pumping stress from a well that is currently outside the area of 

groundwater contamination but within the institutional control zone. The OUI ROD and 

OUI ROD Amendment both identified the need to maintain the water line connections 

and the implementation of institutional controls to prevent active water supply wells as 

critical components to protect public health.

OUI ROD and OUI ROD Amendment Remedial Action Objectives

The Remedial Action Objectives in the OU I ROD and OU I ROD Amendment 

were identical and are listed below:

• Prevent the ingestion of groundwater containing contaminants that exceed 

federal or state MCLs, federal non-zero MCL Goals (MCLGs) and more 

stringent state MEGs, or in their absence, an excess cancer risk of 1 x 10-6 or 

a hazard quotient of 1;

• Prevent, to the extent practicable, the off-site migration of groundwater 

containing contaminants at a concentration above Site cleanup levels;
30

• Prevent, to the extent practicable, the discharge of groundwater containing 

contaminants at a concentration above levels that could impact ecological 

receptors to the East Branch of the Sebasticook River;

• Restore groundwater to meet federal or state MCLs, federal non-zero MCLGs 

or state MEGs (whichever is most stringent), or in their absence, an excess 

cancer risk of 1 x 10-6 or a hazard quotient of 1; and

• Perform long-term monitoring of surface water, sediments and groundwater to 

verify that the cleanup actions at the Site are protective of human health and 

the environment.

OUI Remedial Design

The Remedial Design for the OUI Remedial Action was initiated in 2003 and 

completed in August 2005. The Remedial Design was implemented in close coordination 

with the final phase of the NTCRA ISCO program since both programs relied on ISCO to 

reduce the mass of contamination in the overburden soil and bedrock. As such, the 

NTCRA design support activities and the Remedial Design support activities are 

complementary. A series of additional studies and investigations were performed 

between 2003 and 2005 to develop the design for the NTCRA ISCO program and the insitu treatment portion of the OUI Remedial Action. 

The additional studies and investigations most relevant to the properties proposed 

for deletion were (1) the groundwater monitoring to update the extent of groundwater 

contamination remaining after the NTCRA, (2) the installation of additional bedrock 

monitoring wells to refine the aquifer characteristics, and (3) groundwater modeling to 

refine the properties that would require land use restrictions to prevent consumption of 
31

contaminated groundwater and pumping stresses that could cause the expansion of the 

groundwater plume. 

The Remedial Design refined the institutional control zone using numerical 

modeling of bedrock groundwater flow and contaminant transport to evaluate the 

potential long-term migration of the bedrock plume under both pumping and nonpumping scenarios. This modeling, along with the groundwater monitoring data, 

documented that the institutional control zone will adequately protect public health.

OUI Remedial Action

The OUI Remedial Action has three main components. One is the connection of 

certain residences to the water line and the implementation of institutional controls to 

prevent exposure to contaminated groundwater or pumping stresses that could cause the 

expansion of the groundwater plume. A second is the continued treatment of the deep 

contamination soil and groundwater to achieve aquifer restoration. The third is the longterm monitoring, inspections, and five-year reviews to assure that the remedial action is 

protective of human health and the environment. 

Most of the properties within the institutional control zone were connected to the 

local water supply line prior to the OUI Remedial Action. Based on the results of 

ongoing bedrock groundwater monitoring and numerical groundwater modeling 

performed as part of the Remedial Design, it was determined that certain residences 

proximal to the Site, including those identified on Map 18 as Lots 39, 43, and 52, were 

currently impacted by Site contaminants or had the potential to be impacted in the future. 

These residences were connected to the existing public water supply between September 

and December 2005. The land use restrictions for the properties proposed for deletion 
32

were completed in May 2012 and were recorded in the Penobscot Registry of Deeds on 

June 5, 2012. The land use restriction, in the form of an environmental covenant, will 

prevent current and future use of the contaminated groundwater or to prevent pumping 

stresses that could cause the groundwater contamination plume to migrate. 

The RA also continued the in-situ chemical oxidation program initiated by the 

NTCRA. Several additional in-situ chemical oxidation injections occurred between 2006 

and 2008. The Remedial Action activities were completed in 2008, as documented in the 

OUI Interim Remedial Action Report and the September 2008 Preliminary Closeout 

Report. The OUI component of the Site is now in the long-term response action 

component of the remedial action. The ongoing remedial action activities include: 

completion of the land use restrictions; long-term monitoring of groundwater and surface 

water; well decommissioning; site demobilization; and completion of the in-situ chemical 

oxidation program. A limited soil gas program is to be implemented in 2012 to address 

soil vapor issues. The remedial action will be completed by 2018 when the State of 

Maine will take over the long term operation, maintenance, and monitoring requirements.

Cleanup Goals 

The parcels identified for deletion are within the NTCRA and OUI area and, 

therefore, share the same cleanup goals. The extent of the groundwater contamination 

above Site-specific cleanup goals has been reduced to an area that is within the 

boundaries of the Site that will remain after the partial deletion. Groundwater monitoring 

performed as part of the long-term groundwater monitoring program at the Site confirms 

that the contaminants of concern are not at concentrations above the Site specific cleanup 

levels on the properties proposed for deletion. Groundwater data was collected in 2006, 
33

2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011. The data for each sampling event is contained with each 

annual groundwater monitoring report and is included in the record for the proposed 

deletion. The area of the Site that included the parcels identified for delisting were 

located in the dry processing and parking areas of the former Eastland Woolen Mill. The 

NTCRA program resulted in the excavation and on-site treatment of any soils within the 

area identified for delisting. The table below documents that the NTCRA successfully 

treated the Site soil to levels that would allow for unrestricted use. 

NTCRA Soil Cleanup Analytical Summary

Contaminant NTCRA Soil Cleanup 

Level

(ug/kg)

95% Upper Confidence Level 

Concentration of soil used as 

backfill after treatment

(ug/kg) based on 4,200 soil samples

1,2,4 Trichlorobenzene 5,000 4,451

1,2,3 Trichlorobenzene 1,408

1,2 Dichlorobenzene 17,000 610

1,3 Dichlorobenzene 41,000 285

1,4 Dichlorobenzene 2,000 563

Chlorobenzene 1,000 169

Benzene 30 *

*Note: Benzene was only detected twice in 4,183 samples. 

Operation and Maintenance 

Operation and maintenance activities for the parcels proposed for deletion include 

monitoring and maintenance of the institutional controls to ensure they effectively 

prohibit private well installation. In addition, the groundwater underlying these parcels 

continues to be monitored as part of the site-wide groundwater monitoring plan.

Summary of the Data Documentation that the Deletion Criteria Have Been Met

The OUI Record of Decision documented that the soil and surface water for the 

entire OUI area, including the properties proposed for deletion, do not represent an 

unacceptable threat to human health. The OUI Record of Decision identified 
34

groundwater as the only remaining threat to human health after the NTCRA. 

Groundwater discharge to surface water was the only ecological threat identified for the 

OUI. The supporting data for the characterization of the area to be delisted can be found 

in both the RI Report and NTCRA Documentation. In addition, long-term groundwater 

monitoring data documents that the properties proposed for deletion do not contain 

groundwater above the Site-specific cleanup goals established in the 2002 OUI ROD and 

2006 OUI ROD Amendment. The properties proposed for deletion at the Eastland 

Woolen Mill Superfund Site do not contain soil or groundwater contamination above the 

Site specific cleanup levels. 

The properties proposed for deletion that are identified in the Town of Corinna 

subdivision plan as Lots 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9,and 10, portions of Lot 54 on Tax Map 18, the 

property identified as Lot 53 on Tax Map 18, and the property owned by Central Maine 

Power were not within the areas where substantial contamination was located. These 

properties contained open space, the dry processing portions of the former Eastland 

Woolen Mill, and office space. The concrete foundation where the dry processing of the 

woolen products was conducted was referred to as the “Slab Area” in the RI and 

NTCRA. 

As part of the OUI RI, five confirmation soil borings (SB-00-95 through SB-00-

99) were completed within Slab Area (see Figure 5-5 of the RI). One additional soil 

boring, (SB-01-106), was installed as part of the NTCRA by Weston in 2001. Table 5-3 

of the RI provides a summary of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in these 

Slab Area soil borings. Low levels of several VOCs were detected. The concentrations 

were below levels of concern for human contact. A monitoring well pair was installed to 
35

determine if the 1,1-dichloroethene detected in the soil was present in groundwater

downgradient of the Slab area. VOCs were not detected in groundwater downgradient of 

the Slab, confirming that this area was not a significant source of groundwater 

contamination. 

The Slab was not removed until after the ex-situ soil treatment phase of the 

NTCRA. Prior to the removal of the concrete pad, one sample was collected per 500 ft2

using an excavator bucket to access the soil located below the concrete pad. A few areas 

with petroleum contamination were identified, and these soils were removed to allow for 

Site restoration. A total of 176 samples were collected prior to concrete pad removal. A 

map showing the locations of these samples is presented in Figure 17 of Appendix J in 

the November 2006 Final Overall Completion Report for the NTCRA, and analytical 

results are presented in Table 27 of this report. All of the results from these initial 176 

samples collected prior to the concrete pad removal confirmed that the soil concentrations 

were below the Site-specific cleanup levels. An additional five locations were sampled 

and characterized during concrete pad and footer wall removal due to staining or 

suspected contamination in the soil. Samples were analyzed for VOCs, DRO, 

polychlorinated biphenyls and/or metals based on the type and location of the staining. A 

summary of analytical results is shown in Table 28 of Appendix J in the November 2006 

Final Overall Completion Report for the NTCRA, and sample locations are shown in 

Figure 18 of this report. Three of these locations contained Diesel Range Organic 

contamination. The contamination was removed because the soil was in an areas where 

grading was necessary.
36

In addition to the Slab Area, a portion of the properties to be deleted were used to 

store contaminated soil in a stockpile prior to treatment. After completion of the 

treatment of the contaminated soil, 22 soil samples were collected below the 

contaminated soil stockpile to verify that the soil did not contain the COCs at levels 

above the site cleanup levels. A map detailing sample locations within the stockpile 

footprint is shown in Figure 16 of Appendix J in the November 2006 Final Overall 

Completion Report for the NTCRA. The analytical results for all samples collected from 

the below the stockpile footprint are presented in Table 26 of this report. Sample location 

21, initially sampled on 9 October 2003, showed 1,2,4-TCB at levels above the Sitespecifc soil excavation goal of 5,000 microgram per kilogram (μg/kg). Therefore, a 6-

inch layer of soil was removed from this grid of the stockpile footprint and processed 

through the LTTT system. A subsequent sample of this location was collected on 10 

October 2003. Results from this sample were well below Site specific cleanup levels.

In summary, the Town of Corinna subdivision lots 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10, the 

portion of Subdivision Lot 1 north of the Central Maine Power property, a portion of Lot 

54 on Tax Map 18, the property identified at Map 18 Lot 53 (Winchester Park) and the 

property owned by Central Maine Power have been evaluated during the RI and NTCRA 

activities. The RI documented that the area was not a substantial threat to groundwater. 

The NTCRA sampling further documented that these properties do not contain soil 

contamination above the Site specific cleanup levels. 

Portions of the property owned by the State of Maine Department of 

Transportation, State of Maine Department of Conservation, and the Town of Corinna 

property described in Quitclaim Deed dated August 18, 1997 and recorded in Book 6471, 
37

Page 278, also identified as Lot 118 in Tax Map 18 dated 2004 were within the area 

subject to the excavation of contaminated soil and sediment as part of the NTCRA. 

A portion of the State of Maine Department of Conservation property crossed the 

former Eastland Woolen Mill property near the area known as the pump house. The soil 

excavation and cleanup confirmation for this area can be found in Appendix H of the 

November 2006 Final Overall Completion Report for the NTCRA. Appendix H is titled: 

Areas 1 and 4 Soil Remediation and River Restoration Final Completion Report, 

Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund Site, Corinna, Maine, February 2004. Figures 2a-3b 

and Tables B-6 and B-7 of this report document that the cleanup was successful for those 

properties. 

A portion of the State of Maine Department of Transportation property that is 

proposed for de-listing was within the Area 1 excavation area. The soil excavation and 

cleanup confirmation for this area can be found in Appendix H of the November 2006 

Final Overall Completion Report for the NTCRA. Appendix H is titled: Areas 1 and 4 

Soil Remediation and River Restoration Final Completion Report, Eastland Woolen Mill 

Superfund Site, Corinna, Maine, February 2004. Figures 4a-4b and Tables B-9 of this 

report document that the cleanup was successful for these properties.

A portion of the State of Maine Department of Transportation, State of Maine 

Department of Conservation, and Town of Corinna property properties included the East 

Branch of the Sebasticook River. Appendix G in the November 2006 Final Overall 

Completion Report for the NTCRA documents the excavation and cleanup confirmation 

activities for these areas. Appendix G is titled: Areas 2, 3, 4 – Lot 88, and 4 – Building 4 

Soil Remediation Final Completion Report, Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund Site,
38

Corinna, Maine, June 2001. Specifically, Figures A-3A through A-4B and Tables B-7 

and B-8 of Appendix G show the location and data that document that the cleanup was 

successful for these properties.

In summary, the property owned by the State of Maine Department of 

Transportation, State of Maine Department of Conservation, and the Town of Corinna 

property described in Quitclaim Deed dated August 18, 1997 and recorded in Book 6471, 

Page 278, also identified as Lot 118 in Tax Map 18 dated 2012 that are proposed for delisting no longer contain contamination above the Site specific cleanup levels as 

documented by the completion report for the NTCRA.

Five-Year Review 

The assessment of the first five-year review performed in 2010 found that the 

remedy was constructed in accordance with the requirements of the Record of Decision 

(ROD) issued in 2002 and amended in 2006. The LTRA remedy is functioning as 

designed. As a result of the response actions at the Site, there is no current exposure to 

contaminants at the Site. A water line provides clean water and planned ICs will ensure 

appropriate future use of potentially contaminated groundwater. The remedy at the 

Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund Site currently protects human health and the 

environment because the contamination accessible to ecological receptors has been 

removed, there is no current human exposure to contamination, the groundwater 

contamination is not migrating, clean water is available to all locations within the extent 

of the groundwater contamination, and EPA is actively treating and monitoring the 

groundwater as part of the on-going Long-Term Response Action. However, in order for 

the remedy to be protective in the long-term, the institutional controls to prevent future 
39

groundwater use need to be in place to ensure long-term protectiveness. As part of this 

five-year review, a preliminary assessment of the potential for vapor intrusion to present 

a threat at the Site was performed. There are no structures above areas of the plume that 

exceed vapor intrusion screening criteria, so the pathway is not complete. Further 

investigations regarding the vapor intrusion pathway will be completed prior to the next 

five-year review. Further investigation regarding the vapor intrusion pathway will be 

completed on properties that are not subject to the partial deletion.

Since the completion of the five-year review, the institutional controls, that are in 

the form of environmental covenants, have been completed for the properties that will 

remain within the Site and the properties that are proposed for deletion. The only 

institutional controls that remain to be completed are for properties that are off-site. The 

groundwater under these remaining properties is not contaminated but a pumping well on 

these properties could cause the contaminated groundwater plume to expand. In addition, 

the properties proposed for deletion are not in the area where the vapor intrusion 

evaluation is being re-evaluated. The ICs for the properties proposed for deletion and the 

properties that will remain within the boundaries of the Site were signed in May 2012 and 

recorded in June 5, 2012. The next five-year review will take place in 2015

Community Involvement 

Throughout the EPA cleanup of the Site, community concern and involvement 

has been high. The local Selectboard actively sought EPA’s involvement at the Site to 

address the contamination left behind by the closure of the mill in 1996. EPA has kept 

the community and other interested parties informed of Site activities through 

informational meetings, fact sheets, press releases and public meetings. Information 
40

about the Site is posted on EPA’s website. EPA has met regularly with the community 

and Selectboard to keep them informed and to seek their input regarding Site activities. 

The community has also benefited from a website (www.cattailpress.com), which was 

developed and is maintained by a local resident. The website contained daily 

photographs of Site activities during the NTCRA demolition and excavation activities 

and has provided a forum for community dialogue regarding the Site. EPA’s public 

notices and fact sheets have been posted on this website as well. EPA provided the 

community with a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) and a Redevelopment Pilot Grant. 

EPA identified the potential for partial delisting of the Eastland Woolen Mill in a 

community update issues in 2006. EPA issues a fact sheet in 2010 to announce the 

performance of the Five Year Review. EPA met with the community in May 2010 to 

discuss the Site status and Five Year Review. All Community Involvement activities 

required and associated with this proposed partial deletion have been completed, 

including the publication of a notice in a local newspaper of general circulation regarding 

this proposed deletion and the availability of documents located in the Deletion Docket.

Determination that the Criteria for Deletion have been Met

The NCP specifies that EPA may delete a site from the NPL if “all appropriate 

responsible parties or other persons have implemented all appropriate response actions 

required” or “all appropriate fund-financed response under CERCLA has been 

implemented, and no further response action by responsible parties is appropriate” or 

“the remedial investigation has shown that the release poses no significant threat to 

public health or the environment and, therefore, the taking of remedial measures is not 
41

appropriate”. For the partial deletion proposed at the Eastland Woolen Mill Superfund 

Site: 

• All appropriate Fund-financed response under CERCLA has been implemented, 

and no further response action by responsible parties is appropriate; as required by 

40 CFR 300.425(e)(1)(ii). An Interim Remedial Action Report was completed in 

2008 to document the completion of the Remedial Action activities, including the 

area subject to de-listing.

EPA, with the concurrence of the State of Maine through the Maine DEP by a letter 

dated June 14, 2012, believes these criteria for deletion have been satisfied. 

Therefore, EPA is proposing the deletion of certain properties at the site from the 

NPL. All of the completion requirements for the properties proposed for deletion at 

the Site have been met.

V. Partial Deletion Action 

The EPA, with concurrence of the State of Maine through the Maine Department 

of Environmental Protection, on June 14, 2012, has determined that all appropriate 

response actions under CERCLA have been completed for the properties proposed for 

deletion. Therefore, EPA is deleting the following properties:

Properties owned by the Town of Corinna that include properties 

described in Quitclaim Deed dated August 18, 1997 and recorded in Book 6471, 

Page 278, also identified as Lot 118 in Tax Map 18 dated 2004 and several 

additional properties that were part of the former Eastland Woolen Mill complex 

that were acquired due to a tax foreclosure. The tax foreclosure properties are 

described in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds in Condemnation Order 
42

dated December 8, 1999 and recorded in Book 7251, Page 47 and a portion of the 

property has been subdivided in accordance with a plan dated October 19, 2004 

entitled, “Subdivision Plan for the Town of Corinna of Main Street Subdivision 

on Main Street, Hill Street & St. Albans Road in Corinna, County of Penobscot, 

Maine,” recorded in said Registry in Plan File 2004, No. 167 (the “Subdivision 

Plan”). Specifically, subdivision Lots 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, the portion of 

Subdivision Lot 1 north of the Central Maine Power property, and a portion of 

Lot 54 on Tax Map 18, along with Lot 53 on Tax Map 18, are proposed for 

deletion. The portions of Main Street and Hill Street within the subdivision are 

also proposed for deletion. Lot 53 on Tax Map 18 is also recorded in Book 853, 

Page 391, as a warranty deed dated September 26, 1913 and is known as 

“Winchester Park”. 

Property owned by the State of Maine Department of Conservation 

identified in Release Deed dated December 5, 2003 Book 9114, Page 194, also 

identified in Tax Map 18 as Map 15 Lot 10 (which a portion of the State of Maine 

Department of Conservation recreational trail that runs through the Town of 

Corinna).

Property owned by the State of Maine Department of Transportation 

described in a Notice of Layout and Taking dated May 3, 2000, and recorded in 

the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds in Book 7357, Page 29, and being 

generally depicted on the Survey Plan Showing Property Subject to Proposed 

Environmental Covenants for Maine Department of Environmental Protection, 

Corinna, Penobscot County, Maine which is recorded in the Penobscot County 
43

Registry of Deeds as Plan File 2012 No. 20 dated March 29, 2012, but excluding 

the portion of the Maine Department of Transportation property bounded by 

Town of Corinna Subdivision Lot 1, the East Branch of the Sebasticook River, 

Route 7, and Nokomis Road.

Property owned by Central Maine Power identified in indenture dated 

May 2, 1956 and recorded in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds in Book 

1532, Page 228, and generally depicted as Central Maine Power Company land in 

the Town of Corinna tax records as Lot 4 on Tax Map 20.

Because EPA considers this action to be noncontroversial and routine, EPA is 

taking it without prior publication. This action will be effective [insert date 60 days from 

the date of publication in the Federal Register] unless EPA receives adverse comments 

by [insert date within 30 days of this publication in the Federal Register]. If adverse 

comments are received within the 30-day public comment period, EPA will publish a 

timely withdrawal of this direct final notice of partial deletion before the effective date of 

the partial deletion and it will not take effect. EPA will prepare a response to comments 

and continue with the deletion process on the basis of the notice of intent to partially 

delete and the comments already received. There will be no additional opportunity to 

comment.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 300 

Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Chemicals, Hazardous waste, 

Hazardous substances, Intergovernmental relations, Penalties, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements, Superfund, Water pollution control, Water supply. 
^h//c/i^ 

Dated: H. Curtis Spaulding 

Regional Administrator 

Region 1 

For the reasons set out in this document, 40 CFR part 300 is amended as follows: 

PART 300—[AMENDED] 

1. The authority citation for part 300 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321(c)(2); 42 U.S.C. 9601-9657; E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 

CFR 1991 Comp.,p. 351; E.O. 12580, 52 FR 2923, 3 CFR 1987 Comp., p. 193. 

Appendix B—[Amended] 

2. Table 1 of Appendix B to part 300 is amended by revising the entry under "Eastland 

Woolen Mill"; "ME" to read as follows: 

Appendix B to Part 300—National Priorities List 

TABLE 1. — General Superfund SECTION 

State | 

ME 

Site name j 

Eastland Woolen Mill ! 

City/County 

Corinna 

Notes (a) | 

P 

(a) P = Sites with partial deletion(s). 

44