STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE 

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 

MARGARET WOOD HASSAN 

Governor 

. January 23, 2013 

H. Curtis Spalding 


Regional Administrator 


US EPA-Region 1 


5 Post Office Square 


Suite 100 


Boston, MA 02109-3912 


Subject: Former Collins & Aikman Plant Site, 56 Davidson Drive, Farmington, NH 

Dear Mr. Spalding: 

I am writing to you to request that EPA nominate the subject site to the Superfund 

National Priorities List (NPL). The former Collins & Aikman Plant site, also known as 

the former Davidson Rubber and former Textron Plant sites, is located at 56 Davidson 

Drive, off Route 11, in Farmington, New Hampshire. Attached is a Resolution from the 

Town of Farmington expressing its support for adding the site to the NPL. 

Tetrachloroethylene, a chlorinated volatile organic solvent, was released from an above 

ground storage tank and septic leach fields at the site. The compound and its related 

breakdown products, collectively referred to as chlorinated volatile organic compounds 

or "CVOCs," continue to migrate in groundwater to a sand and gravel aquifer along the 

Cocheco River. A municipal supply well in this aquifer was removed from service in 

August 1983 due to contamination from the site. Site investigations completed for the 

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (the Department) indicate that 

CVOC contamination remains in contact with groundwater in soils and bedrock beneath 

the site. Without additional remedial actions, the Department has concluded that it will 

continue to migrate into the sand and gravel aquifer. 

Interim response actions were conducted by previous site OwnerS and have been 

continued by the Department. These response actions included installation and continued 

operation of a containment system which partially contains the flow of dissolved CVOCs 

in groundwater. 

There are no viable responsible parties associated with this site and the former site owner, 

Collins & Aikman, filed for bankruptcy in 2007. The New Hampshire Custodial Trust 

currently owns the site. Superfund listing is critically important to receiving adequate 

funding for a permanent remedy because the necessary resources are beyond what either 

the state or local governments can provide. 

107 North Main Street, State House· Rm 208, Concord, New Hampshire 03301 


Telephone (603) 271·2121 • FAX (603) 271·7640 


Website: http://www.nh.gov/ • Email: governorhassan@nh.gov 


TDD Access: Relay NH 1·800·735·2964 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE 

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 

MARGARET WOOD HASSAN 

Governor 

(Page 2 of2) 

Therefore, with the support of the Town of Farmington, I recommend that the EPA 

proceed with the nomination ofthis site for NPL listing. The Department appreciates the 

efforts ofEPA to quickly complete the studies needed and move forward. The State is 

committed to working with EPA and the Town to develop a permanent solution that 

provides for timely remediation of the site to prevent continued impacts to the sand and 

gravel aquifer. 

Thank you very much for your assistance in this matter. Please direct any questions you 

may have to Michael Wimsatt, Director, Waste Management Division at the Department 

(603) 271-1997 or Michael.Wimsatt@des.nh.gov. 

Sincerely, 

t Wood Hassan 

/~ 

cc: 	 Board of Selectmen, Farmington, NH 

Thomas S. Burack, Commissioner, NHDES 

Michael Wimsatt, Director, Waste Management Division, NHDES 

107 North Main Street, State House - Rm 208, Concord, New Hampshire 03301 


Telephone (603) 271-2121 • FAX (603) 271-7640 


Website: http://www.nh.gov/ • Email: governorhassan@nh.gov 


TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964