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Site Type: Site Awaiting NPL Decision (SAND) 
RYE HILL CIRCLE - CONNECTICUT CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES
 | Click to view
map of site |
| SOMERS, Connecticut |
| TOLLAND County |
| Street Address: | BILTON ROAD |
| Zip Code: | 06701 |
Congressional
District(s): |
03 |
| EPA ID #: | CTD980522940 |
| Site ID #: | 0102698 |
| Site Alias: | |
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Description
This site is currently designated by EPA as "Other Cleanup Activity - State Lead". This means that further investigation and any necessary cleanup actions are being performed under the state agency's supervision in accordance with state program requirements. EPA and the state have agreed that no further steps will be taken by the federal Superfund remedial program to evaluate this site, pending completion of the activities being performed in accordance with the state program requirements. Upon receipt of documentation from the state that all necessary actions have been completed, EPA will consider whether any further actions are appropriate by the federal Superfund program or if the site should be archived from CERCLIS.
For current information on the status of activities at this site, please contact the state at the number provided below.
This site is currently designated by EPA as "Other Cleanup Activity - State Lead". This means that further investigation and any necessary cleanup actions are being performed under the state agency's supervision in accordance with state program requirements. EPA and the state have agreed that no further steps will be taken by the federal Superfund remedial program to evaluate this site, pending completion of the activities being performed in accordance with the state program requirements. Upon receipt of documentation from the state that all necessary actions have been completed, EPA will consider whether any further actions are appropriate by the federal Superfund program or if the site should be archived from CERCLIS.
For current information on the status of activities at this site, please contact the state at the number provided below.
The following information was posted in August 2001 and has not been updated. This information is provided for informational purposes and was accurate at the time of posting.
The Connecticut Correctional Industries property is located along Bilton Road in Somers, Tolland County, Connecticut. Local tax assessment information is unknown. The 550-acre property is currently owned by the State of Connecticut, and is occupied by a State correctional facility that consists of 49 buildings. Two perennial streams flow through the property to the west and to the east of the correctional facility respectively. The property is bordered to the west by the Enfield Medium Security Facility, and the Robinson Correctional Facility; and to the east, north, and south by residences, farm land, wetlands, and woodlands.
Prior to 1960, the property was used for agricultural purposes. In 1960, the State purchased the property from Shaker Farms and constructed a prison facility with a laundry facility, and a wastewater treatment system on the property. The wastewater treatment system consisted of a wastewater treatment plant, a series of sand filter beds, and two sludge-drying beds. The correctional facility became operational in 1963. Between 1963 and 1993, the dry-cleaning operation at the laundry facility generated tetrachloroethylene (PCE) waste. Other operations on the property such as woodworking, painting, and furniture stripping with upholstering have generated waste methylene chloride, thinner and paint, waste ink, waste film developer, and mineral spirits. Prior to 1984, wastewater from the laundry facility and possibly from other on-site operations was discharged to on-site sand filter beds. In 1984, most of the structures associated with the wastewater treatment plant were demolished and buried in place when the facility was connected to the Town of Enfield sewer system. In 1986, the sand filter beds and surrounding soil were reportedly excavated and removed, and the area was filled and reseeded. In 1988, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) received several complaint letters from four prisoners who alleged historical and improper disposal practices of hazardous wastes on site. A subsequent investigation reported discharge of methylene chloride to the sanitary sewer system and violations in hazardous waste storage practices. In 1993, an area of PCE-contaminated soil outside the laundry area was excavated. In 1995, one leaking 1,000-gallon heating-oil underground storage tank (UST), associated piping, and contaminated soil were removed from the west side of an on-site maintenance garage. In 1998, one leaking 3,000-gallon gasoline UST, associated piping, and contaminated soil were removed from the east side of the garage. Previous investigations of the property to date include a Phase I and a Phase II study completed by Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. (Fuss & O’Neill) in 1992 and 1993 respectively; a 1995 Preliminary Assessment; a 1996 Site Inspection; an October 1998 Supplemental Environmental Investigation completed by Fuss & O’Neill; and a November 1998 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Investigation conducted by Fuss & O’Neill.
The estimated population served by public drinking water supply wells located within 4-radial miles of the property is 12,301 The nearest public drinking water supply wells is located on the property. The estimated population served by private drinking water supply wells located within 4-radial miles of the property is 37,026. The nearest private drinking water supply well is located approximately 75 feet (ft) southwest of the property. Groundwater occurs in overburden at a depth of approximately 10 to 15 ft below ground surface. Groundwater occurs primarily in bedrock and groundwater flow in bedrock is predominantly to the south. In 1986, analytical results of groundwater samples collected from three on-site bedrock drinking water supply wells by the CT Department of Health Services indicated the presence of PCE; no available documents indicated whether alternative drinking water supplies were provided to the prison population. In November 1992, Fuss & O’Neill initiated investigations of the property to determine the source of PCE contamination in groundwater. From December 1992 to April 1993, analytical results of drinking water samples collected by the Town of Somers Sanitarian from 46 bedrock private drinking water supply wells located south of the property indicated the presence of PCE; the levels of PCE at 39 wells were above the maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). Consequently, CT DEP and the Town of Somers installed granular activated carbon filters in a total of 58 homes. In response to PCE contamination detected in off-site groundwater drinking water sources, Fuss & O’Neill installed overburden and bedrock monitoring wells on the property. Analytical results of groundwater samples collected from on-site monitoring wells in August 1993 indicated the presence of PCE, trichloroethylene (TCE), 1,2-dichloroethylene (1,2-DCE), toluene, and methyl-tert-butyl-ether (MTBE). Based on analytical results, Fuss & O’Neill confirmed that off-site migration of the PCE plume from the location of the former sand filter bed had occurred through the bedrock aquifer. As a result, impacts to nearby groundwater drinking supply sources have been documented. Following the investigation, Fuss & O’Neill activated a temporary groundwater recovery system at the southern property line to prevent further spread of the PCE plume and to reduce the mass of PCE within the aquifer. In 1998, a Duel-Phase Vacuum Extraction System was reportedly installed on the property to treat contaminated groundwater, possibly for the purpose of providing potable drinking water to the prison population.
Stormwater runoff from the property is expected to enter Woods Stream or Wright’s Brook on site. Additional surface water bodies located within 15-downstream miles of the property include Lafayette Pond and Scantic River. There are no drinking water intakes located along the 15-mile downstream surface water pathway. A Clean Water Act (CWA)-protected water body, approximately 4.7 miles of wetland frontage, and several State-and Federally- listed endangered species habitats occur along the downstream pathway. Analytical results of surface water pathway samples collected from an on-site drainage culvert and Woods Stream in 1993 by Environmental Science Corporation (ESC) indicated the presence of PCE, TCE, and 1,2-DCE. Based on analytical results, a CWA-protected water body appeared to have been impacted.
Approximately 1,986 people , including inmates and staff, reside on the property. Approximately 7,291 people reside within 1-radial mile of the property. The nearest off-site residence is located within 75 ft of the property. There are no schools or day-care facilities within 200 ft of the property. There are no terrestrial sensitive environments located on the property. Access to the property is restricted. Analytical results of surface soil samples collected from the property in 1995 by Fuss & O’Neill indicated the presence of PCE, TCE, and cis-1,2-DCE. Potential impacts to on-site residential populations are unknown. Based on site observations and conditions, and access restrictions to the property, no impacts to nearby residential populations are known or suspected.
An estimated 49,327 people, a CWA-protected water body, and several State-or Federally- listed endangered species habitats occur within 4-radial miles of the property. No laboratory qualitative air samples are known to have been collected from the property. Based on the available data, no impacts to nearby residential populations or sensitive environments are known or suspected.
The last known investigation at the Connecticut Correctional Industries property was a Soil and Groundwater Remediation Investigation conducted by Fuss & O’Neill in November 1998. Remediation of PCE-contaminated groundwater has been ongoing since 1994.
Current Status
Other Cleanup Activity – State Lead
Photos
Links to Other Information
Public Record Locations
EPA New England Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 918-1440
Contacts
| Gerardo Millán-Ramos |
| Site Assessment Manager |
| Address: | One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (HBS)
Boston, MA 02114-2023 |
| Phone #: | 617-918-1377 |
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| E-Mail Address: | millan-ramos.gerardo@epa.gov |
| Department of Environmental Protection |
| State Agency Contact |
| Address: | 79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06105-5127 |
| Phone #: | (860)424-3873 |
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| E-Mail Address: | |
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