EPA New England Press Releases

EPA, Maine Department of Environmental Protection to Hold Informational Meeting on HoltraChem

Contact: Mark Merchant, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1013
Deborah Garrett, Maine DEP Press Office, 207-287-7830

For Immediate Release: October 19, 2001; Release # 01-10-33

ORRINGTON, Maine – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are hosting an information meeting on Thursday, Nov. 1, from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. at the Center Drive School, 17 School St. in Orrington.

At the informational meeting, ME DEP will discuss the results of studies on mercury concentrations in nearby lakes. The state toxicologist will be on hand to discuss potential approaches for responding to the communities concerns of past and future mercury exposure. EPA will make a brief presentation on Preliminary Media Protection Standards, or cleanup goals, proposed by the Mallinckrodt Corporation.

Mallinckrodt is the former site owner that is investigating the HoltraChem plant and will be implementing the clean up remedies. DEP and EPA will provide an overview of the next steps for determining clean up remedies and answer questions about the project schedule.

Representatives from the town of Orrington will also be on hand for the information meeting.

The HoltraChem manufacturing company opened in 1967 and manufactured chlorine, caustic soda and chlorine bleach used by paper mills, as well as hydrochloric acid and the pesticide chloropicrin. The plant shut down in September 2000. An investigation of the facility determined that mercury, carbon tetrachloride and other contaminants are located in landfills on the facility and mercury contamination from the site is in the sediment of the Penobscot River.