Saint-Gobain begins demolition, DES says contaminated debris to be shipped off‑site; thousands of well tests and water connections underway

Saint‑Gobain has begun demolition at its Merrimack facility and plans to remove the entire above‑ground structure, leaving only the concrete floor and foundation, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) staff told the commission on Dec. 13.

DES project manager Andrew (Andy) Fuller said Saint‑Gobain has already removed equipment related to PFAS emissions and that demolition work began with a one‑story “low bay” portion of the building. “They are planning to remove the entire above ground structure and leave only the concrete floor and foundation at the facility,” Fuller said. He told the commission contaminated demolition debris that is “significantly impacted with PFAS contamination” will be sent to an out‑of‑state hazardous waste landfill; Fuller said Saint‑Gobain identified a landfill in Pennsylvania to accept that waste. Fuller also said some scarified concrete and related material will be stockpiled on poly and shipped off‑site; he reported Saint‑Gobain staff indicated that some concrete material may be sent to Canada.

Why it matters: DES staff framed the demolition and debris handling as part of an ongoing remediation and monitoring program tied to a long‑running PFAS contamination response in Merrimack. How demolition, handling of contaminated soils and concrete, and long‑term monitoring are carried out will affect local exposure pathways and the timetable for community restoration.

Most important details

- Schedule and scope: Fuller said demolition began in October and that Saint‑Gobain anticipates completing…