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State Brownfields assessment finds no actionable contamination at transfer station site
Summary
A Brownfields assessment and sampling conducted under a state grant found no volatile organics, semi‑volatile organics, pesticides or PFAS above regulatory concern at the transfer station property; no further groundwater monitoring was recommended.
The Select Board received results of a Brownfields assessment for the town transfer station property: soil and groundwater testing detected no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi‑volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) or pesticides above standard testing thresholds, and detected metals and PFAS were below New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services regulatory concern levels.
The board said the long report — which will be posted on the town website and is available through New Hampshire DES — recommends no further groundwater testing or monitoring based on the sampled locations. Sampling focused on areas of greatest concern where past fires, a found drum and debris were observed; the consultants did not sample remote areas such as riverbanks where there was no identified red flag. The consultants noted that if future projects disturb soil in different locations, additional testing could be done at that time.
Town staff said the Brownfields grant covers the assessment work at no cost to the town. Select Board members discussed near‑term operational needs: storing equipment that Lakes Region Planning and town crews will use while the transfer station building project proceeds. Town staff and highway officials will inspect the site and buildings to determine what improvements or protections are needed for temporary equipment storage.
The board also said Nobis Engineering and Lakes Region Planning Commission will advise on next steps and community engagement; the town may convene listening sessions to gather public input on future uses of the lot. The Brownfields assessment was described as clearing a major technical uncertainty and enabling the town to plan uses for the property without additional immediate remediation obligations.
Why it matters: The assessment reduces regulatory uncertainty about redevelopment options for the transfer station site and clears a technical barrier to planning for storage, reuse or future projects on the lot.
