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EPA, state remedies outlined for Collins‑Aikman site; town urged to consider sewer access and institutional controls
Summary
Town Administrator Paul Sanderson briefed the board on EPA and state findings at the Collins‑Aikman Superfund site: manganese‑contaminated soils and groundwater contamination that will be addressed through removal and in‑situ groundwater treatment; the property is held by a bankruptcy trust that may offer roughly 16 eastern acres for sale, but redevelopment likely requires sewer access and institutional controls.
Interim Town Administrator Paul Sanderson updated Selectmen Jan. 12 on the status of the Collins‑Aikman Superfund (TASC) site. He said EPA and the state have identified localized manganese‑contaminated soils requiring removal and a larger groundwater contamination problem that EPA intends to address using chemical reagents to restore groundwater conditions over time.
Sanderson told the board the potentially responsible party (Accord Corp., successor to Collins‑Aikman) has been found liable at summary‑judgment level in federal litigation brought by EPA and the State of New Hampshire, which clarifies liability but leaves damage calculations and remediation costs to ongoing proceedings. The property is currently held by a bankruptcy trust; Sanderson said the trust may put about 16 acres at the eastern end of the site up for sale, but he cautioned that redevelopment would likely require sewer service and that placing new effluent on the Superfund property could create new liable parties for remediation.
Sanderson recommended the town work with the Planning Board, Economic Development staff and Attorney Roman to consider institutional controls, TIF‑district amendments and other creative options to facilitate beneficial reuse while protecting public health and clarifying long‑term obligations. He said municipal sewer extension is a central constraint; board members discussed the likely cost of pump stations and piping and emphasized the need for a coordinated planning approach before any redevelopment proceeds.
