North Haven Gets Chance to Comment on Upjohn Fix

Another step in the long-term plan for repairing the 78-acre former Pharmacia/Upjohn Company chemical site will take place Wednesday, Aug. 4 when the public is invited to comment on remediation plans that will set aside some of the land for business development and leave the remainder as open recreational space. Pfizer, which acquired Upjohn in 2003, is sponsoring the public informational meeting at the North Haven High School, 221 Elm Street, from 7 to 9 p.m.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has determined that interim remedial measures have improved conditions to the point where "potential exposures from contaminated sludge, soils, and groundwater at the site are under control and do not pose an immediate concern."

The purpose of the community meeting is to get public reaction to the long-term remedial measures that Pfizer is proposing. Pfizer consultant Vince D'Aco said earlier that the long-term repair will take five to seven years and cost Pfizer about $144 million.

This is what is being proposed for the Stiles Lane site, which is bordered on one side by the Quinnipiac River:

• Installation of a below-surface, hydraulic-barrier wall and continued operation of the groundwater-extraction and -treatment system to prevent contaminated groundwater from discharging to the Quinnipiac River.

• Thermal remediation would be used to remove the primary source of groundwater contamination in parts of the former manufacturing area. The possible carcinogen dichlorobenzene makes up half the contamination, D'Aco noted.

• Construction of protective barrier covers over the west side of the site to allow safe, beneficial redevelopment of this section. These 17 acres of vacant land in the western side would be available for private, light-industrial development. Pfizer would not sell this land but provide long-term leases, according to Pfizer consultant Elaine Richardson.

• Stabilization and installation of low-permeability covers over both the north and south piles to safely contain and prevent future contact with contaminated materials and minimize groundwater impacts.

• Protective barrier covers and low-permeability covers would be constructed over the east side of the site.

• An ecological habitat on the east side of the site, including uplands and wetland, would be created and maintained, with walking trails for guided viewing and interpretative environmental education.

• Sediment from two areas of the Quinnipiac River tidal mud flats and from a small stretch of South Creek would be cleaned up. Approvals will also be needed from local land use commissions.

• Environmental land use restrictions would be implemented to prohibit residential use, restrict groundwater use, and prohibit disturbance to or demolition of the protective barrier covers constructed on site.

• Pfizer would continue long-term operation of the acreage to verify continued protection of human health and the environment.

Numerous environmental investigations conducted at the site between 1990 and 2009 identified wide-spread contamination of the soil and groundwater. Contaminants found at the site include polychlorinated biphenyls, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and metals. The land was used for industrial manufacturing from the mid-1800s through 1993.

People may inspect the corrective measures report at the North Haven Memorial Library, 17 Elm Street, or visit www.upjohnnorthhaven.com. Written comments may be submitted to Robert O'Meara, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1, Mail Code: OSRR07-3, 5 Post Office Sq., Ste. 100, Boston, MA 02109. The public comment period ends Wednesday, Aug. 4.