News Releases from Region 01

EPA Prepares for Upcoming Work at Stamina Mills Site

BOSTON – EPA and R.I. Dept. of Environmental Management (RIDEM) expect to begin field work on Monday, August 1, 2016, to decommission and remove above-ground piping that is part of an inoperable soil vapor extraction (SVE) system at the Stamina Mills Superfund Site in North Smithfield, R.I. This project is expected to take about 2-3 weeks to complete.

During that time, residents can expect to see frequent presence of field workers and an increase of activity on the Site. Activities will include mobilizing, staging of equipment, and removal of the piping and axillary infrastructure that are part of the SVE system.

The SVE system has been inoperable for several years. Originally, it was designed to extract vapors from contaminated soil to reduce contamination. It was also modified to extract water in addition to vapors to aid the cleanup of contaminated soil and groundwater within the former trichloroethylene (TCE) spill area.

EPA and RIDEM have determined that the vapor extraction system has achieved its goals and is no longer effective. The removal of the SVE system components was approved in June 2016. Pumping and treatment of the TCE-contaminated groundwater from four large on-site extraction wells will continue for the foreseeable future.

As has been reminded by the North Smithfield Water and Sewer Department, the residents in the Stamina Mills Groundwater Remediation District ordinance zone cannot use wells for any reasons, as any such pumping can spread contamination and adversely affect the cleanup at the Site. Residences within the Ordinance zone which have been impacted by the spill have been connected to the Town water supply.

The 5-acre Stamina Mills, Inc. Superfund Site is located in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. A textile mill began operation at the Site in the early 1900s. In 1969, a solvent scouring system that used TCE to remove oil and dirt from newly woven fabric was installed. That same year, an unknown quantity of TCE was spilled at the site. In 1975, the mill closed down. In 1977, a fire destroyed the manufacturing complex; the site has been vacant and unused since then.

More information: Technical documents related to the site's cleanup are available at: cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0101291 or at the North Smithfield Public