In mid-August, contractors for Saint-Gobain began investigation activities as required in the State of Vermont Consent Order with Saint-Gobain.  These activities are expected to continue through the month of October.  This additional investigation is designed to collect data, including soil and groundwater samples, that will provide insight about the degree and extent of PFOA and confirm the source(s) of PFOA, particularly for the area east of the railroad tracks.  Investigation activities to collect this data include advancing approximately 75 area-wide shallow and deep soil borings, installing monitoring wells in selected deep borings, and installing four bedrock wells near the landfill.   To evaluate background conditions, soil boring were advanced and soil samples collected at four locations outside the Bennington/North Bennington area.  Most of the area-wide shallow boring work has been completed.  A copy of the approved work plan, including maps showing the approximately locations of soil boring and monitoring wells, for the site investigation activities along with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation approval letter can be found online.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either Richard Spiese or John Schmeltzer of the Vermont Department of Conservation at 802 828-1138.

In April and May 2017, US Environmental Protection Agency, at the request of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, directed their contractor to perform site investigation activities at the Bennington Landfill. Activities include the advancement of eight soil borings, two of which were installed as monitoring wells, the collection of soil samples within the soil borings, and the collection of groundwater samples from five selected monitoring wells.  The report summarizing the work completed at the landfill by EPA's contractor can be found online. 

The North Bennington and Bennington public water systems, in consultation with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VT ANR), have requested that the Vermont Route 279 right-of-way near Austin Hill Road be used to receive excess trench soils (spoils) that will be generated during the expansion of the public water systems in the Town of Bennington and adjacent Village of North Bennington.   The public water systems are being expanded primarily to connect approximately 200 homes or businesses affected by the presence of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at or above 20 ppt in private drinking wells where it is technically feasible and cost effective. The spoils from the upcoming public water system expansion are presumed to contain PFOA.  A copy of the public notice and the environmental assessment for this proposed action can be found online and at the Bennington Town Offices, located at 205 South Street.  

 

A public meeting is scheduled for 6:30 PM on September 26, 2017 at the Bennington Firehouse (2nd floor) located at 130 River Street, Bennington VT. It will also be shown on CAT-TV (public access). The purpose of the public meeting is to provide a brief presentation about the proposed action as described in the Environmental Assessment and to provide an opportunity for the public to provide written or verbal comments.  Comments may be presented verbally at the public meeting, or may be submitted in writing until October 13, 2017.