State Cleanup Proceeds Bourne Expansion

by Amy Kolb Noyes

MORRISVILLE - When the State of Vermont began digging up
oil-contaminated soils near the Oxbow Park, some Morrisville residents
were concerned the extent of the contamination was far worse than the
state anticipated. They were right.
The area behind Morrisville Lumber was home to bulk fuel oil storage
tanks from the 1930s until the early 1990s. The H.C. Baker oil company
used the tanks, until Sweet & Burt bought out that business. Bourne's
Service Station owner Gary Bourne has bought the land from former Sweet
& Burt owner Tony Thompson. Bourne plans to move the automotive service
portion of his business to a new building on the land in question,
fronting Foundry Street.
Several years ago, the Lamoille Economic Development Corp. and the state
co-funded soil tests on the property. The results, according to former
LEDC Executive Director John Sullivan, showed the soils tested to be too
contaminated for redevelopment beyond the possibility of a parking lot.
State Watershed Coordinator Jim Ryan stated that's when the State of
Vermont stepped in and began its own groundwater sampling. The state's
testing revealed contaminated soils and groundwater on the storage
facility site. However, additional monitoring wells between the site and
the Lamoille River "found only minimal contamination," according to Ryan.
The Morrisville site was deemed eligible for the State of Vermont
Petroleum Cleanup Fund. In that program, funded through a gasoline tax,
the landowner pays for the first $10,000 of the cleanup and the state
picks up the balance of the tab. In this case, the bill to the state is
far greater than expected. Gerold Noyes, from the Vermont Department of
Environmental Conservation, is the site manager for the Morrisville
cleanup project. He estimated 2,500 to 2,800 tons of contaminated soils
were excavated. The excavation ceased last week, not because all
contaminated soils were removed but because they reached groundwater.
"The only hitch was there was more contamination than was indicated by
the initial soil investigation," Noyes told the News & Citizen. He
added, "They've got the worst part out and that was the intention."
With homes, the Lamoille River and the community gardens in close
proximity, some neighbors worry the state may not have gone far enough
in the cleanup effort. Although the site has been replenished with clean
fill and the strong scent of petroleum has been, for the most part,
abated, a large pile of contaminated soil will remain next to the site
for about a month.
Ryan explained approximately 900 tons of contaminated soils have been
trucked to New Hampshire for disposal. The approximately 1,800 tons
remaining has been stockpiled on Morrisville Lumber property until early
December. According to Noyes, the New Hampshire facility incinerates the
oil from the soil, leaving behind dirt that is no longer contaminated.
However, because so much more dirt was excavated than expected from the
Morrisville site, that facility is currently at capacity. It will be
early December before the plant can take the remaining 1,800 tons of
contaminated soil now stockpiled.
Ryan noted the stockpiled soils are being stored on top of a layer of
plastic and gravel with sump drainage. Another layer of plastic covers
the pile. He added, "When contaminated soils come in contact with
groundwater, water is run through a carbon treatment before it is
discharged."
Noyes explained excavation is a costly method of cleaning
oil-contaminated soils, but was deemed the best method in this case. He
noted fuel oil gets heavy and thick once it has sat for a number of
years. At that point, the less costly soil vapor extraction method,
typically used to evaporate gasoline underground, is not feasible.
"Digging is not a cheap option," said Noyes. "We do it as seldom as
possible."
Bourne, who plans to start construction on the site this fall, said he
is pleased with the state's efforts to help clean up such contaminated
parcels. He said an effort such as this would be unaffordable if left
entirely to the landowner. Because the state is helping to foot the bill
for cleanup, he added Vermont is able to mandate things such as new,
safer tanks at gas stations.
"They're being very thorough," said Bourne. He added he will be
responsible for continuing to monitor the site for many years to come.
"At the end of the day it will be clean."
Meanwhile, Bourne is looking forward to building a new 48' x 65' auto
repair shop, complete with waiting room, on the property. He said the
sides and back of the new building will be steel, but the shop will have
a facade to match the other buildings in that end of town. He added he
is excited Melben's will be moving to the newly renovated Oriental
Station building, further improving Lower Portland Street.
This spring, Bourne replaced the underground gasoline tanks at his
station on the corner of Portland and Bridge Streets. He hopes to update
the 1964 gas station, possibly next year. He said he will also be
holding a grand opening for the new repair shop in the spring. He
assured his customers, "We're not looking to change what we do and who
we are."