Settlement reached regarding old Peterson/Puritan Superfund Site in Cumberland, Lincoln

A RENDERING SHOWS what a proposed federal cleanup of what is known as the Peterson/Puritan Inc. Superfund site in Lincoln and Cumberland along the Blackstone River could look like. State and federal environmental agencies have agreed to a $32 million settlement with dozens of businesses, municipalities and federal agencies for costs to clean up the former landfill. / RENDERING COURTESY POTENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE PARTIES GROUP
A RENDERING SHOWS what a proposed federal cleanup of what is known as the Peterson/Puritan Inc. Superfund site in Lincoln and Cumberland along the Blackstone River could look like. State and federal environmental agencies have agreed to a $32 million settlement with dozens of businesses, municipalities and federal agencies for costs to clean up the former landfill. / RENDERING COURTESY POTENTIALLY RESPONSIBLE PARTIES GROUP

PROVIDENCE – State and federal environmental agencies have agreed to a $32 million settlement with dozens of businesses, municipalities and federal agencies for costs to clean up a defunct hazardous-waste site in Lincoln and Cumberland.
“EPA’s cleanup plan for this site protects peoples’ health, while at the same time it ensures the area remains aesthetically pleasing,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office, in a statement. “This settlement allows for the funding of our cleanup plan, and leaves those who contributed taking responsibility.”
The state Department of Environmental Management and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday filed two lawsuits seeking financial contributions to remediate the Peterson/Puritan Inc. Superfund, a 500-acre swath of land in where more than 2.1 million cubic yards of waste was disposed between 1954 and 1986. The Superfund, which is a federal designation given to programs designed to clean up toxic wastes, comprises the former J.M. Mills Landfill, the Nunes parcel and an unnamed island.
The two lawsuits were combined and Thursday night a consent agreement with nearly 100 defendants was filed in the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island.
Defendants named in the suit include Benny’s Inc., City of Boston, Harvard University, CVS Pharmacy Inc., General Electric Co., Hasbro Inc., Honeywell International Inc., NSTAR Electric Co., Shawmut Corp., Textron Inc., Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. LLC, U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and Verizon New England Inc.
The defendants have agreed to pay an initial amount of $32 million toward remediation costs. The EPA estimates the cost to clean up the hazardous-waste site will total about $40.3 million. The remaining $8.3 million will come from a special EPA account set aside for the superfund.
Some defendants are also required to implement a remediation plan outlined by the EPA in 2015. The hazardous waste is damaging the environment, floodplains and ecosystem alongside the Blackstone River, according to the EPA.
There will be a 30-day public comment period before the court will rule on the proposed settlement. If approved by the court, remediation action will be required to move forward. DEM and the EPA will maintain oversight of the project.
“This [settlement] is another critical step forward in our efforts to clean up this site and hold responsible parties accountable,” said DEM Director Janet Coit in a statement. “For decades, hazardous waste was being dumped at Peterson/Puritan, polluting the nearby Blackstone River, groundwater and soils. The Blackstone River Valley is home to Rhode Island’s newest National Park, popular state recreational facilities, and an array of natural and historic treasures. Safeguarding this beautiful place is paramount to the health of our environment, communities and families.”

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