Cleanup of Houlton salvage yard due in spring

HOULTON – State and federal environmental officials are waiting for the results of recent soil tests before beginning cleanup of a former salvage yard next to the Houlton Grange.

Soil test samples were taken last month at the Green Street site and Brian Beneski, an oil and hazardous materials specialist with the Department of Environmental Protection in Augusta, said Friday that a cleanup probably will begin next spring.

The site was used as a recovery center for polychlorinated biphenyls and scrap material for about 10 years in the 1970s and 1980s.

According to town records, the site, which is slightly less than a half-acre in size, is owned by Charles A. Stevens of Houlton.

Exact ownership of the site is in question, however, according to Laureen Bither, the town’s tax assessor. While Stevens bought the property on April 22, 1974, he transferred ownership on June 15, 1989, to his mother-in-law, Margaret Henderson, then of Lothian, Md. The transfer took place about one month before the EPA undertook more extensive tests at the site.

In a sworn affidavit to the town dated Aug. 6, 1990, Henderson denied and renounced ownership of the property.

She said the transfer was made without her knowledge and that she did not become aware of it until 1990 when she received notification from the EPA to clean up toxic material on the land. She also received a tax bill from the town.

Henderson further stated in the affidavit that she never received the deed.

Because of Henderson’s denial, the town continues to list the property as belonging to Stevens.

Stevens, who operates Stevens Salvage Corp. on Route 1 in Littleton, Friday denied ownership of the site.

“The site is not mine and I know nothing about it,” he said before hanging up.

The site, which is grown over with grass and trees, has an assessed value of $800, which, according to Bither, is reduced because of the contamination.

Taxes have not been paid on the site since 1994. Back taxes and accumulated interest amount to $462.73.

The town has declined to take the property for payment of back taxes because of the contamination problems. The owner of the property would be responsible for paying for any cleanup.

EPA reports in 1989 indicated that from 1974 to 1983, Stevens had operated a PCBs and scrap reclamation center on the property.

Tests done in 1981 and 1982 revealed concentrations of PCBs in amounts greater than allowable standards. After tests were done in 1989, the site was closed off with an 8-foot chain-link fence.

The most recent samples were taken to check for possible contamination from heavy metals, Beneski said.

He said early results indicate that there are levels of lead in the soil that are greater than allowable limits.

“The good news is that the contamination does not go deep at all, perhaps one or two feet; a few spots might be three feet,” Beneski said.

Environmental officials are awaiting full results from last month’s tests to determine disposal options, once the contaminated soil is removed.

The degree of contamination, Beneski said, will be used to decide whether the soil will go to a hazardous materials disposal site or one for less hazardous materials classified as special waste.