Penobscot Bay Blog: 2013

From: Harper, Wilkes B
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2013 12:40 PM
To: 'Ron Huber'
Cc: Harlan McLaughlin; Knuuti, Karen
Subject: RE: GAC pollution complaint map of sites of concern

Hi Ron,

I have been asked, along with Karen Knuuti of our Bangor Office, to perform a preliminary environmental assessment of the GAC Chemical property in Searsport based upon your concerns. The purpose of our assessment is to determine which Unit within the Maine Department of Environmental Protection would be the most appropriate for addressing those concerns.

Karen and I have made arrangements to visit this property on Wed. September 4^th. We have also reserved the following Friday, September 6^th, in case stormy weather jeopardizes our site visit on the 4^th.

We anticipate arriving at the GAC property around at 10AM. We would be pleased to have you join us.

In the meantime, if you have any questions do not hesitate to call me. Please realize that my schedule has me away from my desk and out of the office frequently so I apologize up front if there is a slight delay in responding.

Thanks!

Wilkes

Wilkes B. Harper, Brownfields/VRAP Project Manager

BRWM-DR-SASS

Maine Department of Environmental Protection

State House Station 17, Augusta, Maine 04333

(207) 287-4856 office / (207) 592-1192 cell

wilkes.b.harper@maine.gov

===============================================

From: Harper, Wilkes B
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2013 11:51 AM
To: 'Ron Huber'
Cc: 'Harlan McLaughlin'; Knuuti, Karen
Subject: RE: GAC pollution complaint map of sites of concern

Hi Ron,

Karen Knuuti of the Department’s Bangor Office has just advised me that GAC Chemical has requested that the date of the site inspection be changed to the following week. Karen and I are both available on Tuesday, Sept. 10^th. To take advantage of the tides we are planning on arriving at the property at 10 AM.

I wanted you to know the new date and time.

Wilkes

Wilkes B. Harper, Brownfields/VRAP Project Manager

BRWM-DR-SASS

Maine Department of Environmental Protection

State House Station 17, Augusta, Maine 04333

(207) 287-4856 office / (207) 592-1192 cell

wilkes.b.harper@maine.gov

===================================

On Thu, Aug 29, 2013 at 4:58 PM, Hodgkins, Nick <Nick.Hodgkins@maine.gov> wrote:

Mr. Huber,
As you are aware, the Department is proceeding with the evaluation of the potential environmental issues that you have identified at the GAC facility in Searsport. To that end, Karen Knuuti from the Division of Solid Waste and Wilkes Harper from the Division of Remediation will be conducting a joint inspection on September 10^th to assess these potential impacts and determine if further actions by the Department are necessary, and if so, which regulatory program is most applicable. The Department requested and received approval from the property owner (GAC) to conduct this visit.

I am sending you this e-mail to clarify any previous, inadvertent miscommunication from Department staff. The Department does not have the authority to allow you to join us during our visit and assessment of the potential issues at the property. If you wish to visit the site, you will need to obtain permission to do so from the current property owner, GAC.

Please feel free to contact me should you have further questions or concerns.
Nick
Nicholas J. Hodgkins
Oil & Hazardous Materials Specialist in the Bureau of Remediation & Waste Management
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
(207) 287-4854 (desk) (207) 592-0882 (cell)
nick.hodgkins@maine.gov

================================================

From: Ron Huber [mailto:coastwatch@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 01, 2013 3:45 PM
To: Hodgkins, Nick
Subject: Re: GAC Site Visit by DEP. Is VRAP data available Tuesday.

Dear Mr. Hodgkins

I will be in Augusta Tuesday and would like to stop in at DEP in the afternoon for a quick look at or discussion of the VRAP files of GAC Chemical. Very short notice, I'm afraid! Is this possible?

Also, are there examples of other sites in Maine with a history of 20th century fertilizer production and/or sulfuric acid production that DEP is aware of or has required remediation of?

Re GAC VRAP: We don't know specifically where the remediation site identified as REM 01170 is located on the GAC property, but are very interested in using that remediation action history to add to our understanding of Kidder Point wastes and their past and potential future remediation.

Best wishes

Ron Huber

==================================================

RE: GAC Site Visit by DEP. Is VRAP data available Tuesday.

Hodgkins, Nick <Nick.Hodgkins@maine.gov>
Tue, Sep 3, 2013, 7:12 AM
TO: [ me]

Mr. Huber,

You may view the files by contacting the file room at 287-7843 and making an appointment. I believe the file room opens at 8:00.

There are likely other sites that would fit the description you provided; I, however, cannot recall having any participate in VRAP or Brownfields.

Sincerely,

Nick

Nicholas J. Hodgkins
Oil & Hazardous Materials Specialist in the Bureau of Remediation & Waste Management
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
(207) 287-4854 (desk) (207) 592-0882 (cell)
nick.hodgkins@maine.gov

=======================================

Jul 2, 2023

Maine Surface Waters Ambient Toxics Monitoring Program SWAT 1999 to 2022

Since the 1990s the state of Maine has compiled information on the heavy metals, organochlorines and other wastes in our state's surface waters, fresh, brackish and salt. This is the Surface Waters Ambient Toxics Monitoring Program or SWAT. Below are the reports from most recent 2021-2022 back to 1999

Note: SWAT reports 2009-1999 are internet archived. DEP has chosen to remove its early SWAT records 1999 to 2009. Those are presented below in their entirety in their Internet Archive "reincarnation"

While these were presented to the agency several years ago and received with acclamations of relief by Swatfolk , they have not returned these reports back onto the state's website - even though every

2023 - 2024 SWAT Report PDF

2021-2022 SWAT Report (PDF)

2019-2020 SWAT Report (PDF)

2017-2018 SWAT Report (PDF)

Individual biological monitoring reports 2017-2018 (zip file)

2015-2016 SWAT Report (PDF)

Individual biological monitoring reports 2015-2016 (zip file)

2014 SWAT Report (PDF)

Individual biological monitoring reports 2014 (.zip file)

2013 SWAT Report (PDF)

Individual biological monitoring reports 2013 (.zip file)

2012 SWAT Report (PDF)

Individual biological monitoring reports 2012 (.zip file)

2011 SWAT Report (PDF)

Individual biological monitoring reports 2011 (.zip file)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Data Rescue

Surface Water Ambient Toxics 2009-1999

Links to separate report sections below list

* 2009 report

* 2007 Report

2006 Report

2005 Report

2004 Report

2002-2003

2001

2000

1999

2006 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report

Executive Summary
Marine
- Lobster heptopancreas
- Mussels
  - Mercury (in four files: one, two, three, four)
  - PAHs
  - PCBs (in three files: one, two, three)
- Mill Creek, Falmouth
  - Pesticides
  - Sediment
    - PAHs
    - PCBs (in two files: one, two)
    - Pesticides (in two files: one, two)
Lakes
- Evaluating exposure of Maine’s Bald Eagle population to Mercury: assessing impacts on productivity and spatial exposure patterns
Rivers & Streams
- Appendix 3.2.1 (in three files: one, two, three)
- Appendix 3.2.2
- Ambient biological monitoring: text and tables; maps; graphs; Data files (2006): 1539; 1540; 1547; 1548; 1549; 1550; 1551; 1552; 1553; 1554; 1555; 1556; 1557; 1562; 1563; 1564; 1565; 1566; 1567; 1568; 1569; 1570; 1571; 1572; 1575; 1576; 1577; 1578; 1579; 1580; 1581; 1582; 1584; 1585; 1586; 1587; 1589; 1590; 1592
Special Studies

2005 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report

2004 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report

Executive Summary
Marine
- Developing a geographic exposure profile of methylmercury availability in salt marshes of New England
- Lobster data file 1; lobster data file
Lakes
- Evaluating exposure of Maine's Bald Eagle population to Mercury: assessing impacts on productivity and spatial exposure patterns
Rivers & Streams
- Ambient biological monitoring. Text and tables: In stream temperature data (2004) (graphs); Maps 1 - 24; Data files (2004) -- 1364; 1365; 1366; 1371; 1372; 1373; 1374; 1375; 1376; 1377; 1378; 1379; 1381; 1382; 1383; 1384; 1385; 1386; 1387; 1388; 1389; 1390; 1391; 1392; 1393; 1396; 1397; 1398; 1399; 1400; 1401; 1402; 1403; 1404; 1408; 1409; 1410; 1415; 1416
- POCIS project report
Special Studies

2002-2003 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report

2002-2003 Surface Water Ambient Toxics Monitoring Program Final Report (Introduction, Executive Summary, and Table of Contents)

Marine

Lakes

Assessing the impacts of methylmercury on piscivorous wildlife using a wildlife criterion value based on the Common Loon, 1998-2002
Assessing the impacts of methylmercury on piscivorous wildlife using a wildlife criterion value based on the Common Loon, 1998-2003
Developing a mercury exposure profile for mink and river otter in Maine (02)
Developing a mercury exposure profile for mink and river otter in Maine (03)

Rivers & Streams

Ambient Biological Monitoring: Text and Tables; Temperature Graphs (2002 and 2003); Maps
Data files: (2002) 1135, 1136, 1137, 1138, 1139, 1140, 1141, 1142, 1143, 1444, 1145, 1146, 1147, 1149, 1150, 1151, 1152, 1153, 1154, 1157, 1158, 1159, 1160, 1161, 1162, 1164, 1165, 1166, 1167, 1168, 1169, 1173, 1178, 1181, 1182, 1183, 1185, 1186, 1187.
Date files: (2003) 1220, 1221, 1222, 1223, 1224, 1227, 1228, 1229, 1230, 1231, 1232, 1233, 1235, 1238, 1239, 1240, 1245, 1246, 1247, 1250, 1251, 1254, 1255, 1257, 1258, 1259, 1260, 1261, 1262, 1263, 1264, 1265, 1266, 1267, 1268, 1272, 1273, 1274, 1275, 1276, 1277.
2003 Kennebec River Caged Mussel Study

Special Studies

2001 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report

Introduction, Executive Summary, and Contents
Marine and Estuarine
Lakes
Rivers and Streams
Assessing the impacts of methylmercury on piscivorous wildlife using a wildlife criterion value based on the Common Loon
Ambient Biological Monitoring
File 1 (text) File 2 (maps) (Updated File 1 loaded 6/9/03)
Special Studies
Investigation of mercury exposure in Maine's Mink and River Otter
Appendix

2000 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report. This report contains the results of the 2000 SWAT monitoring program. There are also separate full reports of the 'Loon Effects Study', summarized in the Lakes Module, and a report of the 'Caged Mussel Dioxin Bioassay' and 'Caged Mussel PCB Study', summarized in the Special Studies module.

Executive Summary, Introduction, and Contents

Modules
    Marine and Estuarine
    Lakes
    Rivers and Streams
        Table 3.2.1
        Table 3.2.2
    Special Studies

Appendix. Fish Lengths and Weights

1999 Surface Water Ambient Toxics (SWAT) Monitoring Program Report. 1999 SWAT Report. This report contains the results of Maine’s 1999 Surface Water Ambient Toxic (SWAT) monitoring program. Much of the data was previously summarized in a progress report published in June 2000. That report was used by the SWAT Technical Advisory Group and the DEP in review and development of the 2000 SWAT workplan. All of the data have been used as soon as received in DEP’s water quality management activities wherever appropriate.

Important Note 6/11/01: The 1999 SWAT mussels for nickel and copper are being reanalyzed. The correct data will be added when the analysis is completed.

The report is organized into 4 parts, 1 Coastal, 2 Lakes, 3 Rivers and Streams, and 4 Special Studies. Within each part, results are presented in the order of the 1999 workplan.

Questions may be directed to authors of each study or to Barry Mower, DEP, SHS 17, Augusta, Maine 04333, tel: 207-287-7777.

A Decade of Toxic Monitoring Along Maine's Coast. More information added 6/2000.

Fish tissue contamination in the State of Maine; fish consumption advisories

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Feb 26, 2025

Maine Fishermen's Forum's Ocean Wind Exploitation meetings 2009 - 2024

Dec 22, 2024

DEP Hodgkins emails on GAC, August and September 2013