A fabric manufacturer disposed of thousands of drums of liquid waste and sludge at this 2-acre site in Troy, New Hampshire, between 1967 and 1978. The site was added to the National Priorities List in 2003. EPA and state crews removed drums, contaminated soil, and liquid waste during removal actions from 2002 through 2005. The cleanup plan, set in a 2005 Record of Decision, relies on monitored natural attenuation to reduce contaminant levels in groundwater, a permeable soil cap over the former drum area, and institutional controls that restrict land use. Interceptor trenches that collected free product were decommissioned in 2013 after they were no longer needed. The site entered the operation and maintenance phase in September 2017, with the State of New Hampshire managing annual inspections and upkeep.
Twenty-three substances are identified as contaminants of concern. They include volatile organic compounds such as benzene, trichloroethene, and tetrachloroethene, heavy metals including arsenic and manganese, phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pentachlorophenol. Most are present in groundwater across the site. Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate is the main contaminant in leachate, and manganese is elevated in wetland soil.
A 2022 investigation found PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in groundwater. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) were detected at levels exceeding EPA regional screening levels and state standards. PFOA concentrations exceed EPA Regional Screening Levels by more than ten times at 21 monitoring wells. The contamination extends beyond the designated groundwater management zone. EPA has funded a cooperative agreement for the state to study the full extent of PFAS contamination and evaluate treatment technologies through June 2028.
EPA reports that human exposure is under control and groundwater migration is under control. Health risks from ingesting or contacting contaminants in soil, groundwater, leachate, and wetland soil remain a concern for future recreational users and nearby residents. EPA evaluated recreational exposure to PFAS in surface water and found no unacceptable risks from that pathway. Ecological risk to organisms in Rockwood Brook and nearby wetlands is negligible. The most recent five-year review was completed in September 2025.
The site was declared ready for anticipated reuse in 2011. A trail network finished in 2004 connects to the 42-mile Cheshire Branch Rail Trail, and about 60 acres could support a solar energy facility. Public recreational access remains limited while cleanup continues. Site records are available at the Gay-Kimball Library in Troy and at the EPA Region 1 records center in Boston. Community members with questions can contact the EPA project manager or community involvement coordinator.
