Tansitor Electronics, Inc.

Overview

Tansitor Electronics made electronic capacitors on a site in Bennington, Vermont. Workers disposed of roughly 115 drums of process waste directly into an unnamed stream or onto the ground, contaminating soil, groundwater, surface water, and sediment. The site spans about 36 to 44 acres, with an active manufacturing facility operating north of Route 9 and forested wetlands to the south. EPA added the site to its National Priorities List (NPL) in October 1989 and removed it in September 1999 after cleanup was complete.

More than 100 chemicals have been identified as contaminants of concern. Key pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and 1,1,1-trichloroethane, plus heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, chromium, and cadmium. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, and other industrial chemicals were also found across multiple media. A 1990 investigation found that drinking groundwater from shallow soils posed an unacceptable risk to human health. About 1,500 residents in Vermont and New York draw drinking water from private wells within three miles of the site.

EPA's 1995 cleanup plan focused on a single operable unit covering the entire site. Because drinking water standards could not practically be met in one 10-acre portion, EPA granted a waiver for groundwater cleanup in that area. Vermont then reclassified that groundwater as non-potable. The plan relied on groundwater monitoring and institutional controls, including zoning restrictions that prevent residential development and other incompatible uses. Construction was finished in October 1996. Outside the 10-acre waiver area, all cleanup goals continue to be met. The contamination plume is stable and not migrating beyond site boundaries or down to bedrock.

EPA has completed five five-year reviews between 2004 and 2024. The most recent was finished on September 12, 2024. Each review confirmed the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. Human exposure is under control, and no unacceptable exposure pathways currently exist. The site achieved sitewide readiness for anticipated reuse in June 2006. Vishay-Tansitor currently operates a manufacturing facility on the northern portion of the site, employing 138 people as of December 2024.

Community members who want more information can contact EPA's designated site representatives directly. Site documents are available at the Bennington Public Library and at the EPA Region 1 Records and Information Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The administrative record includes over 200 documents related to the cleanup decision, plus five-year review reports and other publicly available materials.