Pine Street Canal

Overview

Pine Street Canal is a 38-acre Superfund site in Burlington, Vermont, added to the National Priorities List in 1983. The site includes a canal, turning basin, wetlands, and a former pond area. A coal gasification plant operated nearby from around 1908 until 1966, discharging wastewaters and oil-saturated wood chips that left coal tar and organic compounds in the sediments and groundwater. The site sits close to residential areas and businesses, and there were concerns that contamination could migrate into Lake Champlain, Burlington's drinking water source.

EPA has identified more than 100 contaminants of concern spread across groundwater, surface water, soil, and sediment. These include metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury; volatile organic compounds like benzene, trichloroethene, and toluene; pesticides including dieldrin and methoxychlor; and polycyclic aromatic compounds such as naphthalene and benzo[a]pyrene. Wildlife at the site has been harmed by contamination, especially in the canal sediments.

Cleanup began in 1985 with emergency removal of 500 cubic yards of coal tar. A final cleanup plan was established in a Record of Decision signed in September 1998. The main remedy included underwater caps over contaminated sediments, a weir to control water levels, and wetland restoration. Construction was completed in 2003 and 2004. Coal tar and oil continued to break through the original sand cap, so an improved cap was installed in December 2010 along with passive recovery wells. Between 2012 and 2013, a 200-300 foot vertical barrier and additional recovery wells were added to stop contaminants from reaching Lake Champlain. EPA determined that human exposure is under control and groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water.

The site is ready for its anticipated uses, and all cleanup goals for current and reasonably anticipated future land uses have been achieved. Land-use restrictions remain in place to prevent residential development and groundwater use. One business currently operates on site, employing 10 people and generating approximately $3.2 million in annual sales. Operation and maintenance work is ongoing, and the most recent five-year review was completed in December 2021. The next review is estimated between December 2026 and February 2027.

Community members can review site records at the Fletcher Free Public Library or the University of Vermont Bailey-Howe Library in Burlington, or at the EPA Region 1 Records and Information Center in Boston. Questions about institutional controls or site activities can be directed to the EPA staff assigned to the site. Anyone considering activities or property changes at Pine Street Canal should contact EPA staff and review applicable use restrictions before proceeding.