The Jard Company property in Bennington, Vermont sits on the grounds of a manufacturing facility that ran from 1969 to 1989, making capacitors, transformers, and motors for household appliances. The site was added to the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) on September 22, 2014. It is in the active investigation phase of the Superfund cleanup process, and physical cleanup construction has not yet begun.
The facility generated a range of hazardous wastes during its years of operation. Contaminants include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), trichloroethylene (TCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), methylene chloride, zinc oxide, and various solvents and paints. These materials reached the soil, groundwater, and nearby structures. Shallow groundwater flows northwest, roughly 2 to 12 feet below ground, and testing has found PCBs, TCE, benzene, dichlorobenzene isomers, and other contaminants there. Soil testing has also turned up DEHP, PCBs, lead, mercury, and pesticides including aldrin. Human exposure is not under control, and groundwater migration status cannot be determined due to insufficient data.
The EPA has carried out three removal actions at the site. Work beginning in 1991 removed stored chemicals, cleaned floor drains, and pulled PCB-contaminated soil and sediment from dry wells. A 1999 action removed additional PCB-contaminated surface soil. Between 2006 and 2007, the deteriorated facility building was demolished, PCB-impacted concrete and soil were disposed of, and an earthen cap was placed over remaining contaminated areas. A 2012 to 2013 action addressed PCBs found in the basements of two nearby homes, decontaminating the spaces and installing controls to block groundwater infiltration.
The EPA began a combined remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) in May 2016, covering the entire site as a single operable unit. That study is expected to wrap up between December 2026 and February 2027. The EPA will then issue a Record of Decision (ROD) describing the final cleanup remedy. Remedial design work is expected to follow, running from early 2027 through mid-2028. A 2023 engineering evaluation and cost analysis looked at removal options for source materials in a fluvial erosion hazard zone, and those findings will help shape future decisions. About 15,000 people live within 4 miles of the site, and roughly 1,083 residents drink from private wells in that area, with the nearest well about 660 feet away.
Community members who want to stay informed can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator. Site records are available at the EPA Region 1 records center in Boston and at the Bennington Public Library. More information is posted at www.epa.gov/superfund/jard.
