Removal of contaminated soil, fuel storage tank in Patten

    AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Environmental Protection Agency oversaw the removal of four underground petroleum storage tanks and contaminated soil at various spots around the state this week.
    On Tuesday (yesterday), tanks and soil were removed from the Patten General Store, located at the corner of Maine and Founders streets.
    The weeklong project is using economic stimulus money provided by the American Recovery and Revitalization Act (ARRA). The town of Patten took ownership of the former Patten General Store and gas station due to unpaid taxes. The removal of the underground storage tanks and the approximately 1,300 tons of petroleum-contaminated soil will make the property viable for redevelopment. 
    The tanks at the former store and gas station are located less than 600 feet from the town of Patten’s drinking water supply.
    “This project is considered a drinking water protection project more than an ordinary tank removal.” said David McCaskill, the DEP senior environmental engineer overseeing the project. “This is a unique opportunity to help protect a valuable water source in the community by using both federal and state money, and employing local contractors to do the work – it’s a real win-win.”
    To further leverage the projected $120,000 in ARRA funds used for this drinking water protection project, the DEP is using $100,000 from the Maine Groundwater Oil Clean-up Fund to replace substandard aboveg round home heating oil tanks at homes within the wellhead protection zone, the area that contributes recharge water to Patten’s drinking water well. 
    According to the DEP, gasoline spills from leaking underground storage tanks and piping have contaminated hundreds of private drinking water supplies across Maine including a number of public wells.