At a July 30 meeting at the Meddybemps Community Hall individuals and organizations were able to express their ideas and concerns about the State of Maine's plan to transfer ownership of the Eastern Surplus Superfund site in Meddybemps. A periodic review of a Superfund site is also required by law. Terry Connelly and Karen Lumino of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Rebecca Hewett and Chris Swain of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) wanted to hear feedback from the community about future use and direction of the property.
     The property had been used for years as a storage/salvage yard. During the 1980s and 1990s, the EPA and the DEP did intensive cleanup of environmental pollution at the site. In September 2000 the State of Maine acquired the property as part of a settlement, and the EPA signed a document regarding the final components for the long‑term cleanup of the site. These included restoration of the groundwater, long‑term monitoring, land use restrictions and preservation of archaeological artifacts.
     All Superfund sites require future access for DEP and EPA to monitor and implement any further cleanup activities. DEP will continue to monitor the groundwater and the water in the nearby Dennys River. Over the years testing has shown the contamination levels have decreased in the groundwater and contamination is not spreading into the river. The levels still prevent water usage, so there are land use restrictions on the property.
      During the cleanup it was revealed that the site was full of archaeological artifacts. They are now at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, which is acting as caretaker. The site can no longer be disturbed by any archeological excavations.
      A letter written by Frederick Moore III, chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik, was read to those assembled at the meeting. He conveyed the tribe's interest in acquiring the site. The tribe calls it "N'tolonapemk," or "Our Relatives' Place." The ancestors of the Passamaquoddy lived at the site for over 8,000 years, and  the future of the site is important to the Passamaquoddy people. They would agree to abide by all requirements of the state and the DEP. The site would remain as now with no further disturbance to preserve any remaining artifacts and its natural beauty.
      Meddybemps town officials, residents and others also voiced opinions and concerns. Many supported the Passamaquoddy Tribe and added that additional restrictions and/or covenants might need to be added on to ensure long‑term protection of the site. It would be a place with limited access to the public. The final decision about the future of the site will be made later in 2016.