EPA Seeks To Change Course at Baird & McGuire Superfund Site

On May 5th, the Environmental Protection Agency hosted a presentation at Holbrook Middle High School detailing its plans to clean up the Baird & McGuire Superfund site at 775 South Street in Holbrook.

From 1912 to 1983, the facility functioned as a chemical mixing and batching company. Its waste disposal methods directly released toxic material into the soil and nearby water sources. This dumping led to the suspension of two sources of the local water supply: the Cochato River and the South Street well field.

Between 1954 and 1977, the company was fined at least 35 times by various State and Federal agencies for pollution violations.

Following the shutdown in 1983, the EPA addressed the Superfund site through multiple plans of action. This included groundwater, soil, sediment, and water supply cleanup over the past four decades. In recent years, sulfate has been used as part of a pilot program to treat the water, and it has resulted in decreased arsenic concentrations.

Now in 2026, the EPA has unveiled its plan for the groundwater remediation at the site. Remedial Project Manager Chris Kelly led the presentation in the school auditorium.

The remedy for the water contamination is projected to cost $7,180,500 and will take 20 to 30 years to design, build, implement, and operate. Meanwhile, the currently implemented system would cost $9 million over the next 30 years to operate, and it wouldn’t allow the town to reach the goal of groundwater cleanup. 

Implementing a cleanup plan is integral to stopping any future potential threats to both the environment and human health. The hazardous waste released from the facility into the groundwater poses a real risk to residents. Metals, volatile organic compounds, and pesticides are present throughout the Superfund site.

Next month, on June 9th, the EPA will hold another meeting at the Holbrook Middle High School auditorium. This public hearing will allow residents to provide feedback on the proposed plan.

For more information on the cleanup and public feedback, you can visit the EPA’s website. Residents are encouraged to read and provide comments.

Watch the full presentation here on HCAM's Video On Demand