EPA New England Celebrates Major Cleanup Milestone at Raymark Superfund Site
STRATFORD, CONN. (June 17, 2026) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency celebrated a major cleanup milestone at the Raymark Superfund Site in Stratford, Connecticut. EPA Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn was joined by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Stratford Mayor David Chess, Emma Cimino Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and Mark Anderson and Dean Brammer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Raymark Industries, Inc. site is one of EPA's most complex Superfund sites in New England, occupying hundreds of acres across Stratford. Because of this complexity, the site was divided into nine separate units, known as Operable Units, with different investigations and remedies. The event marked the completion of Operable Unit 4 (OU4), formerly the Raybestos Memorial Ballfield, which has transformed a former disposal site into a safe, usable property.
The project involved removing contaminated soil from throughout Stratford and consolidating it within an existing containment area, where it is safely secured beneath an 11-acre multi-layer capping system. This investment not only addressed environmental risks, but also enabled future redevelopment of the site, creating economic opportunities for the community.
"The completion of this cleanup marks an important milestone in protecting human health and the environment while supporting economic growth in Stratford," said EPA New England Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. "This work reflects our agency's commitment to restoring contaminated properties, supporting community revitalization, and ensuring a safer future for residents."
As part of EPA's recently announced Superfunds Solutions initiative, which focuses on accelerated cleanups nationwide at sites like Raymark, EPA is emphasizing swift clean up decisions, modernized tools, and strengthened cooperative federalism to deliver maximum human health and environmental protections.
Following the event, officials and media representatives toured the ongoing Operable Unit 5 (OU5) Shore Road cleanup project along the Housatonic River. An excellent reflection of the Superfund Solutions initiative's goals, OU5 has demonstrated enhanced project management by streamlining the design phase and accelerating the reduction of risks to human health and the environment.
Background
The 34-acre Raymark Industries, Inc. site in Stratford, Connecticut, hosted brake, clutch, and friction product manufacturing from 1919 until operations ceased in 1989. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1995. Contamination in area soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater primarily consisted of polychlorinated biphenyls, volatile organic compounds, asbestos, lead, copper, and about a dozen other chemical compounds known to be carcinogenic or otherwise toxic to human health and the environment. Raymark manufacturing waste was used as fill on-site and was later disposed of across Stratford at 46 residential properties, as well as numerous commercial, recreational, and municipal locations. Several nearby wetlands along the Housatonic River were also filled with this waste. The site is being addressed by area or Operable Unit.
The OU4 site is north of the former Raymark facility, bordered by residential, commercial, and industrial properties, as well as the Contract Plating Brownfields site. Historically, the area served as a gravel pit before being used as a disposal area for industrial waste. Remediation activities for OU4 began in 2020.
In June 2026, EPA announced the Superfund Solutions initiative, a nationwide effort to accelerate the cleanups of contaminated sites on the Superfund NPL. EPA will minimize challenges and improve the Superfund program through enhanced project management, deploying tools and authorities earlier, and applying smarter science for smarter outcomes. A renewed focus on the agency's core mission of protecting human health and the environment and effective use of resources will result in significant progress at Superfund sites.
For More information:
EPA's Raymark Industries, Inc. Superfund Site webpage.
EPA's Superfund Solutions Initiative webpage.
