Aerial View of the Lower Liberty Hill Site (outlined in red).The Lower Liberty Hill Road site in Gilford, NH is a former gravel pit where liquid wastes from a demolished Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) site in Laconia were deposited in the early 1950’s with the permission of the then property owner. The MGP was owned by a company called Gas Service, Inc. Gas Service, Inc. was acquired in the early 1980’s by a company that became EnergyNorth, Inc., which was acquired by KeySpan Corporation in 2000. KeySpan, in turn, was acquired by National Grid in 2007, which has accepted responsibility for the presence of the wastes on Lower Liberty Hill because they were generated at a former MGP that was owned and operated by a predecessor company. The location of the site was reported to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) by KeySpan in October 2004, and since that time KeySpan (now National Grid) and the NHDES have conducted a site investigation, developed options to remediate it, and are presently developing a remediation plan.
In the mid-1970’s, the Lower Liberty Hill property was subdivided and eventually developed into four residential properties. There is no record that Gas Service, Inc. or any of its employees were told at the time that the area was being developed for residential use. The four residences were acquired by KeySpan in 2006. Two of the structures were demolished in 2006 to facilitate the remediation. The other two structures are outside the area to be remediated.
This website provides information on the Lower Liberty Hill Site, the remediation options and opportunities for public participation. National Grid is committed to the protection and enhancement of the environment, always seeking ways to minimize the environmental impacts of our past, present and future activities. We hope this website, a part of our public participation and outreach efforts, is helpful and informative. If you need additional information or have suggestions to make our website better, please contact the individuals listed under Contacts.
Monthly Update
National Grid will provide a monthly activity update for residents of Gilford and the nearby area related to the Lower Liberty Hill site. The update will describe the work that has been done in the past month and provide a one month outlook, including information about any work that may impact normal community activities. The Report Archive section of this website under the Key Documents tab will include all of the updates.
NHDES Final Decision on RAA5a and RAA1 and
National Grid’s Appeal
On November 2, 2011 the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), announced a Final Decision selecting RAA1 (“complete removal”) as the remedy for the Lower Liberty Hill Disposal Site and reversing its previous Preliminary Decision to approve RAA5 (removal of 80% of contaminated mass and containment and treatment of the remainder). Click on this link to read that decision. National Grid has chosen to appeal the NHDES decision to the New Hampshire Waste Management Council, which has the authority to review the appeal and, if appropriate, reverse the NHDES decision and reinstate RAA5 as amended. The appeal was filed on December 2, 2011. National Grid maintains that both remedies have been determined by the NHDES to be fully protective of human health and the environment, that a maintenance and monitoring program is required for each remedy and that the significantly lower cost of RAA5a should have been factor in the NHDES evaluation because the additional cost will be carried by the Company's gas customers in New Hampshire. A copy of the appeal may be found here and in the Key Documents/Major Reports section of this website. Copies of National Grid’s previous presentations on RAA5 may also be found in that section of the website.
Waste Management Council Accepts Appeal
Appeal Accepted Letter1 12 16 11
Activities - November 2011 through January 2012
In early December, National Grid filed an appeal of the NHDES Final Decision with the New Hampshire Waste Management Council (see above).
Anticipated Activities – February 2012
National Grid will perform a semi-annual groundwater monitoring event in February 2012 (currently planned for February 13 through 17, weather permitting). A data report documenting the data collected will be submitted to NHDES in April 2012. National Grid will respond to requests from the New Hampshire Waste Management Council, in accord with the Council's procedural rules and orders.