United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region I
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Site is located at 740 Belleville Ave in New Bedford, Massachusetts at 41°40.466' north latitude and 70°55.216' west longitude.

From 1978 to 2001, Aerovox manufactured electrical capacitors at the facility.  The plant is a three-floor, flat-roof, brick building containing approximately 450,000 square feet.  The first floor was generally used for storage, and the second and third floors were used for capacitor manufacturing.  All use of PCB-contaminated oil occurred prior to 1978, before Aerovox owned and operated the facility.  In 2001, operations relocated to a new facility pursuant to an Administrative Order On Consent (AOC) entered into with EPA in September 1999.

Sampling conducted by the Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) has documented the presence of PCB contamination in the rinse water used to decontaminate various pieces of machinery previously in the building.  The rinse water data indicates concentrations as high as 170 parts per million (ppm).  The rinse water is presently stored in drums staged in the shipping and receiving area of the facility.  Other hazardous materials present in the drums include PCB contaminated personal protective gear, solvents, acids, etc.  In addition, there are some compressed gas cylinders located throughout the facility. The cap on the eastern end of the facility is cracked with vegetation growing through it.  The contaminated soil underneath has the potential to be exposed and cause a direct contact threat.

EPA and its contractors, namely the Emergency Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor and the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) mobilized to site on Monday, May 3, 2004. ERRS began site work by organizing the office area, setting up a decontamination zone and staging their personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in the hot zone.

All drums and containers were collected throughout the building and staged on the first floor of the facility. The drums and containers were then separated and sampled for waste characterization. The tanks in the basement of the facility were investigated with a thermal imaging unit. Most tanks were empty with some needing further investigation. The asphalt piles in the parking lot were picked up and placed in a roll off can for disposal.

The Army Corps is currently utilizing the site as an access point for the New Bedford Harbor dredging project. When their activites are complete, the capped area will be addressed appropriately.

The remaining removal activities will include repackaging of the hazardous wastes as necessary, removing the drums and cylinders from the facility, and off-site disposal of hazardous substances at approved disposal facilities. Various contaminated debris will be put into roll off containers and staged for disposal. The impregnation room will be secured and seperated from the rest of the building by boarding up the doors and windows. This will protect against unauthorized access to the highly contaminated area. General repairs will be made to the pavement cap located on the backside of the facility.

Partially filled drums will be combined when deemed combatible, and prepared for disposal. These drums will be staged near the door of the loading dock for shipment purposes.

None have been identified at this time.