United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region I
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Photech Site is located at 330 Cole Avenue (N42.7183 latitude, W73.1897 longitude) in a low density urban residential area approximately 1 mile northeast of the town center.  According to 2000 census data, Williamstown has an approximate population of 8,424.  Cole Avenue is a main thoroughfare for this part of town with a steady flow of traffic; it bridges the Hoosic River immediately north of the Site and then intersects with another heavily-traveled road. The Site is bordered to the northeast/east by the Hoosic River; the southwest by homes; and the northwest/north by Cole Avenue.

The approximately ten acre site has been occupied and unoccupied at various times since 1906 by a series of companies whose operations included textile and photographic film & paper manufacturing. The mill building complex consists of a three-story brick mill building built circa the 1860's and a four-story addition built circa 1944.  The Site was abandoned in 1990 and has been vacant since that time.  

In August 2003, town officials, in coordination with the Brownfields program, requested EPA Region 1 Emergency Planning & Response Branch assistance because the ACM containing center portion of the mill complex collapsed.  On August 26, 2003, OSC Barry conducted a preliminary assessment of the Site that included a site tour, file review, and interviews with Town Officials and town contractors.  Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MADEP) officials also participated in the site tour. Based on site conditions, OSC Barry recommended a time critical removal action in a Closure Memo dated October 14, 2003.

See POLREP No. 1 for additional background information.

Since POLREP #3, the following activities have been conducted:

Week of 12 September:
- The ERRS contractor continued demolition operations; and
- The START contractor conducted perimeter air monitoring operations. No action level exceedances were detected.

Week of 19 September:
- The ERRS contractor continued demolition operations; and
- The START contractor conducted perimeter air monitoring operations. No action level exceedances were detected.

Week of 26 September:
- The ERRS contractor continued demolition operations;
- By the end of the week all ACM debris had been shipped off-site for disposal; and
- The START contractor conducted perimeter air monitoring operations. No action level exceedances were detected.

Week of 3 October:
- The ERRS contractor initiated operations to raze the remaining, unstable portion of the mill complex; and
- The START contractor conducted perimeter air monitoring operations. No action level exceedances were detected.

Week of 10 October:
- The ERRS contractor completed the demolition of the unstable portion of the mill complex; and
- The START contractor conducted perimeter air monitoring operations. With the completion of demolition activites and all air monitoring results to date indicating all concentrations below action levels, the OSC determined that air monitoring operations could be discontinued.  The ERRS contractor will continue with wetting operations as necessary to minimize dust.

1.  Segregate masonry and non-masonry materials;
2.  Stage masonry and clean fill material within the basement area to mitigate fall hazards; and
3.  Demobilize all equipment, supplies, and personnel from the Site.