The Somers Plating, Inc. Site is located at 58 – 60 Springfield Road (Connecticut Route 83), in Somers, Tolland County, Connecticut. Geographic coordinates of the Site are 41.9897 north latitude, and 72.4475 west longitude. The Site is bordered to the east by a wooded area and a cornfield; to the south by residential properties; to the west by Springfield Road; and to the north by a cornfield, a portion of which extends onto the Site. The cornfield is leased and operated by an out-of-town farmer. There is a herb supplier/grower located immediately adjacent to the Site.
The Site, currently owned by two retirees, consists of approximately 3.62 acres of land with two unoccupied one-storey buildings in a mixed residential/commercial neighborhood. The Site was formerly operated as a metal working shop/plating facility, a gasoline service station, an ecumenical school, and a daycare center. Two former metal hydroxide sludge lagoons associated with the plating operation are located on site. Underground storage tanks (USTs) were reportedly used by the gasoline service station. The status of the USTs is unknown.
An asphalt-paved parking area largely surrounds the western building, and borders the eastern building on the western and northern sides. Three discrete areas of grass surrounded by pavement are located adjacent to the eastern and western sides of the western building and north of the eastern building. The area of grass located north of the eastern building appears to be co-located with one of the metal hydroxide sludge lagoons. The eastern portion of the Site ranges from wooded near the southern boundary, to partially clear in the central portion, to cornfield in the northern portion.
The Site topography is generally level. The average depth to the groundwater table in the former lagoon area is 8 to 10 feet. The groundwater classification for the general area is GA. Fuller-Hurd Well, a public drinking water supply well owned by the Connecticut Water Company is located approximately 1,500 feet south of the Site. According to the Town Sanitarian, groundwater in the bedrock aquifer generally flows southerly through the Site. Access is unrestricted.
According to the 2000 census, approximately 1,692 people live within 1 mile. Three public schools are located within 1 mile, and the closest residence is located within 50 feet.
At the request of the CT Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP), the EPA Removal Program conducted a Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation (PA/SI) at the Somers Plating, Inc. Site in July 2004. The PA/SI included collecting surface soil, subsurface soil, and groundwater samples on site, and drinking water samples from nearby residences. The sampling results confirmed the presence of high levels of heavy metals including cadmium and chromium in surface and subsurface soil. The PA/SI was complete with the recommendation that a time critical removal action be conducted.
The removal action proposed in an action memorandum dated May 25, 2005 was approved by the Director of the Office of Site Remediation and Restoration authorizing a total of $1,696,800 for the extramural contractor costs.
- On June 20, 2005, OSC Tsang conducted a site walk with the Response Manager and T&D Coordinator of EPA Emergency Rapid Response Service (ERRS) contractor Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc..
- During the week of June 20, 2005, personnel from EPA New England Regional Laboratory (NERL), Weston START, and OSC Tsang conducted an extent of contamination study in a wooded area where a third lagoon is allegedly located. A total of 149 surface and subsurface soil samples were collected and screened on-site for cadmium, chromium, lead, zinc and copper via the EPA Mobile Laboratory using the X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyzer. A total of 15 soil samples were also sent to NERL for metal confirmatory and cyanide analyses.
- Coordinate with ERRS to conduct topographical (land and aerial) survey to establish base line references for further removal planning.
- Coordinate with ERRS to obtain transportation and disposal cost data from disposal facilities.
- Conduct volume and cost estimates for removal and disposal of contaminated soil at the third lagoon and confirm that the additional volume and cost from the third lagoon is covered under the current removal project ceiling.
- Coordinate with ERRS for mobilization.
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