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 #2, the following activities have been conducted:
Week of 4 July:
- OSC Wainberg and EPA Field Chemist Clifford, conducted In Situ X-Ray Flouresence Analysis for lead content in paint of various surfaces within the mill complex; and
- OSC Wainberg and the ERRS contractor representatives conducted a bid walk for the demolition and ACM disposal work.
Week of 11 July:
- The START contractor conducted three days of background Site perimeter air sampling for asbestos.
Week of 1 August:
- OSC Wainberg, the ERRS contractor, and the ACM demolition contractor conducted a pre-construction meeting to discuss the workplan including logistics and timelines for the project.
Week of 22 August:
- Demolition equipment and supplies were mobilized to the Site;
- The ERRS and demolition contractors prepared the Site for demolition operations;
- Demolition operations were initiated; and
- The START contractor conducted perimeter air monitoring operations.
Week of 29 August:
- Demolition operations continued; and
- The START contractor conducted perimeter air monitoring operations.
Week of 5 September:
- Demolition operations continued; and
- The START contractor conducted perimeter air monitoring operations.
Continue demolition operations.
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