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.
On April 21, 2004, EPA and its contractors, namely the Emergency Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor and the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START), mobilized to the Site and performed a site walk of the facility. The On Scene Coordinator (OSC) and two START members formed a Level B Entry Team to further cahracterize the highly contaminated impregnation room on the second floor of the building. This room contains vats used for dipping and heating the capacitors. The Entry Team checked all vats and tanks for residual waste. No material was found to still exist.
EPA is conducting this removal as a fund-lead action with the funding from the Aerovox Incorporated Special Account obtained from the Aerovaox bankruptcy proceedings. The proposed actions will protect public health, welfare and the environment by removing the source of potential contamination and preventing a direct contact threat by repairing the cap on the eastern end of the facility. Removal activities will include a Site walk with the Emergency Rapid Response Service (ERRS) contractor, sampling the drums, containers, vats and tanks for waste characterization, 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. General repairs will be made to the pavement cap located on the backside of the facility.
ERRS will begin to sample the drums, containers, and tanks for waste characterization. Any drums and containers scattered throughout the building will be collected, staged, and characterized for disposal.
None identified at this time.
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