The Site is a 23-acre property located in a largely residential area of Baldwinville, Massachusetts (lat 42° 36' 37" N, long 72° 04' 33.5" W. Baldwinville is one of four villages which comprise the Town of Templeton (population 7000).
Permanent structures present include three facility buildings, two empty silos, and a water tower. The balance of the property contains an approximately 10-acre area formerly occupied by facility buildings, and a landfill extending into wetland areas. The public is able to access the major portion of the Site between the main state road and local residential areas, although the landfill area has been fenced by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“MA DEP”).
The facility is currently privately owned and is inactive. Contaminants found and removed from the Site to date include friable asbestos and asbestos debris; polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”) in soil; and containerized organic liquids and heavy metals.
In April 2004, EPA remobilized to complete excavation and disposal of PCB-contaminated soils.
All sampled soils with PCB concentrations of over 10 ppm were removed to a depth of 1 foot, over a 30' by 30' grid square. If contamination continued below 1 foot, soils were excavated until results were below 15 ppm.
A total of 49 grids were excavated. The soils remaining in place were analyzed for PCBs, and confirmed to contain PCBs below cleanup levels, or below detectable levels. Most grids were excavated to a depth of 1 foot; only several grids adjacent former buildings needed further digging, to 3 feet. During excavation, approximately 20 large trees and bushes were also removed, since their very shallow root systems would not support them safely if left in place.
Approximately 3200 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated soils were stockpiled on a large building slab, and secured. In June 2004, transportation and disposal of these soils began. To date, over 1400 tons have been shipped.
Site restoration began with backfilling of excavated grids, chipping of brush piles, and hydroseeding inactive areas (approximately 60,000 square feet).
Public outreach continues, with an information update meeting held in May at the request of the Town of Templeton Board of Health.
Two increases in cleanup contractor funding were approved in May and June, with a total of $635,000 added to the Site cleanup.
Shipment of PCB-contaminated soils and cleaning of the storage building slab will continue until complete. Dust monitoring will then cease. The temporary fence marking site work zones will be removed.
The OSC will meet with Town of Templeton public safety and health officials, to coordinate Site restoration activities and project completion.
The following actions will be continued:
1.Transportation and disposal of contaminated soil from the Site, as necessary;
2.Assessment and characterization of any additional hazardous materials discovered;
3.Coordination with MA DEP on any actions required under the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act;
4.Completion of removal actions; performance of any necessary and appropriate Site restoration; and demobilization.
None.
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