Background
The Former Rockbestos Removal site is
located at 172 Sterling Street in Clinton, Worcester County,
Massachusetts. It is owned by the Town of Clinton, which foreclosed on
the property following a tax taking procedure. Approximately 8.4 acres, the site
is in a mixed commercial/industrial and residential area, approximately 0.3
miles from downtown Clinton. It consists of nine parcels and is a generally
flat vacant lot that contains the remnant foundations from previously
demolished industrial buildings.
The site was historically occupied by
wire and cable manufacturers from approximately 1936 through the early 2000s.
Rockbestos-Surprenant Cable Corporation operated a mill on the property until
2003-04, when it moved operations to Connecticut. The property had multiple
owners from 2004-2018 until the town foreclosed on the site on August 14, 2018.
The town then contracted an environmental firm to conduct an American Society
for Testing and Materials Phase I/Phase II assessment of the Site.
What Has Been Done to
Clean Up the Site?
In 2021, the town hired an
environmental contractor to perform another asbestos survey prior to planned
disposal of the seven debris piles. The contractor identified
asbestos-containing material in one of the seven piles (identified as “Pile
6”). Six of the seven piles were disposed of the by the town. A following site
inspection with the town and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection (MassDEP) in 2021 identified a smaller, approximately 10-cubic-yard
pile of asbestos-containing material that had been dumped by an unknown party
onto the backside of Pile 6 and some additional asbestos-containing debris in a
separate area nearby.
In 2023, MassDEP worked with an
asbestos contractor and the town to properly remove and dispose of the two
illegally dumped smaller piles, which were visually distinct from the remaining
debris in Pile 6. MassDEP removed small trees growing out of Pile 6 and wrapped
the pile in plastic sheeting to prevent the asbestos-containing material from
moving.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) conducted two sampling events as part of its environmental
investigation in February and May 2024.
What is the Current Site
Status?
EPA will be addressing the
asbestos-containing material through a removal action, which will include
removing and disposing of Pile 6 and any surface soil in contact with Pile 6
that may contain hazardous materials. Following the excavation, EPA will return
the site to the town and MassDEP for any needed future actions.
Disposal of Pile 6 and surface soil
and backfill will require trucks and machinery to enter the site via 214
Sterling Street. EPA will take action to control dust and prevent runoff of
decontamination water from impacting the culverted steam that runs underneath
the property and nearby residential and commercial properties. Air
monitors will be setup around the work area and throughout the cleanup air
quality will be monitored and contaminated soil will be wetted to reduce dust.
The town will provide water via nearby hydrants. Fencing will be installed to
restrict public access.
Work onsite is expected to begin in
October 2024 and is estimated to be complete by January 30, 2025, EPA will
update the response page website and provide status updates to the town and
nearby businesses and residents.
The Administrative Record
is available for review online at:
Locations to access the
online administrative record include:
- U.S. EPA SEMS Records and
Information Center, 5nPost Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA,
02109-3912, (617) 918-1440, by appointment
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report and the Notices section.
