Asbestos was discovered by the City of Salem during the construction of a park in the downtown area. The City generated an Immediate Response Action (IRA) plan, and promptly took appropriate temporary actions to mitigate the health threat posed by asbestos: park construction was discontinued, polyethylene sheeting installed over exposed soil, and warning signs posted.
EPA’s Removal Program management received a request for assistance from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Brownfield’s office. The OSC met at the site with the Licensed Site Professional (LSP) representing Salem and the DEP Brownfields/Permits office Section Chief that had requested assistance.
The OSC reviewed the IRA which includes data generated by an accredited laboratory on recently collected samples. Five surface soil samples and three near surface soil samples were determined to contain between 2% and 5% chrysotile or amosite asbestos. Two samples of material from below grade that were suspected to contain asbestos was analyzed, and found to contain 60% chrysotile asbestos.
A Closure Memorandum dated 11 May 2009 formally documents the conclusion of the removal evaluation of this Site. It identifies that a removal action is appropriate because conditions at this Site meet the criteria in the National Contingency Plan (NCP) for initiating a removal action, specifically because the hazardous substance asbestos is present in surface soil in an urban area. Potentially responsible parties have not been identified at this time.
An Action Memorandum was approved on 21 May 2009 to excavate and remove asbestos contamination.
