The Creese and Cooke Co. (Former) 2 Site is a privately owned parcel which is located at 33 Water Street in Danvers, Essex County, Massachusetts and currently comprises 28 condominium units. Starting in 1903, the Creese & Cook Company operated a tannery and finishing facility located at 33 Water Street. Tannery operations are known to have been conducted at the property until 1914, based on historical reports. The tanning operations are the likely source of contamination on the Site. From 1986 to 1987, the 33 Water Street property was redeveloped as the 28-unit Crane River East Condominiums. Only one limited site investigation, conducted in 1984, was found in available documentation regarding this property.
The approximate population by radius of the Site is as follows:
- 775 people reside within one quarter mile of the Site
- 3,200 people reside within one half mile of the Site
-12,000 people reside within one mile of the Site
According to the EPA Region 1 Environmental Justice Mapping Tool, the Site is not in an environmental justice area.
On October 17, 2011, the EPA On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) and contractor personnel mobilized to the Site to conduct a Removal Program Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation (PA/SI). Personnel collected 50 surface soil samples on a grid system that was established at the property. The analytical results indicated that arsenic is present in surface soil samples in certain areas of the property at levels up to 1370 ppm which exceeds the Imminent Hazard threshold of 40 ppm established by the MCP for determination of a possible threat to public health based on direct exposure to surface soils. After evaluation of the sample analysis results, the EPA OSC prepared a Closure Memorandum to document the decision that a removal action was warranted to protect public health and the environment.
In February of 2012, the MassDEP installed a temporary fence to restrict public access to the contaminated surface soil between Building D and the north boundary of the property. The fencing will remain in place until a EPA Removal Action is completed.
The Action Memorandum was signed on March 09, 2012.
Specific removal activities will include the following:
• conduct additional sampling as needed to further characterize the extent of contamination in the surface soils;
• clear vegetation and obstacles as needed;
• excavate and dispose of contaminated surface soil
• dispose of hazardous substances at EPA-approved off-site disposal facilities;
• repair of response-related damages.
The project is expected to begin field activities in late March or early April. Excavation should be completed within eight weeks. Disposal of the contaminated soil will likely require several more weeks. Restoration of response related damages such as re-seeding and replanting will likely continue through September.
April 16, 2012
Personnel will mobilize to the Site on April 24 to begin documentation of current conditions with photos, videos, land survey and sample collection. Heavy equipment is expected to begin arriving on or about May 1, 2012.
April 24, 2012
EPA OSC Bazenas and contractor personnel mobilized to the C&C2 Site to prepare the property for the removal action. Photographs and videotape of the private properties were collected to document current conditions for future restoration. START collected surface soil samples for additional characterization of the extent of contamination.
April 30, 2012
A reported from the Boston Globe interviewed the OSC at the Site.
May02, 2012
An industrial vacuum unit (Vactor) arrived at the Site to begin removal of contaminated soil from beneath the decks and patios.
May 04, 2012
The excavation at the patios and decks by vactor was completed today.
May 06, 2012
A newspaper article about Crease and Cook appeared in the Globe North Section of the Boston Sunday Globe..
May 09, 2012
Rain delay for today and the next two days will slow down the work, but it is expected that the patios and decks will be complete and back in service by next Friday as promised.
May 17th, 2012
The final touches are being completed on the patios and decks with the top dresssing of pea stone being spread today. The crew will return the gas grills and other personal items and I expect that that the patios and decks will be available for use this weekend. Excavation on the lawn begins.
May 21, 2012
Excavation on lawn was completed on Monday. Contaminated soil has been staged at the northern end of the lawn, covered securely and is awaiting transportation and disposal. Backfill of the excavation was completed on thursday. Topsoil and grading continued through Friday. Crew has been downsized. Personnel demobilized on May 25,2012 for the holiday weekend.
May 29, 2012
Personnel remobilized to continue grading and topsoil. All personell demobilized at the end of the day pending arrangements for transportation and disposal of the contaminated soil that has been staged on-site.
June 05, 2012
Contractors and EPA remobilized to the Site. Transportation and disposal began. Contaminated soil was hauled by dump truck to ARC, Inc, in Elliott, Maine for recycling/reuse. Several loads per day will be hauled to the disposal facility.
June 07, 2012
EPA and MassDEP participated in a combined Board of Health/Conservation Commission Meeting at the Danvers Town Haul at 7:00 pm. Approximately 30 people were in attendance including State Senator Theodore Speliotis, representatives from US Congressman John Tierney's office, numerous citizens, Board of Health members, Conservation Commission members, and representatives from the Condominium Association. The press was represented by the Salem News and the Danvers Bee. A front page article appeared in the Salem News on June 8, 2012.
June 11, 2012
The last load of contaminated soil was hauled from the Site to ARC, Inc. A total of 20 loads (approximately 450 tons) of soil was transported to the disposal facility. Backfilling continued to restore previous grade to the remaining area of the Site.
June 15, 2012
Site trailer and all equipment has been demobilized.
June 19, 2012
Hydroseed applied to lawn area.
June 26, 2012
OSC Bazenas visited the site to check on the growth of the hydroseeded lawn. It did not grow well. ER crew will re-seed by hand.
June 28, 2012
ER Crew re-seeded entire lawn area by hand and seet up water sprinkler array.
July 26, 2012
OSC Bazenas visited the site to check on the grass seed growth. Still not satisfactory. Landscapers advise waiting until September to re-seed; the cooler weather is needed prevent the young grass fromdrying out.
September 12, 2012
ER response manager coducts a bid walk for prospective landscape companies
September 19, 2012
Subcontract awarded to landscape company to complete re-vegetation of the lawn.
