oEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Blackburn & Union Privileges
Superfund Site Update
EPA Superfund Division
Spring 2009 Removal Action
EPA will remove asbestos and hazardous substances in drums and containers.
EPA, in November 2008, began an assessment of potential risks to human health in response to public concerns regarding the
vacant mill building on South Street, as wel) as soil on an empty lot adjacent to the Neponset River. EPA completed this assessment
work in March 2009 and determined the need for a short term cleanup separate from those previously announced for the
Blackburn and Union Privileges Superfund Site.
Ov
era)I Site Status
After considerii>g public comments, in
September 2008 EPA decided on an
overall site cleanup plan. The cleanup
plan indudes these major components:
removal of Neponset River and Lewis
Pond contaminated sediment; cleanup
of contaminated on-site soil; cleanup of
on-site groundwater which could pollute
local surface water; restriction on future
uses of the South Street on-site proper-
ties. EPA is currently negotiating with the
potentially responsible parries that owned
facilities and or operated at the site for
die performance of the cleanup work.
Site History
The Blackburn & Union Privileges site
located in Walpole, MA was added to the
Superfund National Priority List in 1994.
Industrial and commercial processes on
the site date back to the 1600s. Between
1891 and 1915, the site was used for
manufacture of tires, rubber goods, and
insulating materials. The crushing of raw
asbestos in die manufacture of brake and
clutch linings occurred at the site between
1915 and 1937. Various cotton and fabric
production processes were conducted at
the sits from 1937 until 1985.
Removal Assessment
& Findings
The assessment effort found contami-
nants and hazardous substances inside the
abandoned former
mill building, Including:
friable (easily crumbled
or pulverized) asbestos,
asbestos-containing
material, and drums and
containers containing
lead, volatile organic
compounds (VOCs),
semi-volatile organic
compounds (SVOCs),
and ignitable and cor-
rosive wastes. Because
portions of the roof
and many windows are
in disrepair, and there
is no fire suppression
system, the friable
asbestos and contain-
ers are a health threat
to anyone on the site
and may pose additional
risks in the event of a
fire. Found at the unsecured vacant lot were
discarded brake pads and asbestos contain-
ing soil which also pose a health threat to
anyone on the lot. Due to the threat to
human health and the environment, a short
term cleanup action under EPA's Superfund
removal program is warranted.
Abandoned former mill building
Abandoned drums inside
the former mill building
Removal Actions
The removal action, conducted by EPA's
contractor with EPA oversight, will begin
in June and continue through the summer.
Work will occur daily
from 7:00 am to 6:00
pm, Monday through
Friday. As part of the
removal action, neigh-
bors will see workers
securing the site to
prevent unauthorized
access. Such efforts
may include staffed site
security during non-
working hours.
Inside the
Former Mill
The former mill build-
ing has been found by
EPA to be structurally
adequate. All visible
friable asbestos and
asbestos-containing ma-
terial will be removed.
To prevent any air-borne asbestos from
escaping during the cleanup, the building will
be sealed.The asbestos material removed
from the building will be stockpiled until the
work is complete, at which time it will be
trucked in sealed containers to a licensed
landfill.The abandoned drums and contain-
ers will also be removed and disposed of at
a licensed facility.
continued >
SDMS DocID 448694
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Abandoned drums in
western end of building
View of pipes covered with suspected
asbestos-con tain ing material
Vacant Lot Along
Neponset River
Using a small excavator, workers wearing
respirators and white protective suits will
dig test pits to determine if asbestos is
located in the soil of the vacant lot Should
asbestos be found within the soil, it is likely
that a certain portion of the soil will be
removed and then back filled with clean soil.
Any contaminated soil which may remain
at depth or which can't otherwise be safely
excavated will be capped.
Air Monitoring
EPA will be conducting air monitoring
throughout the removal effort to ensure the
safety of its workers and the surrounding
community.
Lewis Pond
Based on sampling performed, EPA deter-
mined that the contaminated sediment
originating at the Blackburn & Union
Privileges site has been carried down-
stream by the Neponset River and settled
to the bottom of Lewis Pond.
The site's long-term cleanup plan does ad-
dress the contaminated sediment within
Lewis Pond. In the interim time before
long-term work gets underway, residents
should continue to avoid contact with
Lewis Pond sediment.
Contact Information:
Tom Hatzopoulos
EPA On-Scene Coordinator
617-918-1284
hatzopoufos.athanaslos@epa.gov
Dave Lederer
EPA Project Manager
617-918-1325
ted erer.dave@epa.gov
Stacy Greendlinger
U.S. EPA Community
Involvement Coordinator
617-918-1403
greend I i nger. stacy @epa .gov
www.epa.gov/region I /
superfund/sites/blackburn
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Spring 2009
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