SUPERFUND
Cleaning Up New England
SITE UPDATE
WR. Grace (Acton Plant) Site
Acton, MA
U.S. EPA | HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM AT EPA NEW ENGLAND
THE SUPERFUND PROGRAM protects human health
and the environment by investigating and cleaning up often-abandoned
hazardous waste sites and engaging communities throughout the process.
Many of these sites are complex and need long-term cleanup actions.
Those responsible for contamination are held liable for cleanup costs.
EPA strives to return previously contaminated land and groundwater
to productive use.
SITE DESCRIPTION:
The W. R. Grace (Acton Plant) Superfund site is located in the towns of Acton and Concord, Massachusetts and
has been used for industrial purposes since the 1800's. The W. R. Grace property is composed of approximately
260 acres of land including several surface water bodies and various wetlands. Grace produced a variety of latex
and rubber-based products as well as cellulose battery separators. All production ceased at the Grace site in 1991.
IS THE DRINKING WATER SAFE? WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Yes. The Acton Water District (AWD) continues to
closely monitor, sample and treat the towns' drinking
water to ensure that safe drinking water standards are
maintained. The AWD will continue providing over-
sight during the groundwater and sediment cleanup
actions.
REMEDY DESIGN ACTIVITIES
Since the decision on the cleanup approach for the
W. R. Grace site, formally known as a Record of
Decision (ROD), was signed by EPA in 2005, EPA
and MassDEP project managers in coordination with
stakeholders from ACES, the Town of Acton Health
Department and the Acton Water District have
worked with W. R. Grace on the design of the remedy.
EPA has regularly held conference calls to discuss de-
sign details with community stakeholders. In addition,
community stakeholders have had an opportunity to
review and provide comments on technical reports,
well locations and work plans related to the design
of the site remedies. Stakeholder comments were
communicated and/or discussed with W.R. Grace's
contractors and incorporated into the remedy designs.
There are three major areas where cleanup work is
now required at the W. R. Grace site: groundwater
at the Northeast Area; groundwater at the Landfill
Area; and sediment at Sinking Pond and the North
Lagoon Wetland area. Below is a summary of actions
that have been taken in each area, as well as descrip-
tions of the work remaining at each of these three
areas. In addition, we have included information on
what residents can expect during the upcoming 2011
continued >
INFORMATION SESSION
On May 18th, 2011, 7:00 pm, EPA will hold a
Public Information Session at the Acton Memo-
rial Library to update residents about upcom-
ing activities at the WR Grace Superfund site.
The public is welcome to come beforehand to
gather information, preview exhibits and talk
informally to representatives from the EPA,
MassDEP and the community. The meeting
space is fully accessible. For more information,
contact: Sarah White, EPA Community Involve-
ment Coordinator (at right).
KEY CONTACTS:
DERRICK GOLDEN
U.S. EPA Remedial
Project Manager
(617) 918-1448
golden.derrick@epa.gov
SARAH WHITE
U.S. EPA Community
Involvement Coordinator
(617) 918-1026
white.sarah@epa.gov
JENNIFER MCWEENY
Project Manager
MA Dept. of Environmental
Protection
(617) 654-6560
jennifer.mcweeny@state.ma.us
GENERAL INFO:
EPA NEW ENGLAND
5 Post Office Sq.,
Suite 100
Boston, MA 02109-3912
TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-888-EPA-7341
LEARN MORE AT:
www.epa.gov/region1/
superfund
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
May 2011
> printed on 100% recycled paper, with a minimum of 50% post-consumer waste, using vegetable-based inks
SDMS DocID 485420
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Extraction Well
Railroad
Truck Route / Site Access
Truck Route TBD
Site Feature
Site Boundary
North east Area
Treatment System
North Lagoon
Wetland
Sediment Staging
& Dewatering Area
Existing Aquifer
Restoration System
New Landfill Area
Groundwater Treatment System
Industrial Landfill
Truck Route/Site Access
Independence Rd
Approximate
Landfill Area
Extraction Wells
N
0.25
1 Miles
Figure 1
W.R. Grace Superfund Site
Acton, Massachusetts
Map created by EPA Region 1 CIS
Aprl 13, 2011 Data Sources: Aerial
Photo / Base Map - Bing Maps;
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EPA TO HONOR OF
MARY MICHELMAN WITH A LIFE-
TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
EPA will honor Mary Michelman with a Life-
time Achievement Award for her work dur-
ing the environmental cleanup of the W.R.
Grace site at EPA's Environmental Merit
awards ceremony to be held on Wednesday,
May 11 from 1 to 3:00 pm at Faneuil Hall
in Boston. While serving as President of
ACES, Mary committed herself to promot-
ing the safety of Acton's citizens. She was a
dedicated environmentalist and community
activist who made a tremendous difference.
She had a positive impact on all who worked
with her. EPA would like to extend an invita-
tion to those who knew and worked with
Mary to this event.
construction season. EPA is providing oversight
to ensure that measures are taken to protect
public health and the environment are in place
during construction.
NORTHEAST AREA
Construction of the Northeast Area ground-
water pump and treatment system began in
June 2009 and was completed in March 2010.
This system extracts approximately 20 gallons
per minute (gpm) of contaminated groundwa-
ter from 140 to 210 feet below the ground
surface (fbgs), it then treats this contaminated
water to remove Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs) and arsenic and then re-injects the clean
water back into the aquifer. This system began
operation on April 5, 2010 and it continues to
pump and treat groundwater from this area. To
date, the Northeast Area treatment system has
pumped over 7.2 million gallons of contaminated
groundwater and has removed approximately
5.9 pounds of total VOCs. See Figure 1 for a
site map depicting the location of the system
and see Figure 2 to view the components of the
Northeast Area groundwater pump and treat-
ment system.
LANDFILL AREA
Construction of the building for the Landfill
Area groundwater treatment system began in
October 2010, and the installation of the treat-
ment equipment is ongoing. This treatment sys-
tem is scheduled to begin operating in early May
Fig.2 - Components of Northeast Area treatment system
(Fig. 3a - above) Landfill Area treatment system (Fig.3b - below) UV Oxidation
unit destroys contamination
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2011, and operation will continue operation until
cleanup levels are met and groundwater does
not present an unacceptable risk. This treatment
system will extract 50-55 gpm of contaminated
groundwater from five extraction wells located
in the vicinity of the Industrial Landfill at various
depths. See site map (Figure 1) for the approxi-
mate location of the Landfill Area treatment
system and extraction wells.
LANDFILL AREA GROUND-
WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM
Inorganics (metals) will be removed from the
extracted groundwater via a microfiltration unit.
Other contaminants (VOCs and 1,4 Dioxane)
are destroyed by using ultraviolet light to
activate a titanium dioxide (TiO2) slurry catalyst.
The clean water will then be discharged to Sink-
ing Pond. Figure 3a and 3b shows the interior
equipment for the Landfill Area treatment
system.
SEDIMENT REMEDIATION-
SINKING POND & NORTH
LAGOON WETLANDS
Numerous studies and sampling events have
identified unacceptable human health and
ecological risks from prolonged exposure to
sediment in Sinking Pond and the North Lagoon
Wetland. Beginning in the summer of 2011,
approximately 9,000 cubic yards of sediments
contaminated with arsenic and manganese will
be excavated. After the contaminated sedi-
ments are removed, post excavation sampling
and analysis will be performed in Sinking Pond
to determine if the appropriate and protec-
tive cleanup levels have been met within the
remaining sediment. Excavated sediment will be
dewatered and dried onsite. The sediments will
then be transported via trucks and disposed of
at an appropriate offsite disposal facility. After
the cleanup activities are completed, these areas
will re-vegetated and monitored to ensure the
wetland areas are properly restored.
CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE ADDITIONAL CONTACTS
Hauling in of equipment and excavation at the
Sinking Pond-North Lagoon area will begin in
June 2011, and trucks will be accessing the site
from Independence Road. See site map Figure 1
to view the sediment removal locations and
staging area. Residents who live on Indepen-
dence Road should expect an increase in truck
traffic when the dried sediments are taken off
the property for disposal. The schedule will be
Monday through Friday, during the hours of
7:00 am - 6:00 pm. The entire construction
period is expected to last 16 weeks. The trucks
are expected to begin transporting equipment
from May until mid June. Sediment removal and
transport will take place in August and Sep-
tember. The speed limit of 30 miles per hour
on Independence Road will be strictly enforced
while the trucks enter and leave the W.R. Grace
site. The truck route is depicted on the site
map (Figure 1).
ENVIRONMENTAL & PUBLIC
HEALTH SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
The trucks will be required to be free of dust
and dirt prior to exiting the site. Sediments con-
tained inside the trucks will be covered during
transport to prevent dust generation. Air quality
monitoring in the work areas will be conducted
to ensure that protective air levels are maintained.
Measures will be taken to control dust on site.
NEXT STEPS
Upon completion of excavation and disposal of
contaminated sediments, the wetland areas in
Sinking Pond and the North Lagoon Wetland
will be restored and monitored. Long term
groundwater monitoring will also continue.
Doug Halley
Town of Acton Health Department
Health Director
978-264-9634
dhalleyOtown.acton.ma.us
Matt Mostoller
Acton Water District
978-263-9107
M attOacto n water, com
Acton Citizens for Environmental Safety (ACES)
info@actonaces.org
www.actonaces.org/
Fig.4- Boat at the location of water collection
station at the center of Sinking Pond
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