EMERGENCY REMOVAL
Cleaning Up New England
SITE SUMMARIES
W&L SITE UPDATE
MARCH 1011
Walton & Lonsbury Site
U.S. EPA | HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM AT EPA NEW ENGLAND
THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
AND REMOVAL PROGRAM responds
to chemical, biological and radiological releases and large-scale
national emergencies, including homeland security incidents. EPA conducts short
term deonups in the removal program when necessary to protect human health
and the environment by either funding response actions directly or overseeing
and enforcing actions conducted by potentially responsible parties.
BACKGROUND:
The Site at 78 North Avenue in Attleboro, MA once housed a 13,500 square foot chromium plating facility formerly
operated by Walton & Lonsbury, Inc. (W&L). While in operation from 1940-2007, the Site was used to chrome-plate
very large objects such as pistons for large hydraulic equipment or rollers for paper mills. For a time, copper plating
operations also took place until the building was remodeled in the 1950s. A number of chemicals and chemical
compounds were used and left as waste in the operations process. From 1940-1970. all wastes generated from
the facility discharged into the wetlands located on the southern portion of the property via an underground pipe.
After 1970, W&L used a number of different waste disposal techniques that also had environmental consequences
on the Site.
CONTAMINANTS OF CONCERN:
Contaminants of Concern on the Site include total chro-
mium, hexavalent chromium, lead and Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs), The chromium compounds result-
ed from the use of chromic acid to perform chrome
plating in the plant. Lead is a contaminant of concern
because it was used for a variety of operations in the
plant including the making of plumbing pieces for the
plating process,
WHAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED:
Since work began on the Site, all structures have been
demolished and contaminated debris has been trans-
ported off-site to licensed and regulated landfills for
final disposal. During the building demolition phase,
air monitoring devices were placed around the Site
(throughout the neighborhood, playground, and Indus-
trial Park), and at no point during the project were any
elevated levels of dust or metals observed.
This past winter, a targe-scale sampling event was con-
ducted behind the facility to determine the extent of soil
contamination, and the Site has been prepared for soil
excavation. During the excavation, EPA will continue to
deploy air monitoring stations around the Site. EPA will
use these stations to monitor air quality around the site.
If the air monitors detect dust or contamination, work
will be halted immediately until the problem is fixed.
WHAT'S NEXT:
A detailed engineering plan for excavation and
restoration of the impacted residential properties is
currently being designed by a team of highly qualified
engineers, wetland specialists and hydrologists. This
plan will be based upon the residential sampling event
and results obtained last fall. This design is projected
to be completed by this summer.
Data results from sampling events have thoroughly
defined the area of contamination at the Site. Crews
are working to excavate the contaminated soil and
dispose of it at regulated disposal facilities.
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS:
Jeffrey Chormann, Moss Department of Environmen-
tal Protection; Chief of the Assessment and Reporting
Branch, Bureau of Waste Prevention; (617) 292-5888;
jeffreycbormann@state.ma.us
Elsbeth N. Hearn, EPA New England; On-Scene Coordinator,
(617) 918-1265
KEY CONTACTS:
ELISE JAKABHAZT
EPA New England
On-Scene Coordinator
(617)918-1228
jakabhazy.elise@epa.gov
EMI LY ZIMMERMAN
EPA New England, Community
Involvement Coordinator
(617) 918-1037
zimmerman.emily@epa.gov
GENERAL INFO:
EPA NEW ENGLAND
5 Post Office Square
Suite 100
Boston, MA 02109-3912
(617) 918-1111
www.epa.gov/ region T/
EPA TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-888-EPA-7341
LEARN MORE AT:
www.epa.gov/regionT/
superfund/er/
ŁEPAi
United States
Environmental Protection
k Agency
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March 2011
SDMS DocID 482802
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