ECOLOGICAL REVITALIZATION OF CONTAMINATED SITES CASE STUDY

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This case study is part of a
series focused on ecological
revitalization conducted
during contaminated
site remediation and
reuse; these case studies
are being compiled by
the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
Technology Innovation
and Field Services Division
(TIFSD). The purpose of
these case studies is to
provide site managers with
information on ecological
reuse, including principles
for implementation,
recommendations based
on personal experiences,
a specific point of contact,
and a network of sites
with an ecological reuse
component.
Agencies Work Together to Preserve and
Create Fresh and Saltwater Wetlands at
Former Manufacturing Facility
In an effort to save as much of a functional but contaminated
marsh as possible while still protecting human health and
the environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and its partners used a creative approach to identify
the contaminated areas at the Atlas Tack Corporation (Atlas
Tack) site in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, that needed to be
excavated and removed from the site. Historical waste
disposal practices left soils, surface water, groundwater, and
surrounding wetlands contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOC), cyanide, heavy metals, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCB), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAH). Contamination even threatened nearby Buzzards
Bay, an Estuary of National
Significance. Original
cleanup goals would have
required excavation of the
entire wetland, but agencies
conducted a bioavailability
study and toxicity testing to
more accurately determine
exactly which sediments
needed to be removed.
During the excavation of
contaminated marsh sediment, the agencies noticed that an
existing hurricane dike was not allowing enough salt water
to pass through to an existing saltwater marsh to support
native plants. As a result, invasive species were taking over.
Instead of spending millions of dollars to reconstruct the dike,
the agencies maximized available resources and designed
an earthen berm to divide the existing saltwater marsh into
Ecological Revitalization = the process of returning
land from a contaminated state to one that supports
functioning and sustainable habitat.
Topics Highlighted in
this Case Study:
•	Attractive Nuisance
/ Bioavailability
/ Erosion
/ Invasive Species
/ Predator Control
•	Recreation
•	Soil Amendments
/ Use of Native Plants
•	Use of Volunteers
/ Water Management
•	Wildlife Habitat:
/ Freshwater Wetland
•	Prairie
/ Saltwater Wetland
•	Savannah
/ Stream
/Woodland
May 2011, EPA542-R-10-007
ivzviv.cluin.org/eco tools
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ECOLOGICAL R E VITA LIZATION OF CONTAMINATED SITES CASE STUDY
Temporary
Berm
sou rue*
ItAftlilCft
Boys Creek
Marsh
(1) a smaller saltwater marsh that could be
supported with the existing dike, and (2) a new
freshwater wetland. More than 14,000 native
plants were planted throughout the preserved
and newly created wetlands, and now the
freshwater wetland and saltwater marsh are
becoming thriving habitat for local wildlife and
migrating birds.
Background
• The Atlas Tack site is located in Fairhaven,
Massachusetts. The 48-acre site includes
(1) the entire Atlas Tack facility property
(about 13.6 acres of commercial area and 7.2
acres of wetland, some of which was filled
during the manufacturing era), (2) property
adjacent to the Atlas Tack facility (about
3.2 acres), and (3) portions of Boys Creek
and adjacent saltwater tidal wetland (more
than 20 acres) extending to Buzzards Bay,
which is a designated Estuary of National
Significance.
•	The Atlas Tack facility operated at the site
from 1901 through 1985 and manufactured
wire tacks, steel nails, rivets, bolts, shoe
eyelets, and similar items. The facility's
operations included electroplating,
acid-washing, enameling, and painting
processes.
•	Wastes containing cyanide and heavy
metals were discharged into an unlined
acid neutralizing lagoon adjacent to a
saltwater tidal wetland in Buzzards Bay.
Process wastes containing acids, metals
(such as copper and nickel), and solvents
were discharged into drains in the floor
of the manufacturing building, an on-site
lagoon, and Boys Creek. Some of these
chemicals migrated to nearby soils and
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Prim li Sow Wwe 4 Debris Area
$"*> Phase IH Marsh £ Creek Ana
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Stodifiiie/Pfooeswij Area
Marsh Area
Atlas Tack Corporation Superfund Site
Fairhaven, MA
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Girls Creek *
Marsh
Priests Cove
2
Atlas Tack Corporation, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Superfund Case Study

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ECOLOGICAL R E VITA LIZATION OF CONTAMINATED SITES CASE STUDY
Ecologically Based
Cleanup Goals
Interim groundwater cleanup goals
were ecologically based because the
groundwater could carry contaminants
to Boys Creek and Buzzards Bay. The
groundwater at the site is not used for
drinking water, so cleanup goals specific to
drinking water did not need to be met.
groundwater. Other contaminated areas at
the site include a filled wetland, a former
dump, and other chemical spills.
•	The facility's operations contaminated the
surrounding soils, surface water, wetlands,
and/or groundwater with VOCs (mainly
toluene); cyanide; heavy metals including
arsenic, chromium, cadmium, lead, copper,
zinc, nickel, and antimony; pesticides;
PCBs; and semivolatile organic compounds
(SVOC) (mainly PAHs).
•	The remediation included cleanup and
ecological revitalization and was completed
in three phases:
» Phase I included cleanup of the 13.6-acre
commercial area and consisted of (1)
demolishing the manufacturing facility,
power plant, and 185-foot smoke stack;
(2) excavating and removing the plating
pit, pickling trench, and underground
waste conveyance trenches; and (3)
excavating approximately 5,500 cubic
yards (cy) of contaminated soil and
775 cy of plating sludge. Some of the
buildings contained asbestos, which was
removed before demolition began. All
material was disposed of off site at either
nonhazardous landfills or hazardous
waste facilities, as appropriate. This
cleanup phase was completed in March
2006 and cost about $2.3 million.
» Phase II included remediation of a 9-acre
solid waste disposal area. This area
includes a portion of the original wetland
that was filled during the manufacturing
era, the former lagoon area, and the
Commercial and Industrial Debris (CID)
area. Before the remediation, there was
essentially no vegetation in this area
of the wetland. Remediation included
excavation of approximately 36,600 cy
of contaminated soil and debris, which
was disposed of at nonhazardous waste
landfills. This cleanup phase was
completed in November 2006 and cost
about $14 million.
» Phase III activities included excavating a
total of 36,400 cy of contaminated marsh
and creek bed sediment at Boys Creek
and restoring these areas as well as the
entire site. Based on analytical results,
the contaminated sediment was disposed
of at nonhazardous waste landfills. The
marsh restoration began in May 2007,
and construction was completed in
September 2007. The cost of this cleanup
phase was about $6.5 million. Monitored
natural attenuation for the groundwater
is under way.
Salt Marsh Excavation
Bioavailability Studies Can
Preserve Habitat
A bioavailability study in the marsh was
conducted to more accurately define areas
to be excavated and avoid any unnecessary
destruction of any floodplain, wetland, or
riverfront area.
Atlas Tack Corporation, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Superfund Case Study

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ECOLOGICAL REVITALIZATION OF CONTAMINATED SITES CASE STUDY
Ecological Revitalization
The 48-acre site originally consisted of a salt
marsh below a hurricane dike and a creek
running through the dike. Contaminants
became concentrated to the area north of the
dike when contaminated groundwater ran
through the dike opening. Large stands of the
invasive species Phragmit.es (common reed)
grew south of the dike. EPA, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) used remediation of this site as an
opportunity to create some much-needed
freshwater and saltwater marsh habitat. Girls
Creek Marsh, a pristine wetland that lies east
of the marsh, was used as a reference wetland
to compare in measuring success.
The remediation plan was designed to restore
the existing marsh and create additional
marsh areas as well as provide a means
to eliminate storm water flooding. The
revitalization included construction of a
clay core earthen berm in the wetland north
of an existing dike to create separate fresh
and salt water wetlands. EPA, USAGE, and
NOAA jointly designed the new wetlands
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Interagency Resources
Benefit Restoration
The NOAA Restoration Center has an
interagency agreement with EPA to
provide technical assistance on feasibility,
design, and construction details at
no additional cost to EPA. NOAA
can provide consulting for ecosystem
restoration to help coordinate remediation
and restoration at a remediation site.
For example, NOAA can help select
appropriate grass and seed mixes for
restoration efforts at the site. In addition,
NOAA can enhance or extend restoration
above and beyond remediation with other
funds through NOAA programs, such
as the Community-based Restoration
Program.
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Earthen Berm Installation
to minimize growth of the invasive species
Phvaginites, provide a means to allow storm
water to discharge into the estuary, and create
additional estuarine habitat. The restoration
was completed in 2007 and includes the tidal
saltwater marsh and a freshwater wetland fed
mainly by groundwater and some storm water.
The freshwater wetland was designed with
steep slopes and a low elevation to encourage
standing water at a depth that minimizes
reintroduction of Phragmites. A lowered
elevation in the saltwater marsh removed
existing Phragmites during excavation and
prevented it from coming back by allowing
more salt water to enter.
Originally, the area was to be seeded with
native species, but enough seeds were not
available. Therefore, native plant plugs
were planted, which increased the cost of the
restoration. Both wetlands were planted with
a variety of native species, and islands created
in the freshwater wetland were planted with
deciduous vegetation, including shrubs and
trees.
Agency coordination has been an essential
part of the Atlas Tack Superfund Site
remediation. As part of planning for the
ecological revitalization, EPA coordinated with
USACE and made use of NOAA's Damage
Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration
Program (DARRP), which acts as a federal
natural resource trustee. Through DARRP,
NOAA contributed to development of
cleanup values for the sediment, the wetland
Atlas Tack Corporation, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Superfund Case Study

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ECOLOGICAL REVITALIZATION OF CONTAMINATED SITES CASE STUDY
Stakeholders Involvement
EPA - Conducted cleanup and revitalization activities under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
US ACE - Acted as construction manager for remedial activities and provided technical
guidance during the design of the wetlands.
NOAA - Restoration specialists provided guidance on selection of cleanup values, cleanup
of the wetlands, and restoration through use of DARRR
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection - Responsible for operations
and maintenance (O&M) of the site once the wetlands are functional or after one year.
removal plan, and the design of the mitigation
that resulted in ecological enhancements at
no additional cost to EPA. Using normal
Superfund funding, these three federal
agencies worked cooperatively to create an
effective remedy for the site that was enhanced
by ecological revitalization.
Preserving Existing Habitat
The original sediment cleanup goals from a
2000 Record of Decision (ROD) would have
required excavation of the entire marsh.
EPA and its partners were reluctant to
completely excavate the marsh because it was a
functional habitat. Therefore, EPA completed
a bioavailability study in 2001 and 2002 to
preserve as much of the existing marsh as
possible, while still removing marsh sediment
that posed a risk to human health and the
environment. The study showed that some
areas with sediment contamination above the
original cleanup goals were not a threat to
human health or the environment. Specifically,
Removing Invasive Species
during Soil Excavation
The entire area north of the dike (4.5
acres) was excavated, as well as 1.5 acres
of the area south of the dike. Soil was
removed in the winter, when the ground
was frozen, and some of the invasive
Phragmites was also removed while
removing the soil.
the study calculated the "effects range-median
quotients" (ERMQ) for the main contaminants
of concern (six metals) and compared the
values with toxicity testing results. ERMQs
of greater than 1.0 showed toxicity, while a
value less than 1.0 showed little to no toxicity.
The ERMQ was calculated for each sediment
sample, and areas with sediment samples
showing an ERMQ of greater than 1.0 indicated
toxicity and were excavated; underlying soil
was sampled to ensure that protective cleanup
levels were achieved.
Maximizing Water Resources
An existing culvert through the hurricane dike
was under-designed and restricted tidal flow
into the northern salt marsh. The amount
of water coming through the dike could not
sustain the original marsh and resulted in a
large stand of Phragmites and a significantly
lower value habitat. Cleanup funding could
not be used to open the culvert through the
dike, and it was estimated to cost several
million dollars to replace the culvert. As a
result, EPA, USACE, and NOAA designed (1)
a freshwater wetland where the Phragmites
once stood, and (2) a smaller saltwater marsh,
which was separated by a clay core earthen
berm and would be sustainable with water
that could pass through the existing culvert, all
of which could be completed using CERCLA
funding. The earthen berm caused surface and
groundwater to pond and create the freshwater
emergent wetland. Spillways were also
installed to allow excess fresh water to flow
Atlas Tack Corporation, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Superfund Case Study
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ECOLOGICAL R E VITA LIZATION OF CONTAMINATED SITES CASE STUDY
/•	\
Phytoremediation by planting trees was
considered in the original cleanup plan
to lower the groundwater table and
prevent it from flowing through remaining
contamination at the site. The agencies
decided against this phytoremediation
component because the newly created
freshwater wetland needed as much
groundwater as possible from the upland
areas. Lowering the groundwater table
would not allow enough groundwater to
flow into the wetland, increasing the risk
of Phragmites invasion. Plus, the risks from
groundwater flowing beneath the site were
determined to be minimal.
• ^
to Boys Creek during storms. The sides of the
wetland were steeply sloped (2:1) to prevent
re-invasion by Phragmites. The saltwater marsh
was left at a lower elevation after contaminated
soil was excavated to allow more salt water into
the area and reduce Phragmites populations.
Both wetlands were planted with native
species.
Creating New Habitat
Ten small upland islands were created in
the freshwater wetland and planted with
herbaceous freshwater plants, trees, and
shrubs; these plants helped to maximize
valuable habitat space. Woody debris and rock
formations were also used as materials during
construction of the islands to help provide a
variety of habitats throughout the wetland.
Native northeast New England wildflowers
were also seeded to encourage the return of
native birds and pollinators to the area.
More than 14,000 low and high marsh wetland
plant plugs were planted, as well as shrubs
and trees in the upland areas. Species such
as seashore saltgrass (Distichlis spicata),
saltmeadow rush (Juncus geradi), saltmarsh
cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), and salt hay
(.Spartina patens) were planted in the salt water
marsh. The freshwater wetland was planted
with a variety of species, including spatterdock
(.Nuphar advena), water smartweed (polygonum
Island Plant Plugs
High Marsh Plantings
Plan t Plugs
amphibium), pickerelweed (Pontedaria cordata),
and hardstem bulrush (Scirpus acutus). Islands
were planted with sedges (Car ex spp.), duck
potato (Sagittaria latifolia), and giant bur-reed
(Sparganium eurycarpum). Any remaining
Phragmites stands were treated with herbicide.
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Atlas Tack Corporation, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Superfund Case Study

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ECOLOGICAL REVITALIZATION OF CONTAMINATED SITES CASE STUDY
a
Timing is Everything When It
Comes to Planting
June or September are the best times to
plant freshwater wetlands in the Northeast
U.S. because the heat and lack of rain in
mid-summer can stress newly planted
plugs. However, all work needed to be
completed by September, so planting was
done in the summer. The plants were
heavily watered to increase their chances of
success since they were not planted during
the optimal time.
Operation and Maintenance
Monitoring and maintenance of the restoration
included (1) regular visits during the growing
season to qualitatively assess the restoration,
and (2) establishing wetland monitoring
stations to quantitatively assess each habitat as
well as the Girls Creek reference wetland.
This project has been remediated using
CERCLA funding. Therefore, EPA was
responsible for O&M of the site for 1 year,
including the restoration area. In addition,
EPA is responsible for groundwater
monitoring activities for 10 years. The State
of Massachusetts took over responsibility
for O&M of the wetlands after 1 year and is
exploring the opportunity of asking a local
conservation group to take responsibility for
long-term management of the wetlands.
Lessons Learned
different areas of restoration. After the
excavated areas had been backfilled with
common fill, 6 inches of loam was placed
before planting. The saltwater marsh
needed an organic content of 0 to 2.33
percent, the uplands needed an organic
content of greater than 3 percent, and the
freshwater wetland needed an organic
content of greater than 6 percent.
c)	Account for invasive species that are
difficult to manage. Phragmites is difficult
to control. This project was able to remove
existing stands of Phragmites during
excavation and with the use of herbicides;
steep bank slopes and deeper water
were used to prevent additional growth.
However, continued control of this invasive
species will be a long-term effort.
d)	Reuse material during revitalization
activities, when possible. Boulders
removed during soil excavation were
cleaned and reused in the freshwater
wetland. This revise reduced disposal costs
and enhanced the habitat. In addition, trees
that had to be removed for access were
chipped and used for erosion control and
habitat enhancement.
e)	Be flexible with the design. Soil in both
the freshwater wetland and saltwater marsh
consolidated and subsided because of the
tide and the presence of standing water.
Some areas that were originally high marsh
consolidated and had to be replanted with
low marsh species.
Atlas Tack Revitalization
a)	Consider timing when planting in
wetlands. The initial vegetation monitoring
survey showed that many plugs did not
survive the first winter because they were
planted too late in the early fall. Since
survival was guaranteed for 1 year, they
were replanted in the spring to allow
more time for the new plants to become
established before the next winter.
b)	Soils are integral to the success of a
restoration. Loam with different amounts
of organic material was used as topsoil for
Atlas Tack Corporation, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Superfund Case Study
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ECOLOGICAL REVITALIZATION OF CONTAMINATED SITES CASE STUDY
Additional Information
Websites to obtain additional information on the Atlas Tack site and ecological revitalization include the
following:
EPA Region 1 Atlas Tack Fact Sheet
http://yosemite.epa.gov/rl/npl_pad.nsf/f52fa5c31fa8f5c885256adc0050b631/7F21321A3A6F9C90852568FF
005ADB0C?OpenDocument
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Final Interim Remedial Action Report (O&F Completion Report) for
Phases II and III Atlas Tack Corporation Superfund Site
http://www.epa.gov/regionl/superfund/sites/atlas/295436.pdf
EPA Preliminary Closeout Report Atlas Tack Corporation Superfund Site
http://www.epa.gov/regionl/superfund/sites/atlas/278812.pdf
EPA Ecological Revitalization Case Study Presentation on Atlas Tack
http://clu-in.org/conf/tio/ecocasestudies_080207/
EPA's Eco Tools Website
http://www.clu-in.org/ecotools/
Ecological Revitalization: Turning Contaminated Properties into Community Assets
http://www.clu-in.org/download/issues/ecotools/Ecological_Revitalization_Turning_Contaminated_
Properties_into_Community_Assets.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions about Ecological Revitalization of Superfund Sites
http://www.clu-in.org/download/remed/542f06002.pdf
Revegetating Landfills and Waste Containment Areas Fact Sheet
http://www.clu-in.org/download/remed/revegetating_fact_sheet.pdf
Ecological Revitalization and Attractive Nuisance Issues
http://www.epa.gov/tio/download/remed/542f06003.pdf
For additional information on the Atlas Tack site, you can also contact
the EPA/NOAA project manager:
Elaine Stanley, RPM
(617) 918-1332
stanley.elainet@epa.gov
Ken Finkelstein, NOAA
(617) 918-1499
ken.finkelstein@noaa.gov
If you have any questions or comments on this fact sheet, please contact:
Michele Mahoney, EPA
mahoney.michele@epa.gov
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Atlas Tack Corporation, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, Superfund Case Study

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