Environmental Pollutants
Other Contaminants Superfund Sites MAMassachusetts Superfund Site: Hocomonco Pond
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Are you in need of a Toxic Tort Lawyer in The Old Colony State? The US EPA has designated Hocomonco Pond in Massachusetts as a Superfund site because of its amounts of enviromental contamination and threat to the environment. You can read the report for the site below.
Some Superfund sites are on the National Priority Site Lists. The National Priorities List ("NPL") is the list of hazardous waste sites in the United States eligible for long-term remedial action financed under the federal Superfund program. Environmental Protection Agency regulations outline a formal process for assessing hazardous waste sites and placing them on the NPL. The NPL is intended primarily to guide the EPA in determining which sites warrant further investigation.
Sites are listed on the NPL upon completion of Hazard Ranking System (HRS) screening, public solicitation of comments about the proposed site, and after all comments have been addressed. EPA may delete a final NPL site if it determines that no further response is required to protect human health or the environment. Sites where a remediation was completed through the Superfund program are typically deleted from the NPL.
Living near Superfund Sites in Massachusetts may place you and your family at risk of getting sick from exposure to the site and experiencing a loss of value for your property, but action is being taken to fight back: The EPA says,
[We have] set up a "Post Construction Completion" (or PCC) strategy to ensure that Superfund response actions provide for the long-term protection of human health and the environment. EPA's Post Construction Completion activities also involve optimizing remedies to increase effectiveness and/or reduce cost without sacrificing long-term protection of human health and the environment.Even so, most of the Superfund sites still pose a health hazard to the well-being of those who live close to a Superfund site.
When you rely on Weitz & Luxenberg, you benefit from the legal experience of skilled Toxic Tort lawyers who will help fight back against polluters and secure you and your family the financial compensation and remediation to which you are entitled.
Below you can read the EPA report for the Hocomonco Pond Superfund site. If you, a loved one, or someone in your community has suffered due to exposure to a Superfund site Hocomonco Pond, or if your property has lost value because of contamination, you will need a toxic tort lawyer who knows the people of the State of Massachusetts . Learn more about your legal options by filling out this simple form. There is no obligation, and your case will be evaluated within 24 hours. To refer a friend, neighbor, or loved one, follow this link to let them know about the environmental toxic tort lawyers at Weitz & Luxenberg.
Hocomonco Pond
This site is not a Federal Facility.
Site Type: Long Term/National Priorities List (NPL)
HOCOMONCO POND
Westborough, Massachusetts
Worcester County
| Street Address: | Otis Street |
| Zip Code: | 01581 |
| Congressional District(s): | 03 |
| EPA ID #: | MAD980732341 |
| Site ID #: | 0100751 |
| Site Aliases: |
Street Address:
Otis Street
Zip Code:
01581
Congressional
District(s):
03
EPA ID #:
MAD980732341
Site ID #:
0100751
Site Aliases:
Site Responsibility:
Federal, Potentially Responsible Parties
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date
12/30/1982
Final Date
09/08/1983
Interim Source Control
In 1989, the EPA selected the following cleanup remedies: site grading, capping, and relocation of the storm drain pipe currently located adjacent to the east side of the former lagoon. The parties potentially responsible for site contamination completed relocation of the storm drain pipe in 1990. The site has been graded and capped, and long-term monitoring will continue for several years to ensure the effectiveness of the site remedy.
Landfill and Groundwater Treatment
In 1985, final cleanup remedies were selected for the Kettle Pond area. Since that time, a significant amount of contamination was discovered in the deeper soils at the Kettle Pond area, which caused the original remedy to be re-evaluated. The selected remedy now consists of excavating the top 4 to 5 feet of contaminated sediments and soils within the Kettle Pond area, followed by in-place bioremediation of the remaining contaminated soils. Hocomonco Pond and a discharge stream also will be dredged and contaminated sediments were disposed of in an on-site double lined landfill. The cleanup design was completed in 1993. The parties potentially responsible for site contamination began constructing the remedies in the fall of 1993, beginning with the groundwater treatment plant. The groundwater treatment plant, completed in 1994, started recovering the Creosote/ Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs). Construction of the double lined landfill on the site for the containment of contaminated soil and sediments from Hocomonco Pond was completed in 1994. Cleanup activities completed in 1995 include dredging of contaminated sediments from Hocomonco Pond and Hocomonco Brook and the sealing/lining of a storm drain. Cleanup activities completed in 1996 included excavating soils in the former tank farm area and constructing liners to cover the surface of the landfill and the surface of a former lagoon. The presence of Creosote/DNAPLs below the groundwater table creates a limitation that makes groundwater remediation using available remedial technologies, technically impracticable. An Explanation of Significant Differences for a Technical Impracticability Waiver was approved by EPA and MADEP in September of 1999 for the site. The TI waived the groundwater clean up goals (due to the presence of DNAPLs/creosote) and resulted in the site receiving a construction complete in 1999. One of the conditions of the TI waiver includes long term sampling and monitoring of sediments, groundwater and DNAPL. Continued recovery of the DNAPL/creosote shall continue to ensure that human health and the environment remain fully protected. Recovery of creosote/DNAPLs (located approximately 120 feet below the ground surface) was initiated in 1995 and approximately 57,000 gallons of pure creosote have been recovered to date.
Enforcement Highlights
A Consent Decree was filed in the U.S. District Court in 1987, requiring the potentially responsible parties to design and construct the selected remedy.
Disclaimer
Instructions about PDF
Recent Press Releases about this project (if any) nbsp
A Cleanup Update, August 19. 1999 (155KB) nbsp
Final NPL Listing nbsp
Administrative Record Index, OU 01 Record of Decision (ROD), September 30, 1985 (417 KB) nbsp
Five Year Review Report, September 21, 2004 nbsp
View Records of Decision (RODS) on-line (EPA HQ) nbsp
NPL Site Narrative at Listing: nbsp
[Back to Top
EPA Remedial Project Manager:
Derrick Golden
Address:
One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (HBO)
Boston, MA 02114-2023
Phone #:
(617) 918-1448
E-Mail Address:
EPA Community Involvement Coordinator:
Stacy Greendlinger
Address:
1 Congress Street Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2023
Phone #:
(617- 918-1403
E-Mail Address:
greendlinger.stacy@epa.gov
State Agency Contact:
Jay Naparstek
Address:
MADEP
One Winter Street
Boston, MA 02108
Phone #:
617-292-5697
E-Mail Address:
Jay.Naparstek@state.ma.us
The former lagoon was excavated on the site to intercept and contain spillage and wastes from the wood treatment operations. As this lagoon became filled with creosote waste, sludges and water, the contents were then pumped into two low depressions located east of the site operations, near the west side of Otis Street. These depressions are referred to as "Kettle Pond". The available records indicate that no creosote was used or stored on the site after March 26, 1946. The last use of the site was as a cement plant where dry cement was distributed in bulk. The sediments, surface water and groundwater had shown creosote contamination. As of 2000, approximately 18,000 people and 6,534 households are located within the town of Westborough. Residential areas are located less than a half mile northeast and southeast of the site.
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater, soil, and sediments from the pond and its shore were contaminated with creosote, which contains carcinogenic compounds. Pure creosote exists approximately 120 feet below the surface of the ground. To prevent a potential exposure to the contaminants located 120 feet below the ground surface, no groundwater wells are allowed at the site. Preventing direct exposure to the creosote has prevented exposure to unacceptable risk(s).
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in long-term remedial phases which focused on source removal and control, constructing a landfill, constructing a cap on the former lagoon, sediment removal and placement and groundwater treatment.
Response Action Status
| Interim Source Control | In 1989, the EPA selected the following cleanup remedies: site grading, capping, and relocation of the storm drain pipe currently located adjacent to the east side of the former lagoon. The parties potentially responsible for site contamination completed relocation of the storm drain pipe in 1990. The site has been graded and capped, and long-term monitoring will continue for several years to ensure the effectiveness of the site remedy. |
| Landfill and Groundwater Treatment | In 1985, final cleanup remedies were selected for the Kettle Pond area. Since that time, a significant amount of contamination was discovered in the deeper soils at the Kettle Pond area, which caused the original remedy to be re-evaluated. The selected remedy now consists of excavating the top 4 to 5 feet of contaminated sediments and soils within the Kettle Pond area, followed by in-place bioremediation of the remaining contaminated soils. Hocomonco Pond and a discharge stream also will be dredged and contaminated sediments were disposed of in an on-site double lined landfill. The cleanup design was completed in 1993. The parties potentially responsible for site contamination began constructing the remedies in the fall of 1993, beginning with the groundwater treatment plant. The groundwater treatment plant, completed in 1994, started recovering the Creosote/ Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPLs). Construction of the double lined landfill on the site for the containment of contaminated soil and sediments from Hocomonco Pond was completed in 1994. Cleanup activities completed in 1995 include dredging of contaminated sediments from Hocomonco Pond and Hocomonco Brook and the sealing/lining of a storm drain. Cleanup activities completed in 1996 included excavating soils in the former tank farm area and constructing liners to cover the surface of the landfill and the surface of a former lagoon. The presence of Creosote/DNAPLs below the groundwater table creates a limitation that makes groundwater remediation using available remedial technologies, technically impracticable. An Explanation of Significant Differences for a Technical Impracticability Waiver was approved by EPA and MADEP in September of 1999 for the site. The TI waived the groundwater clean up goals (due to the presence of DNAPLs/creosote) and resulted in the site receiving a construction complete in 1999. One of the conditions of the TI waiver includes long term sampling and monitoring of sediments, groundwater and DNAPL. Continued recovery of the DNAPL/creosote shall continue to ensure that human health and the environment remain fully protected. Recovery of creosote/DNAPLs (located approximately 120 feet below the ground surface) was initiated in 1995 and approximately 57,000 gallons of pure creosote have been recovered to date. |
| Enforcement Highlights | A Consent Decree was filed in the U.S. District Court in 1987, requiring the potentially responsible parties to design and construct the selected remedy. |
Environmental Progress
Grading, capping, soils removal, relocating a storm drain pipe, constructing a landfill, dredging of sediments and the groundwater monitoring have made the Hocomonco Pond site safe by preventing contact with contaminants that pose an unacceptable risk.
Current Site Status
Currently the responsible party is performing Long Term Sampling of sediments, groundwater and continued DNAPL removal from over 120 feet below the ground surface. EPA and the MADEP have been working with the property owner (the Town of Westborough) to develop a protective redevelopment/re-use plan for the Hocomonco site.
In the near future, the Town of Westborough would like preserve the site as open space and to redevelop the property into a passive recreational walking trail along the shore of Hocomonco Pond that meanders through the site. Long term groundwater and sediment monitoring and DNAPL recovery will continue for several years to ensure the protectiveness of the remedy for human health and the environment. The First Five Year Remedy Review was completed in September of 2004.
Site Photos
Links to Other Site Information
| Disclaimer | Instructions about PDF |
| Recent Press Releases about this project (if any) nbsp | ||
| A Cleanup Update, August 19. 1999 (155KB) nbsp | ||
| Final NPL Listing nbsp | ||
| Administrative Record Index, OU 01 Record of Decision (ROD), September 30, 1985 (417 KB) nbsp | ||
| Five Year Review Report, September 21, 2004 nbsp | ||
| View Records of Decision (RODS) on-line (EPA HQ) nbsp |
| NPL Site Narrative at Listing: nbsp | ||
Westborough Public Library, West Main Street, Westborough, MA 01581
EPA New England Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 918-1440
| [Back to Top |
| EPA Remedial Project Manager: | Derrick Golden |
| Address: | One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (HBO) Boston, MA 02114-2023 |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1448 |
| E-Mail Address: | |
| EPA Community Involvement Coordinator: | Stacy Greendlinger |
| Address: | 1 Congress Street Suite 1100 Boston, MA 02114-2023 |
| Phone #: | (617- 918-1403 |
| E-Mail Address: | greendlinger.stacy@epa.gov |
| State Agency Contact: | Jay Naparstek |
| Address: | MADEP One Winter Street Boston, MA 02108 |
| Phone #: | 617-292-5697 |
| E-Mail Address: | Jay.Naparstek@state.ma.us |
source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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see also:
Hanscom Field/Hanscom Air Force Base
Environmental Pollution in Massachusetts- Site: Hanscom Field/Hanscom Air Force BaseHanscom Field/Hanscom Air Force Base Superfund Site Info - Fight Air Pollution, Water Pollution
Haverhill Municipal Landfill
Environmental Pollution in Massachusetts- Site: Haverhill Municipal LandfillHaverhill Municipal Landfill Superfund Site Info - Fight Air Pollution, Water Pollution
Ha - Hz
Massachusetts Superfund Sites: Ha - HzMassachusetts Superfund Site Info - Fight Air Pollution, Water Pollution
