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Site Type: Site Awaiting NPL Decision (SAND) 
WORCESTER TOOL & STAMPING CO
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map of site |
| LEICESTER, Massachusetts |
| WORCESTER County |
| Street Address: | 10 HANKEY ST
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| Zip Code: | 01542 |
Congressional
District(s): |
03 |
| EPA ID #: | MAD001131598 |
| Site ID #: | 0100427 |
| Site Alias: | |
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Description
The Worcester Tool & Stamping Co (Worcester Tool) property is located at 10 Hankey Street in Leicester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. The property corresponds to Lots B1, B2, C7, and C8 on Leicester Tax Assessor’s Map Nos. 43 and 43B. The 18.07-acre property is owned and occupied by Worcester Tool. The property consists of an active manufacturing facility, a former sludge pond, three former effluent ponds, and woodlands. The property is bordered to the north and east by woodland and the French River, and to the south and west by residences.
Land use prior to 1789 is unknown. From 1789 to the 1840s a blacksmith occupied the property. From the 1840s to the 1930s, several knife manufacturers occupied the property. From the 1930s to 1949, Worcester Valve & Fittings/Haskins Manufacturing Company manufactured valves and injection-molded plastics on the property. In 1949, Worcester Tool purchased the property and began operations as a manufacturer of metal hardware for tool boxes, luggage, and cases. From 1953 to 1989, Worcester Tool conducted electroplating operations including brass, cadmium, and nickel plating, black oxidizing of steel parts, and associated alkaline cleaning and acid pickling. In 1955, after the Army Corps of Engineers diverted the French River following a flood, Worcester Tool constructed one sludge pond and three effluent ponds in the abandoned river bed. Effluent reportedly flowed through the three ponds and discharged directly to the French River. In 1989, Worcester Tool ceased electroplating operations on the property. In the early 1990s, sludge was excavated from the sludge pond and transported off site for disposal. In 1993, soil and sludge were excavated from the three effluent ponds and disposed of off site. The effluent ponds were then graded over. Fourteen aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) are located on the property, in addition to a former chemical storage area, a hazardous waste storage area, and a lacquer storage area. Previous investigation of the property include a 1984 Preliminary Assessment, a 1987 Site Inspection, and a 1997 Site Inspection Prioritization.
The estimated population served by public drinking water supply wells within 4-radial miles of the property is 5,636. The nearest public well is located 1.25 miles north of the property. The estimated population served by private drinking water supply wells within 4-radial miles of the property is 6,986. The nearest private well is located approximately 800 feet (ft) southwest of the property. Groundwater occurs in overburden at a depth of 2 to 11 ft below ground surface (bgs) and groundwater flow is to the northeast. Analytical results of groundwater samples collected from on-site monitoring wells in 1983, 1985, 1986, and 1987 indicated the presence of seven volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including trichloroethylene (TCE), toluene, benzene, and xylenes and 10 inorganic elements including cadmium, lead, mercury, and cyanide. Based on the available data, potential impacts to nearby groundwater drinking water supply sources are unknown.
Stormwater runoff from the eastern portion of the property flows to the French River via a drainage ditch located east of the facility. Stormwater runoff from the remainder of the property flows south to an adjacent wetland which discharges to the French River. There are no drinking water intakes located along the 15-mile downstream surface water pathway. A Clean Water Act (CWA)-protected water body, a fishery, 14.5 miles of wetland frontage, and one State-listed endangered species habitat occur along the 15-mile downstream surface water pathway. The eastern portion of the property is partially within the 100-year flood plain of the French River. Analytical results of surface water samples collected from the French River in 1985 indicated the presence of TCE, sodium, zinc, and cyanide. Based on analytical results, a CWA-protected water body and a fishery appear to have been impacted.
There are approximately 40 full-time workers and six residents on the property. The nearest residence is located on the property. An estimated 1,659 people reside within 1-radial mile of the property. There are no schools or day-care centers located within 200 feet of the property. Access to the property is unrestricted. No known surface soil samples have been collected from the property to date. As a result, potential impacts to nearby residential populations and on-site workers are unknown.
SAND Fact Sheet Last Updated on: 3 July 2001
An estimated 24,335 people, 1,091 acres of wetlands, a CWA-protected water body, one State-listed endangered species habitat, one State-listed threatened species habitat, one habitat for a candidate species for Federal listing, four State Wildlife Management Areas, and one State Designated Natural Area are located within 4-radial miles of the property. No laboratory qualitative air samples are known to have been collected from the property. Based on the available data, no impacts to nearby residential populations or sensitive environments are known or suspected.
The Worcester Tool property is classified as a Tier 1B site by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) and is currently in Phase II of the Massachusetts Contingency Plan. Remedial activities including quarterly groundwater monitoring are ongoing.
Current Status
Photos
Links to Other Information
Public Record Locations
EPA New England Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 918-1440
Contacts
| Nancy Smith |
| Site Assessment Manager |
| Address: | One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (HBS)
Boston, MA 02114-2023 |
| Phone #: | 617-918-1436 |
| E-Mail Address: | smith.nancya@epa.gov |
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