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Site Type: Long Term/National Priorities List (NPL)  |
OLIN CHEMICAL |
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| Wilmington, Massachusetts |
Middlesex County
| Street Address: | 51 Eames Street |
| Zip Code: | 01887 |
Congressional
District(s): |
05 |
| EPA ID #: | MAD001403104 |
| Site ID #: | |
| Site Aliases: |
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| Site Responsibility: | Federal |
| NPL LISTING HISTORY |
| Proposed Date | 09/14/2005 |
| Final Date | 04/18/2006 |
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Site Description
The Olin Chemical facility encompasses a 53-acre property located at 51 Eames Street in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The inactive facility is completely fenced and is bounded on the north by Eames Street, on the east by Boston and Maine railroad tracks, on the south by the Woburn/Wilmington town line, and on the west by an inactive Boston and Maine railroad spur. Surrounding the property to the north, east and west are heavy and light industrial facilities, and to the south is a former municipal landfill for the City of Woburn. The closest residential areas are west of the Olin Chemical facility along Main Street and Cooke Avenue.
The Olin Chemical property was used for chemical manufacturing starting in 1953 by National Polychemicals, Inc. (NPI). Between 1953 and 1971, NPI was owned or operated by American Biltrite Rubber Co., Fisons Limited, and Fisons Corporation. In 1968, Stepan Chemical Corporation purchased NPI and operated the facility until it was purchased by Olin Corporation in 1980. Olin Chemical produced chemical blowing agents, stabilizers, antioxidants and other specialty chemicals for the rubber and plastics industry at the facility. The facility closed in 1986, but the property is still owned by Olin Corporation. Historical wastewater disposal practices were a major source of the contamination associated with the Olin Chemical facility. Prior to 1970, all liquid wastes were discharged directly into several unlined pits and ponds in the central portion of the property, as well as into a man-made excavation called Lake Poly Liquid Waste Disposal Area (Lake Poly). In 1970, Stepan Chemical installed an acid treatment and neutralization system and new lined lagoons to replace the unlined pits and ponds. Treated wastes were released into the lagoons where calcium sulfate sludge settled out. The lagoons were periodically dredged and the sludge was deposited in a landfill in the southwest corner of the property (now known as the Calcium Sulfate Landfill). Residual liquid wastes were released to an unlined on-property ditch system until 1972. On-site waste disposal practices have resulted in subsurface contamination both on and off the Olin Chemical property and the closure of municipal drinking water supply wells.
Threats and Contaminants
Principal contaminants associated with the site groundwater include: ammonia, chloride, sodium, sulfate, chromium and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). The contamination in the aquifer extends 0.75 miles west from the Olin Chemical property to the drinking water supply wells, and includes a complex mixture of inorganic and about 196 organic chemicals.
Principal contaminants detected in on-site soil include: trimethylpentenes, acetone, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, N-nitrosodiphenylamine, pesticides (including BHC compounds), aluminum, calcium, chromium, iron, sodium, chloride, ammonia, sulfate and aromatic extractable petroleum hydrocarbon (EPH) fractions. Higher concentrations are generally present only in soils greater than three (3) feet below ground surface (i.e., subsurface soils.)
Principal contaminants detected in site-related surface water and sediment include: trimethylpentenes, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, chromium and petroleum hydrocarbon compounds (EPH fractions.) Surface water and sediment contamination is associated with an on-site drainage ditch system, which is described as the south ditch, west ditch and east ditch.
Cleanup Approach
Response Action Status
| Discovery | 06/01/1980 |
| Preliminary Assessment | 10/01/1980 |
| Site Inspection | 10/01/1980 |
| State Removal Action | 08/23/2004 |
| Proposal to NPL | 09/14/2005 |
| Finalized on NPL | 04/18/2006 |
| Enforcement Highlights | In June 2007, EPA reached an administrative settlement agreement and order on consent (AOC) with a group of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) for Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) activities at the site. A copy of the AOC is available via the "Links to Other Site Information" section below. |
Environmental Progress
While extensive work has been completed by Olin Corporation to control and contain wastes onsite, including construction of a slurry wall around the former waste pits, excavation of Lake Poly and other hot spots, operation of a pump and treat system for Plant B, and capping the Calcium Sulfate Landfill, the release of wastes from onsite sources continues. In accordance with the State’s program requirements, Olin Corporation has investigated the site and performed response actions onsite, but no efforts have been initiated to address the contaminant plume, which extends 0.75 miles west from the site.
Current Site Status
EPA reached an administrative settlement agreement and order on consent (AOC) with a group of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) who have agreed to perform ongoing studies and reimburse EPA for future costs associated with regulatory oversight. Under the terms of this AOC, the PRPs have submitted an Interim Response Steps Work Plan to continue ongoing operation and maintenance activities, and a Focused Remedial Investigation Report to document existing site conditions and propose further investigations as a Superfund remedial investigation and feasibility study. These documents have been reviewed and conditionally approved by EPA. In October 2008, the PRPs submitted a Draft work plan for the remedial investigation and feasibility study, which is under review. A copy of the AOC and other key site documents are attached below.
Site Photos
Links to Other Site Information
Newsletters & Press Releases:
Federal Register Notices:
Reports and Studies:
Draft Focused Remedial Investigation Report, October 1, 2007 (opening file is 4.84 MB with link to PDF file)  | | |
| Final Interim Response Steps Work Plan, August 8, 2008 (29 MB) | | |
| Final Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Work Plan - Volume 1 of 4, August 14, 2009 (12.0 MB) | | |
| Final Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Work Plan - Volume 2 of 4, August 14, 2009 (2.33 MB) | | |
| Final Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Work Plan - Volume 3A of 4, August 14, 2009 (Opening file is 31.1 MB with a link to other file) | | |
| Final Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Work Plan - Volume 3B of 4, August 14, 2009 (Opening file is 30.0 MB with a link to other file) | | |
| Final Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) Work Plan - Volume 4 of 4, August 14, 2009 (20.1 MB) | | |
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Decision Documents:
Other Links:
Site Repositories
Wilmington Memorial Library, 175 Middlesex Avenue, Wilmington, MA 01887 (978) 658-2967
EPA New England Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 918-1440
Contacts
| EPA Remedial Project Manager: | Jim DiLorenzo |
| Address: | US Environmental Protection Agency
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100
Mail Code OSRR07-4
Boston, MA 02109-3912 |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1247 |
| E-Mail Address: | dilorenzo.jim@epa.gov |
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| EPA Community Involvement Coordinator: | Sarah White |
| Address: | US Environmental Protection Agency
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100
Mail Code ORA20-1
Boston, MA 02109-3912 |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1026 |
| E-Mail Address: | white.sarah@epa.gov |
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| State Agency Contact: | Joe Coyne |
| Address: | MassDEP
1 Winter Street
Boston, MA 02108 |
| Phone #: | (617) 348-4066 |
| E-Mail Address: | Joseph.Coyne@state.ma.us |
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