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Site Type: Site Awaiting NPL Decision (SAND) 
RAYTHEON CORP.
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| LOWELL, Massachusetts |
| MIDDLESEX County |
| Street Address: | WOBURN ST.
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| Zip Code: | 01852 |
Congressional
District(s): |
05 |
| EPA ID #: | MAD001411081 |
| Site ID #: | 0100445 |
| Site Alias: | |
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Description
The Raytheon property is a missile production facility located in Lowell, Tewksbury, and Billerica Massachusetts at the intersection of the three municipalities. The 30-acre property is located in a mixed industrial, commercial, and residential area and is bordered to the north by Interstate 495, to the east by Boston and Maine Railroad, to the west by the Concord River, and to the south by Corenco Corporation (an animal by-product processing facility).
Active buildings on the property include a large central manufacturing building, administrative office space, and various smaller structures used for storage of flammables, hazardous waste, hazardous materials, and gas cylinders. A small pump house used for on-site irrigation is located close to the banks of the Concord River. Paved parking areas exist east and west of the main building. The remainder of the property north of the facility is a mix of woods and densely vegetated wetlands.
According to Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) records, the property has been active since the late 1800s, changing ownership approximately five times since the start of operations. The property was used as a cartridge and munitions factory (under ownership of the U.S. Army Department of Defense), then was leased to Davis Aircraft Corporation in 1950. In 1952 Raytheon obtained Davis’ interest in the property, and extended an existing sublease to United Shoe Manufacturing Corporation for the storage and testing of munitions for the Federal government. Raytheon Corporation received title to the property solely for the production of the Sparrow air-to-air missile. The facility consisted of a single large main building surrounded by many smaller buildings. In 1971 the main building of the old facility was demolished, and a new facility was constructed on the property to accommodate the production of a new product, the Sidewinder missile.
In 1979, approximately 100 drums were discovered in the wetland adjacent to the facility. Most of the drums were empty, but a few contained oily dirt, solid waste, small metal chips, roof asphalt or tar pitch, and salt. The drums were removed but no sampling was conducted to confirm whether or not a release had occurred.
In 1985, groundwater contamination was first discovered when test wells were installed in the northern area of the property; chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were the primary contaminants identified. Other contaminants that were detected in groundwater included one semivolatile organic compound (SVOC) and eight metals.
Groundwater is located from 1 to 10 feet below ground surface (bgs) and bedrock is between 25 and 70 feet bgs. Groundwater investigations determined that a two-aquifer system exists beneath the property. A silt-layer acting as an aquitard limits hydraulic communication between the upper and lower aquifers. Water-level monitoring data suggest that groundwater in both the upper and lower aquifers flows in a westerly to northwesterly direction towards the Concord River. The closest public water supply well is located 1.5 miles to the west of the property across the Concord River in East Chelmsford. The closest private well is a little over one-quarter of a mile to the east. No contamination of wells within a 4-mile radius of the property has been documented. Groundwater investigations conducted in 1985 revealed the presence of numerous VOCs which included 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA) and 1,1,1-trichloroethylene (TCE). Subsequent groundwater investigations conducted in 1993 confirmed groundwater VOC contamination in the vicinity of the main building on the property.
The Concord River flows north along the west boundary of the property into the Merrimack River. One drinking water intake is located in the Merrimack River, 5.25 miles downstream from the property. The northern portion of the property consists of freshwater wetlands. Additional wetlands are located along the Concord River and the Merrimack River. Both of these water bodies are considered recreational fisheries. A study of the Concord River, adjacent to the property, was conducted in 1988 and 1989. Sediment and surface water samples were collected from four river transect lines. VOCs were detected in both surface water and sediment samples, indicating the groundwater plume below the property has impacted the Concord River.
No residence, school or day-care facility is located within 200 yards of the property. A total of 2,650 full and part-time employees occupy the property’s building. Analysis of soil samples collected from borings northeast and west of the main building detected VOC contamination which included TCE, TCA, and their associated degradation products. In addition, bis 2-ethyl-hexylphthalate and numerous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were also detected.
Migration of contaminants via air is not considered to be a significant pathway due to pavement coverage and the depth of soil. Access to the property is restricted by a fence.
The property is currently a Tier 1C site and is in Phase II of the five phase Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) process.
Current Status
Photos
Links to Other Information
Public Record Locations
OSRR Records and Information Center, 1st Floor, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (HSC), Boston, MA 02109-3912 (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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