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Site Type: Site Awaiting NPL Decision (SAND) 
ELECTROMETALS INC (FORMER)
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map of site |
| CHELMSFORD, Massachusetts |
| MIDDLESEX County |
| Street Address: | 275 BILLERICA AVE
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| Zip Code: | 01824 |
Congressional
District(s): |
05 |
| EPA ID #: | MAD001052224 |
| Site ID #: | 0100396 |
| Site Alias: | |
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Description
The former Electrometals Inc. (Electrometals) property is a 4.2-acre parcel located at 275 Billerica Road in Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The property was formerly used by Electrometals for the manufacture of metal housing and plates for the electronics industry and is currently occupied by a manufacturer of deburring equipment. The Electrometals property is bordered to the northeast by Billerica Road, to the southeast by a commercial research and development company (3M Company), to the southwest by a pet food warehouse, and to the northwest by undeveloped land. The Electrometals property boundary on the west and southwest is an unnamed stream that flows in a northwesterly direction.
Land use prior to 1960 is unknown. From 1960 to 1984, the property was occupied by Electrometals. From 1985 to 1990, the rear (west) portion of the building was used for offices and warehouse space by C.R. Bard, a medical supply company. During the 1990s, sections of the building were leased to several commercial and industrial businesses, including a printing shop, a metal fabricator, a wire manufacturer, and a religious organization.
Between 1973 and 1980, the Massachusetts Division of Water Pollution Control investigated Electometals waste handling practices, particularly non-permitted discharges of industrial wastewater and the disposal of paint containers in the western portion of the property. Electometals was found to be in violation of several sections of the Massachusetts Hazardous Waste Regulations and Clean Water Act because of their waste management practices and for failure to obtain the necessary Federal and State discharge permits.
Previous investigations at the Electrometals property have included a Preliminary Assessment performed for EPA in 1981, a 1984 Subsurface Investigation completed by a private contractor, a Site Inspection performed for EPA in 1987, a Site Inspection Prioritization performed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP, previously Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (MA DEQE)) in 1992, and a 1998 Phase II Comprehensive Site Assessment performed by another private contractor. Sampling results have indicated chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and metals present in soil samples collected from the Electrometals property. In 1985, a 9,000-square foot addition was constructed on the western portion of the Electrometals property. During excavation of the western portion of the Electrometals property, buried waste materials, including containers of paint and drums of black material, were encountered. During construction activities conducted in 1985, a private contractor coordinated the removal of waste material from the Electrometals property under MA DEQE supervision. In 1998, another private contractor identified another area of waste disposal on the Electrometals property during Phase II investigative activities. Remedial activities continue for the Electrometals property, primarily under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan, as the site is listed as a Tier 1A site, with remediation overseen by a Licenced Site Professional.
Groundwater is present beneath the Electrometals property in overburden; northwest of the building groundwater flows northwes, while groundwater to the southeast of the building flows south-southeast. The nearest public wells, the East Chelmsford Water Department (ECWD) Wells, are located approximately 2,000 feet northeast of the Electrometals property, and the Electrometals property is located within the Zone II wellhead protection area of the ECWD Wells. There is no file information identifying the nearest private drinking water well. Numerous monitoring wells have been installed on the Electrometals property. Groundwater samples collected from the Electometals property have indicated that one or two plumes of chlorinated VOCs are migrating from the site. The ECWD Wells have been impacted by chlorinated VOCs, although several other possible sources of chlorinated VOC contamination have reportedly been identified in the area. In 1992, MA DEP did not believe that Electrometals was the source of the chlorinated VOC contamination in the ECWD Wells.
Runoff from the Electrometals property discharges to the unnamed stream and associated wetlands, some via a storm water drainage system. The unnamed stream and associated wetlands discharge to Hales Brook, which discharges to River Meadow Brook, which discharges to the Concord River just upstream of its confluence with the Merrimack River. The 15-mile downstream pathway terminus is along the Merrimack River in Methuen, Massachusetts. Surface water intakes located along the Merrimack River serve an estimated 100,000 people. Chlorinated VOCs were detected in surface water samples collected from the unnamed stream in 1984. A portion of the chlorinated VOC groundwater plume may discharge to the unnamed stream and wetlands east of the Electrometals property, but the release is unlikely to extend to the Merrimack River.
The nearest residence to the Electrometals property is located approximately 1,000 feet northwest of the property. An estimated 5,234 people reside within 1-radial mile of the Electrometals property. Past analytical results of soil sampling events conducted on the property indicated chlorinated VOC contamination. During the 1985 excavation for the building addition, paint cans and other waste materials were encountered on the western portion of the property. Reportedly, these waste materials were removed from the property by Clean Harbors, Inc. Additional information regarding the waste removal was not available. Information regarding the collection of surficial soil samples was also not available in the site file.
An estimated 59,527 people reside within 4-radial miles of the Electrometals property. No qualitative air sampling has been conducted at the Electrometals property.
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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