|
 |
|
|
|
Site Type: Site Awaiting NPL Decision (SAND) 
BLH ELECTRONICS (FORMER)
 |
| WALTHAM, Massachusetts |
| MIDDLESEX County |
| Street Address: | 42 FOURTH ST.
|
| Zip Code: | 02154 |
Congressional
District(s): |
08 |
| EPA ID #: | MAD081577959 |
| Site ID #: | 0100591 |
| Site Alias: | |
|
|
Description
The former BLH Electronics (BLH) property is located at 42 Fourth Avenue in Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The 6-acre property is designated by the Waltham Tax Assessor's as Map No. 31, Block No. 6, Lot No. 4. The property was formerly occupied by a 101,168 square-foot building and western and eastern parking areas. The BLH Electronics building was demolished in August 1989; and a 347-room hotel, helicopter landing pad, parking garage, and separate parking area were built on portions of the original property and adjacent (western) acquired property. The property is bordered to the north by Prospect Hill Lane, to the south by Fourth Avenue, to the east by wetlands, and to the west by Third Avenue.
Land use prior to 1957 is unknown. The BLH building was constructed on the property in 1957. From 1977 to 1985, BLH manufactured electrical transducers, load cells, and weighing equipment. Manufacturing operations included the use of solvents and corrosives, and resulted in metal waste generation. In 1983, BLH reported to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering [MA DEQE, now the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP)] that the following hazardous chemicals were used at the facility: chromic acid; sulfuric acid; phosphoric acid; ferric chloride; methyl ethyl ketone; N-methyl 2-pyrolidine; 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA); denatured alcohol; xylene; acetone; resonix varnish; vinyl coating solvent containing methyl isobutyl ketone; butyl acetate; chloroethylene; and N-methyl 2-pyrolidone. BLH reported storing chemicals to the east of the former on-site building. Hazardous waste generated by BLH was reportedly shipped off site.
Numerous investigations of the property were conducted between 1984 and 1995. Samples were collected from groundwater monitoring wells, subsurface soil locations, and surface water locations along a drainage swale located east of the property. Analytical results from these investigations documented volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination, consisting largely of chlorinated solvents, present in groundwater, soil, and surface water. Additionally, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination was documented at the location of two former underground storage tanks (USTs), east of the former BLH building.
In 1989, two 10,000-gallon No. 4 fuel oil USTs, 25 cubic yards of contaminated soil surrounding the USTs, a 2,000-gallon aboveground storage tank (AST), an unknown number of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-containing transformers, and an undocumented amount of building asbestos were removed from the property.
Beginning in 1994, to satisfy MA DEP regulations, Rizzo Associates (Rizzo) conducted several additional rounds of subsurface soil and groundwater sampling, as part of a Phase II Comprehensive Site Assessment. Rizzo collected groundwater samples from three existing monitoring wells. One or more VOCs were detected in all samples. Rizzo excavated nine test pits in the eastern parking lot of the property. No VOCs were detected in any of the soil samples collected. Both PAHs and TPHs were detected in samples from the former tank excavation area.
In November 1995, 379 tons of VOC- and oil-contaminated soil were excavated from the former UST area and transported to American Reclamation Corporation. Analytical data from confirmatory subsurface soil samples collected at this time indicated that residual soil contamination on the property was still present.
The depth to groundwater is 3 to 10 feet below ground surface and flows toward the northeast. The nearest municipal groundwater well is located approximately 3 miles northwest of the property.
Surface water runoff from the property flows toward the drainage swale located on the eastern boundary of the property and is collected by municipal catchbasins located to the north, south, and west of the property. The catchbasins discharge to a municipal storm drain system and ultimately to West Chester Brook. The remainder of the 15-downstream mile surface water pathway consists of Lyman Pond, the Charles River, and Boston Inner Harbor. There are no known surface water drinking water intakes located along the surface water pathway.
BLH Electronics (former) CERCLIS No.: MAD081577957
Watham, Massachusetts Site ID: 0100591
There are no access restrictions or barriers to the property. The nearest residence is located approximately 0.3 miles from the property. Migration of identified contaminants via direct contact with contaminated soils or via an air release is unlikely.
Response Action Outcome Statements, a Risk Characterization report, and Phase III investigations are currently being prepared by Rizzo in accordance with MA DEP regulations.
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 |
|