Attachments: Town of Danvers - Brown Pond_XRF & Analytical Results (Residential Prope....xlsxBrown Pond - Arsenic in Surface Soils.pdf

From: Pyott, Christopher (DEP) [mailto:Christopher.Pyott@MassMail.State.MA.US] Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2016 3:28 PMTo: Tucker, Carol Cc: Lovely, William ; Bazenas, Ted ; Worrall, Eric(DEP) ; Johnson, Stephen (DEP) ;joanne.fagan.state.ma.us ; Vallatini, Maureen (DEP)

Subject: Danvers, Arsenic in surface soils in a residential neighborhood surrounding Brown Pond

MassDEP requests the assistance of EPAs Removal program to address arsenic contaminationidentified in surface soils in a residential neighborhood surrounding Brown Pond, which is located at71 Purchase Street in Danvers, Massachusetts. The details of the case are outlined below. A sitemap showing the area of concern is included as an attachment along with the XRF and analyticaldata.

BACKGROUND

In April 2011, the USEPA collected soil samples from the Town of Danvers property located at 71Purchase Street identified as Brown Pond. Soil samples were collected from 2 separate locations onthe property. The samples were taken from both the ground surface and from a depth of 4.5 feetbelow grade. The soil samples were analyzed for the presence of a complete suite of analyticalparameters including heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds,dioxins, pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls. The samples were originally intended to serve asbackground samples for the assessment of the former Creese and Cook Tannery, an EPA Superfundsite, located at and around 55 Clinton Avenue in Danvers. The Former Creese & Cook Tannery Site islocated on the Crane River less than a mile downstream and southeast from Brown Pond. The soilsamples collected at 71 Purchase Street identified arsenic in both surface and subsurface soils abovethe applicable reportable concentration listed in the Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP), 310CMR 40.0000, and above the Could Pose Imminent Hazard threshold concentration of 40 mg/kg identified in the MCP. No other contaminants were identified above applicable standards. It wasdetermined the elevated arsenic concentrations did not pose an Imminent Hazard condition sincethe Site is currently secured with fencing.

NOR/PHASEIINVESTIGATION

On June 30, 2014, MassDEP issued a Notice of Responsibility to the Town of Danvers for the arsenicrelease and assigned Release Tracking Number 3-32255. On June 30, 2015, CDM Smith, on behalf of

mailto:/O=EXCHANGELABS/OU=EXCHANGE ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=704076607EE6427293F0C6F5091B99AE-BAZENAS, TEDmailto:Hearn.Elsbeth@epa.govmailto:Lovely.William@epa.govMaster List - w Analytical

Town of Danvers - Brown Pond

Residential Sampling

November 2016

ArsenicChromium

Location XRF (Arsenic)ppm+/-Analyitical Result XRF (Chromium)ppm+/-Analyitical Result

3 Laurel Street

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the Town of Danvers, submitted a Phase I Initial Site Investigation to MassDEP. Arseniccontamination was identified in surface soils across much of the Brown Pond Site withconcentrations as high as 260 mg/kg. The contamination was found to extend to the northern andeastern property boundaries at concentrations above the Imminent Hazard threshold concentrationof 40 mg/kg. The analytical results showed that one foot below grade concentrations of arsenic insoil dropped by an order of magnitude, and further investigation showed that at three to five feetbelow grade, only one soil sample exceeded MassDEPs S-1 residential soil standard of 20 mg/kg. No on-site source of arsenic has been identified. It is possible that the source of the contaminationis the 55 Ash Street tannery that previously operated directly upstream on the Crane River from1889-1921, and that releases of contamination from the former tannery operations floweddownstream and settled in Brown Pond. The Brown Pond Site was previously owned by the Creese& Cook Tannery, who purchased the property in 1913, and used Brown Pond as a source of freshwater for their tannery operations. The Town postulates that Brown Pond was excavated to create agreater volume for water storage, and that the spoils were placed in the surrounding neighborhood. The former tannery at 55 Ash Street is now owned by the Winding Brook Condominium. Thesouthern portion of the 55 Ash Street property, on which the former tannery operated, is currentlyundeveloped. FOLLOWUPINVESTIGATION The Brown Pond Site is surrounded to the north and east by residential properties, to the south byPurchase Street, and to the west by Ash Street (See Attached Map). The Town of Danvers iscooperatively working with MassDEP to investigate surface soils in the surrounding residentialneighborhood. In early November, 2016, the Town tested soil for the presence of arsenic. Soilsampling has been completed on seven residential properties, and is proposed for ten moreproperties. MassDEP is waiting for confirmation from the Town regarding the expansion of theinvestigation to these additional ten properties. The ability to sample the additional properties willbe based on the Towns ability to obtain property access. The Town has not secured property accessto the Winding Brook Condominium property, on which the former tannery was located. Once theTown has access, planned investigations on this property are far more detailed and include samplingof surface and subsurface soils, sediment, groundwater, and surface water. The samples collectedfrom the 55 Ash Street property will be evaluated for both arsenic and chromium, which are bothknown to be associated with tannery operations. Additional sampling is also planned for the BrownPond site to evaluate the potential presence of arsenic and chromium in groundwater, sediment,and surface water. To date, the soil samples collected on the Browns Pond site were tested forboth arsenic and chromium, but only arsenic was identified at concentrations above applicablestandards. A review of the attached map depicts the extent of arsenic contamination above the ImminentHazard threshold, which is defined by the pink highlighted area. This area includes:

The Brown Pond Site, with a high arsenic concentration of 260 mg/kg; The entire back portion of 69 Purchase Street and a small portion of front of the property,

with a high arsenic concentration of 200 mg/kg; The majority of 3 Laurel Street, with a high arsenic concentration of 140 mg/kg ; and

The area behind the home at 57 Ash Street, with a high arsenic concentration of 82 mg/kg.

The green highlighted area defines areas tested for arsenic and determined to below the ImminentHazard threshold of 40 mg/kg. These properties include 65 Purchase Street, 67 Purchase Street,most of the front portion of 69 Purchase Street, most of the 57 Ash Street property, a small portionof the 3 Laurel Street property, and most of the 9 Laurel Street property. The green areas includesurface soil that contain arsenic contamination both less than MassDEPs S-1 standard of 20 mg/kgand greater than 20 mg/kg but less than 40 mg/kg. The yellow highlighted area indicates propertiesthat are proposed for testing, pending access from the property owners. REQUESTFORMEETINGMassDEP looks forward to an opportunity to meet with the EPA Removal team to discuss this case,and explore the potential to obtain EPAs assistance with the investigation/remediation of arsenic inthe residential neighborhood surrounding Brown Pond. Please feel free to contact Joanne Fagan(978-694-3390) or Chris Pyott (978-694-3353) to discuss this case. Thank you for your time and attention reviewing this case and Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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Town of Danvers - Brown Pond Residential Sampling November 2016

XRF (Arsenic)ppm

+/-Analyitical

Result XRF (Chromium)

ppm+/-

Analyitical Result

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