The “Site” consists of nine privately-owned residential properties (total of approximately 2 acres) and an abandoned former metal scrap recycling facility (14 acres) known as Tombarello and Sons.  Operations had included magnetic separation of metals from soil and truck driving instruction, both of which generated dust for many years. The residential properties have reportedly been contaminated due to their proximity to the facility. They are all currently occupied, and their condition and features are consistent with well-maintained homes.

Tombarello had erected a fence between the homes and the facility in the mid-1960s, and later maintained it to help mitigate fugitive dust from entering the residential properties.

On April 2, 2008 the Site was referred by letter to EPA from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), who had already sampled the nine residential properties and the facility, as a potential removal action. On April 29, 2008, EPA performed a Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation (PA/SI) on the residential properties.  The facility was not inspected at that time because of access issues.

1.1.2 Site Description

The Tombarello property is generally level, contains several buildings and building foundation pads, and is secured with chain-link fencing. Most of the equipment, metal and debris have been removed, but some, including one excavator, remains. The surface is a mostly bare soil/gravel mix with some sparse vegetation and some soil piles. A drainage ditch runs from the north to the southwest, adjacent to I-495.  Sampling on the northern property boundary indicates contamination with PCBs and metals in surface soil.

The residential properties are well-maintained and contain homes, lawn, decorative shrubbery/ trees and a variety of outbuildings and patios. Elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metals had been detected throughout the back yards.

A narrow strip of land in the back of some of the residential properties is legally part of the Tombarello & Sons property, but had been incorporated as an integral part of the resident’s back yards for years because the fence was placed inside the Tombarello & Sons property and a vegetative border evolved.

According to the Region ArcGIS mapping tool, within one mile of the Site there are:

• 21,968 residents;

• 8 public and private schools;

• One day care center;

• One hospital;

• Two nursing homes.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities 
    
    2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

• Establish a command post and staging area which will include a portable restroom and water service, or acces to water service via a temporary meter/fire hydrant
• Prepartion of a Health & Safety Plan which will include meaures for decontamation of working personnel and equipment.
• Perform air monitoring for dust with DataRAM, DustTrack ll or similar monitoring equipment. Supplies needed for dust suppression must be readily available if and when determined to be necessary.
• Removal of concrete blocks located along the western edge of proposed excavation area.  The blocks wil be relocated and stacked on a paved area of the property.
• Clearing of trees located within excavation area. Removed trees wil be chipped on-site.  Tree chippings wil be added to existing mulch stockpiles. Trees that cannot be chipped wil be removed from the site.
• Relocation of existing stockpile present within proposed excavation area.
• Installation of haybales along the residential property line. The haybales will be placed on excavated edge of fence line following placement of clean fill and berm in that area.  Haybales will be placed on top of berm and remain at project completion.
• Preparation of soil stabilization area to encompass an approximate 150'x 150' area located on the southern portion of the property. Preparation activities wil include the following: 
  •  An approximate 15'x30' area of petroleum-impacted soil beneath the excavàtor to be removed and relocated on-site wil be excavated to a depth of 6 inches. Stockpiled soils wil be placed on and covered with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. Soils removed from that area will be stockpiled separately on-site while awaiting documentation. Contractor shall sample stockpile for receiving facility requirements. Soil shall be disposed at a permitted RCRA/TSCA facility.
  • Additional preparation of the soil stabilization area will include removal of 20'x65'xl' reinforced concrete slab. Slab shall be stockpiled on-site.
  • Surround soil stabilization area with staked haybales.
  • A layer of non-biodegradable fiter fabric with an overlapping 3 foot seams will be placed on 150'xI50' soil stabilization area prior to placement of excavated soils.
• Excavation of a 600'x50' area of soil on the former Tombarello Property. Soil will be excavated to a depth of 1 foot below surface grade.
• Relocation of excavated soil on-site to soil stabilization area.
• Stumps that cannot be placed in the stabilization area due to size shall be removed off-site with the contaminated soil referenced above.
• Placement of non-biodegradable filter fabric on base of completed excavation with 3 fee overlapping seams.
• Backfilling of excavation with common burrow.
• Loam and hydro-seeding of backfilled excavation area.
• Stabilization of excavated soils on-site. Soil stabilization area will be covered with nonbiodegradable filter fabric, followed by 4 inches of loam and hydro-seeded.
• Hydro-seeding additional exposed areas of the Tombarello Propery as directed.
• Removal of miscellaneous OHM containers located on the Tombarello Property. Oily solids beneath the OHM storage area will be drummed and removed from the Tombarello Property.
• Placement of appropriate signage indicating that the Site is contaminated. Signs wil be placed every 100 feet on existing fencing along the western (Marston Street), southern (recreational field) and eastern (Route 495) portons of the Tombarello Property. Signage wil be installed on posts ever 100 feet along the boundary of the abuttng waste management facility. It is anticipated that approximately 25 signs will be placed on existing fencing and approximately 12 signs wil be placed on posts along the Waste Management boundary.

     2.2.1.2 Next Steps  

2.2.2 Issues

• MassDEP
• MADPH
• City of Lawrence
• Residents
• EPA Community Involvment Staff and ATSDR.