Cleanup Work to Begin at Contaminated Location in Attleboro

Contact: David Deegan, E.P.A. Office of Public Affairs, (617) 918-1017, [email protected]

For Immediate Release: January 18, 2005; Release # dd050104

Boston - This week E.P.A. will begin work on a $300,000 cleanup plan at the APCO Mossberg Co. location in Attleboro, Mass., to remove surface soils and debris containing traces of lead, heavy metals and PCBs. The work is being done under EPA's Superfund program, which assists state and community efforts to identify and clean areas that are contaminated with hazardous materials.

Investigations last spring and summer identified the contamination, including discarded capacitors containing PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). The contamination is suspected to be linked to manufacturing activities previously conducted on the property.

E.P.A. is working closely with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Attleboro on this project. As part of the cleanup, E.P.A. will take steps during the next several weeks to stabilize the site, including:

In the spring, EPA's work at the location will continue, when the Agency will excavate and consolidate contaminated debris piles and surface soils, and backfill the excavated areas with clean fill materials.

All contaminated materials removed from the property will be shipped off-site for disposal at EPA-approved facilities.

"The 1st step is to repair or install additional fencing and warning signs around the property" said Melanie Morash of EPA. "We are asking the community to support our efforts by obeying the warning signs and keeping clear of the work areas." Morash, EPA's On-Scene Coordinator from the Superfund removal program, will be managing the cleanup.

The 11-acre Attleboro site, located at 100-101 Lamb Street, was the location of the Frank Mossberg Company in the early 1900's. During that time, the company manufactured tools, automobile starters and spring kits. APCO Mossberg Company, Incorporated assumed ownership of the property in 1937. Fifty years later, in 1987, the manufacturing building was destroyed by a fire.

The work is expected to take less than 9 months. Additional information on the plan is accessible at: www.epaosc.net/ApcoMossberg.

Related Information:
Cleanup Process
Cleanup in New England
PCB's

There are currently no comments for this story. Be the first to add a comment!
Click here to add a comment about this story.