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Site Type: Long Term/National Priorities List (NPL)  |
NATICK LABORATORY ARMY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING CENTER |
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| Natick, Massachusetts |
Middlesex County
| Street Address: | Kansas Street |
| Zip Code: | 01760 |
Congressional
District(s): |
07 |
| EPA ID #: | MA1210020631 |
| Site ID #: | 0101831 |
| Site Aliases: |
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| Site Responsibility: | Federal |
| NPL LISTING HISTORY |
| Proposed Date | 05/10/1993 |
| Final Date | 05/31/1994 |
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Site Description
The Natick Laboratory Army Research, Development, and Engineering Center (Natick Laboratory) is a 78-acre facility located in Natick, Massachusetts. The Army is the Lead Agency in charge of the clean-up [(508) 233-5550]. The Natick Laboratory occupies a peninsula on the eastern shore of Lake Cochituate state park and recreational area and is bordered on the north and west by a residential area. The site was purchased by the Army in 1949 from the Metropolitan District Commission . At the time of purchase the property was primarily used as a forested recreational area, but it also included a gravel pit in a section of the site now known as the Building T-25 Area. The Army built the Natick Laboratory in 1954 and has since used the area for industrial, laboratory, and storage activities for research and development in the areas of food science, aero-mechanical, clothing, material, and equipment engineering. During its operation, the Army used a variety of substances including the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, carbon disulfide, benzene, chloroform, and acetone; "standard laboratory chemicals;" mineral spirits/turpentine; paints; inks; lubricants; gasoline; tetraethyl lead, a gasoline additive; pesticides; and metal dusts. In addition, radioactive materials and chemical agents were used for food irradiation, tracer studies and clothing absorption tests, respectively. In 1989, personnel at the facility noticed a sheen on the site runoff water generated during rainstorms. Construction workers also noticed a benzene-like odor in soil near a boring that was drilled for the construction of a gymnasium on site. The Army conducted soil gas surveys in the Building T-25 and Gymnasium Areas and detected several types of VOCs. In addition, soil, groundwater, and surface water samples revealed elevated levels of VOCs and a variety of heavy metals, such as barium, arsenic, copper, chromium, lead, and zinc. Other potential sources of contamination have been identified near the laboratory. Petroleum, organic compounds, and chlorinated solvents have been discovered in soil and groundwater on a property previously used as a laundromat, which is located approximately 3,600 feet from the Army's Facility. Several other potential sources of groundwater contamination, including automotive garages and other laundromats, have been identified. The Springvale municipal well field is located 2500 feet northwest of the facility and may be threatened by the contaminated groundwater. About 37,000 people obtain their drinking water from wells within 4 miles of the site. The Army is has upgraded their treatment system to more fully contain contaminated ground water on the facility.
Threats and Contaminants
Soil, groundwater, and surface water are contaminated with various VOCs, naphthalene, Freon 113, and a variety of heavy metals such as barium, mercury, arsenic, copper, chromium, lead, and zinc have been found in various investigations. Contamination may threaten several municipal well fields. Contamination also may threaten Lake Cochituate, which borders the site on the east. People who ingest or come into contact with contaminated soil or groundwater may be at risk. In addition, the State issued a public health fish consumption advisory for Lake Chochituate in May of 1996.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed through several long-term remedial phases focusing on the cleanup of the T-25 Area, Former Gym Site, Supply Wells, Boiler Plant, and Building 22 & 36, and remaining investigational areas of the site.
Response Action Status
| T-25 Area | The Army began an in-depth study of soil and groundwater contamination at the T-25 Area in 1993. Studies completed in 1993 thru 1996 have help determine cleanup strategies for containing contaminant migration via an onsite pump and treat system. The Army is currently operating the pump and treat system and monitoring the groundwater in the T- Area. A Record of Decision (ROD) for groundwater was signed in September 2001. The ROD calls for the continued operation of the existing treatment system. The Army will is updating plans for operations and maintenance and long term monitoring of the system and surrounding groundwater. Additional extraction well installation took place in fall 2002 to more fully contain the contaminated water on post. Additonal monitoring wells were installed in 2003 to monitor the contamination north of the Site. The treatment system was upgraded to treat the additional water. A pilot study is being implemented during 2006-2009 to determine if augmented bioremediation will be effective. Soil at the T-25 Area were determined to not require action. A No Further Action ROD was signed in September 2008. |
| Former Gym Site | The Army began an extensive investigation of groundwater and soil contamination at the Former Gym Site in the fall of 1997. This investigation will lead to the selection of cleanup remedies for the area. An excavation of contaminated soils was completed in spring 2002. A report on the confirmation sampling was submitted in October 2002. An additonal monitoring well was installed in 2003. The Army monitored the groundwater contamination for several additional rounds and determined the removal action was sucessful. A ROD for no further action was signed in the fall of 2007. |
| Supply Well (Buidlings 63, 2&45) | The Army began an investigation of groundwater contamination at the Army Supply Well ( building 63) in the fall of 1997. The Army discontinued using the on-post water supply well and now contracts with the town of Natick for potable water. The Army has found additional groundwater contamination near the wells and Buildings 45 and 2. The Army is currently implementing a pilot study to determine groundwater capture effectiveness with an extraction system. Contaminated water is being treated at the T-25 area treatment plant. Additional well head treatment is planned for this year to treat a contaminant that is not treated by the treatment plant. |
| Boiler Plant and Building 22 & 36 | These two areas are currently being investigated. Soil, Sediment and groundwater samples have been taken. The Army performed a soil removal action at the Boiler Plant, with a closeout report provided in the fall of 2001. The Army submitted a Remedial Investigation Report for the investigations at Building 22 in 2003. The Army is currently implementing a pilot study to determine groundwater capture effectiveness with an extraction system. Contaminated water is being treated at the T-25 area treatment plant. Soil at the Boiler Plant has been determined to not require action. A No Further Action ROD was signed in September 2008. |
| T-25 and Main Outfall | A Tier I, II, & III Ecological Risk Assessment was performed for the sediments and surface water at these areas. The Army submitted the Tier III report in 2003. The Tier I & II indicated a probability of risk to the benthic community and a potential for aquatic food chain exposures to occur in the sediments, but no unacceptable risk for exposures to the surface water. The Tier III concluded that concentrations of chemicals of ecological concern in fish and in the sediment-based aquatic food chain do not pose unacceptable risk to wildlife. A human health fish consumption pathway evaluation completed in 2005 verified the Massachusetts DPH fish consumption restriction for sensitive populations. Additional fish tissue studies were conducted in fall 2007. A ROD is expected in for the fall of 2009 for the Sediment Area. |
| Soil Areas | The Army has identified several other areas of possible contamination at the site as part of their Master Environmental Plan and Installation Action Plan. A ROD for No Futher Action for the soil at the T-25 area, the Boiler Plant, and at Buildings 13 &14 was signed in fall of 2008. |
Environmental Progress
The EPA has determined that the Natick Laboratory Army Research, Development, and Engineering Center site poses no immediate threat to human health or the environment while studies leading to site cleanup are being planned and conducted.
Current Site Status
The Soldiers Systems Command was added to the NPL in 1994. The Army began an in-depth study of soil and groundwater contamination at the T-25 Area in 1993. Studies completed in 1993 thru 1996 have help determine cleanup strategies for containing contaminant migration via an onsite pump and treat system. The Army is currently operating the pump and treat system and monitoring the groundwater in the T- Area. A Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in 2001 after the Army and Natick signed a cooperative agreement that requires the Army to provide a one time grant of $3.1 million to the town to operate the town wellhead treatment plant. The town received the grant in September 2001. The Army began an extensive investigation of groundwater and soil contamination at the Former Gym site in the Fall of 1997. This investigation lead to an excavation of contaminated soils in the spring/summer of 2002. The Army began an investigation of groundwater contamination at the Army Supply Well in the fall of 1997. EPA and the Army signed a 2 party agreement under which the rest of the cleanup will be performed in August of 2006. In 2007 the Army implmented an extraction and treatment system for the groundwater near the Supply Well Area. The groundwater at the 63, 2&45 Area is pumped to the T-25 Area treatment plant. Building 22 & 36 groundwater is currently the focus of another extraction and treatment pilot study, similar to the 63, 2&45 Area. The conclusions of a Tier II Ecological Risk Assessment prompted a Tier III Ecological Risk Assessment Investigation which was performed in 2002. A report was submitted describing the low risks to the sediment-based aquatic food chain. Low human health risks were also found due to exposure to the recreational fish consumption pathway. The Sediments will be the focus of a ROD in 2009. Soils were excavated at the Buildings 62&68 site during the fall of 2005. This site was included with the Former Proposed Gymnasium Site No Further Action ROD in the fall of 2007. Contaminated soil was removed from the Boiler Plant in 1990, 1995 and 2002. Soil was excavated at the T-25 Area in 1997. Soil was removed from the Building 14 and Former Building 13 in 2007. A No further Action ROD was signed in September 2008 for the soil at the T-25 Area, the Building 13 and Former Building 14 Area, and the Boiler Plant Area.
Site Photos
Links to Other Site Information
Newsletters & Press Releases:
Federal Register Notices:
Reports and Studies:
Decision Documents:
Other Links:
Site Repositories
Soldier's System Center Environmental Safety and Health Office, Jim Connolly (508) 233-5550
Natick Library, Natick, MA 01760
Natick Board of Health, Town Hall, Natick, MA 01760
Contacts
| EPA Remedial Project Manager: | Christine Williams |
| Address: | 1 Congress Street, Suite 1100 (HBT), Boston MA 02114-2023 |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1384 |
| E-Mail Address: | williams.christine@epa.gov |
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| EPA Community Involvement Coordinator: | Stacy Greendlinger |
| Address: | 1 Congress Street Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2023 |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1403 |
| E-Mail Address: | greendlinger.stacy@epa.gov |
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