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Site Type: Site Awaiting NPL Decision (SAND) 
BERKSHIRE TANNING CO (FORMER)
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map of site |
| NORTH ADAMS, Massachusetts |
| BERKSHIRE County |
| Street Address: | ASHTON AVENUE
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| Zip Code: | 01247 |
Congressional
District(s): |
01 |
| EPA ID #: | MAD981065741 |
| Site ID #: | 0100884 |
| Site Alias: | |
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Description
The former Berkshire Tanning Co. property is located on Ashton Avenue in North Adams, Massachusetts. The property is an undeveloped parcel of land, encompassing approximately 4 acres. The property is bordered by the Boston & Maine Railroad to the north, the Hoosic River to the southwest, and the City of North Adams Wastewater Treatment Plant to the east. Mill Stream flows through the property from north to south and discharges to Hoosic River. The property is currently owned by C. P. Development Corporation (CPDC).
The property was used in a recreational capacity (Blackinton Ball Field) from the early 1900s to the late 1940s. From 1948 to 1976, the property was used by owners of nearby tannery facilities as a disposal area. Dumping of tannery waste is believed to have ceased in 1976, concurrent with the closing of the nearby Widen Tannery and shortly after the installation of a sewer easement across the southern portion of the property. Prior to 1978, former tanneries discharged treated wastewater containing chromium to Hoosic River via Mill Stream. In 1990, Environmental Compliance Services, Inc. (ECS) excavated several test pits on the property and reported the presence of drum lids, hide scraps, and dye compounds at depths up to 9.5 feet below ground surface (bgs). Analytical results of soil samples collected from several test pits indicated the presence of heavy metals, semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), which are associated with tannery waste. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigations conducted to date include a Preliminary Assessment (PA) completed April 1985, a Site Inspection (SI) completed September 1991, and a Site Inspection Prioritization (SIP) completed July 1993. These investigations were conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP)
The depth to groundwater beneath the property ranges from 2 feet to 9 feet bgs. The estimated population served by public and private drinking water supply wells located within 4-radial miles of the property is 4,660. The nearest public and private drinking water wells are located 0.62 miles east-southeast and 2 miles west of the property, respectively. No known groundwater samples have been collected from the property. Potential impacts to nearby groundwater drinking supply sources are unknown.
Stormwater runoff from the property enters Mill Stream or flows south-southwest to Hoosic River. The property is within the 100-year flood zone of Hoosic River. Mill Stream and Hoosic River are protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The property contains six separate wetland areas that comprise approximately 40% of the property. There are no drinking water intakes located along the 15-mile downstream pathway from the property. No known surface water or sediment samples have been collected from the 15-mile downstream surface water pathway in relation to the property. Potential impacts to downstream fisheries or sensitive environments are unknown.
There are no on-site residents or workers at the property. The nearest residence is located less than 0.25 mile from the site. Access to the property is unrestricted. Analytical results of surface soil samples collected from a test pit by ECS in 1990 indicated the presence of arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and selenium. Potential impacts to nearby residential populations are unknown.
Clarksburg State Forest and CWA-protected water bodies are located within 1-radial mile of the former tanning company property. Information regarding the population and other sensitive environments located within 4-radial miles of the property is unavailable. No laboratory qualitative air samples are known to have been collected at the property. Based on available information, no impacts to nearby residential populations or sensitive environments from a release of contaminants to air from the property are known or suspected.
The last known action at the property was the SIP completed in July 1993. The Berkshire Tanning Company (Former) property is currently in Phase I of the five-phase Massachusetts Contingency Plan.
Current Status
Photos
Links to Other Information
Public Record Locations
EPA New England Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 918-1440
Contacts
| Nancy Smith |
| Site Assessment Manager |
| Address: | One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (HBS)
Boston, MA 02114-2023 |
| Phone #: | 617-918-1436 |
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| E-Mail Address: | smith.nancya@epa.gov |
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