Environmental Services and Dam Inspection in MA

In November 2015, Tata & Howard provided peer review on work that had been completed at a former lumber mill, and all documentation that had been prepared to date was reviewed. The primary concern was an area where pressure treated lumber had been stored, as the lumber was treated with chromated copper arsenate and the residual arsenic concentrations in soil were very high. The previous recommendation was to put a deed restriction (specifically, an Activity and Use Limitation or AUL) on the area to limit the exposure. Because the planned future use for the property is to convert the existing mill building into residential condominiums, this approach was inadequate. In an effort to find a more suitable solution, T&H obtained and analyzed additional soil samples from this area and found that less than 200 cubic yards had been affected. The contaminated soil can be removed for under $30,000 and will bring residual concentrations below that allowed for residential use.

Because the mill is located on a brook, a filing with the local Conservation Commission was required.  T&H suggested that, due to the limited work being done and the fact that the affected area is separated from the brook by a retaining wall, an Abbreviated Notice of Intent (ANOI) would be sufficient. The Conservation Commission agreed, and the ANOI was approved at a Public Hearing. T&H is currently in the process of preparing a Release Abatement Measure (RAM) Plan, which must be submitted to the MassDEP prior to excavation.

During the first onsite project meeting, T&H noticed a dam located in front of the mill building which the client acknowledged was out of compliance and would likely result in financial penalties. T&H contacted the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and requested an extension for the completion of the dam inspection, assuring DCR that the inspection would be completed in a timely manner.  DCR agreed to waive the penalties, and the inspection report was completed in January 2016.