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Site Type: Long Term/National Priorities List (NPL)  |
RE-SOLVE, INC. |
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| North Dartmouth, Massachusetts |
Bristol County
| Street Address: | N HIXVILLE RD |
| Zip Code: | 02747 |
Congressional
District(s): |
03 |
| EPA ID #: | MAD980520621 |
| Site ID #: | 0100682 |
| Site Aliases: |
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| Site Responsibility: | Federal, State, Potentially Responsible Parties |
| NPL LISTING HISTORY |
| Proposed Date | 01/23/1981 |
| Final Date | 09/08/1983 |
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Site Description
The Re-Solve, Inc., Superfund Site, is a former waste chemical reclamation facility situated on 6 acres of land. Between 1956 and 1980, Re-Solve handled a variety of hazardous materials, including solvents, waste oils, organic liquids and solids, acids, alkalizes, inorganic liquids and solids, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Residues from the distillation tower, liquid sludge waste, impure solvents, and burned tires were disposed of in four on-site unlined lagoons. The lagoon contents were burned periodically to reduce the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) content. An oil waste that accumulated at the bottom of the degreaser distillation still was disposed of on one portion of the site through land farming. This oil waste also was spread throughout the site to control dust. Cooling water from the distillation tower was discharged to a shallow on-site lagoon. In 1974, the State issued Re-Solve a license to collect and dispose of hazardous waste. In 1980, the State agreed to accept Re-Solve's offer to surrender its disposal license on the condition that all hazardous waste be removed from the site. In 1981, legal action resulted in all drums, debris, and buildings being removed, but the contents of the four lagoons remained. Approximately 300 people live within a 1-mile radius of the site. Three residences are located within 150 yards of Re-Solve. The site is bounded by wetlands to the north, east, and southeast, and the land surrounding the site is predominantly zoned for single family residential use. The bottoms of the lagoons are situated in the water table, and some contaminants have migrated to groundwater and sediments. All residences obtain their water from private wells located on their property.
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with VOCs and PCBs. Sediments are contaminated with PCBs and VOCs. Soil contains PCBs, lead, and VOCs including, trichloroethylene (TCE), vinyl chloride, methylene chloride, and toluene. Surface water is contaminated with PCBs and VOCs. Fish from the adjacent Copicut River and Cornell Pond contain elevated levels of PCBs and mercury (mercury is not related to the site). Trespassers may be at risk by coming into direct contact with or accidentally ingesting contaminated soil, sediments, groundwater, or surface water. Also, people who eat contaminated fish may be at risk. The Copicut River, located about 500 feet from the site, has been designated for the protection and propagation of fish, other aquatic life, and wildlife. The site is located over an aquifer that serves as a local drinking water source for private residential wells, and serves as a recharge area for part of a nearby town where a new municipal well is being planned. Contaminants are moving off site in surface water run-off and groundwater.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in four stages: an emergency action and three long-term remedial phases focusing on controlling the sources of contamination and cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
| Source Control | In 1985, the EPA implemented a remedy that included removing the contents of the four unlined lagoons, excavating soil from hot spots, and excavating soil from the former oil spreading area for disposal at an off-site approved facility. The area was capped to prevent contact with surface and groundwater. Approximately 16,000 cubic yards of soil was removed from the site. These remedies were completed in 1986. In addition, the site was fenced to limit access to the contaminated areas. This initial Source Control activity was considered Operable Unit 1 (OU-1). |
| Additional Source Control Measures | In 1987, the EPA selected a remedy to prevent the additional migration of contaminants from the site which include excavating 22,500 cubic yards of PCB contaminated soil located above the groundwater table; treating the soil on site by removing the contaminants using dechlorination, and then placing the soil back on site with 18 inches of gravel capping; excavating 3,000 cubic yards of PCB contaminated sediments from wetland areas and treating them through dechlorination; conducting studies to determine if the dechlorination process can be used on a full-scale level; and restoring the wetlands. Emissions from the soil excavation and treatment were monitored, and groundwater and surface water were monitored quarterly to evaluate the effectiveness of the cleanup. This Source Control activity was considered Operable Unit 2 (OU-2). The technical specifications and design for the cleanup were prepared by the potentially responsible parties for site contamination under EPA supervision. The pilot soil treatment plant began operations in 1992. As a result of the pilot studies, EPA modified the soil/sediment treatment technology to low thermal desorption in place of dechlorination followed by off-site incineration of the desorbed contaminants. From mid-1993 to mid-1994, the potentially responsible parties' performed the remedy. During OU-2, 36,000 cubic yards of soil were excavated, treated, and backfilled at the site including 1,500 cubic yards of wetland sediments being evacuated and 200 cubic yards being treated. Contaminants were sent off-site for incineration. In addition, approximately one acre of wetlands surrounding the source area were restored. The treated soil was backfilled, and the site graded and covered with 18 inches of crushed stone. Final source control activities (e.g., fence construction) were completed in late 1994. A final report documenting the completion of the Source Control OU-2 activities, entitled Source Control Remedial Action Report, was finished in the spring of 1996. |
| Entire Site | Remedies selected to address contamination at the rest of the site include pumping the groundwater to keep the contaminant plume from moving; treating groundwater by exposing it to an air stripper to evaporate the contaminants and using a thermal oxidizer to destroy the contaminants; discharging the treated water back into the aquifer; monitoring the groundwater, surface water, and wetlands; and restricting the future use of groundwater. This Management of Migration (MOM) activity was considered Operable Unit 3 (OU-3). A pilot test addressing the management of contaminant migration was completed in 1990. In July 1996, EPA approved the design of a two tier groundwater extraction, containment and treatment system. The first tier of extraction wells is designed to contain the worse contaminated VOC compounds, consisting of Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPL). The second tier of extraction wells is designed to treat any dissolved VOC contamination migrating beyond the boundary of the waste management area (suspected DNAPL area). In 1996-1997, the potentially responsible parties installed extraction wells and additional monitoring wells; conducted a year long baseline monitoring program, collecting surface water, groundwater, limited residential well water, and fish samples; and constructed most of the groundwater containment, extraction, and treatment system. In April 1998, construction of the groundwater extraction, containment and treatment system was completed. This state-of-the-art treatment system is operating exceptionally well, and exceeds all established state and federal regulations and discharge requirements. During the first 18 months of operation, the systems was fine tuned to maximize performance and efficiency. A final report documenting the completion of the Management of Migration OU-3 activities, entitled Management of Migration Remedial Action Report, was finished in June 1999. Comprehensive monitoring of the system will continue for treated water effluent, treated air effluent, and surrounding groundwater, surface water and wetlands. In addition, annual monitoring of selected residential wells surrounding the site and fish from Copicut River and Cornell Pond will also continue. |
| Enforcement Highlights | In 1988, the EPA established a Non-Binding Allocation of Responsibility (NBAR) to distribute responsibility of contaminating the site to various potentially responsible parties. Based upon the NBAR, a Mixed Funding Consent Decree was signed in 1989 under which the parties potentially responsible for site contamination agreed to conduct cleanup activities and to reimburse the government for past costs. The Mixed Funding Consent Decree was innovative because it requires EPA and the potentially responsible parties to share in the costs of the clean up. Under the Consent Decree, EPA is required to reimburse the potentially responsible party for 30% of all reasonable Remedial Action Costs, not exceeding a total of $6.9 million. As of October 1997, EPA has fully reimbursed the potentially responsible parties. |
Environmental Progress
Both source control measures have been completed. Over 52,000 cubic yards of contaminated soils and sediments have been either removed or treated, and the site has been covered with an 18 inch crushed stone cap. A state-of-the-art groundwater treatment, containment and extraction system was constructed and operating in full compliance of all state and federal regulations. In addition, access to the site is restricted with a security fence. These measures have removed the soil and sediment health risks and environmental threats posed at the Re-Solve, Inc., Superfund Site. Groundwater clean-up beyond the waste management boundary and groundwater containment within the waste management boundary will be monitored regularly to evaluate the effectiveness of the system and compliance with the clean-up standards. Since 1998, EPA has hosted an annual fishing derby at Cornell Pond to ensure appropriate fish species were collected under the site's environmental monitoring program. The fishing derbies have been held in September or October, and tap into the experience of local fishermen to collect fish from the pond. The derbies actively and safely involve the community in an important fish monitoring program, and provide EPA an opportunity to re-emphasize the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Fish Advisory not to consume American Eel and limit consumption of other fish species caught from the pond or river. Public recreational fishing (catch and release) is permitted at the pond and river. At the conclusion of the derbies, awards were issued to each fisherman catching the largest fish species. The fishing derbies have been an overwhelming success, and the community looks forward to the event every year. In 1999, the potentially responsible parties with EPA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service oversight, implemented a voluntary ecological beneficial re-use at the site. The parties designed and installed a 4 acre native upland meadow cover which replaced the existing gravel cover at the site. This restoration and beneficial ecological re-use was intended to re-establish native species at the site and enhance environmental habitat. The potentially responsible parties, EPA and the US Fish and Wildlife Service will monitor the progress of the upland meadow restoration over the next 3 to 5 years. In 2001, the potentially responsible parties proposed evaluating an innovative treatment technology entitled Biological Filter/ Phyto Bed (BFP) to treat groundwater contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The BFP is basically a constructed wetland trench that would receive contaminated groundwater from existing groundwater extraction wells. Theoretically, the BFP would treat VOC contamination through various natural processes such as, sorption, biological degradation, and evapo-transpiration. In December 2002, the BFP Pilot Study began treating a small fraction of extracted groundwater. The potentially responsible parties continue monitoring the BFP Pilot Study. The MOM OU-3 groundwater treatment plant continues to operate fully during the pilot study, and in compliance with all state and federal requirements. In September 2008, EPA prepared and released the fourth Five Year Review for the Site, which concluded that the remedy is protective of human health and the environment. The Five Year Review also identified some issues which need to be addressed to ensure long-term protectiveness.
Current Site Status
A Two-Tier Groundwater Pump, Containment and Treatment System has been constructed and fully operational since April 1998. The system is in a long-term Operation and Maintenance period. Environmental monitoring data is being collected regularly to evaluate the system's performance. As part of the remedy, approximately 1 acre of wetlands have been remediated and restored. In addition, the responsible parties worked closely with EPA and USFWS at converting approximately 4 acres of upland property to a native meadow as an ecological beneficial reuse. The potentially responsible parties voluntarily designed and implemented the native meadow. The responsible parties continue to monitor their BFP pilot study with EPA oversight. The Eleventh Annual Fishing Derby was held in September 2008.
Site Photos
Enjoying the fishing derby.
Links to Other Site Information
Maps and Photos:
Newsletters & Press Releases:
Federal Register Notices:
Reports and Studies:
Five Year Review Report, July 20, 1993 (2802KB)  | | |
| Final Remedial Action Report Source Control Remedial Action, February 1, 1996 (21MB) | | |
| Final Preliminary Close Out Report (PCOR), August 19, 1998 (725KB) | | |
| Second Five Year Report, September 29, 1998 (1250KB) | | |
| Third Five-Year Review Report, September 19,2003 (892KB) | | |
| Fourth Five Year Review Report, September 30, 2008 (6.02 MB) | | |
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Decision Documents:
Other Links:
NPL Site Narrative at Listing:  | | |
| Site Progress Profile | | |
| Easement and Restriction Agreement, BK 2334 PG 0091, May 22, 1989 (437 KB) | | |
| Notice of Consent Decree, June 28, 1989 (101 KB) | | |
| Easement and Non-Interference Agreement, BK2620 PG300, July 8, 1989 (241 KB) | | |
| Restriction Agreement, BK 3512 PG 98, July 17, 1995 (600 KB) | | |
| Easement and Non-Interference Agreement, BK4146 PG274, June 11, 1998 (797 KB) | | |
| Easement, Restriction, and Non-Interference Agreement, BK 7919 PG317, September 30, 2005 (858 KB) | | |
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Site Repositories
Southworth Public Library, 732 Dartmouth Street, Dartmouth, MA 02748
EPA New England Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114 (617) 918-1440
Contacts
| EPA Remedial Project Manager: | Joseph LeMay |
| Address: | |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1323 |
| E-Mail Address: | Lemay.Joe@epa.com |
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| EPA Community Involvement Coordinator: | Jeanethe Falvey |
| Address: | |
| Phone #: | (617) 918-1020 |
| E-Mail Address: | falvey.jeanethe@epa.gov |
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