Superfund Lien Filed on Clinton, Mass. Property

EPA has filed a Superfund lien on property owned by Patrick A. Parker located at 40-48 Rigby Street in Clinton, Mass., known as the Clinton Rigby Brook Lawrence Superfund site.

The lien was placed on the property in an effort to recover costs from a pollution removal action that took place between July 16, 2007 and August 13, 2007. The removal action cost EPA a total of $269,000.

Mr. Parker was notified by EPA of his potential liability as an owner for contamination of the Site on March 20, 2007 and has not responded to EPA’s requests for information. The 3.99-acre Site is completely surrounded by streams and wetland areas, is relatively level, and is heavily vegetated encompassing hardwood wetlands. The Site is bordered to the north by Rigby Street; to the east and south by residential areas including city-owned multi-family subsidized housing units; and to the west by wetlands.

According to state and local files, landfilling consisting of municipal and industrial wastes and excavation rubble reportedly occurred onsite as early as the late 1800’s until 1980 by several companies operating in Clinton. The types and quantities of waste material disposed of are unknown.

From about 1963-1971, a metal galvanizing facility operated onsite and allegedly disposed of metal scraps and fly ash. Subsequently, a plastics molding company operated on the property until 1974 when the facility was destroyed by fire. In 1989, Mr. Parker purchased the property.

In 1980 and 1981, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) received complaints about pollution from wetlands at the Site affecting neighboring farm animals and wildlife. Upon an investigation, MassDEP discovered lead and arsenic in the soil. In March 2004, MassDEP requested that EPA perform a removal action. From May through October 2004, EPA conducted a preliminary assessment and confirmed two hummocks of reported dredge material, debris and the sediments along the adjacent waterways contaminated with high levels of lead and arsenic.