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Clean Up Underway at Pittsfield, Mass. Site

Release Date: 06/20/2008
Contact Information: Jeanethe Falvey, (617) 918-1020

(Boston, Mass. – June 20, 2008) - A coordinated clean up effort by local, state and federal agencies is working to excavate lead contaminated soil around a fire-damaged vacant mill building at 50 East Mill Street in Pittsfield, Mass. The work is being coordinated between the U.S. EPA, along with the Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the City of Pittsfield.

Demolition of the former mill building present at the site was completed this past May, allowing cleanup crews to more safely excavate and remediate the soil contamination.

In October of 2004 a fire swept though the vacant mill formerly present on site, leaving significant structural damage. Much of the building had collapsed as a result of that initial fire and there was noticeable compromise to the building’s metal support beams.

This past September of 2007, the mill building suffered an additional but smaller fire causing further damage making the area unsafe for cleanup crews. There were two buildings present at the site, one was the vacant mill and the second was a garage however the garage is not planned for demolition at this point in time. While both buildings had been vacant, site investigators had noted signs of illegal trespassing, further prioritizing that the remainder of the damaged mill be taken down.

Demolition debris and contaminated soil are scheduled for removal by the end of June. The excavated soil will be taken off site by truck, to a CERCLA (Superfund) licensed landfill. The site is located in a predominantly residential neighborhood within a mile of downtown Pittsfield; however EPA, MassDEP and the City of Pittsfield are taking appropriate safety precautions for the surrounding community and do not expect any negative impact to nearby residents.

More information:

- EPA emergency removal work: (epa.gov/region1/superfund/er)

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