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EPA to Remove Salem Acres Site From Superfund List

Release Date: 05/23/2001
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Community Affairs Office, 617-918-1014

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is planning to remove the Salem Acres property in Salem, MA from the list of Superfund sites in the U.S. Contamination at the site was successfully cleaned up and there are no further actions for EPA to take.

The decision to remove the 13 acre site from the National Priorities List (NPL), known as the "Superfund" list, is open for public comment for 30 days until June 22, 2001.

"This is a great step for Salem. Thanks to the cooperation between EPA and the responsible parties, this site has been successfully cleaned up," said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator at EPA's New England Office. "Now it's time to give the property a clean bill of health so it can be enjoyed and used."

The site was originally contaminated by sewage sludge, tannery waste, fly ash and materials from a landfill on the site. The contamination was confined to the southernmost 13 acres of the 235 acre parcel and consisted of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins/furans, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chromium, arsenic, beryllium, vanadium and thallium

The site was cleaned up under EPA oversight by the responsibly parties -- the South Essex Sewage District, the Massachusetts Electric Company, and Ugo DiBiase Salem Realty. Cleanup actions began in the summer of 1995 and included excavation and off-site disposal at permitted landfills of industrial sludge, fly ash, landfill material and contaminated soils. By August 1999, a total of 120,659 cubic yards of hazardous waste had been removed. Confirmatory testing has since determined that no contamination remains above the clean-up levels established by EPA for the project.

EPA's proposal to delete the site is based on the determination that all appropriate actions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) have been implemented. A five year review is not necessary nor are institutional controls since all hazardous substances have been removed from the property. Once the site is removed from the NPL, it will be cleared for unrestricted use. It is zoned residential but remains undeveloped.

Public comments must be received by June 22, 2001 and may be given to:

Elaine Stanley, Remedial Project Manager
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
One Congress Street, Suite 1100 (HBO)
Boston, MA 02114-2023
phone: 617-918-1332 or toll free 1-888-372-7341
e-mail: [email protected]
fax: 617-918-1291

Comprehensive Site information is available at:

U.S. EPA Records Center
One Congress Street, Suite 1100
Boston, MA
617-918-1440 or toll free 1-888-372-7341
Mon. - Fri. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Salem Public Library
370 Essex Street
Salem, MA 01970
978-744-0860
Mon.-Thurs. 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Fri.- Sat. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 1p.m. to 5:00p.m.