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Redevelopment Plan Approved for the Norwood, Mass. Superfund Site

Release Date: 03/28/2008
Contact Information: Dave Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – March 28, 2008) – A proposed work plan for the redevelopment of the Norwood PCBs Superfund Site in Norwood, Mass. has been approved by EPA and the Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). The redevelopment plan, from Developers Diversified Realty of Beachwood, Ohio, details the construction of multiple single-story retail buildings totaling 56,000 square-feet.

The Norwood PCBs Superfund site, located at the intersection of Route 1 and Dean Streets in Norwood, was listed on EPA’s National Priorities List (also know as “Superfund”) in 1983. Cleanup of the site, which included demolition of former manufacturing buildings as well as consolidation of contaminated soils and sediments and capping of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated materials on a portion of the property, was completed under EPA oversight in 1999.

“This is an important milestone for the citizens of Norwood to have this property closer to returning to productive use for the community,” said Robert Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office.

“MassDEP is pleased that responsible site redevelopment is about to begin at this location,” said MassDEP Deputy Commissioner Ed Kunce. “This is another example of how federal, state and local officials, along with the private sector, can work together to make a contaminated property into an important community resource again.”

Since 1999, the capped portion of the site has been maintained by “potentially responsible parties” who conducted the cleanup. The redevelopment outlined in the approved plan does not disturb the capped area, which will be used as a parking area for the retail development. The Town of Norwood retains final approval rights for the redevelopment of the site.

The planned construction work outlined in the Work Plan is governed by a “Grant of Environmental Restriction,” which was also recently finalized and recorded at the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds. This Grant memorializes certain property restrictions and sets forth conditions to ensure that the remediated site will remain protective in perpetuity.

EPA and MassDEP will periodically monitor the developer’s construction activities to ensure compliance with the work plan and to ensure continued protection of human health and the environment. MassDEP is the lead agency for ensuring the long-term compliance with the site restrictions.

Crews were on-site last week to dismantle the building that formerly housed the groundwater treatment process equipment used during EPA’s cleanup. Redevelopment activities are expected to begin in early April.

A public meeting has been scheduled by the developers to update the community regarding its redevelopment and answer any questions. The meeting is schedule for March 31st at 7:00 p.m. and will be held at the Norwood Public Safety building located at 137 Nahatan Street.

More information:

EPA information on Norwood PCB Superfund Site, including approved redevelopment plan: www.epa.gov/region1/superfund/sites/norwood

Copies of the approved redevelopment work plan, as well as other site-related information, are available at the Morrill Memorial Library in Norwood and EPA’s Superfund Records Center, One Congress Street, Boston. Mass.

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Contact Information – U.S. EPA, Dave Deegan, (617) 918-1017
MassDEP, Ed Coletta, (617) 292-5737