UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION) JF KENNEDY FEDERAL BUILDING, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 022;30-2211 April 9.,9r Mr. Harish Pancnal Division of Hazardous Waste Department of Environmental Protection One Winter Street, Fifth Floor Boston, MA 02108 Dear Harish: On March 25, 1990, at the request of the DEP, the former General Dynamics Shipyard in Quincy, HA was added to CERCLIS (MAD00392045), The following week. on April 2, 1990, I received a Preliminary Assessment for the site prepared by the DEP. To date, I have not commented on the PA report. 1have lately oiscovered, however, that this site should not have been entered into CERCLIS. The site was previously consiaered for CERCLIS listing in 1988, after Congressman Brian Donneliy expressed an interest in the Ouincy Shipyard. An agreement was reached at that time between the State (DEP Commissioner Daniel Greenbaum) and EPA (former Regional Administrator Michael Deland) not to list the site, Instead, it was decided that the State would assume an active lead'at the site, and would ensure that a thorough assessment and remediation of the site is undertaken by General Dymanics. I have attached copies of the July 196- correspondences between the State, EPA, and Congressman Donnelly on this matter. Therefore, based upon this understanding of the situation, I am renoving the former General Dynamics Shipyard site from CERCLIS. and returning the DA to you. Nc credit will be given fOr this product. Please indicate the number of hours tnat wete charged to the MSCA for this PA on the aocoming Quarterly Report. If you nave any questions regarding this decision. I may be reached at 573-9697. Sincerely, Nancy SNith MA Site Assessment Coorcnator UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION I J. F.KENNEDY FEDERAL BUILDING. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS July 25, 19B8 Honorable Brian Donnelly 438 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Mr. D This letter is in response to your inquiry regarding the status of site investigations at the Quincy Shipyard and the Environmental Protection Agency's plans for conducting a preliminary assessment at that location. As you are aware, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority has conducted extensive site investigations at the Shipyard and has developed a cleanup program which is now being implemented. As a result of your concerns, I did meet with Daniel Greenbaum, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering, concerning the State's ongoing and planned oversight role in site remediation. I have been assured by Commissioner Greenbaum that DEQE will play an active role in ensuring that a thorough cleanup of the site is undertaken by General Dynamics. By letter of July 8 (copy enclosed), the Commissioner outlined for me in detail DEQE's ongoing activities and plans. Because of the scope of the studies already completed and the commitment by DEQE to play a strong oversight role, I do not feel a preliminary assessment by EPA is warranted at this time. We will, however, be monitoring the situation, and if the cleanup program is delayed or determined to be inadequate then EPA would reserve its option to undertake additional studies at the site. I believe this approach provides for the most expeditious cleanup of the Shipyard, while still allowing significant involvement by the Agency, should it become necessary. I know of the great concern that you and your constituents have that the site be adequately cleaned up and that environmental problems be resolved. I am confident that the DEQE is committed to seeing that this is done. Your office will be kept informed of any actions considered by the Agency. If you need further assistance, please contact me, or have your staff contact Betsy Horne or Michael Ochs of the Office of Government Relations and Environmental Review at (617) 565-3414 or FTS 835-3414. Sincerely, MihDeland Regional Administrator Enclosure 09 &reralive Ern0wymea1 -1( s^ esate fenbont q/a/crmaals Zfiiemv 0Uau Daniel S. Greenbaum $qNreawo aele Com""ssi""er"wOne 'aWer Jfe4e , Oaston, J a. os2od MEMORANDUM TO: Helen Wald f FROM: Pat Mullan'k DATE: March 28, 1990 SUBJECT: Preliminary Assessment, Former General Dynamics Shipyard, Quincy, MA Attached please find a final copy of a Preliminary Assessment for the Former General Dynamics Shipyard, Qunicy, MA, site number 3-0536, to be submitted for the quarter ending March 31, 1990. ras * ow THEDEPATMTOr INYJRONMENTALFUOFET1IN Orngi|la I'' :oted on N \T ced PKape PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT REPORT FORMER GENERAL DYNAMICS 97 EAST HOWARD STREET QUINCY MA INTRODUCTION General Dynamics Shipyard occupies approximately 180 acres of industrial/commercial propery abutting the Fore River on the Quincy/Braintree town line. The former shipyard, located at 97 East Howard Street, Quincy, Massachusetts, commenced activity in 1901 and continued active operation until 1986. Prior to 1900 this was a residential area known as Quincy Point. Lead paint, asbestos, oils, lubricants and chemicals were used in the shipbuilding process. The company notified as a large quantity generator (LQG) of hazardous waste in 1980. Reports indicate VOCs, metals, cyanide, pesticides, PCBs, acid and base neutral extractable compounds and petroleum hydrocarbons are present in varying concentrations contaminating the site. Preliminary analysis of site assessment reports indicate that elevated levels of a diverse range of contaminants are present in localized areas of the site. CURRENT AND PAST OWNERSHIP The Fore River Shipyard site consists of approximately 180 acres, most of which are in Quincy, with the remainder in Braintree. The Shipyard is bordered by East Howard Street on the west, South and Washington Streets on the north, the Weymouth Fore River to the east, and the Clean Harbors and Citgo facilities and Quincy Avenue to the south (figure 1). The site has been used for shipbuilding since 1901. From 1901 to 1913, the Shipyard was owned by the Fore River Ship and Engine Company. Between 1913 and 1963, it was owned by the Bethlehem Steel Company. In January 1964, General Dynamics Corporation purchased the Shipyard. The Shipyard was formally closed in May 1986, and all industrial operations ceased. In November 1987, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) purchased the Shipyard. MWRA will be using portions of the property for various components of the Boston Harbor Cleanup program, including as a staging area for construction of the new Deer Island wastewater treatment facility and as a short term sludge processing facility during the cleanup of Boston Harbor. Currently, the Shipyard is being considered as a location for MWRA's long term sludge processing facility. In October 1988, MWRA leased 50 acres of the southern and central portions of the site to the Massachusetts landbank for use by the Massachusetts Shipbuilders to resume shipbuilding. -2- SITE USE AND NATURE OF OPERATION Shipbuilding has been the main operation at this site since 1901. Located on the site are buildings and structures which house the industrial activity associated with shipbuilding. For the most part, the remainder of the site, not covered by buildings or structures, is paved. In addition to the structures and paved open areas, the site also contains one wet basin, four piers and five dry docks. Substances that were mainly used in the shipbuilding process include lead paint, asbestos, oils, lubricants and chemicals. Site activity has been limited to remediation activities since 1986 when active shipbuilding was halted. RCRA STATUS General Dynamics obtained a RCRA permit in August 1980 as a Large Quantity Generator (LQG), under the ID # HAD003926045. There are no reports of any RCRA violations during the period of operations from 1980 through 1986; RCRA Annual Reports were filed for these years also. Although the shipbuilding activity has ceased the company has retained their ID number to facilitate the disposal of hazardous wastes generated during the remedial activities. WATER SUPPLY, ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND POPULATION The city of Quincy has a population of 84,743 (1980), and encompasses approximately 17 square miles. The shipyard abutts the Weymouth Fore River to the east, Clean Harbors and Citgo facilities and Quincy Avenue to the south, East Howard Street on the west and South and Washington Streets on the north. Land use in the area is a mix of residential/commercial/industrial. The Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) supplies all of Quincy's residents with drinking water. The neighboring communities of Braintree and Weymouth receive their water supply from the Great Pond Reservoir upgradient from the site. Therefore no water supplies within a 4-mile radius are impacted by contamination from the site. TYPE AND NATURE OF CONTAMINATION AND REMEDIATION MEASURES The Department commenced remedial activity at the site in January 1986 by issuing a Notice Of Responsibility (NOR) referencing a September 1985 release of approximately 190 gallons of #2 fuel oil from an underground piping system which connects to a 10,000 gallon above ground storage tank located within the Shipyard; and an April 1985 release of #2 fuel oil at the outfall stormdrain originating within the General Dynamics facility. -3- Upon receipt of the NOR General Dynamics hired a consultant, Goldberg-Zoino, Associates (GZA), to assess environmental conditions at the site. GZA submitted an Environmental Assessment Report to the Department in May 1986, in addition supplements were submitted in August 1986, October 1986 and March 1987. GZA's investigation included the excavation of test pits; installation of borings and the subsequent installation of monitoring wells; screening of soil and groundwater samples for volatile organic compounds (VOCs); the analysis of selected soil and groundwater samples for VOCs, PCBs, metals, acid base/neutral extracts, and petroleum hydrocarbons; and screening of monitoring wells for an immiscible floating product. Specific contaminants identified by GZA during the course of the study include the following: 1) Tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene and 1,1,1- trichloroethylene solvents in the groundwater; 2) Mineral spirits in the groundwater; 3) Fuel oil products (i.e.