Workers Begin PCB Cleanup At Contaminated Norwood Field-This Day In Norwood History-June 24, 1983

Federal EPA Allots $250,000 for Emergency Excavation of Highest Level Toxic Spot in New England

Cleanup began today at the PCB-contaminated field off Route 1 and Dean Street. Workers in protective white suits used backhoes to shovel the dirt into plastic-lined dump trucks that will unload at a special dump out of state. John Nihan of Bridgewater donned his protective gear to start the cleanup at the PCB site in Norwood. Workers from SCA Services in Braintree sprayed the area to keep the dust down. But area residents were warned to keep their windows closed and told that they could leave home as a precaution until the work is done. Meanwhile, the state Department of Public Health announced that personnel from the U.S. Center for Disease Control in Atlanta will arrive next week to help determine if Norwood residents who may have been exposed to PCBs from the site have suffered any adverse health effects. Dr. William H. Foege, director of the Center for Disease Control, and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) are scheduled to be in Norwood Monday to look at the contaminated site and to talk with officials and neighbors.

Paul Keough, acting regional administrator for the federal Environmental Protection Agency, said his agency has allotted $250,000 for the cleanup, which is expected to last at least through today. Thomas F. McLoughlin of Norwood, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Quality Engineering, said the excavation probably would have to go no deeper than 12 inches. Because of their oily form, the PCBs do not penetrate soil deeply, he said. In addition, Thomas F. McLoughlin said, an engineering contractor will be working with the cleanup contractor in case tests should indicate more contaminated spots. Soil tests have identified about 11 spots that contain PCBs at varying concentrations. In the worst spots, the PCBs make up 22 percent of the soil—4,400 times the acceptable level, making it the highest level of toxic PCB contamination in New England.

Workers hoped to dig up six of the major “hot spots,” located outside the fence at Grant Gear, the company on the site. They expected to return Monday to finish digging behind the fence. The dirt was loaded on 30-cubic foot, plastic-lined dump trucks and then covered with plastic so the contaminant would be encased in an “envelope”. The trucks were also parked on sheets of plastic so that no dirt would be spilled. “We don’t want to create any new hot spots,” said James H. Purington of SCA Services. Walker’s department plans to conduct a random telephone survey of 600 Norwood households to determine how many residents have been exposed to the contaminated site. A department spokesman said those who used the site infrequently, such as to attend the annual carnivals held there, are not likely to show any adverse health effects. Because of neighborhood health fears about past exposure, local authorities are offering free blood testing for the chemical to residents who live in the approximately 150 homes near the field. Registration for testing will be held Monday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Town Hall.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger