All News Releases By Date

Clean-up Completed at Abandoned Potato Farm in Worthington, Mass.

Release Date: 05/28/2008
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – May 28, 2008) – EPA workers and contractors completed the clean-up of hazardous materials, including pesticides and asbestos, at the Albert Farms Property in Worthington, Mass. earlier this month.

The action included consolidating the contents of 38 drums into 14 drums; removing the drums; removing a 275-gallon tank of hazardous substances; and removing 20 yards of asbestos containing materials from the site. All of the removed materials were disposed of at EPA-approved facilities. Air monitoring conducted during the removal did not detect asbestos which could pose a health concern for people. The cost of the clean up was $96,000.

EPA began the action in August 2007. The work was originally scheduled for completion in October 2007. However, additional hazardous materials were discovered during on-site activities forcing the delay. The former potato farm is currently inactive. Approximately 580 people live within one mile of the site.

Several containers of oil and an underground storage tank remain on-site. The Mass. Dept. of Environmental Protection is currently evaluating these items on the property and will coordinate any follow up activity to address the additional materials.

More informaiton: EPA short-term cleanups (epa.gov/ne/superfund/basics/shrtterm)

# # #