Brownfield Site Assessment and Remediation – City of Lawrence Gateway Bridge

Christen Sardano, BS, Stone & Webster Massachusetts (Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure), 100 Technology Center Drive, Stoughton, MA, Tel: 617-589-7261, Email: christen.sardano@shawgrp.com
Ronald Richards, BS, MS, Stone & Webster Massachusetts (Shaw environmental and Infrastructure), 100 Technology Center Drive, Stoughton, MA, Tel: 617-589-5499, Email: ronald.richards@shawgrp.com
Lester Tyrala, BS, Stone & Webster Massachusetts (Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure), 100 Technology Center Drive, Stoughton, MA, Tel: 617-589-8028, Email: lester.tyrala@shawgrp.com
John Zupkus, BS, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, BWCC, NE Regional Office, 9^th Floor, Email: john.zupkus@state.ma.us

This paper describes how the Massachusetts Brownfields process was implemented at the Oxford Paper Mill Site in Lawrence, Massachusetts.  The paper presents the process for obtaining monies for assessment and remediation of the site, and the interaction of all of the various stakeholders.  This project has significant stakeholders that include City of Lawrence, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mass Development and Community Action Groups.  The successful implementation of this complex process has allowed the City to abate contamination, develop a large-scale park and allow for the construction of a Gateway Bridge for the City, which is integral to future development of the city.

The City employed a dynamic process where the community, City and regulators developed a detailed plan to address integration of various stakeholder schedules and to additionally provide the necessary monies to remediate a 2 acre Brownfield site current with development of open space and a new gateway to the City of Lawrence.

Contaminants of concern at the site include asbestos, PCBs and PAHs.  Concentrations of PCBs were identified on the site that significantly exceeded the EPA and MCP clean-up goals.

The challenges for this project include assisting the City in obtaining sufficient funding, coordinating with the abutting property owner cleanup of the raceway (man-made waterway) that runs through the site, and coordinating areas of remediation with MHD and the City.  

The benefits to the community and the City are tremendous.  A dilapidated paper mill site with nine buildings is being revitalized and returned to the City to be used as park land.  In addition, this project will provide access for a much needed additional bridge to the city to encourage new business developments.

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