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Select Board reviews Atwood tank cleanup options; recommended plan targets state standard with lower cost
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Summary
Town staff presented two cleanup approaches for lead‑impacted soil at the Atwood parcel. The recommended option cleans to a 200 ppm averaged standard (state cleanup standard), reducing excavation volume to ~1,000 cubic yards with estimated costs of $800,000–$850,000; advisory recommended postponing the article to fall pending further review.
Public works staff updated the Select Board on remediation options for lead‑contaminated soil at the Atwood tank site on March 17.
Tim (presenting as the project engineer) reviewed two alternatives: Option 1 was an aggressive removal to state background (~100 ppm), requiring extensive excavation; Option 2 used an averaging approach and targets a site mean at or below 200 ppm (the state cleanup standard) while removing the highest concentration areas. Tim explained the averaging approach and the practical constraints of field excavation, noting the three‑dimensional variability and the need to remove concentrated “boxes” of soil that drive the average down. He said Option 2 reduced the estimated soil volume to roughly 1,000 cubic yards and put the price range at about $800,000–$850,000.
Tim said the site is exempt from some MCP (Massachusetts Contingency Plan) reporting timelines because the contamination stems from lead paint at the point of application, but the exemption does not eliminate the need to clean the site to an acceptable standard. Board members and advisory committee members discussed whether to proceed now or to move the article to a fall town meeting for more time to refine costs and future use plans; advisory voted to not recommend the article for the April meeting and suggested a fall article after further study of options and post‑remediation uses.
Timing and procurement issues were also discussed: staff recommended canceling current bids and rebidding in August if the project is deferred to fall so contractors will offer realistic prices rather than quoting to hold a price for an uncertain start date.
Next steps: staff will complete outreach and sampling, provide a refined bid package and updated cost estimates, and return with additional information before placing a final article to appropriate funds.
