What environmental concerns are there? Have any studies been done?
Numerous independent studies, reviews, and opinions by Licensed Site Professionals (LSP) have been completed for the Loker site. The site has Class ‘A’ Response Action Outcome (RAO) Statement filed with the DEP, meaning that a permanent solution to any contamination has been achieved and there is no activity or use limitation under state regulations.
See also the FAQ on PFAS and Infill Materials here
BACK TO FAQ
The Dow Chemical facility was built in 1962 and remained until 1989 when it was sold to New England Development Corporation (NED). NED is a major developer of shopping malls, who had planned to locate their corporate headquarters there. NED conducted environmental tests and when contaminants were found in the soil and water including organometallic tin and mercury compounds, there began a "long and complex process to achieve environmental cleanup requirements established by the Massachusetts Contingency Plan, the state regulations that govern investigation and remediation of hazardous waste sites." A community group, NED/Dow Neighbors, Inc., was formed out of concern for the safety of the area, and, between 1989 and 2000 this group monitored the cleanup process. Dow and NED were involved in the cleanup process until early 1995 when NED sold the land back to Dow Chemical. Dow finished the cleanup process and the Town of Wayland purchased the property in 2000 for $1.7 million dollars.
The property was reviewed by many Licensed Site Professionals (LSP):
- CMG Environmental Inc.
- Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc.
- Ransom Consulting Engineers and Scientists;
- Camp, Dresser & McKee Environmental;
- JSI Center for Environmental Health Studies
- Gradient Corporation
In March 2000, a Class A-2 Response Action Outcome (RAO) Statement, concluding that a Permanent Solution had been achieved at the Site, was submitted to the MassDEP. Class A means that "remedial work was completed and a level of "no significant risk has been achieved." Class A is further subdivided into four categories where Class A-1 and Class A-2 require no AUL (Activity and Use Limitations). As a Class A-2, the Loker site has no AUL. “Class A-2” means “a permanent solution has been achieved. Contamination has not been reduced to background.” There is a deed restriction that the land only be used for conservation and recreation purposes, and specifies "not for the sale, lease, rental or use as a single-family, multi-family, or other type of temporary or permanent residence."
Because the site was cleaned up twenty years ago using the required standards at the time, and given that standards may have changed over time some residents have urged that additional testing should be conducted to better understand potential hazards at the site and ensure safety. The Board of Selectmen contracted for a third-party independent environmental file review in the fall of 2019 with LSP's from CMG Environmental, Inc. CMG’s letter can be found below. The Board of Selectmen also invited the LSP to join a meeting. At that meeting, he stated that he had no hesitation allowing his own family members to play on an artificial turf field at the Loker site.
Audio/Video record of file review testimony at the 02/10/2020 Board of Selectmen Meeting
by Benson R. Gould, LSP, LEP Principal CMG Environmental, Inc.
(27 minutes beginning at 1:07:20 and ends 1:34:13)
In addition to soil assessments and peer reviews, there was a stormwater assessment and traffic study, which were also peer reviewed.
LOCATION INFORMATION
- Wayland Assessors Database Map 49 /Lot 064B
- DEP http://public.dep.state.ma.us/
- MassDEP Records https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/
Search 412 Commonwealth Road, Waste Site # 3-0003866 - Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex County Registry of Deeds Deed Book 31387 PG 175
- Property Deed (10/15/1962)
- Property Deed (05/09/2000)
