S I T E U P DAT E

Former Healy School Site

Fall River, MA
U.S. EPA | H A Z A R D O U S W A S T E P R O G R A M A T E P A N E W E N G L A N D

THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

A N D R E M O V A L P R O G R A M responds
to chemical, biological and radiological releases and large-scale
national emergencies, including homeland security incidents. EPA conducts
short term cleanups in the removal program when necessary to protect human
health and the environment by either funding response actions directly or
overseeing and enforcing actions conducted by potentially responsible parties.

K E Y C O N TAC T S :

SITE DESCRIPTION
In June of 2018, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Z A N E T TA P U R N E L L
responded to a neighbor’s complaint regarding an excessive volume of dust generated U.S. EPA Community Involvement
from the Healy School building demolition. MassDEP inspected the Site following the Coordinator
demolition activities, observed the demolition activities and collected debris samples 617-918-1306
which indicated elevated levels of asbestos and metals. purnell.zanetta@epa.gov

In May 2019, after a MassDEP request, EPA conducted a Preliminary Assessment/ T O M H AT Z O P O U L O S

U.S. EPA On-Scene Coordinator
Site Investigation (PA/SI) at the Site. Bulk/soil samples were collected and analyzed
617-918-1284
for asbestos, metals, and polychlorinated biphenyl content. The EPA PA/SI confirmed
hatzopoulos.athanasios@epa.gov
MassDEP’s data that the demolition debris is contaminated with asbestos and metals.

BAC KG RO U N D CYNTHIA BARAN

During the school demolition activities, asbestos containing materials (ACM) were Massachusetts Department of
crushed, rendered friable, significantly commingled, and spread throughout the Site. Environmental Protection
MassDEP after its investigation issued a Unilateral Administrative Order (UAO) to the Southeast Region
owner and demolition contractor requiring that all Site work cease, and all demolition 508-946-2887
debris be wetted and covered until all (ACM) debris is removed and the Site is returned cynthia.baran@state.ma.us
to compliance in accordance with MassDEP’s asbestos regulations (310 CMR 7.09 and
TOLL-FREE
7.15). Since December 2018, the (ACM) debris at the Site have been consolidated and CUS TOMER SERVICE
covered with reinforced polyethylene sheeting to prevent the migration. 1-888-EPA-7341

E PA’ S I N V O LV E M E N T L E A R N M O R E AT:
EPA has been involved with the Site since MassDEP’s referral in February of 2019. response.epa.gov/
formerhealyschool

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October 2019
NEXT S TEPS/WHAT TO EXPECT
EPA’s goal for community involvement
is to provide the public with accurate,
timely, accessible, and understandable
information about the project as it
moves forward.
The Removal Action activities that will
be performed include: mobilization of
personnel and equipment; performing
air monitoring during working hours;
removing and disposing of building
debris contaminated with metals and or
asbestos; provisions for demolition of the
interior standing portions of the building,
onsite decontamination of larger debris,
and segregation of hazardous waste free
debris; repairing all response-related
damage; and demobilization from Site.
EPA and its contractors will begin
mobilizing to the Site the week of
October 20th, 2019. EPA will generally
work from 7am to 5pm. The Removal
Action is expected to take 3 to 6
months. Throughout the work day, EPA
will be monitoring air and dust at the
Site for the safety of site workers and
the surrounding community. Monitoring
stations setup at the site are purposed
to measure particulate material that
could become airborne during cleanup
activities. If monitors detect airborne
contamination, all work will be stopped,
and actions taken to evaluate and
address the issue. One may expect to see
heavy equipment, workers in protective
clothing (i.e., white suits), and trucks
occasionally which may have a slight
effect on traffic. EPA will coordinate with
the City of Fall River to determine the
most appropriate route for truck traffic.
Contaminated soil will be secured on
site temporarily while awaiting shipment
offsite to an EPA-approved facility.