Atlas Tack Corporation

Site Description

The Atlas Tack facility is located on an approximately 20-acre parcel in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. The site also includes adjoining areas that have come to be contaminated by this facility, including a portion of Boys Creek and its tidal marsh. Built in 1901, the Atlas Tack facility manufactured tacks, steel nails, rivets, eyelets and bolts until 1985. From the early 1940s to the late 1970s or early 1980s, wastewater containing cyanide and heavy metals was discharged into an onsite lagoon, eventually contaminating the soil and groundwater. Three separate areas of the site are contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Approximately 7,200 people live within a one-mile radius of the site, which is located in a mixed residential and commercial area.

Current Site Status and Cleanup Actions to Date

• A three phased cleanup plan for the Atlas Tack site was approved in March of 2000. In Phase I, EPA will demolish two of the three remaining buildings. During Phase II, EPA will remove 54,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil, debris and sediments, for disposal at a licensed, offsite facility. Once this is completed, EPA will use phytoremediation (using plants to clean up and contain pollutants in the environment) to prevent any residual contaminated groundwater from leaving the site. The final phase will include remediation and restoration of the salt marsh soils and creek bed sediments. EPA will then continue to monitor the phytoremediation efforts and groundwater quality.
• In 1998, EPA completed investigations into the nature and extent of site contamination.
• In 1992, EPA limited access to the site by requiring the potentially responsible party (PRP) to install a fence around the site. Additionally, the Town of Fairhaven has banned shellfishing on or near the site to minimize the possible ingestion of contaminated fish.
• In 1999, EPA s emergency response and removal program removed asbestos from three dilapidated buildings on the site, preventing the possibility of local community residents inhaling asbestos fibers.
• This site has had a high level of community interest and the public is particularly interested in having the contaminated buildings demolished. The commercial area of the site may be redeveloped for commercial/industrial use after the cleanup has occurred.

Current Funding Status

• To date, EPA has provided approximately $6 million for activities described above.
• EPA will continue to monitor this site for any changes that may trigger additional action.
• EPA will consider funding new work at this site in Fiscal Year 2004.

For more information on this site, please read the Fact Sheet on the Region 1 Superfund Web site.

Key Accomplishments