Brownfields Investigations

The City of Fall River was awarded two Brownfields Assessment Grants by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the assessment of suspect brownfield properties. Each grant, one for properties contaminated by hazardous materials and one for properties contaminated by petroleum products, was for $200,000. BETA was selected by the City to perform investigation activities, including identification of possible sites, community outreach, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, and hazardous building materials investigations.

BETA conducted a Phase I ESA on the property at 161 Graham Road. This property formerly housed NuChrome, which conducted plating operations on antique car parts. The Phase I identified several recognized environmental conditions including, but not limited to, the presence of trichloroethylene (TCE) in groundwater and metals in surface soils. BETA designed and conducted a Phase II ESA that identified and further defined the limits of TCE and metals in soil and groundwater, as well as TCE in soil gas. The potential for indoor air impacts has been identified and is being considered in the re-use planning for this property.

BETA conducted a Phase I ESA on the former King Philip Mill at 386 Kilburn Street. The property was a multi-building textile mill. The Phase I identified underground and aboveground petroleum storage tanks and the potential for urban fill material at the site. BETA designed and conducted a Phase II ESA on this property that identified petroleum in soil and groundwater as well as metals and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in soil and sediment of an adjacent pond.