ASTM Phase I - newhallinfo.org

1 report ON astm Phase I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT HAMDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SURROUNDING NEWHALL STREET NEIGHBORHOOD HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT by Haley & Aldrich, Inc. Glastonbury, Connecticut for Town of Hamden Hamden, Connecticut File No. 27892-400 January 2002 Revised December 2002 UNDERGROUND ENGINEERING & ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS Haley & Aldrich, Inc. 800 Connecticut Blvd., Suite 100 East Hartford, CT 06108-7303 Tel: Fax: 20 November 2001 Revised 9 December 2002 File No. 27892-400 Town of Hamden 2372 Whitney Avenue Hamden, Connecticut 06518 Attention: Mr. Donald Proto Subject: astm Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Hamden Middle School and Surrounding Newhall Street Neighborhood Hamden, Connecticut OFFICES Boston Massachusetts Cleveland Ohio Dayton Ohio Detroit Michigan Kansas City Kansas Los Angeles California Manchester New Hampshire Newark New Jersey Portland Maine Rochester New York San Diego California Santa Barbara California Tucson Arizona Washington District of Columbia Ladies and Gentlemen: This report presents the results of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment ( Phase I) conducted at the above referenced property.

2 This work was performed by Haley & Aldrich, Inc. (Haley & Aldrich) in accordance with our proposal to Town of Hamden dated 2 July 2001 ( Agreement ) as authorized by Town of Hamden on 17 August 2001. As indicated in our proposal, this Phase I was conducted using practices consistent with the astm E 1527-00 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process. The goal of this Phase I assessment was to evaluate site history, existing observable conditions, current site use, and current and former uses of surrounding properties to identify the potential presence of Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) at the site, as defined in the astm E 1527-00 Standard. Our conclusions regarding the presence and potential impact of RECs on the subject site are intended to help the user evaluate the business environmental risk associated with the site, as defined in the astm E 1527-00 Standard and discussed in the Introduction section of this report .

3 Town of Hamden 20 November 2001 Revised 9 December 2002 Page 2 Thank you for the opportunity to perform these services for you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or comments. Sincerely yours, HALEY & ALDRICH, INC. Deborah Motycka Downie, LEP Chris G. Harriman, LEP Senior Hydrogeologist Senior Environmental Geologist William F. Kay, Jr., PE, , LEP Vice President Enclosures G:\PROJECTS\27892\400\ report \Ph I ESA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Haley & Aldrich, Inc. has performed a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) of the Hamden Middle School and Surrounding Newhall Street Neighborhood properties in the Town of Hamden, Connecticut. The scope of work is described and conditioned by our proposal dated 2 July 2001. As indicated in our proposal, this Phase I was performed in conformance with the scope and limitations of the astm E 1527-00 Standard.

4 The purpose of this assessment was to evaluate site history, existing observable conditions, current site use, and current and historic uses of surrounding properties to identify the potential presence of Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) in connection with the subject site. Exceptions to, or deletions from, this practice are described in Section I of this report . Our conclusions are intended to help the user evaluate the business environmental risk associated with the site, as defined in the astm E 1527-00 Standard and discussed in the Introduction section of this report . The subject site is composed of 131 separate properties that have been separated into seven Parcels as shown on Figure 2. One of the Parcels (Parcel 4) is composed of six Town-owned properties, including the Hamden Middle School, Hamden Community Center, Newhall Street Athletic Fields, Rochford Field (baseball fields), Mill Rock Park (Rochford Field Annex), and a sewer pump station.

5 The other six Parcels are comprised of residential properties with single or multi-family homes. RECOGNIZED ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS The goal of the astm E 1527-00 Standard practice is to identify Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs), as defined in the Standard and in Section I of this report . This assessment has revealed no evidence of recognized environmental conditions currently in connection with the property except for the following four RECs listed below. The astm E 1527-00 Standard requires an opinion of the potential impacts of REC(s) identified on a site during a Phase I. Our opinion is rendered with respect to a REC s potential (high, medium or low) to require remedial response based on prevailing agency requirements and on our understanding of the sensitive nature of the property use (School, daycare, residential use and Municipal Park or athletic fields).

6 Our opinion is limited by the conditions prevailing at the time our work is performed and the applicable regulatory requirements in effect. During the Phase I ESA, Haley & Aldrich identified several RECs associated with the subject site. Our opinion of the potential impacts of REC(s) identified in this Phase I is as follows: REC #1: Former landfill areas that existed on the site during the period from the 1920s through the mid 1950s. Potential Impact: High Explanation: Based on the results of the ESA, Haley & Aldrich encountered evidence of historic landfills on the subject site. Former industrial waste landfills were located at the site of the Hamden Middle School and associated Newhall Street Athletic Field, and at the site of Rochford Field and may occur on abutting properties to the south. Haley & Aldrich i encountered evidence that residential refuse waste and unauthorized dumping also occurred in, or immediately adjacent to, this area.

7 Refer to Sections (A) and (K) for further details. The area of Mill Rock Park, Bryden Terrace, and the sewer pumping station was reportedly used for dumping of residential rubbish. The area of dumping may have extended southerly to include some or all of Parcels 2A and 2C. Haley & Aldrich also encountered evidence of a private automotive dump in the western portion of Parcel 1. The landfills, or portions of the landfills, apparently operated during the period from the 1920s through the mid 1950s. REC #2: Historic fill that may have included ash, cinders, industrial and residential waste. Potential Impact: High. Explanation: Haley & Aldrich encountered evidence of historic, waste-containing fill materials, containing, ash, cinders, and solid waste debris in portions of Parcel 3 and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP) has identified residential properties in Parcels 2B and 2D as being constructed over filled areas.

8 Haley & Aldrich did not encounter documentation that these areas were used as landfills. It is not certain whether the placement of the fill was authorized or consisted of uncontrolled dumping by unauthorized persons or facilities. The impacted materials may have resulted from placement of industrial or residential waste from off-site areas, landowner dumping or on-site burning or a combination of sources. However, it is also possible that historic landfilling activities at Rochford Field extended into Parcel 2B, historic landfilling activities at the current Middle School site extended into the southern portion of Parcel 3, or, that a landfill existed on the northern or western portions of Parcel 3 prior to the 1920s. HISTORICAL RECs AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The astm E 1527-00 Standard also requires that historical RECs (HRECs) and other known or suspect environmental conditions, as defined in the Standard and in Section I of this report are identified in the Phase I.

9 Historic RECs HREC #1: A former 10,000-gallon, steel underground storage tank at the Hamden Middle School was reportedly removed in 1989. Haley & Aldrich encountered a 1987 spill report regarding an overfill of the UST. Haley & Aldrich did not encounter other reports or documentation of the UST removal or results of testing of environmental quality of soils in the UST excavation. The existing 10,000-gallon UST was reportedly installed at the location of the former tank. The existing tank has not been tightness tested, and has not exceeded the standard 30-year life expectancy for fiberglass tanks. Haley & Aldrich conducted Phase II subsurface explorations and chemical testing of soil and groundwater in the vicinity of the existing and former USTs. The UST evaluation was documented in a 5 November 2002 report titled report on Phase II Underground Storage Tank Investigation, Hamden Middle School and Community Center, Hamden Connecticut.

10 Results of the Haley & Aldrich assessment, and previous testing by others, detected Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) at or near the water table on the west side of the school, adjacent to, and in the vicinity of the UST. The source of the petroleum, however, appeared to be related to former landfilling activities as Haley & Aldrich did not detect evidence of releases from the existing or former USTs. ii HREC #2: A former 6,000-gallon, steel UST was removed from the Hamden Community Center in 1989. According to a Town employee that witnessed the UST excavation and removal in 1989, there was no visible evidence of oily soils or leakage from the UST. Haley & Aldrich did not encounter documentation of the removal or results of soil testing from the UST excavation. Haley & Aldrich conducted Phase II subsurface explorations and chemical testing of soil and groundwater in the vicinity of the existing and former USTs.