Background:
The 45 Water
Street site was one of several properties formerly owned by or adjacent to the
Creese and Cook Tannery Company, which operated a tannery and finishing
facility in the early 1900s. Operations included the use and disposal of
tannery wastes including leather scraps and hazardous substances including
heavy metals and organic contaminants. The Creese and Cook Site was proposed
for inclusion on EPA’s National Priority List in September 2012 and was
included in the final listing of NPL sites on May 24, 2013.
The 45 Water Street Site is a privately-owned,
0.89-acre parcel located in a mixed residential/commercial area, improved with
a single 5-unit condominium building. The parcel includes level paved parking
and landscaped areas adjacent to the building, and an unmaintained wooded area
that slopes down to the Crane River on 3 sides, a portion of which is in the
100-year flood plain and the intertidal zone.
What Has Been Done to Cleanup the
Site?
EPA authorized a removal action consisting of
the removal of contaminated soil to a depth of three feet, the groundwater
table, or until the cleanup concentrations are achieved, whichever is less. EPA’s
Removal Program has excavated and disposed of approximately 2600 tons of contaminated
soil.
EPA re-visited the
site for response related damages, which were completed in 2024.
What is the Current Site Status?
As of August 2024,
all on-site and off-site work described in the action memorandum have been
completed. However, EPA continues to work in the area
on the Creese
and Cook Tannery (Former) Superfund Site.
The Administrative
Record is available for public review online at:
or using this QR code.
Locations to access the
online Administrative Record include:
- U.S. EPA SEMS Records and
Information Center, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA,
02109-3912, (617) 918-1440, by appointment
