VA Site DEP Report 2014 MassDEP Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Energy &Environmental Affairs
Department of Environmental Protection
Western Regional Office•436 Dwight Street, Springfield MA 131103.413-784-1100
OEVAL L.PATRICK RICHARD K.SUWVAN JR.
Governor Secretary
DAVID W.CASH
Commissioner
URGENT LEGAL MATTER April 8, 2014
Northampton VA Medical Center
Mr. James McPherson,Manager
421 North Main Street
Leeds,MAS 053
Re: Northampton
RTN 1-18961
421 North Main Street
VA Medical Center
ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERIM DEADLINE
Dear Mr.McPherson:
On December 31,2012,a Release Notification Form was submitted to the Department
indicating that soil at the site had been impacted by lead at concentrations greater than
applicable standards. A Notice of Responsibility was issued to VA Central Western
Massachusetts Healthcare System on January 9,2013.
On April 2,2014,Mr. Craig Blake, LSP,of Woodard and Curran,Inc.,wrote the
Department on your behalf to notify of a delay for submittal of a Tier Classification
Submittal. The reason for the delay is that response actions(soil excavation)"have been
hampered by frozen ground and snow cover at the site",and further assessment is needed
at the site. Mr.McPherson requested an extension of the one-year deadline and proposes
to perform additional assessment activities and to remove the lead-impacted soil as a
Release Abatement Measure(RAM), and to submit the Tier Classification, RAM
Completion Report and/or a Response Action Outcome Statement by June 30,2014.
This information is available in alternate format.Call Michelle Waters-Ekanem,Diversity Director,at 617-292-5751.TDD#1-866539.7622 or 1.617-5746868
MassDEP Website:www.mass.govldep
Printed on Recycled Paper
Interim Deadline 1-18961
The Department believes that"Notification",by persons who are conducting response
actions [310 CMR 40.0550(5)or 40.0560(5)],of delay in meeting a regulatory deadline,
does not constitute an extension to the applicable deadline. While the Department
appreciates this advance notification of delay in compliance,please be advised that the
Department cannot extend any of the"regulatory"deadlines set forth within the
Massachusetts Contingency Plan(MCP). The Department can,however,establish
Compliance Deadlines and utilize its enforcement discretion not to proceed with
enforcement actions against you while the set Compliance Deadline is in effect.
For this case,the Department,pursuant to 310 CMR 40.0167,is establishing June 30,
2014,as the Interim Deadline for you to submit the Tier Classification and RAM
Completion Report,or if appropriate,a Response Action Outcome Statement.
If this Deadline is not met the Department may initiate enforcement actions for failure to
comply with Regulatory Deadlines.
Clearly of overriding importance in this matter is continued progress in the clean up at the
site. The Department recognizes that sometimes delays in response actions can be
unavoidable. The Department appreciates and thanks you for your continued efforts in the
clean up at this site.
If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Daoust at 413 755-2249 or Kathleen
Fournier at 413 755-2267.
Sincerely,
Eva Tor
Deputy Regional Director
Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup
1-18961.tc/id.KF
cc: Site files,BWSC,WERO
ec: Northampton Chief Municipal Officer
Northampton Health Department
Craig E. Blake,LSP-of-Record
Denise Andler,DEP-WERO