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i he&Bond
Consuliin En 'veers
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Environmental Specialists
City of Northampton
Planning Office
City Hall
210 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Attn: Wayne Feiden
Re
Dear Mr. Feiden:
G-250-0-35
February 11, 1995
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Proposal for Phase I Site Assessment
Former Sand & Gravel Property
Northampton, MA
Following up on your conversation with Evan Johnson of our office, Tighe &Bond is pleased
to submit the following proposal for performing a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment at a
90 acre parcel in Northampton, Massachusetts. We understand that the property contains
approximately 45 acres which previously had been used for sand and gravel mining. The
remaining 45 acres consist of woodland and other undeveloped property. There are no buildings
on the property, but there is a history of unauthorized access and at least two abandoned vehicles
have been observed on the site.
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Tighe &Bond will furnish two (2) copies of the Phase I report within 4 weeks of our notice
to proceed. Our report will be accompanied by a cover letter summarizing our conclusions and
recommendations. If further assessment or other additional activities are recommended to ensure
environmental compliance at this site, we will clearly state our recommendations in the cover
letter and provide our estimate of the associated time frames and costs. The details of our Phase
I report format are outlined below, followed by our cost proposal.
If submittal of draft reports is requested, Tighe &Bond will contact you following the submittal
of the Draft Phase I Report to respond to any questions that may arise following your review
of the report. We will make requested clarifications or modifications to reports provided that
those revisions conform with our professional opinion regarding our observations.
Phase I Report Format
Tighe & Bond's format for historical site assessments reflects the general content of ASTM
Standard E 1527-94 for Phase I Environmental Assessments. We recognize that each site is
unique, however, and our approach for this site will focus on areas of significance relative to
the present and past uses at this site.
Records Review: Tighe &Bond will examine all relevant site records available from your files,
as well as records available in files and databases maintained by local, state and Federal
agencies, to determine known conditions at the site and in the surrounding area that may impact
environmental conditions at the site.
Westfield Executive Park 53 Southampton Road Westfield, MA 01085-5308 Tel. 413-562-1600 Fax. 413-562-5317
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~~fii he&Bond
g ins
ultcng Engineers
Environmental Specialists
The site assessment report will include a summary of information available in State and Federal
listings for sites of potential environmental concern near the parcel. Listed sites within a radius
of one-half mile to one mile of the subject site, in accordance with the ASTM Standard Practice,
will be identified in the Phase I report.
Records and listings of registered underground storage tanks and registered hazardous waste
generators (RCRA Generators List) will also be reviewed relative to the subject parcel and
adjacent properties. If no listed facilities are identified within the search radius, a statement of
that fording will be included.
The source of drinking water and the wastewater disposal methods in the surrounding area will
be identified as either public utilities or private installations. We will also determine from DEP
records of both community and' non-community water supplies whether any public water supply
wells are located near the site if this information is deemed to be relevant in the context of the
site conditions. The means of wastewater disposal in the area will also be identified as being
a public utility or on-site disposal system.
Historical Site Use: Historical information regarding past uses of the parcel and surrounding
neighborhood will be determined through review of records available from your files, review
of assessors' records, or research of other publicly available information (such as Town
histories, Sanborn Fire Insurance Mapping, maps and aerial photographs). Copies of pertinent
maps showing the area surrounding the site will be provided in the Phase I report. The findings
of any previous reports or assessments performed for the property, if available, will be reviewed
and summarized.
Physical Setting: The physical setting of the site will be documented in the Phase Z report in the
form of a site locus plan illustrating the site on a USGS topographic map. Mapped soil units,
site topography and site drainage will be characterized, and flooding potential will be discussed
if relevant. We will also state whether the site is located above an area classified as a
Potentially Productive Aquifer as defined in the Massachusetts Contingency Plan. Based on your
discussions with Evan Johnson, it is our understanding that at least a portion of the property is
located over the Northampton municipal aquifer.
Site Reconnaissance: A site visit is a central part of the Phase I Investigation. We will
document the current conditions at the site by photographs to be reproduced in the report.
Current conditions and uses of adjoining properties will also be documented in appropriate
detail. In addition, we have included the collection of three soil samples for total petroleum
hydrocarbon (TPH) analysis as part of the field work for this project. These samples will be
collected from areas of obvious soil staining, stressed vegetation or other areas indicative of a
release of petroleum products.
The general environmental condition of the property will be assessed by visual inspection using
typical indicators. As noted above, this includes inspection for the presence of stained soil or
pavement, areas of dead or stressed vegetation, odors, areas of apparent fill, or evidence of
waste disposal or burial. Again, soil samples will be collected in these areas as part of the
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i he&Bond
g ins
ultcng Engineers
Environmental Specialists
investigation. If more than three areas of concern are encountered during the site visit, we will
contact you to discuss the collection of additional soil samples in these areas.
The presence of any wetlands or water courses in direct proximity to the site will be noted, if
present. If previous assessments have been performed and monitoring wells have been
previously installed, we will attempt to locate those wells and determine their condition.
Conclusions: At the conclusion of the Phase I report we will provide a summary of relevant
findings. We will then provide an opinion, based solely upon the information presented in the
report, whether any evidence was observed of conditions that may be of environmental concern,
and whether further investigation of those conditions is warranted.
Cost Pro osal
Based upon the approach and format described above and our experience in performing
ftiea (environmental site assessments, we estimate that the cost to perform this work will be ~~~# ~~~~~
$2,300, including the collection of~he three (3) soil samples. We anti,~ipate that
this project will take ~~e1y four t~"'weeks to complete.
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This cost proposal is based upon a scope of work encompassing primarily a site visit and a
review of published and other historical data, and the collection of three surficial soil samples.
This proposal specifically does not address areas requiring deeper soil sampling and groundwater
investigations.
We will undertake this work on a per diem basis, and you will be billed at three times our direct
labor costs, plus expenses such as mileage. Our Schedule of Conditions for performing this
work is attached to this letter agreement and made a part thereof.
If this proposal is acceptable, please sign and date one (1) copy of this letter agreement as
confirmation of your authorization to proceed and return it to my attention. If you have any
additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact Evan Johnson or me at your earliest
convenience.
Very truly yours
GH & BO C.
1M. ~Z~~
ohn W. Powers, P.E.
resident
Accepted by:
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Wayne Feiden
Date: ~/~%f ~~ ~'
G250\LTR\ETJ. MIV1
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Tighe8cBond
SCHEDULE OF CONDITIONS
Right of Entrv -Unless otherwise agreed, you will furnish right-of-entry on the land for us to
make the planned borings, explorations, or field tests. We will take reasonable precautions to
minimize damage to the land from use of equipment, but have not included in our fee the cost
for restoration of damages that may result from our operations. If we are required to restore
the land to its former condition this will be accomplished and the cost plus five percent will be
added to our fee.
Damage to Latent Underground Structures -Reasonable care will be exercised in locating
underground structures in the vicinity of proposed subsurface explorations. This will include
contact with the local agency coordinating subsurface utility information and a review of plans
provided by you or your representatives for the site to be investigated. We shall be entitled
to rely upon any plans provided. If the locations of underground structures are not known or
cannot be confirmed, then there will be a degree of risk to you associated with conducting the
explorations. In the absence of confirmed underground structure locations, you agree to
accept the risk of damage and possible costs associated with repair and restoration of damage
resulting from the exploration work. -
Samples -All soil, rock and water samples will be discarded 30 days after submission of our
report, unless you advise us otherwise. Upon request, we will ship or deliver the samples,
charges collect, or will store them for you for an agreed storage charge.
Invoices -Invoices will generally be submitted on~re a moth for services performed during the
previous month. Payment will be due within ~d' days of invoice date. Interest will be added
to accounts in arrears at the rate of one and one-half (1.5) percent per month (18 percent per
annum) or the maximum rate allowed by law, whichever is less, of the outstanding balance.
In the event we engage counsel to enforce overdue payments, you will reimburse us for all
reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs.
Ownership of Documents -All reports, field data and notes, laboratory test data, calculations,
estimates, and other documents which we prepare, as instruments of service, shall be our
property. You agree that all reports and other work we furnish you or your agents, which are
not paid for, will be returned upon demand and will not be used for any purpose whatsoever.
Reports and other materials resulting from our efforts on this project or site are not intended
or represented to be suitable for reuse by you or others on extensions or modification of this
project or for any other projects or sites. Reuse of reports or other materials by you or others
on extensions or modifications, of this project or on other sites, without our written permission
or adaptation for the specific purpose intended shall be at the user's sole risk, without liability
on our part, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from all claims, damages, and
expenses, including attorney's fees, arising out of such unauthorized reuse. Any reuse or
adaptation of the instruments of service occurring with our permission shall entitle us to further
compensation in amount to be agreed upon.
We will retain pertinent records relating to the services performed for a period of six (6) years
following submission of our report, during which period the records will be made available upon
reasonable request.
Insurance -Except for claims related to pollutants or asbestos, we are protected against most
risks of liability exposure by Workmen's Compensation Insurance, Professional Liability
Insurance with respect to liabilities arising from negligent errors and omissions, and by
Standard Public Liability Insurance. We will furnish information and certificates at your
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