Farm Dump Cleanup
Construction Schedule
March 18, 2024
Crews from Strategic Environmental Solutions will start to mobilize by installing erosion controls along the limit of work which includes the dump area and access road, installation of geotextile fabric with riprap overlaid for the access road over the existing trail, trimming of trees along the access road, and stabilizing the culvert next to the Community Gardens.
During this time, the Community Gardens parking lot and trail with temporary road will be closed to the public for safety since large trucks and machinery will be coming and going.
April 1, 2024
EXPECTED: By April 1st, we expect the contractor to begin clearing the vegetation and trees within the dump area. Once clearing is complete, the separation of solid waste from soil will begin. Once the work on the 'farm dump' begins, work shall be completed within a few weeks.
Once trees are removed, the contractor will then begin to excavate the area to pull out large pieces material. Previous test pitting has found the makeup of the fill to be randomized and inconsistent in depth and location. Due to the varying nature, the contractor will excavate soil and materials, separate & stockpile, and then load waste into a truck to be disposed of at a proper facility. Periodic testing of the soil and material will also be conducted by TRC, the Town's professional overseeing the project, if any suspect material arises.
The site will be left and seeded with a cover crop until a final conditions is determined. The area will be left with gentle slopes and grades to more mimic topography prior to the historic filling.
History
In 1979, Southborough purchased the land from Ray Davis and placed it under the care and control of the Conservation Commission. Mr. Davis ran and operated Davis Tractor Supply, an apiary, orchard, and farm. During his ownership, Mr. Davis used a ~1 acre portion of the property as a 'farm dump,' which is now against solid waste regulations.
Since the 1990's the Town has done periodic testing (oil, gas, common contaminates, VOCs, SVOCs, pesticides, petroleum dioxins, metals, etc) of the site and waterways to ensure that there was no public health risk by testing for . Testing has not found any evidence of hazardous waste nor contaminants above the allowable limits. In 2006, the Commission also tested a nearby private well and found no impacts from the farm dump.
Recently, the Town entered an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) with MassDEP under Solid Waste Regulations for the cleanup of section of the property. The Conservation Commission hired TRC as the engineer of record for the project to assist the Town with DEP requirements and to review conducted work for compliance with the approvals from DEP.
In early 2024, the Town selected Strategic Environmental Solutions after a successful bid process to conduct the cleanup work. Approved plans and information can be found below. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions at mdanza@southboroughma.com or 508-281-8984.
Approved Plans & Documents
Administrative Consent Order Information
Superseding Administrative Consent Order (ACO)
Pre-Cleanup/Assessment Plans
Asbestos Summary Report from Assessment
Strategic Environmental Corporation Bid Submission