30 LEAVITT STREET RAM PLAN SUBMITTAL NOTICE Thjhe&Bond
Engineers I Environmental Specialists
S-1758-016A
March 20, 2023
Acting Mayor Robert McCarthy
RECEIVED
Salem City Hall
93 Washington Street MAR 2 2 2023
Salem, MA 01970
CITY OF SALEM
Re: Public Notification for RAM Plan Submittal BOARD OF HEALTH
Palmer Cove Park
30 Leavitt Street, Salem, MA
RTN 3-35086
Dear Mayor McCarthy:
In accordance with the Public Notification Procedures of the Massachusetts Contingency Plan
(MCP), we are hereby notifying you of the submittal to Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection (MassDEP) of a Release Abatement Measure (RAM) Plan report for
the above-referenced disposal site.
As you are aware, Tighe & Bond previously completed investigations at the site on behalf of
the City as part of due diligence efforts prior to park redevelopment work being scheduled.
Our findings indicated that metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were
detected above applicable reportable concentrations in site soils, triggering a 120-day
reporting condition. MassDEP was notified of this release condition, MassDEP subsequently
assigned Release Tracking Number (RTN) 3-35086 to the site.
In July 2019, Tighe & Bond submitted a Phase I - Tier Classification report to MassDEP. At
the time of Tier Classification, we noted that although the park parcel is listed as a "closed
landfill" by MassDEP, it was our opinion that contamination present at the site may meet the
definition of"historic fill" under the MCP because the park site (and the surrounding areas)
were previously part of the Palmer Cove bay area that was filled in under Chapter 91
licenses to create the park area by the 1930s, and because of the type of fill observed
beneath the site.
In December 2020, Tighe & Bond submitted a RAM Plan for the for the proper management
of contaminated soils as well as for the further covering of contaminated soils in the areas
where park renovations were scheduled to occur during the City's Phase 1 portion of a park
renovation project. In December 2021, Tighe & Bond submitted a RAM Completion Report
following the completion of that project.
In September 2022, Tighe & Bond submitted a Phase II Comprehensive Site Assessment
Report that reviewed the site investigation completed that delineated the impacts
associated with release, with those findings further supporting our earlier opinion that the
Site impacts are typical of historic fill and/or are consistent with anthropogenic fill.
As you are aware, the City is currently in design phase for their scheduled Phase 2 portion
of the park renovation project. This will warrant another RAM Plan submittal for the proper
management and/or further covering of contaminated soils in the areas where additional
renovations are scheduled to occur at the release site. That separate RAM Plan submittal is
tentatively scheduled for summer of 2023.
Since those Phase 2 park renovation design plans have not been completed to date and the
City has a new tide gate manhole scheduled to be installed on the Site in late March 2023, a
RAM Plan specific to this project is being submitted to MassDEP. This limited project will
120 Front Street Worcester, MA 01608 Tel 508.754.2201 Fax 508.795.1087
involve the displacement of upwards of 30 cubic yards of soils that will need to be properly
managed off-Site under the RAM Plan. This work will be conducted by the City's selected
contractor (via public bidding) under part-time observation by Tighe & Bond.
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact me at 413-572-3222 or email
me at
Very truly yours,
TIGHE & BOND, INC.
Todd D. Kirton, LSP
Principal Environmental Scientist
cc: Salem Health Department
MassDEP - Northeast Regional Office
Salem Department of Planning and Community Development.
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