Projects

Monsanto Company, Everett, MA

"As our Licensed Site Professional, Jim Okun was a key
team member throughout the cleanup effort at the former
Everett, Massachusetts, manufacturing facility. Jim provided
critical guidance and direction on development and implementation of site investigation and remediation projects. As a result, the requirements of the Massachusetts Contingency Plan were satisfied in a timely and cost-effective manner. Jim and others at OTO continue to provide valuable service, including ongoing groundwater monitoring at the site."

- Jerry Rinaldi, Solutia


Monsanto decided to close one of its largest chemical manufacturing plants. At the time of the decision, 40 acres of the 80-acre site were still active. At one time, the Everett plant produced sulfuric acid, plasticizer and other specialty chemicals, including those used in the production of Saflex. That’s the product that prevents automobile glass from breaking into dangerous shards.

As was typical of chemical manufacturing plants in the past, there had been occasional spills and releases of oil or hazardous materials to the ground. Cleanup of the property was voluntarily initiated by the company in accordance with Massachusetts and federal regulations.

OTO was retained to work with the company and the cleanup contractors to monitor compliance with Massachusetts Contingency Plan rules and regulations. Because the site was unusually large and the type and character of the chemicals was so diverse, OTO recommended the use of a site–specific Method 3 risk assessment approach to prioritize cleanup.

The carefully planned cleanup proceeded by first targeting areas posing a higher level of risk and continued until the property could be safely reused. The successful multi-million dollar cleanup effort, which included the implementation of institutional controls, allowed for the development of a new regional shopping center on the site.