EPA continues cleanup work this March at the Walton and Lonsbury Superfund Site in Attleboro, Mass.
BOSTON (Mar. 21, 2025) – The U.S. Environmental Protection AgencRy (EPA) is conducting a remedial action at the Walton and Lonsbury Superfund Site in Attleboro, MA. Construction starts this March.
Some contaminated soil will be removed, and other contaminated soil and groundwater will be treated in place at the initial source of contamination, a former chromium electroplating facility. The established underground permeable reactive barrier (PRB) wall that chemically converts contaminants to harmless forms as the groundwater flows through the PRB into Bliss Brook will be extended. Additional PRB work at the mid-plume location along North Avenue will address contaminated groundwater flowing away from the Walton & Lonsbury property is anticipated to being in the Spring of 2026.
Construction at the source area and PRB area involves the use of heavy machinery, including excavators and drilling rigs. Residents can also expect increased truck traffic, especially during times when soils are excavated and trucked off-site. Trucks will follow the established haul route and staging areas. Approximately 10 to 20 truck trips are anticipated per day to support the cleanup, and "Trucks Entering Roadway" signage will be placed along North Avenue to alert drivers that they may encounter trucks turning onto or from North Avenue.
The City of Attleboro has been instrumental in making progress at the Site, and EPA has been working closely with the City to minimize disruption and ensure public safety. Air and noise monitoring controls and stormwater management best practices are deployed to safeguard workers and the public.
The community is encouraged to contact EPA Community Involvement Coordinator Aaron Shaheen at 617-918-1071 or shaheen.aaron@epa.gov. with any questions or concerns.
Background
Walton & Lonsbury was the location of a chromium electroplating facility that operated from 1940 to 2007 in Attleboro, MA. A number of chemicals and chemical compounds were used and left as waste in the operations process. From 1940 to 1970, the majority of process wastes were directly discharged into wetlands located on the southern portion of the site property via an underground pipe. After 1970, W&L used several different waste disposal practices, including a surface impoundment and lagoon used for drying plating sludge and later a closed-loop water treatment system. Historically, contaminants were distributed through direct discharge, disposal to a dry well, tank spills, and air emissions.
Initial EPA involvement (from 2010 to 2013) consisted of stabilizing the site by removing or covering highly contaminated surface soils and sediment and demolishing the facility. A cover system was constructed over contaminated material east of the site to prevent contaminated groundwater from upwelling to the surface. Since its designation as a Superfund Site in 2013, EPA and its contractors have been collecting data to determine how far contaminants have moved and the risks posed by these contaminants.
In 2019, EPA finalized and presented the cleanup plan for the Site. The public was given the opportunity to provide comments which EPA responded to in a responsiveness summary. To view the cleanup plan and other site-related documents please visit www.epa.gov/superfund/walton.
