Officials Agree to Demolish Nuclear Metals Buildings on Main St.

According to a memo made public by Town Manager Chris Whelan, an agreement has been reached to remove buildings at the former Nuclear Metals, Inc. Superfund site on Main Street.

The decision was made after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Energy, Textron, Inc. and the Whittaker Corporation came to an agreement on terms. The site occupied by Nuclear Metals (now known as StarMet) is located at 2229 Main St.

“Buildings will be demolished down to their slab foundation, with placement of a temporary cap over the remaining slab,” Whelan wrote in the memo.

Whelan additionally related that provisions will be made to properly dispose of the construction materials on site; materials would either be disposed of at an appropriate facility off-site or possible disposed of on-site.  The latter measure will only be taken, though, if the EPA determines that the debris in question does not contain any hazardous material.

While in operation, Nuclear Metals disposed of uranium and other waste ultimately deemed toxic by Town of Concord officials into an unlined basin, according to Citizens Research & Environmental Watch. The Concord site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in 2001.

“The U.S. EPA will be meeting with Town staff in the near future to ensure everyone understands what will be happening on the site and to ensure the site is secure while the demolition work proceeds,” Whelan continued.

Town officials estimate that the demolition process could take up to three years.