The 46-acre property at 2229 Main Street, formerly owned and operated by NMI/Starmet, was designated as a Superfund site in 2001. Cleanup activities have been underway since the 1980s but have greatly accelerated and have become more rigorous and comprehensive since 2001. In 2015, Concord Town Meeting authorized the Select Board to potentially acquire the site once the cleanup is substantially complete. For many years, several Town Committees have been monitoring the cleanup and evaluating possible reuses of the site. This past spring the Select Board appointed a new task force, the 2229 Main Street Advisory Task Force, to make final recommendations as to whether the Town should acquire the site.
Over the next few months, the public will have two opportunities to become familiar with the current status of the site and plans for the future and to be part of a critical community conversation.
- On October 11, the Environmental Protection Agency will brief the public on the progress of cleanup activities at the site (6:30 p.m., Town House).
- On November 9, the 2229 Main Street Advisory Task Force will hold a public forum to discuss their work and to solicit concerns, comments, and suggestions regarding the future of the property (7 p.m., Town House).
Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend both meetings in person or remotely.
The Select Board is seeking to fully understand all of the details of such an acquisition. They asked the new Task Force to consider acquisition options by focusing on potential specific reuses, public safety related to these reuses, and details on what would be involved in acquisition and ownership of the site. The nine-member Task Force consists of environmental, health, engineering, risk, legal, economic development, and conservation professionals, and has met twice a month since late May to begin to evaluate the acquisition decision.
It is important for the Concord community to understand aspects and progress of the cleanup of the property and the working of the new Task Force and to provide input related to the site cleanup and possible acquisition. Please plan to attend these important meetings on October 11 and November 9.
Paul D. Boehm, Chair
2229 Main Street Advisory Task Force