Announcements
and Key Topics
EPA
created a story map highlighting the cleanup efforts at the site. To view click
here.
Background
The
Adams Drycleaner Site is located at the intersection of Independence Avenue and
Goddard Street in Quincy, Massachusetts (42°14'15.26"N, 71°
0'14.29"W). Quincy is located in Norfolk County and the 8th Congressional
District in eastern Massachusetts, with a population of approximately 94,470
people [5, 6].
The
0.05-acre Site is located in a commercial and residential area. The property is
occupied by one building which is currently vacant. The property is bounded on
the south and east by residences, and on the north and west by commercial
buildings.
What
Has Been Done to Clean Up the Site?
Adams
Cleaners operated on the site from the 1950s to 2015. In 2015, the Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) found elevated concentrations
of tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene or PCE) in soil samples collected
beneath the building. Further investigations found PCE in one well on the
property and elevated levels of PCE in the groundwater downgradient. Vapor
intrusion sampling in adjacent and downgradient properties found elevated
levels of PCE in the indoor air.
In
August 2021, the MassDEP requested assistance from EPA Region 1's Emergency
Planning and Response Branch to:
- Investigate
and mitigate the source of the contamination at 32 Independence Ave.
- Assess
the effectiveness and efficiency of the sub-slab depressurization system
installed by MassDEP at an adjacent residence; and
- Secure
access and conduct vapor intrusion sampling at residences and businesses
in the area to assess potential health threats.
EPA
began work at the site in the Fall of 2021. The Action Memorandum was amended on March 24, 2025 to address the potential indoor exposure at several properties in proximity to the Source Property
where vapor intrusion data indicates a potential human health risk exists. Work was completed on August 27,
2025.
What
is the Current Site Status?
The
official demobilization date for the Adams Cleaners site was August 27, 2025. EPA
has given control of the site to MassDEP.
The
Administrative Record is available for review at:
Or
by scanning this QR code.
Locations
to access this online administrative record include:
- U.S.
EPA SEMS Records and Information Center, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100,
Boston, MA, 02109-3912, (617) 918-1440, by appointment.
- Thomas
Crane Public Library, 40 Washington St, Quincy, MA 02169
