Posted by Mark Campanale on Wed, Jul 07, 2010 @ 11:09 AM
As originally posted on umass.edu:
Caulk containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been 
found in various areas of the Southwest Concourse as construction crews worked on a concourse replacement project in the student residential area. Remediation steps to protect public health and safety are under way, and construction is continuing as part of a revised plan that isolates affected areas and protects workers and the public.
Donald Robinson, director of Environmental Health and Safety, said, “We are coordinating with the state Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address the issue and create a permanent remediation plan. We have retained the services of Woodward and Curran, an environmental consulting firm, and Triumvirate Environmental, a full-service environmental firm, to assist in managing PCB testing and remediation planning. As a result, we expect to reopen Southwest, as planned, for the fall semester.”
Robinson said caulk containing PCBs was discovered in between patio blocks, along some retaining walls, between granite steps, on expansion joints of concrete curbs, expansion joints in the concourse tunnel and caulking where concrete meets buildings. The PCBs have migrated into some adjacent soils, concrete, asphalt and granite, which will be removed or cleaned.
When Southwest was constructed in 1966, PCBs were contained in a number of products, including use as an additive to improve the elasticity of caulking materials. The chemical compound was subsequently banned in 1976. Other university buildings were constructed when PCB use was common, and Robinson noted that the University has experience successfully managing remediation projects in the Lederle Graduate Research Center and the W.E.B. DuBois Library.
The Southwest Concourse replacement project is a comprehensive revitalization of the pedestrian core of the student residential complex that replaces multiple underground utilities. In the landscape portion of the project, water, topography and native plantings, emphasizing sustainability, are key elements designed to transform the site, reducing the presence of asphalt and concrete. Facilities Planning expects Southwest to reopen for the fall semester, although the landscaping overhaul may not be finished until next spring.
Photos: Special Collections and Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library