On-Site Incineration at the
Baird and McGuire Superfund Site
Holbrook, Massachusetts

Executive Summary

This report presents cost and performance data for the application of on-site incineration of contaminated soil at the Baird and McGuire Superfund site (Baird and McGuire) in Holbrook, Massachusetts. A rotary kiln incinerator was operated from March 1995 through March 1997 as part of a remedial action. Contaminants of concern in the soil were dioxins, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, and heavy metals, including lead and arsenic.

The Baird and McGuire site was operated as a chemical mixing and batching company from 1912 to 1983. Some of the raw materials used on site were stored in a tank farm and piped to on-site laboratory and mixing buildings. Other raw materials were stored in drums. During the remedial investigation, dioxin concentrations in the soil were measured as high as 27.8 µg/kg.

A Record of Decision (ROD) signed in 1986 specified on-site incineration as the selected remedy for the contaminated soils at the site. A second ROD signed in 1989 specified on-site incineration as the selected remedy for the contaminated sediments of the nearby Cochato River. Both RODs set standards requiring a destruction and removal efficiency (DRE) of 99.9999% for principal organic hazardous constituents (POHCs).

The remediation activities performed at Baird and McGuire also included the construction and operation of a groundwater treatment system. Only issues relating to on-site incineration are discussed in this report.

All of the material that was incinerated was mechanically screened to remove debris before incineration. The incineration system included a rotary dryer for removal of moisture from the soil. The dried soil was fed to the rotary kiln where the contaminants in the soil were volatilized and destroyed. Off-gases from the rotary kiln were then routed to a secondary combustion chamber (SCC).

The exhaust gas from the rotary kiln was directed to an air pollution control system (APCS) consisting of a baghouse for particulate removal, a quench tower, a wet scrubber for fine particulate removal. Wastewater from the APCS was treated in an on-site wastewater treatment system.

All of the residuals generated from the incineration and subsequent ancillary operations, including ash and wastewater treatment sludge, were landfilled on site.

During two years of operation, the incinerator processed approximately 210,000 tons of contaminated soil, and 1,500 cubic yards of contaminated sediment. Treatment performance and emissions data collected during this application indicated that all performance standards and emissions requirements were achieved.

The total cost for remediation using the incineration system was approximately $133,000,000.

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