The National Fireworks sits on approximately 240 acres located in the Hanover Fireworks/Industrial District, between King and Winter Street in the southwest corner of Hanover. The site is bounded on the east by Winter Street, and west by King Street and the Drinkwater River wetland, on the north by First Street and on the South by Factory Pond. A portion of Factory Pond lies within the Town of Hanson. The Drinkwater River and Factory pond flow into the Indian Head River, which then flows to the North River.
Some knowledge of contamination of this site goes back to the early 1980s. The site was confirmed as having contamination in 1995 and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) began the process of overseeing the clean-up and working with the responsible parties. In October 1995, MassDEP issued Notices of Responsibility to the U.S. Department of Defense, Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation, Susquehanna Corporation, National Coating Corporation, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as potentially responsible parties under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 21E for environmental contamination at the site. While not admitting liability, Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation, National Coating Corporation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology formed the Fireworks Site Joint Defense Group (also known as the “Cooperating Parties”), and began investigating the environmental conditions at the site. In 2000 the Cooperating Parties reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense for reimbursement of the majority of the cost of the site investigation.
Mercury Contamination Fish Advisory
CAUTION! DO NOT EAT FISH from the North River/Indian Head River/Drinkwater River from Forge Pond dam in Hanover to the Route 3 overpass.
Due to mercury contamination the Massachusetts Department of Health has issued a health advisory that the general public should not eat any fish caught from the North River/Indian Head River/Drinkwater Rivers from Forge Pond dam in Hanover to the Route 3 overpass. Mercury contamination is higher in this river system due to historic contamination from the National Fireworks Site at Factory Pond. While the source of the mercury contamination is located upstream in Factory Pond and adjacent areas, mercury bioaccumulates up the food chain, resulting in animals up the food chain with increasingly higher concentrations of mercury in their bodies.
For further information on the site and its clean up please visit the Town of Hanover’s website.
Other resources:
MassDEP Mercury Information Fish Monitoring and Advisories
https://www.mass.gov/guides/
Massachusetts Searchable Database for Fish Advisories
https://eohhs.ehs.state.ma.us/
General Mercury Fish Advisory for Massachusetts
https://www.mass.gov/files/
Fireworks Timeline (Compiled and Updated from 2012 Town of Hanover Publication – Environmental Update: The National Fireworks Site and other sources found at https://www.hanover-ma.gov/home/pages/fireworks-site)
Manufacturing of civilian fireworks, and research, testing, and manufacturing of US military munitions and pyrotechnics. Lead, mercury, and organic solvents generated in the process were disposed of on site and impacted soil, sediments, groundwater, wetlands and Factory Pond.
Town of Hanover purchased ~130 acres as conservation land
1983 Rest of site subdivided now more than 40 different owners
1984 US EPA Evaluates Site and does not add to the Superfund listing
1986 US EPA requires Susquehanna Corporation to investigate the southern portion of the site and remove some drums and debris
1989 Listed as a “Location to be Investigated” under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan
1993 and 1995 MassDEP conducted limited surface water, sediment, and fish tissue sampling for mercury, lead and other metals in portions of the streams, ponds, and wetlands on and adjacent to the site.
October 1995 MassDEP issues Notices of Responsibility to the US Department of Defense, Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation, Susquehanna Corporation, National Coating Corporation, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as potential responsible parties. While not admitting liability, Kerr-McGee, National Coating and MIT formed the Fireworks Joint Site Defense Group (also known as “the cooperating parties”) and began investigating the site conditions.
1995 Fish Advisory for mercury announced advising people to not eat fish from the Drinkwater River, Factory Pond, and Indian Head River downstream to the Route 3 overpass on the North River. Catch and release only.
1997 Phase I Preliminary Site Investigation began in July 1997 to confirm whether the location is a “disposal site”
1999 Immediate Response Actions performed
1998-2003 Phase II a systematic investigation of environmental conditions of the entire site, which provides the data necessary to assess site risks
2000 The Cooperating parties reach an agreement with the US Department of Defense for reimbursement of the majority of the cost of the site investigation.
2005 A comprehensive site assessment report was issued in 2005 that characterized the site contamination and the risks to wildlife and humans.
2007 Draft Remedial Action Plan was issued in 2007
2009 Revised Draft Remedial Action Plan identified further areas for study
2010 Two 100 – year storm events potentially moving contaminated sediments from flooding
2012 Exploratory sampling of areas identified in 2009
2015 Re-sampling after 2010 storms to re-establish baseline conditions
2018 Factory Pond and Trails Closed