Deal Struck To Clean Land Contaminated By Lead

The Board of Selectmen Wednesday gave initial approval to an agreement struck between the town and National Lead to clean a contaminated site along the Marblehead border.  

The problem revolves around contaminated property at the site of the former lead mills on the Salem/Marblehead border along Lafayette Street.

Pieces of lead remain in the ground from factory production, which ended a century ago. For decades, fragments of red pottery from lead processing have littered the beach along the border.

On Wednesday, Chairman James Nye read a letter from Assistant Town Counsel Lisa Mead noting National Lead has agreed to pay to clean the site and perform future testing and monitoring of the affected land and beach.

According to the plan, some of the dirt will be removed and the rest treated at the site. Cleanup would include the areas along the Forest River cutting through the property  and a portion of the tidal flats that fall below the high-tide mark.

Selectmen voted to sign letters of recommendation for approval to the Marblehead and Salem Conservation committees as well as the Light Department.

When Nye asked if any members had any discussion, Judy Jacobi said, "No, we've been discussing it for 10 years." Jacobi went on to credit those who have worked tirelessly over the years to strike the deal.

Nye also said the deal is a good one for the town.