Citizens Research and Environmental Watch Records,
1973-2008 (bulk 1993-2006)
Vault A75, CREW, Unit 1
Extent: 3.8 linear feet (four containers)
Organization: Five series: I. Minutes and organizational records (1993-2008); II. Correspondence and notes (1973-2007); III. Consultants’ and topical reports and related materials (1980-2008); IV. Articles and warrants, Town of Concord (1990-2007); V. Publicity materials, presentations, newspaper clippings, and other media (1980-2008).
History: The volunteer citizens’ watchgroup Citizens Research and Environmental Watch, or CREW, was instrumental in designating a Superfund site in Concord, Massachusetts. Founded in 1989 under the name Concerned Citizens of Concord, the group was known as Citizens Concerned About Nuclear Metals before adopting the name CREW in 1993.
In 1989, Concord resident Mary Jane Williams became aware of a change in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s policy on the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. Her concern was over Nuclear Metals, Inc., a local manufacturer that produced a significant amount of such waste at its location at 2229 Main Street (Route 62) in West Concord, not far from the banks of the Assabet River.
Nuclear Metals, Inc. (NMI), originally known as MIT’s Metallurgical Project, got its start in 1942 as part of the Manhattan Project. The company was renamed NMI in 1952 and moved to 2229 Main Street in 1958. From 1958 to 1985, NMI dumped radioactive waste such as beryllium and depleted uranium into its 46-acre property. NMI was contracted by the United States Army to manufacture depleted uranium penetrates for use during the Persian Gulf War. Depleted uranium is linked to a number of different cancers and has since been identified as one of the contributors to Gulf War illnesses. In 1998, NMI changed its name to Starmet Corporation.
In 1990, Concord residents Mary Jane Williams, Judy Scotnicki, and Barbara Ramsey brought Article 43 to the Concord Town Meeting. Article 43, which prohibited the disposal of radioactive waste in Concord’s landfills, passed. A Public Involvement Plan Petition with the Commonwealth’s Department of Environmental Protection was implemented in January of that year, also a result of the group’s efforts.
In 1991, Citizens Concerned About Nuclear Metals hired Dr. Marvin Resnikoff of Radioactive Waste Management Associates. The subsequent report, “Health and Safety Impact of NMI” identified NMI’s contamination of air, groundwater, and soil at the property. Article 52, brought to the Concord Town Meeting in 1991, called for the excavation of the waste at NMI; Article 52 did not pass. In 1993, the group proposed four ballot questions regarding NMI’s Hydromet project; the ballot questions were denied.
Despite some early setbacks, CREW continued its work toward ridding Concord of the radioactive waste produced at NMI by partnering with Grassroots Actions for Peace, another Concord citizens’ group, to present Article 41 to the 1996 Concord Town Meeting. This article, which addressed air monitoring and costs at the NMI property, was approved.
In its mission to bring the dangers of depleted uranium to light, CREW helped establish the Depleted Uranium Network of the Military Toxics Project, a group headquartered in Lewiston, Maine. Labeling depleted uranium as the “Agent Orange of the ‘90s,” the Depleted Uranium Network helped raise public awareness of depleted uranium weapons through presentations on presidential advisory committees and in international forums.
Through the persistent efforts of CREW members, the United States Environmental Protection Agency designated Starmet Corporation a Superfund site in 2001. Subsequent articles brought by CREW to the Town of Concord (Article 51 in 2003 and Article 40 in 2007) were designed to support the Environmental Protection Agency through rezoning of the contaminated site.
Scope and Content: Records 1973-2008, bulk 1993-2006. Series I: Minutes and organizational records, including minutes from meetings with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (2001-2002); Series II: Correspondence and notes, including notes from a meeting with a former NMI employee (1987), notes recalling comments by local oncologist about her multiple myeloma patients who previously worked at NMI (1997), letter from United States Environmental Protection Agency placing Starmet Corporation site on the National Priorities List under the name “Nuclear Metals” (2001), and correspondence of NMI/Starmet (1973-2001); Series III: Consultants’ and topical reports and related materials, including “Health and Safety Impact of NMI” prepared by Radioactive Waste Management Associates (1991), “Incidence of Cancer in Concord, MA and Neighboring Towns, 1982-90” by W.B. Smith (1995), and United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrative Order by Consent for Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (2003); Series IV: Articles and warrants, Town of Concord, including anonymous letter received at Town Meeting from NMI employee (1991); Series V: Publicity materials, presentations, newspaper clippings, and other media, including VHS of Dateline NBC’s “Deadly Fire” (1994) and presentation with Grassroots Actions for Peace, “Radioactive Weapons and Waste in Concord: The Toxic Shots Heard Round the World” (1997).
Source of Acquisition: Gift of James L. West on behalf of Citizens Research and Environmental Watch, May 2008.
Restrictions on Use: Newspaper clippings photocopied for patron use; no patron access to original clippings. All original newspaper clippings are housed at end of collection, in Box 4.
Notes/Comments: Accessioned in May 2008. AMC 159.
Processed by: Lindsey A. Dewar, April 2009.
Container List
Series I:
Minutes and Organizational Records, 1993-2008
Box 1, Folder 1.
Minutes, 1993-2003, including those of CREW general meetings and annual meetings; Steering Committee meetings; Technical Advisory Committee meeting minutes; CREW meetings with Grassroots Actions for Peace (1997); draft minutes of Starmet Advisory Committee (2001); minutes from meetings with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (2001-2002); “Report on EPA activity on NMI/Starmet Superfund Site (from conversation with Melissa Taylor)” (2002)
Box 1, Folder 2.
Minutes, 2004-2008, including those of CREW general meetings; Technical Advisory Committee meeting minutes; meetings of the Nuclear Metals Superfund Site Technical Group; Neighborhood Meeting of Thoreau Hills (2004)
Box 1, Folder 3.
Records, 1994-2007, including articles of incorporation and proposed by-laws (1994); Form 1023: Application for Recognition of Exemption (1995); receipts for calendar year (1995); Certificate of Solicitation (2004); United States Environmental Protection Agency Assistance Agreement (2005); Certificate of Solicitation (2007)
Series II:
Correspondence and Notes, 1973-2007
Box 1, Folder 4.
Correspondence and notes, 1982-1992, including notes from a meeting with a former NMI employee (1987); notes from a conversation with Frank Costello of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (1989); letter to Concord Board of Health regarding letter of 1958 that references NMI’s disposal of industrial wastes (1991); letter regarding grant from Citizen’s Clearinghouse for Hazardous Wastes (1992); response from the Department of the Army regarding the Hydromet process at NMI (1992); letter from Ben & Jerry’s Foundation regarding grant application (1992)
Box 1, Folder 5.
Correspondence and notes, 1993-1996, including correspondence to and from Nuclear Regulatory Commission (1993); letter to Representative Joseph Kennedy regarding Community Emergency Warning Plan (1993); letter to Senator Edward Kennedy regarding radiological criteria for decommissioning (1995); letter from Harvard University Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences regarding uranium measurements (1995); notes from meeting with Frank Vumbaco of NMI (1996)
Box 1, Folder 6.
Correspondence and notes, 1997, including letter from Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to United States Regulatory Commission regarding missing NMI reports; letter from Gabriel Films regarding documentary on Desert Storm front line Army nurse Carol Picou; letter to House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight from Congressman Martin Meehan; notes recalling comments by local oncologist about her multiple myeloma patients who previously worked at NMI; memorandum on implementation of soil sampling
Box 1, Folder 7.
Correspondence and notes, 1998-1999, including Starmet Corporation Holding Basin Project Weekly Reports (1998); draft complaint from CREW to Board of Health regarding excavation of Starmet (NMI) holding basin (1998); letter from Starmet to Timothy Rose regarding fieldwork and temporary liner (1999)
Box 1, Folder 8.
Correspondence and notes, 2000, including letters to various elected officials regarding the designation of Starmet as a Superfund site; letter from Senator John F. Kerry to CREW regarding his work with the Department of the Army to complete clean-up of Starmet facility; letter from Governor Paul Cellucci to United States Environmental Protection Agency requesting Superfund designation; letter from Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States Army to Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regarding request for information
Box 1, Folder 9.
Correspondence and notes, 2001, including correspondence between CREW and Robert Quinn of Starmet; letter from United States Environmental Protection Agency placing Starmet Corporation site on the National Priorities List under the name “Nuclear Metals”; letter from Dr. H. Rosalie Bertell to Judy Scotnicki regarding “Health Effects of Depleted Uranium” by Gretel Monroe of Grassroots Actions for Peace, a member of the Military Toxics Project
Box 1, Folder 10.
Correspondence and notes, 2002-2003, including letter from Representative Martin Meehan regarding support for H.R. 3155, the Depleted Uranium Munitions Suspension and Study Act of 2001; letter from United States Environmental Protection Agency in recognition of CREW’s 2002 Citizen Excellence in Community Involvement Award winner for Region 1; correspondence with GeoInsight regarding data gaps in de maximis, inc. reports
Box 1, Folder 11.
Correspondence and notes, 2004, including letter from the USEPA regarding CREW’s participation in the remedial investigation
Box 1, Folder 12.
Correspondence and notes, 2005-2007, including letter to Concord Carlisle High School Environmental Club (2005); email from Timothy Rose regarding soil samples (2005); email regarding list of cancer cases in Thoreau Hills as compiled by Mrs. P. DeBinder (2006); undated list of email addresses and telephone numbers
Box 1, Folder 13.
Correspondence and notes, 1973-2001, of NMI/Starmet, including letter from the United States Atomic Energy Commission (1973); letter from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering to NMI regarding response to Goldberg-Zoino & Associates (GZA) reports (1988); United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Memorandum and Order In the Matter of Nuclear Metals, Inc., Docket No. 40-672-MLA (1991); “NMI Views: The Newsletter of Nuclear Metals, Inc.,” Volume 13, No. 4 (1991); letters from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (1992-2000); letters from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (1992-1996); Army Contract Adjustment Board Memorandum of Decision regarding NMI’s necessary role in national defense (1996); NMI Application to the Town of Concord for a special permit for holding basin (1996); promotional brochure on Nuclear Metals, Inc.; history of Starmet as found on company website (2000); Notice of Special Meeting in Lieu of Annual Meeting of Stockholders (2001)
Series III:
Consultants’ and Topical Reports and Related Materials, 1980-2008
Box 1, Folder 14.
Reports, 1988-1994, including map produced by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Environmental Health Assessment indicating “Cancers of the Hematopoietic and Reticuloendothelial Systems, Concord, MA 1982-1988” (1988); memorandum from NMI to Barbara Ramsey regarding Low-Level Waste Generator Survey (1990); “Health and Safety Impact of NMI” prepared by Radioactive Waste Management Associates (1991); “Soil Samples and Tests Off-Site from Nuclear Metals, Inc. done by CREW” (1994)
Box 1, Folder 15.
Reports, 1995-1997, including report by Radioactive Waste Management Associates entitled, “A Review of Phase II Field Investigation and Financial Resources of NMI (1995); “Incidence of Cancer in Concord, MA and Neighboring Towns, 1982-90” by W.B. Smith (1995); Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection “Summary of Response to Public Comments on the Scope of Work for Development of Risk-Based Remedial Action Levels for the Holding Basin” (1996); Massachusetts Department of Public Health “Health Consultation: Cancer Incidence 1982-1992, Concord, Massachusetts” (1997)
Box 1, Folder 16.
Reports, 1998-1999, including “Concentration of Airborne Uranium and Other Elements in the Town of Concord,” regarding the cleanup of the Starmet holding basin (1998); reports by Dr. Timothy L. Rose, Concord Board of Health (1998-1999); RWMA “Review of Risk-Based Remedial Action Levels and Holding Basin Feasibility Study Starmet Corp” (1999); Patrick J. Barosh and Associates “Review of Data on the Distribution of Depleted Uranium Contamination at the Starmet Corporation Site” (1999)
Box 1, Folder 17.
Reports, 2000-2001, including RWMA “Uranium Movement at the NMI/Starmet Site” (2000); portions of report by Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Service Department of Public Health “Cancer Incidence in Massachusetts 1993-1997: City and Town Supplement” (2000); RWMA “Comments on the Response by NMI/Starmet to the Proposed Addition of the NMI/Starmet Site to the Superfund List” (2000); Metcalf & Eddy “Draft Sampling and Analysis Plan (Field Sampling Plan and Quality Assurance Project Plan) for Technical Assistance (2001)
Box 2, Folder 1.
Reports, 2002, including evaluation by United States Department of Health and Human Services “Health Consultation;” Metcalf & Eddy “Data Evaluation/Trend Analysis Technical Memorandum;” USEPA “Approval Memorandum to perform an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis for a Non-Critical Removal Action”
Box 2, Folder 2A.
Reports, 2003, including reports by Metcalf & Eddy; United States Environmental Protection Agency Administrative Order by Consent for Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study; Report of the Special Master, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, regarding costs of clean-up and financial capability of Starmet Corporation, Starmet NMI Corp., and Advanced Specialty Metals, LLC
Box 2, Folder 2B.
Report, 2003, by MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc. for de maximus “Project Summary and Operations Plan”
Box 2, Folder 2C.
Report, 2003, by MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc. for de maximus “Site Management Plan”
Box 2, Folder 2D.
Report, 2003, by MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc. for de maximus “Groundwater Modeling Plan”
Box 2, Folder 2E.
Report, 2003, by MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc. for de maximus, “Community Involvement Support Plan”
Box 2, Folder 2F.
Report, 2003, by MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc. for de maximus, “Risk Assessment Plan”
Box 2, Folder 2G.
Report, 2003, by MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc. for de maximus, entitled “Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan”
Box 2, Folder 3.
Reports, 2004, including comments from United States Environmental Protection Agency regarding MACTEC “Draft Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan”; MACTEC for de maximis “Technical Memorandum Historical Site Assessment” regarding historical records of NMI/Starmet; GeoInsight “Comments of Draft Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study Work Plan”
Box 2, Folder 4A.
Reports, 2005, including report by Dr. Virginie Landré “Sources of neutron emission from alpha particles reacting on light nuclei at the NMI facility in Concord”
Box 2, Folder 4B.
Reports, 2005, including de maximis “Phase 1B Scope of Work”; reports by Dr. Virginie Landré
Box 2, Folder 5.
Report, 2006, including MACTEC for de maximis “Draft Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment”; report by Timothy Rose, “Depleted Uranium Contamination of Soil Beyond the Boundaries of Starmet, Inc.”
Box 2, Folder 6.
Reports, 2007-2008, de maximis “Response to Comments on the Draft Baseline Human Health Risk Assessment” (2007); see Other Media (Series V, Folder 64) for de maximus, inc. “Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis Disposition of Structures and Contents” (2008)
Box 2, Folder 7.
Research materials gathered by CREW, 1980-1989, including Teledyne Isotopes “A Survey of Uranium in Soils Surrounding the NL Bearings Plant [Albany]” (1980)
Box 2, Folder 8.
Research materials gathered by CREW, 1991-1993, including Rural Alliance for Military Accountability and Citizen Alert report, “Uranium Battlefields Home & Abroad: Depleted Uranium Use by the U.S. Department of Defense” (1993)
Box 2, Folder 9.
Research materials gathered by CREW, 1994-1998, including transcript of Dateline NBC’s “Deadly Fire” (1994); newsletters by Childhood Cancer Research Institute (1994-1995); United Nations Economic and Social Council Report of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities” (1996-1997); testimony of Dr. H. Rosalie Bertell before the United States Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs (1998)
Box 2, Folder 10.
Research materials gathered by CREW, 1999-2006, including Childhood Cancer Research Institute “Health Risks of Low-Level Ionizing Radiation in Adults and Children: Overview of Epidemiological Studies” (1999); Laka Foundation “ Depleted Uranium: A Post-War Disaster for Environment and Health (1999); materials from the Hague Peace Conference (1999)
Box 2, Folder 11.
Research materials of book-length nature gathered by CREW, 2001-2007, including book by The Chugoku Shimbun entitled, “Discounted Casualties: The Human Cost of Depleted Uranium” (2001); book entitled, “2003 Recommendations of the European Committee on Radiation Risk” (2003); book by the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons entitled, “The Human Cost of Uranium Weapons” (2007)
Box 2, Folder 12.
Theses and term papers that reference NMI and Concord’s CREW, 1995-1998, including report from student at the Harvard Center for Isotope Geochemistry, “Isotopic determination of uranium contamination in a surface soil sample taken ~1 mile east of Nuclear Metals Inc., Concord, MA” (1995)
Box 2, Folder 13.
Theses and term papers that reference NMI/Starmet and Concord’s CREW, 2004-2005, including report from student at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill “Using Trees to Monitor Uranium Contamination in the Environment” using trees surrounding Starmet plant (2005)
Series IV:
Articles and Warrants, Town of Concord, 1990-2007
Box 3, Folder 1.
Article 43: Radioactive Waste Prohibition–Landfill, 1990, including information sheet; memorandum entitled “Questions for Nuclear Metals, Inc.”; Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Notice of Meeting; Petition for Action to the Concord Board of Health
Box 3, Folder 2.
Article 52: Radioactive Waste Materials Excavation, 1991, including promotional materials; correspondence; letters from NMI to citizens of Concord; anonymous letter received at Town Meeting from NMI employee; letter from NMI to Concord Board of Selectmen regarding a donation toward Concord’s Public Involvement Plan
Box 3, Folder 3.
Ballot Questions regarding Hydrometallurgical Process Plant for March 31, 1993 town election, 1992-1993, including letters and notes; list of citizens in support of ballot questions; presentations to Board of Selectmen (1993); minutes from Town of Concord Board of Health Meeting (1993); CREW tabling report (1993)
Box 3, Folder 4.
Article 41: Air Monitoring and Costs, 1996-1997, including promotional materials; presentations; letters to Article 41 Oversight Committee (1997)
Box 3, Folder 5.
Article 51: Clean Up of Starmet Superfund Site, 2002-2003, including list of citizens in support of warrant; promotional materials, and presentations
Box 3, Folder 6.
Article 40: Zoning Revision to Permit Residential Use, 2006-2007, including correspondence, promotional materials, and presentations; map and photograph of “Location of Contaminated Sites at NMI/Starmet”
Series V:
Publicity Materials, Presentations,
Newspaper Clippings, and Other Media, 1980-2008
Box 3, Folder 7.
Publicity materials, 1981-2000, including CREW “News” newsletters (1993-1995); materials surrounding event with Grassroots Actions for Peace, “Radioactive Weapons and Waste in Concord: The Toxic Shots Heard Round the World” (1997); press releases (1994-2000)
Box 3, Folder 8.
Publicity materials, 2001-2008, including United States Environmental Protection Agency’s “Community Update” newsletter (2001); CREW history, as written by its members (2001); Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection press release regarding settlement with United States Army (2004); information on Starmet Corp. as found on United States Environmental Protection Agency website (2005); United States Environmental Protection Agency newsletter entitled, “Nuclear Metals Site” (2008)
Box 3, Folder 9.
Presentations, 1995-2003, including presentation by Judy Scotnicki before the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses (1996); presentation by Judy Scotnicki to Concord Board of Selectmen regarding Superfund status (2000); presentation for Public Meeting regarding Starmet (2003)
Box 3, Folder 10.
Presentations, 2005, including presentation at the CREW/2229 Committee/Agency Meeting in Boston
Box 3, Folder 11.
Presentations, 2006, of the Technical Group and CREW/2229 Committee
Box 3, Folder 12.
Presentation, 2007, of the CREW/2229 Committee
Box 3, Folder 13.
Publicity materials and presentations by and with the Military Toxics Project, 1993-1997, including materials produced by the veterans’ rights organization, Swords to Plowshares; publicity materials indicting depleted uranium as the “Agent Orange of the 90s” (1994); “Petition for an International Ban on Depleted Uranium Weapons” as signed by citizens in and around Concord (1997); Judy Scotnicki’s presentation, “Depleted Uranium Weapons and Waste in Concord, MA,” for the International DU Forum (1997)
Box 3, Folder 14.
Publicity materials and presentations by and with the Military Toxics Project, 1998-2003, including press releases regarding Persian Gulf veterans’ exposure to depleted uranium (1998); Swords to Plowshares/National Gulf War Resource Center/Military Toxics Project “Depleted Uranium Case Narrative” (1998); “Health Effects of Depleted Uranium” by Gretel Monroe of Grassroots Actions for Peace, a member of the Military Toxics Project (2001)
Box 3, Folder 15.
Photographs, 2005, of CREW march on Earth Day
Box 3, Folder 16.
Newspaper clippings, 1980-1990
Box 3, Folder 17.
Newspaper clippings, 1991
Box 3, Folder 18.
Newspaper clippings, 1992
Box 3, Folder 19.
Newspaper clippings, 1993
Box 3, Folder 20.
Newspaper clippings, 1994
Box 3, Folder 21.
Newspaper clippings, 1995
Box 3, Folder 22.
Newspaper clippings, 1996
Box 3, Folder 23.
Newspaper clippings, 1997
Box 3, Folder 24.
Newspaper clippings, 1998
Box 3, Folder 25.
Newspaper clippings, 1999
Box 3, Folder 26.
Newspaper clippings, 2000, including some articles written in German
Box 3, Folder 27.
Newspaper clippings, January 2001, including some articles written in German
Box 3, Folder 28.
Newspaper clippings, February-December 2001
Box 3, Folder 29.
Newspaper clippings, 2002
Box 3, Folder 30.
Newspaper clippings, 2003, including article written in German
Box 3, Folder 31.
Newspaper clippings, 2004
Box 3, Folder 32.
Newspaper clippings, 2005
Box 3, Folder 33.
Newspaper clippings, 2006-2008
Box 4, Folder 1.
Other media, 1993-2008, including VHS of Boston’s WBZ Evening News “Dirty Secrets,” an interview regarding NMI (1993); VHS of Dateline NBC’s “Deadly Fire” (1994); VHS of the Depleted Uranium Forum’s “Radioactive Weapons and Waste in Concord” (1997); VHS of 60 Minutes “Depleted Uranium” (1999); DVD of Chronicle interview (2004); de maximus, inc. “Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis Disposition of Structures and Contents” (2008)
Eighteen envelopes of original newspaper clippings from Series V are housed at the end of this collection.
c2009 Concord Free Public Library, Concord, Mass.
Not to be reproduced in any form without permission of the Curator of Special Collections, Concord Free Public Library.