INDIAN HEAD SKI AREA

The Indian Head Ski Area property is located on Dow Street in Pepperell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The property is a 65-acre parcel on the east side of Nissit Hill Peak and is divided into three adjacent lots. The property is currently privately owned. An approximately 6-acre inactive landfill area covered with grass and shrubs is located on the northwestern portion of the property spanning two of the three lots. The remainder of the property contains an empty two-story house, a barn, a driving range, and undeveloped wooded areas. The property is bordered to the north and south by residential homes and woodlands; to the east by Dow Street and residential homes; and to the west by woodlands.
Land use prior to 1900 is unknown. From 1900 to 1964, the property was privately owned farmland. In 1965, the property was leased to the Beta Corporation (Beta), which operated the Indian Head Ski Area until 1978. In 1975, Beta received a zoning variance to fill in a small valley between North Nissitissit Hill and Nissit Hill Peak to expand the ski area. In 1975, Gravel Trucking Company of Nashua, New Hampshire began landfill construction to fill this area. In 1977, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (MA DEQE) issued an order to stop landfilling operations due to lack of engineering plans, discovery of landfill leachate, and surface water drainage problems. In 1978, the landfill was capped in response to a consent order between MA DEQE and Beta. In 1981, Beta retained Camp, Dresser, & McKee (CDM) to perform remedial work and permanently close the landfill. Test pits revealed that the landfill contained demolition rubble, soil, timbers, brick, metal, tires, wood, rubber, cloth, paper, plastic, and trees. A domestic oil tank and one 55-gallon drum of unknown constituents and origin were also observed in the landfill. Reportedly, industrial and medical wastes were also landfilled at the property. No additional information was available regarding the landfill capping activity. A driving range is currently active at the property.

Previous investigations at the property included a Preliminary Assessment (PA) completed in 1982; a landfill closure program completed in 1983; a Screening Site Inspection (SSI) completed in 1991; and a Site Inspection Prioritization (SIP) completed in 1997.

The estimated population served by public groundwater drinking water wells within 4-radial miles of the property is 7,690. The nearest public drinking water supply well is located approximately 2.4 miles south of the property. The estimated population served by private groundwater wells within 4-radial miles of the property is 6,337. The location of the nearest private drinking water is unknown, but there are reportedly private wells within 0.25-radial miles of the property. Groundwater occurs in overburden at depths of approximately 1.5 to 37.7 feet below ground surface (bgs), and groundwater flow is estimated to be a east-northeast based on local topography. Analytical results of groundwater samples collected in 1996 indicated the presence of two volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (methylene chloride and chlorobenzene), 10 metals, and one polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) (Aroclor-1248). However, no impacts to nearby groundwater drinking water supply sources due to activities at the property are known or suspected.

Surface water at the property flows into two drainage ditches. The first drainage ditch discharges to an unnamed stream in the northwest portion of the property. The stream flows through an off-site wetland and discharges into Sucker Brook. Surface water then flows into Nashua River before reaching Merrimack River. The second drainage ditch discharges to an unnamed stream and off-site fire pond east of the property. Outflow from the pond drains southeast and underground into Nashua River, which drains into Merrimack River. There are no drinking water intakes located along the 15-mile downstream surface water pathway. Approximately 6.1 miles of wetland frontage, one Federal-listed endangered species habitat, and 17 State-listed threatened or endangered species habitats occur along the 15-mile downstream surface water pathway. Analytical results of leachate samples collected from the property in 1981 indicated the presence of VOCs, semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs), inorganic compounds, and total phenols. During a site reconnaissance in 1996, copper-colored leachate was observed flowing towards an off-site wetland. Analytical results of sediment samples collected from off-site wetlands and a stream north of the property in 1996 indicated the presence of VOCs, phenols, PCBs (Arochlor-1248 and Arochlor-1260), and inorganic compounds. As a result, impacts to nearby sensitive environments are suspected.

Two employees work at the driving range located on the property. Approximately 728 people reside within 1-radial mile of the property. The nearest residence is located approximately 65 feet east of the property. There are no schools or day-care facilities located within 200 feet of the property. No terrestrial sensitive environments exist at the property. Access to the property is unrestricted; however, the property owners have posted “No Trespassing” signs. Analytical results of soil samples collected from the property in 1990 indicated the presence of SVOCs and inorganic compounds. Based on site observations and conditions, no impacts to nearby residential populations are known or suspected.
An estimated 19,893 people, 2,628 acres of wetlands, one Federally-listed endangered species habitat, and 11 State-listed threatened or endangered species habitats occur within 4-radial miles of the property. No laboratory quantitative air samples are known to have been collected from the property. Based on available data, no impacts to nearby populations or sensitive environments are known or suspected.

The last known action at the property was the SIP completed in 1997. According to available sources, the property has no status under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan and is not an active site under Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP).