300 Fisher Street background for EPA work to gather community input on next steps

July 17, 2026

To: Town Council

From: Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator

RE: 300 Fisher Street

300 Fisher Street is an active superfund site (see attached map, zoning, wetlands and context).

Over the past ten years, the site has actually made substantial progress being remediated. First, there was a very dangerous structure on the property that has been removed. Second, prior to the pandemic, the site owner had actually removed a significant amount of contaminated soils. The pandemic truly stopped progress in its tracks and the EPA has done the best they can to get this site prioritized again for further cleanup. While there have been delays, the good news is the EPA is ready for a public comment period, which signals additional reinvestment in the parcel.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who administers superfund sites, will be present to give a short presentation and answer questions on the parcel at 300 Fisher Street. We have attached materials on the background of this parcel, which has an extensive history.

The main reason for this presentation is that the EPA intends to seek public comment in late 2026 regarding future uses on the site (which determines the level of required remediation at the site. Given the site history, it is important the community has as much opportunity to understand the history and limitations on the site.

In 2019, the Town Council attempted to change the zoning from Industrial to Mixed Use Innovation. The reason for the proposed change is the parcel is split between two zoning districts, Industrial and Rural Residential 1 (RR1). At the time the EPA and property owner began this process, the town thought having one zoning district was sound. Please note that accessing the RR1 portion is very challenging due to the wetlands. At second reading, it was voted down due to one public comment (the comment was to suggest housing).

The site is very limited for future growth. Due to the river crossing and wetlands, as well as access to the site are very challenging. If one drives down Fisher Street, it is mostly an industrial zone with some commercial sites, Public Works and Public Facilities buildings and a rail line making this site hard to access. Tech Review staff have discussed this parcel for many years and agree that the current uses and zoning presented are the best opportunities for future use. Recreation parking or light retail for the SNETT and possible commercial warehouses are likely the best opportunities. Housing uses will result in a much more substantial cleanup effort and will be challenging to permit.

However, this is the purpose of the public comment and community outreach. We hope the community will begin to focus on the site again.

Lastly, staff have requested grant funding in the Environmental Bond Bill for $1 million through our legislative delegation to help remediate the site in the next five years. The cost will be far more substantial, but it is something. We will continue to try for state grants if this effort is not successful.

We have included the materials from the EPA to help make the evening as efficient as possible. Please let us know if you have any questions.

On the Town Council agenda for July 22, 2026

b. 300 Fisher Street

i. Environmental Protection Agency Overview Presentation   https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/10232/EPA-Presentation

ii. Town Administrator Memo on history of 300 Fisher Street  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/10234/11b-2---MEMO---300-Fisher-Street-History

iii. 300 Fisher Street Town site map  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/10235/11b-iiii-Map

iv. 300 Fisher Street property card  

Updated Community Involvement Plan for the BJAT, LLC Superfund Site

An updated Community Involvement Plan (CIP) from the EPA on the BJAT, LLC. property, 300 Fisher St.


"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed this Community Involvement Plan (CIP) based predominantly upon input gathered through interviews with Town of Franklin (Franklin) officials and residents, along with other stakeholders interested in the BJAT, LLC. Superfund1 Site (Site). EPA’s goals for community involvement at the Site are:

• To provide the public with accurate, timely, accessible, and understandable information about the project as it moves forward;
• To provide opportunities for the public to become actively involved, especially when decisions about the cleanup are being made;
• To enlist the support and involvement of local officials and community leaders; and
• To encourage, respect and fully consider community input as the project moves forward.

EPA will achieve these goals through various means, including published documents, meetings, presentations, and community conversations. These activities will be based on the community’s needs, as informed by those with whom EPA met while preparing this plan, as well as all legal requirements.

The CIP is a living document and, as necessary and appropriate, it will be updated with community input. If you are interested in suggesting changes to this plan or have questions about it, please contact:

Kimberly White, P.E.
Remedial Project Manager
(617) 918-1752
white.kimberly@epa.gov

ZaNetta Purnell, MPH
Community Involvement Coordinator
(617) 918-1306
Purnell.zanetta@epa.gov

Updated Community Involvement Plan for the BJAT, LLC Superfund Site

EPA Staff Will be in Franklin Monday, Oct. 31 to Discuss BJAT Site with Community Members

EPA will host an availability session for Franklin residents interested to discuss the BJAT Superfund Site. The session will be held on Monday, October 31, 2016 from 2:30 – 4:00 PM at the Franklin Department of Public Works located at 257 Fisher Street, Franklin, Mass.

On Sept. 30, 2015, EPA add the BJAT site, located at 300 Fisher Street in Franklin, to the "National Priorities List" of Superfund sites. The Superfund program, a federal program established by Congress in 1980, investigates and cleans up the most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the country and converts them into productive local resources by eliminating or reducing health risks and environmental contamination associated with hazardous waste sites.

Beginning in the late 1800s, the BJAT LLC site, was used for industrial operations including the manufacturing of rubber and plastic products. The property, inactive since 1985, contains areas of process waste and debris. Further, soil, sediment and ground water are contaminated with lead, mercury and zinc as well as semi-volatile organic compounds.

More information on the BJAT Superfund Site: www.epa.gov/superfund/bjat

http://twitter.com/epanewengland

Learn More about the Latest EPA News & Events in New England (https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-1-new-england)

Follow EPA New England on Twitter (http://twitter.com/epanewengland)

Connect with EPA New England on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EPARegion1)

Related links from the Franklin Matters archives

• Live reporting from the Town Council meeting July 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/live-reporting-epa-300-fisher-st.html

• DEP and EPA presentation to Town Council, July 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/300-fisher-st-ma-dep-epa-presentation.html

• Map showing property location within Franklin

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/300-fisher-st-map.html

In the News: Superfund listing good news, Pumpkins in the Park, Purr-fect Cat Shelter fund raising

Area officials reacted favorably to news that a contaminated property on Fisher Street had been added to the Environmental Protection Agency's list of Superfund sites.

The EPA announced Wednesday that the former BJACT LLC property will be placed on the agency's National Priorities List of Superfund sites. The land at 300 Fisher St., according to an EPA release, has been used for industrial purposes since the late 1800s, with rubber and plastic manufacture among its uses. It is currently inactive, and has been so since 1985.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151001/NEWS/151008865/1994/NEWS

In cooperation with the Franklin Recreation Department, Pumpkins in the Park will take place at 6 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the Franklin Sculpture Park on Panther Way, near the police station. 

Those interested are asked to drop off pumpkins between noon and 2 p.m., or 5-6 p.m. Lights will be provided by Franklin Art Center. Event attendees will vote for their favorite pumpkins and prizes will be given for the most creative, scariest and funniest.

Franklin Art Center Facebook photo

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151001/NEWS/151009491/1994/NEWS

The Purr-fect Cat Shelter will hold the Pour for Paws Wine Tasting fundraiser 2-5 p.m. Oct. 18 at Pour Richard’s Wine and Spirits, 14 Grove St. 

The event will be an afternoon of wine sampling provided by Pour Richard’s and raffle items. Pour Richard’s Wine and Spirits will also donate 20 percent of the sales during the event to the Purr-fect Cat Shelter.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151001/NEWS/151009214/1994/NEWS

"We want that site environmentally cleaned"

The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday proposed adding a former manufacturing property on Fisher Street to its list of federal Superfund sites. 

The designation would make the polluted 18-acre property eligible for funding for the cleanup. The agency could announce the addition of the site to its National Priorities List as early as this fall. 

The Superfund law provides the EPA with the funds to clean up the sites and gives it authority to force the polluters to lead the efforts or reimburse the government for the work. There are 38 sites in Massachusetts listed on the National Priorities List.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150326/NEWS/150327316/1994/NEWS


This is no surprise. Franklin has been aware of the site for some time and working through the process to get it added to the listing to be eligible for government funding of the clean up required.

The EPA and MassDEP made a presentation to the Town Council July 9, 2014 in preparation for yesterday's announcement
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/live-reporting-epa-300-fisher-st.html

Where is the property located?

image of superfund site

Additional details can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/300-fisher-st-map.html


The original press release can be viewed here
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/b240f4dd49480dcf85257e1200725e74?OpenDocument

300 Fisher St (map)

A follow up email from a Fisher St resident prompted sharing this map.



As I understand the water flow, Mine Brook flows from the Fisher St area towards Beaver St and i495. As you look at this map, it would be flowing up to the top of the map and to the left (oriented as north and westerly).

screen shot of the detailed map showing contamination at 300 Fisher St and Mine Brook

The details on the hazardous waste (contaminated soil and ground water) can be found in the notes from the Town Council meeting this week:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/live-reporting-epa-300-fisher-st.html


The presentation document and associated MA DEP files on 300 Fisher St can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/300-fisher-st-ma-dep-epa-presentation.html