Bernardston, MA (01337) – Environmental Hazard Report

ZIP: 01337

Bernardston, Massachusetts

Score: 10/10

Bernardston faces a critical environmental threat rated 10 out of 10. The nearby Berkshire Gas Company site is a registered Superfund location only 3.5 miles away. This site contains hazardous substances that could affect your soil and water. For daily life, this means you must be careful about where children play and where you grow food. Pollutants from old industrial sites often travel through the ground, potentially reaching your backyard without being seen or smelled by residents.

Hazard Data Summary

Hazard Score
10/10
Risk Level
Critical
Primary Contaminant
Unspecified Hazardous Substances
Nearest Superfund Site
BERKSHIRE GAS COMPANY
Distance to Nearest
3.5 mi
Sites Within 5 Miles
3
Sites Within 10 Miles
3
County
Franklin
NPL Status
Active

Regulatory Overview

Bernardston, Massachusetts, zip code 01337, operates under a critical environmental health hazard designation due to concentrated industrial contamination. Three active federal remediation sites are located within five miles of this residential zone. The nearest monitored facility, Berkshire Gas Company, is located 3.5 miles away and maintains an active status on the Environmental Protection Agency National Priorities List. Two additional active industrial sites, Railroad Salvage and Griswold Cotton Mill and Strathmore Mill Complex, sit over four miles from the municipal center. The EPA is currently managing these locations under active oversight, indicating that protracted cleanup and containment phases are ongoing but environmental threats remain present. The primary pollutants identified at these facilities are categorized as unspecified hazardous substances, a designation often encompassing heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and industrial solvents. Exposure to these complex chemical mixtures can occur through groundwater migration, soil vapor intrusion, or airborne particulate transport. Residents subjected to prolonged exposure may face elevated risks of respiratory distress, neurological impairment, and chronic systemic illnesses affecting the liver and kidneys. Given the active status of the Berkshire Gas Company site and neighboring mills, residents must implement immediate environmental safeguards. Households reliant on private domestic wells should commission independent water quality testing specifically targeting volatile organic compounds and persistent heavy metals. Residents should install advanced particulate air filtration systems inside their homes to mitigate potential inhalation of airborne soil contaminants. Furthermore, property owners must consistently avoid deep soil excavation or agricultural planting in untreated native topsoil without prior professional chemical screening.

Threat Summary

Bernardston faces a critical environmental threat rated 10 out of 10. The nearby Berkshire Gas Company site is a registered Superfund location only 3.5 miles away. This site contains hazardous substances that could affect your soil and water. For daily life, this means you must be careful about where children play and where you grow food. Pollutants from old industrial sites often travel through the ground, potentially reaching your backyard without being seen or smelled by residents.

Nearby Superfund Sites

Site NameEPA IDDistanceNPL Status
BERKSHIRE GAS COMPANY1100092904543.5 miActive
RAILROAD SALVAGE/GRISWOLD COTTON MILL1100711010144.31 miActive
STRATHMORE MILL COMPLEX1100554930234.37 miActive

Action Required

Residents must take immediate steps to secure their living environment. Contact the Valley Community Development Corporation at 413-586-5855×180 for assistance with housing safety and environmental health resources in the Bernardston area. For additional support regarding property standards and local housing stability, reach out to the Windham and Windsor Housing Trust at 802-254-4604. You should also engage with local environmental groups like the Athol Bird And Nature Club Inc to stay informed about regional contamination monitoring. Prioritize professional soil testing before beginning any new landscaping or home construction projects.

HUD Housing Counseling

Government Verified
Windham And Windsor Housing Trust
Brattleboro, MA
Valley Community Development Corporation – 413-586-5855×180
Northampton, MA

Environmental Organizations

IRS Verified
  • Athol Bird And Nature Club IncEnvironmental
  • Beyond Ktaadn IncEnvironmental
  • Buckland TrailsEnvironmental

Data Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Superfund Enterprise Management System (SEMS). Facility data from EPA Facility Registry Service (FRS). Nonprofit data from IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File. Housing counseling data from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

This report is generated from publicly available government data and does not constitute legal or medical advice. For current site-specific information, visit EPA Superfund.

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