ZIP: 02177

Melrose, Massachusetts

Score: 10/10

Melrose faces a critical environmental hazard score of 10.0. The Agway/Kress Property is a nearby Superfund site that contains dangerous chemicals. Because these substances are close to homes, they can get into the soil or groundwater you use. For daily life, this means you must be careful about touching dirt in your yard or drinking water from private wells. Living near ten active toxic sites increases your risk of long-term health problems if you are not careful.

Hazard Data Summary

Hazard Score

10/10

Risk Level

Critical

Primary Contaminant

Unspecified Hazardous Substances

Nearest Superfund Site

AGWAY/KRESS PROPERTY

Distance to Nearest

1.9 mi

Sites Within 5 Miles

Sites Within 10 Miles

County

Middlesex

NPL Status

Active

Regulatory Overview

Melrose, Massachusetts, zip code 02177, currently holds a critical hazard designation due to profound environmental contamination risks from surrounding industrial legacy sites. The area is heavily impacted by federal environmental monitoring, with ten hazardous sites located within a five mile radius and twenty one sites within ten miles. The most immediate regulatory concern is the Agway/Kress Property, an active Superfund site situated approximately 1.9 miles from the community center.

Environmental assessments for the Agway/Kress Property identify the primary threats as unspecified hazardous substances. In regulatory terms, this classification typically indicates complex, unsegregated mixtures of industrial chemicals, volatile organic compounds, or heavy metals. Exposure to these uncharacterized compounds can occur through groundwater migration or soil vapor intrusion, presenting severe health risks. Sustained exposure is clinically linked to respiratory distress, neurological impairment, endocrine disruption, and elevated risks of chronic organ toxicity.

The Environmental Protection Agency currently lists the Agway/Kress Property, alongside nearby facilities such as the Shaffer Landfill and the Watertown Bemis Dump, under an active National Priorities List status. This active designation signifies that federal authorities are currently conducting long term remedial action, ongoing feasibility studies, and continuous ecological monitoring, indicating that containment is not yet fully resolved.

Due to ongoing mitigation efforts, Melrose residents should take immediate protective measures against potential exposure pathways. Households relying on private wells or older municipal connections should commission independent laboratory water testing specifically screening for volatile organics and heavy metals. Furthermore, residents should install certified reverse osmosis filtration systems for drinking water and refrain from planting edible gardens directly in native topsoil to prevent the ingestion of legacy contaminants.

Threat Summary

Nearby Superfund Sites

Site Name	EPA ID	Distance	NPL Status
SHAFFER LANDFILL	110009349035	0.01 mi	Active
WATERTOWN BEMIS DUMP	110009337388	0.01 mi	Active
REXNORD KNIFE DIVISION	110009325104	1.24 mi	Active
W.R. GRACE & CO., INC. (ACTON PLANT)	110060542916	1.64 mi	Active
AGWAY/KRESS PROPERTY	110009290383	1.85 mi	Active
STARMET	110000309452	1.94 mi	Active
W R GRACE DARAMIC PLANT	110071100769	1.97 mi	Active
FORT DEVENS-SUDBURY TRAINING ANNEX	110009289607	2.84 mi	Active
FWS-ASSABET RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE	110070058232	3.75 mi	Active
SPERRY RESEARCH CENTER	110008406126	3.92 mi	Active

Action Required

Residents should immediately contact local environmental advocacy groups to stay informed on cleanup progress. Reach out to 100Treesproject Inc or the 2020 Project Inc for community updates regarding local soil health. For those concerned about the impact of toxic sites on housing safety and value, contact RCAP Solutions, Inc. at 978-630-6734 or Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc. at 617-479-8181. These agencies provide guidance on healthy housing and can assist with resource allocation for environmental remediation. Request a home inspection to evaluate potential exposure risks from the Shaffer Landfill or Agway/Kress Property.

HUD Housing Counseling

Government Verified

Rcap Solutions, Inc.

Worcester, MA

Call 978-630-6734 HUD Listing

Quincy Community Action Programs, Inc.

Quincy, MA

Call 617-479-8181 HUD Listing

Environmental Organizations

IRS Verified

100treesproject IncEnvironmental
2020 Project IncEnvironmental
Aarshi&friendsEnvironmental

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.