State To File Report On Framingham Cedar Swamp Lead Contamination

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The state Department of Environmental protection will soon issue a report on what will be done about lead contamination at the Cedar Swamp parcel along Route 135, according to city officials.

On June 3, a soil test of the Cedar Swamp near Route 135 and Mellen Street found a concentration of lead of about 900 milligrams per kilogram of soil, which is considered an "imminent" health hazard. The lead was concentrated in an area about 50 feet by 60 feet.

Framingham fenced off that portion of Cedar Swamp on June 15. The parcel is owned by the city, but it's not an official city park. There are informal walking trails inside the wooded area, and the swamp abuts homes and some businesses.

Framingham Chief Operating Officer Thatcher Kezer has been named as the point person for the cleanup. He told the City Council on Thursday night that the state DEP will be issuing a report on the contamination this fall.