September 18, 2025

Gantry Crane Successfully Decontaminated

We’re excited to share a significant milestone in Phase 1 of the Foundry Redevelopment Project—the successful decontamination and removal of the historic Gantry Crane.

This complex operation marked a critical step in preparing the Foundry for future redevelopment. Here’s how the process unfolded:

Disassembly in Place

Ancillary components—including the catwalk, winch, motor, driveshaft, and control cab—were carefully removed from the crane structure while it remained in place and then lowered to the ground.

Stringer Separation

The two large horizontal beams (called "stringers") were separated to allow each half of the crane to move independently.

Safe Lowering Procedures

To remove each stringer:

• Two telehandlers (“lulls”) supported the ends of the first stringer.

• While supported, a technician in a boom lift used a propane torch to cut through the crane’s structure.

• The stringer was then safely lowered to the ground through carefully synchronized movements of both telehandlers.

• The second stringer’s removal required securing the rail carriages to the roof trusses to prevent collapse. Once secured, it was cut and lowered using the same method.

• Finally, the carriages were also safely lowered to the ground.

On-Ground Decontamination

Once the approximately 85-foot stringers were on the ground, they were cut into manageable sections. All decontamination took place within a carefully contained area lined with poly sheeting.

Environmental Testing

Our environmental remediation partner, Stone Environmental, collected confirmation samples from every surface of the crane. These samples will determine whether decontamination goals have been met.

What’s Next

Once samples confirm that the steel is clean, the materials will be safely transported off-site for recycling.

This achievement represents an important and tangible step forward in transforming the Foundry into a vibrant community space.  Future remediation work coming soon includes media blasting the interior surfaces, Annex demolition, concrete removal, and installation of a new concrete cap.  The EdgarMay will share updates as we progress through each step of the Remediation Phase.

January 13, 2025

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE: For Corrective Action Plan Implementation at 140 Clinton Street

Town of Springfield Selectboard Pre-Meeting Monday, January 13, 2025, 5:00PM
Springfield Town Hall, 96 Main Street, Springfield, Vt.

Springfield Medical Care Systems, Inc., d/b/a North Star Health will be conducting remediation activities at Edgar May Health and Recreation Center-Foundry Building (EdgarMay) at 140 Clinton Street in Springfield to mitigate the potential exposure to hazardous substances to the maximum extent practicable for redevelopment that will benefit the residents, business owners, and stakeholders in and near Springfield. The funding for this cleanup project was made available through a U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Cleanup grant under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The public is invited to review and comment on the proposed activities. All interested parties are welcome to view the Corrective Action Plan and other environmental reports for this project, which describe the former and proposed use of the site and the proposed plan for cleanup. Documents can be found on EdgarMay’s website or at their Front Desk.

Members of the community are cordially invited to attend the meeting in-person or virtually to be held prior to the Selectboard meeting and to provide comment. Please contact Christian Craig at ccraig@edgarmay.org or call at 802-885-2568 for information on attending the virtual meeting or go to the Springfield town website’s calendar at https://Springfieldvt.gov for meeting link and call in information or for special accommodations. Community members may also submit their comments to Christian Craig, Executive Director of EdgarMay, at ccraig@edgarmay.org or at 802-885-2568.

All comments are to be received by January 24, 2025

20-069 EMHRC SSQAPP CAP Implementation

Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives

Additional Documents Here: Search Site#: 20093906

March 23, 2022

Governor Phil Scott Announces Additional $2.83 Million Committed to Brownfield Cleanups Statewide

Springfield’s Edgar May Health and Recreation Center Awarded $1,223,305

Montpelier, Vt. - Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD) announced that an additional $2.83 million of the $10 million appropriated for brownfield site remediation has been committed in 2022 for projects across the state. The largest cleanup award to date, $1,233,305, was to Edgar May Health and Recreation Center in Springfield, Vt. In total, the State is investing $25 million in brownfields this fiscal year.

“Economic revitalization has been a top priority of my Administration since day one, and cleaning up brownfields – sites that once helped support their communities but have become unusable – and turning them into opportunities once again is an important piece of that work,” said Governor Scott. “The Agencies of Commerce and Natural Resources (ANR) have worked together to quickly deploy this important funding and I want to thank them and their regional partners for their efforts.”

The Edgar May project in Windsor County includes the remediation and reuse of two existing buildings — the foundry and former J&L Plant — which will be connected to house expanded offerings including childcare, group exercise, multipurpose space, lifestyle medicine offices, indoor rock climbing and walking track, and a basketball court. A redevelopment project on this site has been envisioned and worked on since 2006, as ANR’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) studied the contamination and sought funding to properly address, clean up, and redevelop it. The Brownfields Revitalization Fund proposed by Governor Scott and supported by the legislature, helped fulfill the funding needs to clean up the site after 16 years of work.

Read Full Press Release Here.