Former Middle Tennessee Medical Center property clean, environmental assessments show

Brinley Hineman | Murfreesboro Daily News Journal

In 2013, Middle Tennessee State University purchased land in downtown Murfreesboro that once housed Middle Tennessee Medical Center, but since that time, the site has remained an empty, grassy lot bordered by a fence.

At the time of its purchase, the university announced the property, located on Highland Avenue between Bell and Lytle streets, would remain vacant for some time. Despite this, some residents have wondered if the property is contaminated due to its previous life as a hospital.

The Daily News Journal recently acquired the environmental assessment reports completed prior to MTSU purchasing the property. Griggs & Maloney, Inc., an engineering and environmental consulting agency, completed the assessments.

Assessments of the property yield no limitations for use, but MTSU has no plans to develop the property anytime soon, university spokesman Jimmy Hart said.

The next building MTSU plans to pursue is a home for its mechatronics program.

From 2016: What does the future hold for Highland Avenue, Lytle Street?

History of the former hospital property

The original Rutherford County hospital was constructed on Highland Avenue in 1927. An antebellum home was located where the oncology center was eventually built and remained on the property until at least 1945.

The pre-Civil War house was used as both a residential and training facility and went by a variety of names. According to a summary of the environmental assessment report, it was called the Bristol-Nelson Psychological School for Nervous and Backward Children, but was identified on historical fire insurance maps as Bristol Nelson Private Home and Industrial School, and in historical city directories as the Louisa School.

City directories between 1950 and 1966 indicate that Raider Shirt Laundry once stood on the property, according to the summary. However, it was unclear if the laundromat was also a dry cleaner.

During this time, dry cleaners often used tetrachloroethylene — also known as perchloroethylene or "perc" — a chemical classified as a carinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Because of the possibility of a dry cleaner once being located at the site, a more detailed investigation, or a Phase II study, was ordered.

Phases of the environmental assessment

Another reason for further review was that the property once supported six underground storage tanks with a 45,000-plus gallon capacity for petroleum, according to records from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

According to the Griggs & Maloney report, the initiation of each phase is dependent upon the findings of the previous phase.

Phase I: Relies heavily on evidence and interviews that can point to the property's history. Available historical records, such as insurance maps or city directories, are examined to piece together the story of the property. Interviews with people knowledgeable of the site are also conducted along with a visual inspection of the site.

Relies heavily on evidence and interviews that can point to the property's history. Available historical records, such as insurance maps or city directories, are examined to piece together the story of the property. Interviews with people knowledgeable of the site are also conducted along with a visual inspection of the site. Phase II: Completed if contamination is suspected. Soil or water samples may be taken from the subject property.

Completed if contamination is suspected. Soil or water samples may be taken from the subject property. Phase III: Contamination has been determined, a strategic plan is drawn up to remedy the situation.

So was the property contaminated?

In 2012, Griggs & Maloney, Inc. completed its investigation, noting that lead melting and forming activities had been conducted in the "Block Room" on the first floor of the Oncology Center Building of the hospital. Hospital officials said the lead castings were used to protect patients during radiation treatments.

Lead spillage was visible on the floor and cabinets of the room, and approximately one gallon worth of lead solids were collected, but were cleaned before MTSU acquired the property, according to the report. However, there was no concern that the lead had contaminated the ground.

A brick building was once on the property that was used as a sampling station by the city of Murfreesboro to monitor and sample effluent from the hospital. The chief potential contaminant of concern was silver, once associated with x-ray processing.

A February 2013 Phase II investigation resulted in clean soil samples. Groundwater was not encountered during drilling, so no such samples were collected, according to the report.

Additionally, TDEC records show the site held one 280-gallon petroleum tank, one 500-gallon tank, two 8,000-gallon tanks, one 10,000-gallon tank and one 20,000-gallon tank.

Three tanks were sealed in-place in 1990 and three were removed in 1991, according to an investigation conducted by ATEC Environmental Consultants in November 1991.

The tanks that were sealed were excavated and removed from the property during the demolition process 2011-12, according to environmental records.

Diesel fuel pooled at the bottom of the pit where the 280-gallon tank was located in 1991, according to the ATEC report. Two soil samples were collected and revealed contamination was initially high and that excavation would be necessary. Approximately 15 to 18 cubic yards of soil were removed before the contaminant level was deemed acceptable, according to the ATEC report.

An investigation conducted by ATEC in January 1991 said low levels of contamination were found around the 10,000-gallon petroleum tank, but in November 1991, ATEC said they found no evidence of contamination.

Soil samples around the 20,000-gallon tank were not collected in 1991 because buildings were on top of and adjacent to the tank. It was unclear if the soil was contaminated.

Middle Tennessee Medical Center, renamed Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, moved to 1700 Medical Center Parkway in October 2010.

More: Saint Thomas Health accused of violating religious accommodation law

Reach Brinley Hineman at bhineman@gannett.com or 615-278-5164 and on Twitter @brinleyhineman.