Editing Pittsfield, Massachusetts (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Civil War Memorial, Pittfield, Massachusetts, USA.jpg|thumb|right|Civil War Monument in Park Square]]

Pittsfield is at {{coord|42|27|N|73|15|W|type:city}} (42.4522, −73.2515).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=April 23, 2011 |date=February 12, 2011 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|110.0|km2|order=flip}}, of which  {{convert|5.2|km2|order=flip}}, or 4.70%, are covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2553960| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212192138/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US2553960| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Pittsfield city, Massachusetts| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=December 18, 2013}}</ref> Pittsfield is bordered by [[Lanesborough, Massachusetts|Lanesborough]] to the north, [[Dalton, Massachusetts|Dalton]] to the east, [[Washington, Massachusetts|Washington]] to the southeast, [[Lenox, Massachusetts|Lenox]] to the south, [[Richmond, Massachusetts|Richmond]] to the southwest, and [[Hancock, Massachusetts|Hancock]] to the west. Pittsfield is {{convert|48|mi}} northwest of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], {{convert|99|mi}} west of [[Worcester, Massachusetts|Worcester]], {{convert|135|mi}} west of [[Boston]], and {{convert|39|mi}} east of [[Albany, New York]].

Most of the population occupies roughly one-quarter of the city's land. Pittsfield lies at the confluence of the east and west branches of the [[Housatonic River]], which flows south from the city towards its mouth at [[Long Island Sound]], some {{convert|149|mi}} distant. The eastern branch leads down from the hills, while the western branch is fed from [[Onota Lake]] and Pontoosuc Lake (which lies partly in Lanesborough). Like much of western Berkshire County, the city lies between the [[Berkshire Hills]] to the east and the [[Taconic Range]] to the west. Sections of the Housatonic Valley Wildlife Management Area dot the banks of the river. The western portion of the city contains Pittsfield State Forest, an {{convert|11000|acre|ha|adj=on}} facility with hiking and cross-country skiing trails, camping, picnic areas, and a beach for swimming.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/region-west/pittsfield-state-forest-generic.html|title=Pittsfield State Forest}}</ref><ref name="Ref-1">{{cite web |title=The Berkshires Pittsfield State Forest |url=http://www.berkshireweb.com/sports/parks/pittsfieldstate.html|date=May 13, 2009 |publisher=Berkshireweb.com |access-date=May 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510154808/http://www.berkshireweb.com/sports/parks/pittsfieldstate.html |archive-date=May 10, 2008}}</ref>

Pittsfield is at the crossroads of [[U.S. Route 7 in Massachusetts|U.S. Route 7]] and [[U.S. Route 20 in Massachusetts|U.S. Route 20]], which join together in the city. [[Massachusetts Route 8]] passes through the northeastern corner of town, with a portion of it combined with [[Massachusetts Route 9|Route 9]], the central east-west road through the western part of the state, whose western terminus is in the city at Route 20. [[Massachusetts Route 41|Route 41]] begins in the southwestern corner of town, heading south from Route 20. The nearest interstate highway, [[Interstate 90]] (the [[Massachusetts Turnpike]]) is about {{convert|10|mi|0}} south, in [[Lee, Massachusetts|Lee]].

Long-distance ground transportation in Pittsfield is based at the [[Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center]], which serves as the station for [[Amtrak]] trains and [[Peter Pan Bus Lines|Peter Pan]] buses. The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority, the transit provider for Pittsfield and vicinity, is based at the Intermodal Center and also uses it as a hub for most of its lines. Rail freight transportation is provided by [[CSX Transportation]] and the [[Housatonic Railroad]].

The [[fixed-base operator]] at [[Pittsfield Municipal Airport (Massachusetts)|Pittsfield Municipal Airport]] offers access to the region via private and chartered aircraft ranging from single-engined piston to multiple-engined jet planes. They also offer scenic rides and flight training. The nearest airport with national service is [[Albany International Airport]].

===Climate===
Pittsfield has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|''Dfb'']]). Winters are harsh due the city's high elevation at 1,039&nbsp;ft (317 m), with an average annual snowfall of {{convert|73.0|in}} and temperatures dipping to {{convert|0|F}} or colder 13 times per year. Summers, however, are typically warm and pleasant, with temperatures reaching {{cvt|90|F}} just six times per year. The record high and record low are {{convert|101|F}} and {{convert|-26|F}}, recorded on July 23, 1926, and February 15, 1943, respectively. Over the course of a year, 173 days have measurable precipitation.

{{Weather box |width=auto
|location = [[Pittsfield Municipal Airport (Massachusetts)|Pittsfield Municipal Airport]], Massachusetts, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1925–present
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 65
|Feb record high F = 73
|Mar record high F = 81
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 94
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 101
|Aug record high F = 100
|Sep record high F = 95
|Oct record high F = 85
|Nov record high F = 78
|Dec record high F = 67
|year record high F = 101

|Jan avg record high F = 53.8
|Feb avg record high F = 53.1
|Mar avg record high F = 62.5
|Apr avg record high F = 78.0
|May avg record high F = 85.0
|Jun avg record high F = 87.6
|Jul avg record high F = 88.9
|Aug avg record high F = 87.4
|Sep avg record high F = 84.5
|Oct avg record high F = 75.0
|Nov avg record high F = 66.1
|Dec avg record high F = 57.5
|year avg record high F = 90.5

|Jan high F = 30.1
|Feb high F = 33.1
|Mar high F = 41.7
|Apr high F = 55.2
|May high F = 67.0
|Jun high F = 74.6
|Jul high F = 79.3
|Aug high F = 77.6
|Sep high F = 70.4
|Oct high F = 58.3
|Nov high F = 46.6
|Dec high F = 35.5
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 22.0
|Feb mean F = 24.1
|Mar mean F = 32.4
|Apr mean F = 44.5
|May mean F = 55.7
|Jun mean F = 63.9
|Jul mean F = 68.7
|Aug mean F = 67.1
|Sep mean F = 59.7
|Oct mean F = 48.4
|Nov mean F = 37.9
|Dec mean F = 28.2
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 13.9
|Feb low F = 15.0
|Mar low F = 23.1
|Apr low F = 33.8
|May low F = 44.4
|Jun low F = 53.1
|Jul low F = 58.0
|Aug low F = 56.5
|Sep low F = 48.9
|Oct low F = 38.5
|Nov low F = 29.2
|Dec low F = 20.9
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -7.0
|Feb avg record low F = -2.8
|Mar avg record low F = 4.7
|Apr avg record low F = 21.6
|May avg record low F = 30.7
|Jun avg record low F = 39.8
|Jul avg record low F = 47.9
|Aug avg record low F = 45.6
|Sep avg record low F = 34.7
|Oct avg record low F = 24.1
|Nov avg record low F = 14.5
|Dec avg record low F = 2.5
|year avg record low F = -8.7

|Jan record low F = -22
|Feb record low F = -26
|Mar record low F = -10
|Apr record low F = 10
|May record low F = 24
|Jun record low F = 31
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 32
|Sep record low F = 23
|Oct record low F = 14
|Nov record low F = -1
|Dec record low F = -23
|year record low F = -26

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.67
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.52
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.08
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.38
|May precipitation inch = 3.79
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.58
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.18
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.82
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.50
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.56
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.52
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.63
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 12.1
|Feb precipitation days = 11.8
|Mar precipitation days = 13.0
|Apr precipitation days = 13.5
|May precipitation days = 14.1
|Jun precipitation days = 14.9
|Jul precipitation days = 14.8
|Aug precipitation days = 14.7
|Sep precipitation days = 13.4
|Oct precipitation days = 13.5
|Nov precipitation days = 12.2
|Dec precipitation days = 13.4

|Jan snow inch = 18.2
|Feb snow inch = 19.3
|Mar snow inch = 13.4
|Apr snow inch = 3.1
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.1
|Nov snow inch = 3.5
|Dec snow inch = 15.2
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
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|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USW00014763&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Pittsfield MUNI AP, MA
|access-date = November 16, 2024
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=box
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Boston
|access-date = November 16, 2024
}}
</ref>
}}

===Housatonic River===
====Background and historical overview====
Flowing through a historically rural area,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://savethehousatonic.org/?page_id=106 |title=Early History of the River |publisher=Save The Housatonic |access-date=February 6, 2009 |archive-date=April 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403091643/http://savethehousatonic.org/?page_id=106 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[Housatonic River]] attracted increased industrialization in the late 19th century. [[William Stanley Jr.]], founded the Stanley Electric Manufacturing Company in 1890 at Pittsfield. The company manufactured small transformers, electrical motors and appliances. In 1903, GE acquired Stanley Electric and subsequently operated three major manufacturing operations in Pittsfield: [[transformer]], [[ammunition|ordnance]], and [[plastic]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.williamstanleybusinesspark.com/history_property.asp |title=Overview of William Stanley Business Park of the Berkshires |publisher=Pittsfield Economic Development Authority |access-date=February 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704173531/http://www.williamstanleybusinesspark.com/history_property.asp |archive-date=July 4, 2008}}</ref>

====Environmental issues====
During the mid-20th century, the Housatonic River and its floodplain were contaminated with [[polychlorinated biphenyl]]s (PCBs) and other hazardous substances released from the [[General Electric Pittsfield Plant|General Electric Company (GE) facility]] in Pittsfield. The contaminated area, known as the General Electric/Housatonic River Site, includes the GE manufacturing facility; the Housatonic River, its riverbanks and floodplains from Pittsfield to Long Island Sound, and former [[Oxbow lake|river oxbows]] that have since been filled in; Allendale School; Silver Lake; and other areas contaminated as a result of GE's operations in Pittsfield.<ref name=epasitehistory>{{cite web|url=http://www.epa.gov/ne/ge/sitehistory.html |title=Site History and Description: GE/Housatonic River Site in New England |date=November 20, 2008 |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |access-date=February 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519121339/http://www.epa.gov/NE/ge/sitehistory.html |archive-date=May 19, 2011}}</ref>

The highest concentrations of PCBs in the Housatonic River are found from the site of the GE plant in Pittsfield to Woods Pond in [[Lenox, Massachusetts]], where they have been measured up to 140&nbsp;mg/kg (140 ppm).<ref name=USGS>{{cite journal |url=https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/wsp2266 |title=Distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls in the Housatonic River and adjacent aquifer, Massachusetts |first1=Frederick B. |last1=Gay |first2=Michael H. |last2=Frimpter |year=1985 |publisher=USGS|doi=10.3133/wsp2266 |doi-access=free }}</ref> About 50% of all the PCBs in the river is estimated to be retained in the sediment behind Woods Pond dam. This is estimated to be about 11,000 pounds of PCBs.<ref name=USGS /> Birds and fish that live in and around the river contain significant levels of PCBs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rest of River of the GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site|date=June 25, 2015|url=http://www2.epa.gov/ge-housatonic/rest-river-ge-pittsfieldhousatonic-river-site|access-date=September 25, 2015}}</ref>

====Consent decree and cleanup====
[[File:GE Pittsfield MA-Housatonic R Halfmile Cleanup Site-Cell B.jpg|thumb|Cleanup activity at one of the GE Pittsfield plant Superfund sites on the [[Housatonic River]].]]
Starting in 1991, legal proceedings by the [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) established the General Electric/Housatonic River Site. Initial cleanup work began in 1996 when EPA issued a unilateral order to GE that required the removal of highly contaminated sediments and bank soils. EPA added the site to its [[Superfund]] list in September 1997.

The year 1999 was a milestone for Pittsfield, when negotiations between EPA, the state, General Electric and the city resulted in a [[settlement agreement]], valued at over $250 million, to clean up Pittsfield and the Housatonic River. The settlement was memorialized in a consent decree entered in federal court the following year, making it a binding legal agreement.<ref name=epa9420>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/ne/ge/cleanup/9420.pdf |title=Consent Decree |date=October 27, 2000 |publisher=EPA |access-date=February 6, 2009}}</ref> Between 2005 and 2018 GE completed remediation and restoration of the 10 manufacturing plant areas within the city, and continues to conduct inspection, monitoring and maintenance activities.<ref>{{cite web |title=GE Plant Area of the GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site  |url=https://www.epa.gov/ge-housatonic/ge-plant-area-ge-pittsfieldhousatonic-river-site |date=2021-07-12 |publisher=EPA}}</ref>

Cleanup of the polluted downstream river areas has not been completed as of 2023. Following a public comment period, EPA issued a permit in December 2020 for the final cleanup phase. In 2021 two of the citizen groups that were parties to the settlement filed an appeal of the permit, criticizing the design of a planned landfill to be located in Berkshire County. In February 2022 the US Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) denied the permit appeal.<ref>{{cite news |last=Parnass |first=Larry |title=U.S. environmental court backs PCB cleanup plan for the Housatonic River, rejecting claim of EPA error and allowing Lee landfill |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/environmental-court-ruling-appeal-epa-housatonic-river-pcbs/article_c354991a-892b-11ec-8d9f-6b34dc9a0671.html |date=2022-02-08 |work=The Berkshire Eagle}}</ref> Following the EAB ruling, EPA continued to design the new PCB disposal facility and conducted public meetings in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Nancy Eve |title=Citizens concerned about public health, environmental risks at proposed PCB dump in Lee |url=https://www.capeandislands.org/2022-12-15/citizens-concerned-about-public-health-environmental-risks-at-proposed-pcb-dump-in-lee |date=2022-12-15 |work=New England Public Media}}</ref> Two citizen groups appealed the EAB decision to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit|First Circuit Court of Appeals]], and in July 2023 the court rejected the plaintiffs' challenge.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Nancy Eve |title=Federal appeals court rejects environmentalists' challenge to EPA's Housatonic cleanup plan |url=https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2023-07-28/federal-appeals-court-rejects-environmentalists-challenge-to-epas-housatonic-cleanup-plan |date=2023-07-28 |work=New England Public Media}}</ref>

====Groundwater and long-term monitoring====
In the years since the settlement was reached, the EPA, state agencies, the City and GE accomplished one of the largest and most complex cleanups in the country. Cleanup work on the first previously PCB-laden half mile of the Housatonic River, adjacent to the GE facility, was completed in September 2002.<ref name=epasitehistory /> $90 million was spent cleaning up the {{convert|1.5|mi|adj=on}} reach between Lyman Street and Fred Garner Park, which was completed in June 2007. Biological and sediment samples showed reductions of approximately 99% of PCB concentrations compared to conditions before remediation.<ref name=epasitehistory /> GE removed contaminated soil and restored 27 residential properties abutting the river. As of 2006 more than {{convert|115000|cuyd|m3}} of PCB-contaminated sediment, bank, and floodplain soil have been removed from the river and residential property.<ref name=epavarney>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/ne/ra/column/archive/2006/pittsfield_cleanup_20060303.html |title=Step By Step, Clean Up Efforts Make Pittsfield Healthier |last=Varney |first=Robert W. |date=March 3, 2006 |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency |access-date=February 6, 2009}}</ref> As of 2019 GE has completed remediation and restoration of the 10 manufacturing plant areas within the city, and is conducting inspection, monitoring and maintenance activities.<ref>{{cite web |title=GE Plant Area of the GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site |url=https://www.epa.gov/ge-housatonic/ge-plant-area-ge-pittsfieldhousatonic-river-site |date=August 15, 2019 |publisher=EPA}}</ref>