By Kim
Last night, there was a public meeting with Adam Last of Corporate Environmental Advisors, Inc. (CEA) who presented the 119 Bearfoot Road clean up alternatives for a shooting range of the former fish and game. A portion of the land is deemed contaminated, “due to the detection of lead in the soil above DEP reportable concentration and the detection of arsenic in the surficial soil at a concentration that could pose an Imminent Hazard”. The affected area is South of the new senior center, at the edge of the wooded area behind the parking lot, but also includes the CSXT railway and a portion of 167 Bearfoot Road. Per the CEA representative, the most viable remedial alternative for the impacted soil and sediment is stabilization and off-site disposal, as capping would restrict future use of the area and be more costly.
Total costs to remove trees, 6,400 tons of soil and replant the area is estimated at $992,650, a clean up grant of $200k was been awarded by EPA under the Brownfield’s program in 2005 and is still available to defray costs to the town. The T&G reports that another $200k from the state may become available.
The proposed timeline would involve bidding the project this winter. Per the Community Relations Plan, “The remedial activities are anticipated to begin in May 2010 and take 3 to 6 months to complete.”
A repository of documents containing site layout and test results is available for review in the town planner’s office and at the Worcester DEP. A public comment period will be open until February 26th for those with inquiries on the project.
Update on finances:
Costs Estimates per CRP
$992, 650 for 119 Bearfoot
$625,995 for 167 Bearfoot
Funding:
$200,000 2005 Brownfield’s grant for 119 Bearfoot
$210,000 Sweet Life funding
$1,500,000 2008 Town Meeting Authorized
??? 2009 Brownfield’s request for 167 Bearfoot
??? Fish and Game funding
Project appears to be fully funded, though Kathy Joubert notes the costs are estimates.
WHAT’s GONE WRONG AGAIN IN NORTHBORO:
This land is very heavily Hazardous Contaminated with extensive Lead & Arsenic, et al. This contamination occurred and accumulated ever since 1947 when the Northboro Fish and Game Club was established.
Now in 2009-10, the New Senior Center Bldg was knowingly constructed on this very same Heavily Hazardous Contaminated Land. Thus, the new Senior Center will be immersed in and subjected to Cross-Contamination during Cleanup activities of the Heavily Hazardous Contaminated Land. What will be this costly environmental impact to taxpayers for the Senior Center? What will be the environmental impact upon the use of this building by the Senior Center Staff and the users of the new Senior Center?
Additionally, the location of the Senior Center on this land inhibits, limits, and otherwise impacts the ingress and egress of construction trucks, vans, containers, equipments, materials, trailers, and supplies which are necessary to cleanup and remove the contaminated soils, to cleanup the contaminated surface waters and to bring in new soil to replace the removed soil.
Why was the new Senior Center constructed knowing the land was heavily contaminated prior to undertaking Cleanup? Doing so was contrary to sage Mass. DEP Policy on the cautions necessary when constructing new buildings knowing that land is contaminated….WHY WAS THIS DONE?
I’m hearing some differing cost figures thrown around on this since the meeting, I will confirm and get back with more information…
I think that the taxpayers need a better handle on these cleanup costs. It is my opinion that Adam Last’s assurance of control of cleanup contamination and costs were low balled and not beleivable. To date we have a building on a contaminated site. Geothermal heating with no visible equipment for radiation testing. Waste disposal which was rigged in an unplanned (due to discovery) manner. An out of town location of the site itself, practically in the next town. Most buildings in the Commonwealth bearing the title of ‘Center’ are usually in the center of the town or neighborhood. This is not the case in Northborough. In addition there has been no discussion or posting on the annual operating costs of this building.
Post Updated with cost figures for 167 Bearfoot Road