The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutBOH Minutes 2/17/1994I1 . BOARD OF HEALTH February 17, 1994 MEMBERS PRESENT ALSO PRESENT: MINUTES Chairman Henry Austin, Gary and Peter Fontanini Health Agent Scott Leite R(EE' jq0 94 NAP, 22 N -1 2; 1 Forget., Carol Alman +sir'.: ; -IE(_D ri..,ss, i tJ`_TTs 1. CALL TO ORDER at 7:30 PM by Chair Austin in the Town Hall. 2. CONSENT AGENDA a. Approval of Minutes, February 3, 1994 b. Approval of Disposal Works Installer's Permit: East Coast Development, Ltd., Herb Fuller East Coast Development, Ltd., Richard Cenedella W.B. Construction & Development, Inc., Attleboro Hurder Homes, Inc., Plainville Marvelle Construction, Attleboro MOTION: To approve Consent Agenda as printed. Sosman /Forget. 2 in favor, 2 abstentions. VOTED 3. COMMUNICATIONS a. Letter Community Visiting Nurse Agency, Feb. 10, 1994, re: Summary of services provided in January 1994. b. Letters GEI Consultants, Inc., Jan. 31 and Feb. 11, 1994, re: Compo Chemical Progress Reports. c. Communicable disease report, Jan. to Feb. 17, 1994. 4. VISITORS Present were: Lisa Danek Burke, Environmental Engineer for EPA, Andrea Papadopoulos, Ph.d., Deputy Regional Director, DEP, Richard Packard, Chief Emergency Response, DEP, Gerard Martin, Environmental Analyst, and Gregg Hunt, Regional Engineer, both of Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup came before the Board to give a report on the cleanup at Hatheway and Patterson. EPA Report: Lisa Burke began that EPA is undergoing a "Time - Critical Removal Action" being conducted under the U.S. EPA Super - fund. This is designed to address immediate threats in getting the chemicals offsite. Steam generators are used to keep air through the tanks. Two people are on -site at all times, 7:OOAM to 4:30PM, two till 7:OOPM, then two 7:OOPM to 7:OOPM. The tanks are heated and there are approximately thirty onsite. The workers actually climb into the tanks mucking out the residue, samples of which sent to labs for analysis. The people are protected with full gear and air tanks. One hundred and forty containers have been sent off site. The building with the lab chemicals has been call cleared out. Seven cylinders (propane) were taken back by the company from which they were rented. foard of Health Page 2, Feb 17, 1994 Some of the chemicals are copper, chromium, arsenic, (cca's) pcp's, dioxin. The pcp's and cca's will have to go to a disposal facility, which is a very expensive method. Mrs. Burke did con- tact N.E. Treaters in Belchertown to offer them 30,000 gals of chemicals (cca's) that they could use in treating the wood. If they take it, that will save about $300,000 to $400,000 in disposal costs. She will have a definite answer in about a week. The next issue is the disposal of wastewater, (about 50,000 gals effluent) which Mrs. Burke hopes can be done through the wastewater treatment plant, providing that it meets the discharge permit requirements. PCP at 32% has about 6,000 gals and raw PCP about 7,500 -8,000 gals. Two other tanks, 6,000 gals each, is diluted with water, 7 -8% PCP. There are various other tanks with sludge. These tanks are 40'high; a hole was cut to climb into and clean out the 3 -4 feet of sludge. In the spring a comprehensive soil exam will begin to determine if and what materials are existing onsite. This is a large undertaking. Chair was concerned about the rebuilding of the Conlon and Donnelly site and the pile of "free fill ". DEP suggested that the Board ask the owner to test this fill to ensure that it is safe before it is given to anyone. The surface water, it was noted, flows from Conlon and Donnelly to Hatheway & Patterson, along the railroad tracks. Fire runoff water contained no contaminants to speak of. DEP Report: Emergency State Response Section coordinates state and federal efforts. State regs govern the cleanup area. Site has oil products and they are being recovered under 21E funds, as long -term remedial. Mr. Martin commented that they will focus on the impact to the Rumford River, which is a concern of the Board. There have been outbreaks near the river. Two monitoring wells have been installed, and products have been recovered in these wells, which will be removed by a State contractor. The quality of the sediment of the River will also be evaluated. Penney Engineering, contractor for H -P, removed about 10 gallons of product near the tracks. The wetlands will also be evaluated. The testing of these various locations will determine the full extent of the pollution and what future action to take. At this time, according to Mr. Hunt, it is not easy to determine what will eventually happen with this site. There is an imminent hazard of discharge to wetlands and Rumford River. Once the activity is assessed, a better idea of contamination will be known. As part of bankruptcy, a lien has been placed on the property. The main hazard re: use of the property would be the surface contamination. Commercial property is treated differently than residential when it comes to reusing it. You could reach a point that says you are at an acceptable level of pollution to use the site for limited use, i.e., parking lot. Sample activities will occur in the Spring, e.g., water quality, breakout to River E'oard of Health Page 3, Feb 17, 1994 and wetlands. Must get contamination contained. Groundwater levels are 3 -9'. 5. HEALTH AGENT'S REPORT a. Elms Subdivision: Court is scheduled for Wed. Feb. 23rd. b. Computer Purchase: Purchased computer at Lechmere and a printer at Sam's Club. Did get three quotes as required'; however, forgot to get a purchase order approved by Town Manager. Charged purchases on personal credit card. After voucher was submitted to Accounting Office, it was returned asking for P.O. I submitted P.O. Town Manager's office and he returned a memo asking why the computer was purchased. Agent responded and asked the Town Manager for his decision whether to approve or reject the purchase by Feb. 23rd. Agent apologized for his error and reiterated that it was an honest omission and not an attempt to defraud the town. c. Peres and Plans: 1 perc and 4 plans. 6. OLD BUSINESS a. Tobacco Grant: The full -time Coordinator was hired. Her name is Charlotte Scozzafava. She has experience writing and implementing grants. Presently teaches adult literacy the the New Bedford Public School system. Not sure when she can start full - time, hopefully in early March. Sheila Miller, Health Educator, is onboard and getting things organized. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Chairman's Meeting: Chair Austin attended and discussed possibility of Wampanoag Indians building a casino in Great Woods in Norton, sewer hookups, fluoride, smoking grant, limiting perc season. 8. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: To adjourn at 9:35 PM. Fontanini /Forget. All in favor. VOTED Respectfully submitted, Dianne Royle Recording Secretary NEXT MEETING: MARCH 3, 1994 Clerk Date