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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH Minutes 6/16/1988BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES SCP 1 2I iI June 16, 1988 Members present: Chairman Edward Rosenberg, Clerk Michael VanSplinter, Peter ` Fontanini, Donald Steele. Also present, Health Agent Scott Leite 1. Chairman called meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. 2. Consent Agenda Bill from Community Health Agency, June contracted services, $1,355.50. MOTION: To pay Community Health Agency Fontanini /Steele. All in favor. VOTED. 3. Communications Copy of letter from R.M. Vallee, Vice President, Catalyst Waste -to- Energy Corporation, June 9, 1988, to Board of Selectmen /Light Commissioners, re: Board of Health June 16th presentation. Message, June 8, 1988, from Larry Harrington, Board of Selectmen, re: telephone call from two residents at Big E Trailer Park complaining about noise from Great Woods. 4. Visitors Chairman Rosenberg summarized for the audience the new emergency regulations effective June 10, 1988, from DEQE, re: Site Assignment for Solid Waste Facilities. These regulations define how applicant must submit application, fees, public hear- ing process, site suitability criteria, waiver process; procedures for DEQE evalua- tion of site, Dept. of Public Health comments, Board of Health criteria to determine if site constitutes a danger to public health, safety, or environment. At 7:45 p.m. Dr. George Mallan, Mallan Associates, presented to the Board of Health a preliminary for a 450 ton per day waste -to- energy project. He introduced Gerard Yuel, President of SEEDCO, South - Eastern Energy Development Corporation. Dr. Mallan stated that they are a long way from submitting an application, since the process is very expensive (approximately $150,000). He requested from the Board of Health a written letter of encouragement so that they can proceed with a formal application. The slide presentation gave the benefits of a waste -to- energy facility. For example, protects groundwater and cleaner electricity than oil or coal. They have been used in Europe for the last 30 years and in U.S. for last 13 years. There are 111 operating in U.S., 5 in Massachusetts. One under construction in Massachusetts, total 6 facilities will handle 7,740 tons /day. Massachusetts generates 16,500 tons /day. Site location: Parente's Egg Farm on West Street /Rt. 495. Trucks will travel through CC &F Industrial Park and on highways. SEEDCO is making the same presentation to Foxboro to locate the plant on their landfill or to use their landfill to dispose of ash. Benefits: Host fee: $2.50 /ton ($400,000 /year). Free disposal for host town. Employ 200 during construction and 30 for operation of plant. Can assist Town in landfill closure for securing grants, and no cost to Town for a recycling center. Funding is contingent on facility being regional. Board of Health -2- June 16, 1988 1989 cost comparison of BFI trash pickup, recycling savings, and host income netted benefits were promised by SEEDCO to be $1,185,000. Permitted emissions: particulate (smoke) will be 1/2 allowed by DEQE, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and dioxin are all within limits. Expected heavy metals in ash are arsenic, copper, cadmium, lead and zinc. Truck traffic will be approximately 44 trucks /day. Michael Kitchen, 98 Tremont St., asked about the odor that emits from the incinerator in Fall River. He was assured by Dr. Mallan that a waste -to- energy facility is NOT an incinerator and that DEQE has told them repeatedly to shut down. Peter Fontanini asked if sludge can be disposed of in the W to E plant. Yes, but there are more heavy metals in it. Harrisburg, PA plant does that. Chairman stated that a Town -wide solution is required. Chairman Harrington, Board of Selectmen stated that the Board has called for a community group to be set up to study the approval of a W to E facility. Is a 125 ton /day plant feasible? Does Town want regional? Or only for Mansfield? Michael VanSplinter volunteered to represent Board of Health on this committee. This discussion ended at 8:25 p.m. Don Wallace, consultant for Catalyst Waste- toEnergy Corporation intoduced Skip Vallee, Vice President of Catalyst. Mr. Valley stated that their proposal is quite similar to SEEDCO's. Catalyst is a power producer. They are here tonight for informaion purposes - -not asking for anything at this time. Their proposed site is on School Street, opposite Plymouth Street, with rail service adjacent to site. An Environmental Notification Form has been filed with the State. Mr. Vallee introduced at this time Bruce King, Westinghouse, that will be constructing and operating this waste -to- energy facility. Mr. King also gave a brief slide presentation. He said that 2.5 tons of solid waste equals 1 ton of coal, 160 gals. oil and 7,000 kwh of electricity. Westinghouse O'Connor Combustor will design, build, operate and maintain a waste -to- energy plant, and give a 20 year guarantee. After 20 years, they would like to run it again for another 20. During construction they guarantee costs, completion date and agreed - upon performance criteria. Benefits: free trash disposal, power contract with Mansfield Electric Dept., host fee, $1.50 to 2.50 /ton, no disposal of ash onsite. Michael VanSplinter asked what controls they have over what kinds of waste will be disposed of. Mr. King responded that they prefer to recycling, i.e., glass, cans, newsprint. No send burning cans, then having to cool them down to dispose of them. Absolutely no infectious /hazardous /toxic waste allowed. When discovered, will be sent back to where it came from. SEEDCO has the same policy. Converyors are used to convey the trash to the combustors. Mansfield is the right size for a grassroots recyling program. Mansfield Board of Health was complimented by both SEEDCO and Catalyst since Board of Health regs were used in part in the DEQE Emergency Regs effective June 10, 1988. This proposed plant is odor and ash fallout free. Ten to twelve communities would be involved in a 450 ton /day facility. A facility less than 300 tons /day would not be built by Westinghouse since it is not economically feasible. This discussion ended at 9:30 p.m. 9 Board of Health -3- June 16, 1988 5. Old Business Sam Talavera will repair septic system by end of June, located 561 -563 Ware Street. Donald Steele asked about- John Dunn's purchase of a parcel of land adjacent to his home on East Street and part of the sanitary landfill. Matter has been referred to Town Counsel to draw up a letter waiving liability on the Town since the landfill has been - deemed contaminated. 6. New Business None - presented at this time. 7. Pending On Tuesday, May 31st, Michael VanSplinter, Byron Konig, acoustic engineer, John Winkler, DEQE and Bruce Montgomery, Great Woods, monitored sound in the pavilion, on the top of the hill and in areas throughout West Mansfield. A computer monitors the weather and another one the decibal levels. A meaningful database will be established through this monitoring. Atmospheric involvement is uncontrollable. Member VanSplinter praised the efforts of Great Woods personnel and felt that the openness and cooperativeness was quite clear. Board of Health regulations workshop will be continued at a later date. Troy litigation will be discussed in Executive Session. At 9:45 p.m. Board moved to enter Executive Session. Separate Minutes attached. MOTION: To move into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation and to return to Open Session for the sole purpose of adjourning. VanSplinter /Fontanini. Roll Call Vote. Steele, Fontanini, VanSplinter, Rosenberg vote Yes. 8. Adjournment MOTION: To adjourn at 10:10 p.m. Fontanini /Steele. All in favor. VOTED. Clerk Respectfully submitted, Dianne Royle, Recording Secretary Date MINUTES EXECUTIVE SESSION BOARD OF HEALTH June 16, 1988 WITHHOLD FROM PUBLICATION Members present: Chairman Edward Rosenberg, Clerk Michael VanSplinter, Peter Fontanini, Donald Steele. Also present, Health Agent, Scott Leite Edward Troy, Ware St., failed septic system. Health Agent will file a complaint every time he witnesses the septic system overflowing. Swidler Case: On Monday, June 13th, Health Agent and Town Counsel gave a deposition. Next day, Grefe filed papers against Town Counsel and Town of Mansfield. However, he put the wrong date, May 15th instead of June 15th. Court threw it out. On June 15th Town Counsel drafted a motion to dismiss Swidler suit, Lot 2. MOTION: To adjourn Executive Session and return to Open Session for the sole purpose of adjourning. VanSplinter / Fontanini. Roll Call Vote. Steele, Fontanini, VanSplinter, Rosenberg voted yes.