HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOH Minutes 2/26/1987Minutes
Board of Health
February 26, 1987
SEP 2 9 IP87 it 1 H!
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Members present: Chairman Edward Tartufo, Clerk Edward Rosenberg,
Donald Steele, Peter Fontanini, Frank Zarek
Also Present: Scott Leite, Health Agent
Location: Mansfield High School Auditorium
Chairman Tartufo called meeting to order at 7:44 p.m. Purpose of
this meeting was to hold a Public Hearing for the Trash -to- Energy
Recovery Facility and to conduct regular business.
Motion: To open Public Hearing at 7:45 p.m.,to return
to regular meeting after. Public Hearing to
conduct business.
Steele /Rosenberg. All in favor. VOTED
Separate Minutes are on file for the Trash -to- Energy Public Hearing.
The Hearing adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
Correspondence:
Letter, dated Feb. 19 and 23, from David Spackman, Atty. for
NEED, re: amended application for trash -to- energy recovery facility,
relocated site assignment request from East.Street to School Street.
Board members made no motion re: East Street public hearing, since
above correspondence was received.
Mr. Rosenberg stated that he needs time to review the School Street
proposal before he can make any decisions. Selectman John Dunn asked
if the developer (NEED) has shown proof to the Board that he has
permission to request site assignment on privately -owned land on
School Street. Chairman Tartufo responded that they do not know
if permission has been granted, since the new proposal has just
been received by Health members. Concensus was to make no decisions
until everyone has a chance to review proposal.
Chairman Tartufo suggested that a letter be sent to the Board of
Selectman asking for a feasibility study re: Mansfield's solid waste
problems at present and what the future holds and how they will be
addressed.
Motion: To send a letter to the Board of Selectman
requesting a feasibility study for solid waste
issues for the future.
Board of Health
Minutes
February 26, 1987
-2-
Zarek /Rosenberg. All in favor. VOTED
Motion: To adjourn at 11:15 p.m.
Zarek/Fontanini. All in favor. VOTED
t
Clerk
Respectfully submitted,
Dianne Royle, Recording secretary
Y
Date
PUBLIC HEARING
SEP 2 91987
TRASH -TO- ENERGY RESOURCE FACILITY
FEBRUARY 26, 1987
Members present: Edward Tartufo, Chairman, Edward Rosenberg,
Clerk, Peter Fontanini, Donald Steele, Frank Zarek
Also present: Scott Leite, Health Agent
Location of Hearing: Mansfield High School Auditorium
Hearing was called to order at 7:45 p.m. by Chairman Tartufo.
Clerk Rosenberg read the Public Hearing Notice which appeared in
the Mansfield News. He also read Ch. 111, S. 158 procedures to
follow.
Background: On December 11, 1986, Donald Wallace, President of
New England Energy Development, met with Town officials. On
December 29, 1986, a public hearing was scheduled for January 22,
1987, but postponed due to a snowstorm. On January 29, 1987,
Town Officials and Don Wallace visited a trash -to- energy facility
in Oswego, New York.
At this time NEED representatives were introduced:
David Spackman, Counsel, Gaston, Snow & Ely Bartlett; Donald
J. Wallace, President of NEED; Paul Dudden, P.E.,Barton &
Logindice, Consulting Engineers; Paul Grogan, P.E., ERT,
environmental consulting firm; and Sherman Douglas, investment
banker, Alabama.
Attorney Spackman explained that a site assignment determines
whether this site is appropriate for a resource recovery
center - -it is not a license or permit. It is step 1 of a complex
process which involves an environmental review process and
eventually an environmental impact report.
Chairman Tartufo read a letter from NEED, dated February 23,
1987, which states withdrawal of the East Street application.
He emphasized that this Public Hearing scheduled tonight is for
East Street - -not School Street (submitted February 23, 1987)
proposal. Chairman stated that NEED's request for an amended
application from East St. to School St. will be discussed after
this public hearing.
Attorney Spackman explained that NEED has relocated its proposal
due to the oposition of the East St. site, i.e., proximity to
public schools, proposed site on town -owned land, emissions, and
( truck traffic. Atty. Spackman stated that this facility is NOT a
hazardous waste recycling facility, but a facility that will
primarily burn paper goods and household trash. There will be an
estimated 20 -25 large trucks /day that will deliver the trash and
an estimated 6 -10 smaller trucks to remove the ash. This is a
$40 million investment, privately financed, and a financial
benefit to the Town of Mansfield, since tonnage fees are charged
and permit fees that will bring revenue to the Town in the amount
of approximately $250,000 /year.
Paul Dudden, consulting engineer, showed slides of various
recovery facilities- -some that burn paint, hospital waste, 5 -10
tons /day of household trash, and the Osewgo plant, which burns
200 tons /per day. He explained the workings of the different
types of facilities. A 450 ton /day facility would have a water
wall furnace that would first make steam and then electricity. A
fan keeps the whole system in balance, A controller needs an
air - conditioned atmosphere, data keeping is computerized. A
return tank is needed to balance water flow, electricity is sold
and electric turbines make the electric power. Ten -wheel dump
trucks haul the ash. Fourteen -wheel trailer trucks haul the
trash. Facilities have a lounge /lunchroom and shower room for
employees. Slides depicted all of these areas.
Paul Grogan, environmental consultant, explained the
( environmental review pocess. It's a 2 -stage process - -MEPA
reviews the process and the end result is the submittal of an
environmental impact study. After the site assignment is
received, an Environmental Notification Form is sent to State
Agencies and allows for public input. A draft of the
Environmental Impact Report is distributed to all parties
concerned. The final EIR has a review period of 60 days. A
Certificate of Acceptability from the Executive Office of
Envionmental Affairs must be received. Mr. Grogan presented the
environmental impacts, i.e.,- air quality emissions, traffic,
noise, water use, ash and residue control, dust and odor control,
and many others.
Chairman Tartufo asked why East St. was chosen. Compatibility
with the present landfill, which is forced to close (by DEQE)
because of leachates in the ground.
Where are the list of projects you have completed? In the second
proposal (School St.).
Who will finance? Sherman Douglas, et. al. (investors). And
it's determined by the Town's response- -don't know'exactly what
form of financing will be used. Mr. Douglas responded that
before the full amount of funds are escrowed, all approvals must
be in place. Mr. Wallace reponded that he.could bring the
project through to the DEQE level before financing takes place.
Finances are also set aside for maintenance in case it falls by
the wayside.
Mr. Wallace stated that 25 tons /day will be handled at no charge
to the Town of Mansfield. He already has customers who are
willing to dispose of paper, cardboard - - "I do have a contract, he
stated."
Do you have a contract for an approved landfill for the ash? Not
at this time, but that contract has to be reviewed by DEQE before
DEQE approves this project.
Ten trucks to remove ash. Hours of operation: 24 hours /day, 7
days /week. Deliveries 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, 1/2 day
on Saturday. No Sundays. Residents of Mansfield will be given a
sticker to go to the site to dump their trash in a container.
Chairman Tartufo asked how NEED can ask for a site assignment
when the site hasn't even been engineered and when details of
information cannot be given to the residents of this Town?
Mr. Wallace responded that they were in that process when the
Selectman voted not to lease the Town -owned land adjacent to the
landfill.
A traffic study had not been done yet, but is required by MEPA.
If the Board of Health grants a site assignment, NEED starts the
process, and DEQE says no, what happens then? NEED would ask the
Town to choose another site; if you did not, then you would not
have a plant.
The building would be approximately 200ft.x 250ft. Height of
stacks: Unknown, but not under a 100ft; Oswego's are 140ft. high.
What would be emitted? To name several: sulfur dioxide, carbon
monoxide, lead, acid gases, dioxin.
Computer predicts topography, wind direction, what will land
(emissions) and where it will land - -all in compliance with Mass.
and Federal standards. Ash is quenched with water and must be
stored in a landfill that controls leachates.,
Chairman stated that a 10 hour day to supply 450 tons of trash to
burn could bring up to 40 trucks per day loaded with trash.
Carbon monoxide and other emission should be reduced since the
1,500 degree heat destroys dioxins. Burners are automatic and
controlled by computers. Noise: back -up beepers on trucks,
front -end loader has a beeper that operates 24 hrs /day. Noise
mottling predicts if there will be a problem.
Health Member Donald Steele asked if studies have been conducted
on how these plants affect people. Yes, on the effects of
dioxin, toxicological information re: chances of getting cancer.
Why the Town of Mansfield: Landfill problem and electricity can
be used.
Safeguards: Oswego has had no problems. Constant monitoring
will immediately shut down the facility if there is a problem.
Comments have been received from the following Town Departments:
Town Manager, Fire Department, School Committee and Health Agent.
Comments from audience:
Selectman Larry Harrington: Consider caution up front.
Selectman John Dunn: Facility would have a negative impact on
the Town of Mansfield. Truck traffic is underestimated.
Conservation Commission: No action should be taken until a
complete study is done.
Kate Kominsky, 82 Tanya Drive: Has he built other plants?
Debbie Giokas, 6 Tanya Drive: Will reserve comments at School
St. hearing.
Ken Richards, 2 Ware St: Will reserve comments at School St.
hearing.
Carol Dunn, 395 East St: Will reserve comments at School St.
hearing.
David Owens: Cited emissions and health problems.
John Gannon, 11 Gale Lane: This facility could raise the Town's
liability insurance premiums.
Paul Burke, 31 Bellview Drive: Showed an overhead slide
presentation and emphasized that there is no guarantee that
hazardous waste will not be burned. Toxic emissions are an
extreme concern.
Paul St. Martin, 27 Canoe River Drive: Expressed his concerns.
Robert Shuffleton, 18 Canoe River Drive: Mentioned the failures
of the North Andover and Saugus trash -to- energy facilities.
Gerry Sheehan, Canoe River Drive: Still many unknown facts.
DEQE cannot enforce the rules and regulations. No guarantees
that townspeople's health will be safeguarded.
Joe Caseio, 26 Coach Road: Concerns with noise.
Lincoln Holske, Sr.: Emissions, re: weather conditions, i.e.,
wind vs. no wind, rain, fog.
Louis Amoruso, 6 Brookside Road: Water usage: 95,000 gals /day.
Do we have enough of it? Response by NEED: Private wells will
be installed.
MOTION: To adjourn Public Hearing and return to regular
meeting.
Fontanini /Rosenberg. All in favor. VOTED.
Public Hearing adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dianne Royle, Recording Secretary
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