Action Item: Submit a Comment to TRC

TRC, Enbridge’s consultant, is accepting public comments on their draft RAM (Release Abatement Measure) Plan, which has to do with soil contamination at the proposed compressor station site. The comment period ends on November 6. Comments must relate to soil contamination and the cleanup of the soil. See below for details on how to submit + sample questions.

On October 10, TRC held a public meeting at Abigail Adams Middle School, to give a presentation on their plan and to listen to comments. WETC filmed the entire meeting (thank you, WETC!). You can watch it here.

Background:

FRRACS filed a PIP (public involvement plan) petition a few years ago with MassDEP to request clean-up of soil contamination at the site. As part of this request, TRC presented their Draft Release Abatement Measure (RAM) plan at a public meeting in Weymouth on October 10, 2019. MassDEP defines a RAM as "a voluntary remedial measure taken to totally clean up small problems, or reduce the magnitude of larger problems." TRC, as you may remember, is Enbridge's consultant. They are now accepting comments on their draft plan.

Draft RAM Plan:
The draft RAM Plan is available on MassDEP's website here. Or you can go here; (https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/portal#!/search/wastesite) and enter RTN # 4-0026230. Paper copies are available at the Tufts Public Library at Pratt (1400 Pleasant Street, East Weymouth, MA) and the Weymouth Board of Health (Town Hall, 75 Middle Street).

How to Submit Public Comments:

The comment period ends on November 6. All comments and questions must be submitted by email or by snail-mail to John Doherty at TRC. *Though we strongly recommend sending your comment by email and snail-mail.*

Email: jdoherty@trccompanies.com

Snail-Mail: James Doherty, PE, LSP

650 Suffolk Street, Suite 200

Wannalancit Mills

Lowell, MA 01854

Please contact jdoherty@trccompanies.com with any questions.

Sample Questions

We have a sample list of questions that you are welcome to us. The RAM Plan is very long (1,000+) pages and quite technical, so we don’t expect everyone to sift through it.

Sample questions are available here and below: PDF | Word file

·         When the oil tank was taken down from the parcel, where did the oil go?  

·         Do you have the chain of custody paperwork on where the oil went?

·         TRC and Enbridge have claimed that you have not been on the North Parcel.  But trees have been toppled and soil disturbed while you have no permission to be working there when you have no dust controls in place. Can you explain why this is so?

·         Have herbicides been used on the remaining trees as they appear to be dying?  

·         How can you insure the digging of and transportation of large amounts of arsenic filled contaminated soil will not be hazardous to public health?

·         Can you describe the health effects of breathing dust contaminated with 229 ppm of arsenic?

·         In the event of a catastrophic accident at the site, how will you assure that thousands of cubic yards of toxic soil will not be thrown into the air and water adjacent to the site?

·          Since at least 3 feet of sea level rise is expected in the next decades, how will you assure that the toxins on this site will not be washed into the river and harbor, given the projected rise in the severity of coastal storms?

·         Are you aware that almost the entire peninsula is nothing but coal ash, coal clinkers, burner bricks from the coal fired furnaces, and oil? 

·         For Mr. Doherty--are you the LSP of record?