Charles River Watershed Association,190 Park Road, Weston, MA 02493, Telephone (781) 788-0007 Fax (781) 788-0057
Website: http://www.charlesriver.org Email: charles@crwa.org
Via Email
May 22, 2012
Hon. Therese Murray
Senate President
State House – Room 332 Boston, MA 02133
Re: Budget Amendments 134 and 135, Senator Timilty amendments
Dear Senate President Murray:
The Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) was formed in 1965 in response to public concern about the declining condition of the Charles River. Since its inception, CRWA has figured prominently in all major clean-up and resource protection efforts in the watershed, which stretches from Hopkinton to Boston. We have over 5,000 members and in September, 2011, the Charles River was awarded the prestigious International Riverprize for excellence in river management by the International River Foundation. CRWA is actively involved in the Division of Capital Asset Management’s (DCAM’s) remediation of the former Medfield State Hospital, now a surplus property: we have attended numerous public meetings, met with DCAM’s Commissioner and MassDEP, and we have submitted extensive written comments on every phase of this G.L. c. 21E cleanup.
We oppose DCAM’s current cleanup plan, which will only remove a small portion (less than 15% of the more than 75,000 tons) of the contaminated fill located along the banks and in the floodplain of the Charles River. This 3.2-acre dump, 15 feet in depth, was created by the MA Department of Mental Health, which operated the Medfield State Hospital for over 100 years. The fill area contains asbestos, incineration ash, lead and other metals classified as hazardous material, and is located on top of what has been identified as a potentially productive aquifer for potable water supply.
Leaving 65,000 tons of this material in an unlined hazardous waste landfill with only a partial liner and capped only by soil will allow rainwater to penetrate into the fill, as well as allow contaminants to interact with the groundwater, which flows directly into the Charles River. DCAM’s proposed solution will also necessitate use restrictions on the property and require long-term monitoring and maintenance, greatly increasing future operation and maintenance costs. The proposed remediation is inadequate and not environmentally protective.
CRWA supports budget amendments # 134 and 135, which would require a full cleanup of this site and asks you to support these amendments as well. Amendment 134 adds not less than $5 million for “the total removal of all toxic materials from the site of the former Medfield State Hospital” so that it is “suitable for unrestricted use” and Amendment 135, Section X adds a new section prohibiting DCAM from proceeding with any remediation that doesn’t result in
future unrestricted use, and that any plan must be approved by the Medfield Board of Selectmen and address concerns of surrounding communities in the Charles River watershed.
Thank you very much for your consideration of this important matter. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at 781-788-0007, ext. 228.
Sincerely,
Elise Leduc
CRWA Rita Barron Scientist
cc: Senator James Timilty
Senator Cynthia Creem
Senator Mike Rush
Senator William Brownsberger
Senator Richard Ross
Representative Denise Garlick
Representative Daniel Winslow
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