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Ash Landfill in Saugus – Environmental & Health concern Toxic Action Center Conference March 5, 2017 Debra Panetta, President Saugus River Watershed Council Discussion Saugus River Watershed Council Why the ash landfill in Saugus is of particular concern in Saugus Saugus River Watershed 11 Communities: Saugus Lynn Wakefield Revere Reading Lynnfield Melrose Malden Everett Peabody Stoneham SRWC Mission: Protect and Restore Natural Resources of the Watershed Environmental education, awareness and public access Research and monitoring Protect and restore wetlands, wildlife habitat and watershed resources through environmental advocacy, special projects and initiatives Climate Change Impacts on the Watershed Extended dry periods More intense rain storms and flooding Increase in temperature (air / water) Increase and shifts in aquatic vegetation Tidal influence moving upstream Shift in fish and wildlife habitat Climate Adaptation / Mitigation Planning in the Watershed Awareness / Education • Education for students • Technical workshops for municipal planners / engineers • Guidance for climate adaptation planning Wheelabrator Ash Landfill in Saugus Prioritize High Priority Areas High Risks Highest Priority for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Why is the Site of Particular Concern High Priority Area Rumney Marshes Area of Critical Environmental Concern (designated 1988) • One of the most biologically significant salt marshes north of Boston • Native and migratory birds • Fisheries include alewife, flounder, rainbow smelt, American eel • Soft shelled and razor clams Why is the Site of Particular Concern High Risk Vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surge Potential release of lead, mercury, cadmium and other hazardous pollutants Landfill lacks ‘state of the art’ liner Complex site history with municipal waste dump covered by ash landfill Waste Incinerator Ash Landfill 11 Tools for Climate Adaptation Planning 12 Tools for Climate Adaptation Planning Current Status of Ash Landfill Consent Order required closure in 1996 Amendments allowed expansion Now reaching 50-foot capacity Closure now 20 years overdue 360 ton capacity of ash / day x 365 = 131,400 tons / year or 2.6+ million tons over the past 20 years What’s in the Ash Fly Ash - alone is characterized as hazardous waste due to high content of pollutants such as • Lead • Mercury • Cadmium • Arsenic EPA regs allow disposal of Fly Ash after it is mixed with (diluted) by less contaminated Bottom Ash Elevated Risk to the Resource Recent spills highlight hazardous risks of the ash With fly ash spread throughout, a breach or leaching from the landfill would put significant natural resources at risk Proposed Expansion of the Ash Landfill Re-open closed portion of the landfill Destroy 39 acres of bird habitat on capped landfill by transforming area back into active ash disposal area Disturbs environment closest to the estuary 5 Years Additional Ash Disposal 360 tons of ash per day 657,000 tons of ash over 5 years Capped / Closed Landfill with Grassy Bird Habitat Active Ash Landfill Operation Waste Incinerator Ash Landfill 19 Critical Juncture MEPA did not require a full EIR but deferred environmental permit review to DEP DEP will evaluate proposed expansion plan Not yet submitted by Wheelabrator Local Saugus Board of Health requested that Wheelabrator come in for a site-assignment hearing but the company has refused Prevents local decision-making and limits local oversight of the proposed expansion Critical Juncture Looking to DEP for leadership in protecting critical environmental resources and public health by enforcing closure plans Crucial that we move from use and expansion of the landfill to closure and protection Critical Juncture Proposal to expand capacity of the ash landfill is completely out of touch with watershed and regional efforts to protect coastal resources in a changing climate Could jeopardize multi-million $ efforts to improve water quality and restore wetlands Extremely High Community and Regional Concern Coalition of environmental organizations and public officials working to protect public health and the environment Proposed legislation Hundreds of comment letters Local resolutions opposing expansion Community Priorities for Closing the Ash Landfill Protect public health Promote environmental justice Saugus, Lynn and Revere all have EJ communities Protect Rumney Marshes ACEC Reduce risks associated with sea level rise and storm surge in dynamic coastal environment Need to Focus on Improving Conditions for EJ Communities Need to reduce vs. increase sources of pollution to the region is compelling Abutting communities face impacts from multiple industrial sources of pollution Recent Development Efforts by the Alliance to amend the Saugus Zoning ByLaws: Three articles 1/ Adding definitions to more clearly define ash, landfill, and ash landfill 2/ To limit the ash landfill, not exceeding 50 feet 3/ Amend ‘Table of Use Regulations’ to require a special permit for landfills/ash landfills Bylaw changes 1/ Alliance got over 450 certified signatures to call a Special Town Meeting. 2/ Came before Saugus Board of Selectmen, who called the Special (per MGL). 3/ Presented before Saugus Planning Board, who recommended all three articles. 4/ Town Meeting voted in all three articles at the February Special Town meeting. 5/ Waiting to hear back from the Attorney General’s office. Source: Massachusetts Cancer Registry Cancer statistics are not directly linked to any particular cause but highlight the need to decrease sources of pollution known to contribute to cancer. Looking to the Future We can’t change the past, but can ensure that decisions we make today reduce environmental risks for the future Questions / Comments 30