GREENFIELD Residents and city leaders met with state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Wednesday morning, to begin an audit of the environmental remediation process at Federal Street’s former Lunt Silversmiths properties.
We are here to encourage DEP, said Susan Worgaftik. She is an abutter to the property. We have many questions and not many answers. We want to be sure that everything is done.
Worgaftik was accompanied by other neighbors as well as Virginia Ginny DeSorgher (Precinct 3 Councilor) and Sheila Gilmour (City Council President). Norman Hirschfeld, a former councilor, was also present.
Hirschfeld said that he was on the council at the time this project started. We were told that it was being cleaned up, but that they didn’t go through all the process. We want it cleaned up, and re-inspected.
Roxann Wedegartner was with DEP officials Wednesday morning. She was accompanied by Jennifer Hoffman, Health Director, and Eric Twarog. They explained that the city had taken the property which Springfield-based 401 Liberty St. LLC currently subleases for the Behavioral Health Network and Clinical & Support Options in a 2014 tax action. She stated that the city is bound by law to execute the sale and honor the contract.
Residents and officials have expressed concern over the state of the environmental cleanup. DeSorgher raised the issue when the property was brought to City Council to declare it surplus and authorize the sale of the mayor. Particular concern is expressed about contamination levels of trichloroethylene.
Wedegartner stated Wednesday afternoon that the meeting earlier was an opportunity for state officials to explain the audit process.
The welcoming picket took place after Tuesday’s Economic Development Committee meeting. Raipher Pelgrino, the owner of 401 Liberty St. LLC, was invited as a speaker.
Pellegrino explained to the city councilors how, just before being able to file an AUL (authorized use limitation), which restricts the use of a site, a petition was filed by residents who wanted to take a more active part in the environmental cleanup efforts. The DEP audit was also initiated by the petition.
Pellegrino confirmed that the DEP audit was requested last year. It’s an invitation to audit, they don’t have to. We wanted to ensure that we included everything the regulatory agencies would require. This is happening now.
Wedegartner claimed Wednesday in an interview, that the PIP is still going on.
She said that it doesn’t stop her from doing so. Their goal is to conduct this audit so that the public has the opportunity to access the information. We are also allowed to do the same. It’s a good thing.
Pellegrino stated that anything that the DEP deems unsatisfactory would have to be addressed and corrected.
Pellegrino said to the Economic Development Committee, “I understand your concerns. Theyre not any different from ours.” Remember that you are financially responsible for this project. We are responsible for any dangers to tenants. We are forced to comply with the DEP audit due to the severe penalties.
DeSorgher asked Pellegrino to share, if possible, a breakdown of the money spent on environmental remediation.
He said it would be very difficult to go through and tell each penny exactly what was remedied.
Pellegrino explained that it can be difficult to distinguish between remediation and construction expenses because many of the remediation efforts involve aspects of construction.
He estimated that the firm had spent between $11 million to $12 million on the property.
Derek Helie, Precinct 9 Councilor, stated that he doesn’t doubt Pellegrinos intentions. He also said that he appreciated the time and money the firm spent to provide a valuable resource for the community.
He stated that the biggest concern is the long-term residents who may be exposed to high levels of volatile organic compounds and other items. These items have been identified in past reports as being above the acceptable limits for residential areas. It is not considered a residential neighborhood, but people have been staying there for long periods of time.
Philip Elmer, At-Large Councilor, expressed concern about the fact that air quality testing had not been done in several years. He asked Pellegrino about the costs of further testing.
Pellegrino explained that the average time for air testing is between two and four seasons. It takes one year or two years depending on which season you are in.
He estimated that it would cost less than $50,000.
He said that there are no regulatory requirements for air testing and that all air quality levels fall within the comfort level.
Councilors still had questions about the data. Elmer noted that test results were consistent with residential standards, but that there were some numbers that were reported at times that were not in line with residential standards.
Elmer stated that if someone is in a residential treatment facility, and it’s during a period of high air quality, they are breathing it. They aren’t breathing the average; they are breathing what is in the room.
Pellegrino replied that we could respectfully disagree.
Although I am not a scientist, this process is very familiar to me, he said. I don’t think it has any effect on a person. It must be sustained.
Pellegrino spoke earlier in the evening about his experience with dealing with two contaminated properties located on Liberty Street in Springfield.
Pellegrino explained to the Economic Development Committee that we had rehabilitated the site for BHN. He added that the process was similar as that in Greenfield. We don’t have any control over the cleanup. We are required by law to employ a licensed professional to clean up the site. We have never received any suggestion from either regulatory body that there was any inappropriate or shortcut taken.
Marianne Bullock, Precinct 5 councilor, asked Marianne why no further testing was done in light the raised concerns.
She said that the part I struggle with most is what our citizens want. $11 million in fixes feels small compared to what they are asking. Listening to your neighbor is a sign of good neighborliness. It doesn’t feel like that is happening here.
Worgaftik held a sign welcoming the DEP Wednesday morning. He also suggested that the ultimate goal was to hear the concerns of the public.
We had to ask the state for permission to check the information. She said. We were treated as if we were terrible people for asking these questions. This is about protecting the community.
Mary Byrne is a reporter. She can be reached via email at [email protected], or by calling 413-930-4299. Twitter: @MaryEByrne