Pols fight sludge
By George P. Hassett

A plan to install a facility that handles catch basin sludge collected by the City of Boston on the border of East Somerville and Everett may be in jeopardy due to opposition from local leaders.

  State Sen. Jarrett T. Barrios, D-Somerville, said he plans to participate in an effort to keep the facility out based on procedural mistakes the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) made while applying to the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency for a change of location from Frontage Road in Boston to Alfred Street in Charlestown. Barrios said he also believes a portion of the Alfred Street property once believed to be in Boston, is actually in Everett and would give Everett the right to stop the project.
  Barrios said even if BWSC followed the minimal requirements of the law, they should have notified surrounding communities such as Everett and Somerville.
  ‚ÄúEven if the law does not require it, when you are building a sludge plant on the border of two communities, it is only appropriate to notify the communities of the plan and the potential impacts,‚Äù he said.
  The BWSC estimates the facility will handle 130 tons per day of different materials including catch basin cleanings, sewer cleanings and trench excavate from Boston construction projects. The proposed site would use an estimated four acres of land and would be over 30,000 square feet in size.
  Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said the facility could harm the city‚Äôs efforts to develop Sullivan Square and Assembly Square and clean up the Mystic River.
  ‚ÄúI think the facility is necessary but is this the best location? And did the [BWSC] follow the necessary process? I have some concerns about the approach they took. There was never any outreach to the surrounding communities,‚Äù he said.
  Curtatone said he expected the facility to increase air pollution and traffic in East Somerville.
  Thomas Bagley, manager of community services for the BWSC, said the sludge facility will actually have a positive impact on the area‚Äôs environment and few traffic consequences. He said the truck trips coming from the facility will occur off peak traffic hours and the BWSC plans to clean up the site, which is currently contaminated.
  ‚ÄúWe will remove the hot spots of contamination and help to eliminate seepage into the Mystic River,‚Äù Bagley said. He said the facility is enclosed and will feature an air handling system to control and eliminate odors from the building.
Consultants working for the BWSC sent a notice to elected officials, including Barrios on Set. 15, he said.
  Barrios and at least one other official claims not to have received the notice, said Bagley.