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2009 BOH PUBLIC HEARING NOTES CITY OF SALEM BOARD OF HEALTH Public Hearing Notes November 10, 2009 DRAFT MEMBERS PRESENT: Barbara, Martin, Kemith, Gayle, Larissa, Marc, Noreen, David OTHERS PRESENT: David Greenbaum Acting Health Agent, Tracy & Heather TOPIC DISCUSSION/ACTION 1. Call to Order Meeting called to order by Dr. Poremba, Chair, at 7:00pm 2. Minutes of Last Reflect in minute discussion of formation of subcommittee for regionalization and prior Meeting voting of a permanent health agent's position. Noreen motion Marc 2nd all in favor. (Oct 13, 2009) 3. Critical Public Chair announcements received—no health agents report, admin report submitted. Health Announcements Motion to adjourn to Public Hearing - All in Favor 4. Public Hearing on Transfer Station A. Public hearing now David Greenbaum reads public hearing notice; Attached* in order B. Board's Introductions Barbara Poremba reads welcoming speak - Attached* Board members state their names and titles* David Murphy—professional engineer—described background - is here to help the board understand the transfer station plans Atty. Ken Whittaker—Hearing Officer—maintains orderly process—board is not required to offer a written transcript. If you would like a written transcript it would be at your own expense and the board would be entitled to a copy of that. Public hearing regulations can be found in 310 CMR 16. The applicant will present their proposal first, the board will then have the opportunity to ask questions and then it will be open to the public. In order to maintain order,the public will be called up to ask their questions or give comments by the order they signed up on the sign in sheet. When presenting your question, state your name, address, any neighborhood organization you are a part of and if you are an abutter. Let us know if you have submitted any written testimony. C. Applicants Introductions Allen Hanscum consultant to the applicants, North Side Carting &the City of Salem; Beth Rennard is here representing the city &Bill Thompson is here representing North side Carting. Presenters will be Dale Rosenski, will address noise and air quality issues, Jeffery Derk, will address traffic issues Affidavit of service of notification of abutters * attached (need copy from David G.) Presentation made by Allen Hanscum Jeffery Derk–Traffic Study presentation-Need for retiming traffic signals Dale Roseinski–Air quality– sound levels–good buffers– estimated 15 minute of back up beeper noise daily–disciples are way below DEP guidelines Air Modeling Location–monitoring system-gives emission rates from vehicles Dale R. monitoring ambient air quality–using a monitoring network used through out the state. Allen H. continuing presentation Beth Rennard–history of site– city is co-applicant– site was once an incinerator– 1975 changed to transfer station–the was an order to cap landfill– 2000 DEP—taking down stack–2004– approval from DEP –city needs financing–met with DEP for one year extension– could not find enough money to close and cap landfill– $2 million to cap– 16 companies took out RFP –AUL– 3 of the 9 acres is buildable - end of calendar year cit will accrue $13,000 fined Martin F. –Changing 100 to 400 tons & 500 on peak days– 54 vehicle trips– 66 D. Questions from the vehicles on peak–how do you justify or reconcile this study? Board Allen H. – 100 tons a day is 140 vehicle trips (70 trips in and 70 out) you're asking why it's in 4x140 vehicles right? M. Fair–Yes Allen H. –looking at existing conditions most dump trucks cars and trucks that come into the station carry about 3 tons or about .6 tons. If you run 3x26=78 tons–then- .6 x 38=22.8 tons. So adding those 2 is an average of 100 tons per day. In the future we don't except the amount of vehicles to change. We just change the tonnage to an average of 16 tons x 26=416tons. Larissa L. –you talked about using mist to control inside dust–What will the ventilation system be for the building? Dale–vents have not been designed–recommend a vent could be on the side/vertical about 5-10 feet above building- emission are very low Larissa–current site–air quality concerns–will new building mitigate air quality? Dale–A possibility is a fan can pull air through open doors through vent system. Martin F. –could there be a filter system instead of stack? Dale R. –best available air control system is a stack. Not cost effective for filters. Martin F. noise study 3-4 disciple increase at the nearest resident? Dale R. – yes Allen H. A residence has been brought to our attention in the past few weeks, that's 1 Dipietro Avenue. So this sight is not included in our traffic or air quality studies but it is not the closest residents to the transfer station site. (Noise questions over) Emissions questions starting David Murphy—did your emissions report include the building site? Dale R. no David Murphy—would a stack be a better way to ventilate than a side vent Dale—Yes David Murphy—Does the building design include a stack? Dale R. —No—but I was suggesting that a stack would be the better way to go. Request David Murphy - we'd like to ask the applicant to look at the actual emission from the building and summit additional information on whether the stack would be appropriate or filtering would be appropriate. Marc S.—how do you accurately predict the emission to be on the closest abutters and the rest of the community when a ventilation system hasn't been designed yet? How do you come up with those predictions? Dale R. - My study with the diesel emissions did not include the building emissions. Allen H. elaborated on Dale's answer—usually these types of studies include emissions from the roads but what David Murphy is asking for is studies from the building as well and we will do that for the board. The transfer station will have a negative air flow so it will be drawing emissions from the trucks inside the building and up through the ventilation system. Noreen—garage doors will be open during operating hours so how can you have a negative air flow if the doors are open? Allen H. —We will have vertical plastic strips/ curtains will be on garage doors that will cause a seal and keep the negative air flow going. Marc- traffic studies are from 2007 did you include any of the projects that have been built since 2007? Jeffery Derk—The traffic study does include additional developments—within a 5 years span Kemith—Will First Street be avoided by trucks/packers? Jeffery Derk—Larger trucks will be confined to Highland Avenue and will not use First Street unless they are picking up trash from that street. Allen—We have an agreement with city that there will be no left turns onto First Street for 45 ton trucks Allen—We can negotiate the routes with the board Barbara the applicant is committing to a condition that there will be a dedicated truck route that will be submitted with the applications. Allen H. —Yes we have an agreement and there should be more discussions because we would like to add more grounds to that so we would like to negotiate with you at a later time Barbara—so in general truck routes will be a condition as part of the site assignment. Allen H. Yes Short brake Barbara— are the projected number of vehicle trips the same or similar to other facilities that are the same size? Allen— Still doing research-looking into Andover site and other sites— asked David Murphy for help on this David Murphy—Traffic study was expectable— 500 toner day surge presented tonight— clarification between the trip generation rate discrepancies Jeff—based on counts at facility— 100 ton per day provided by North Side David Murphy The projected truck trips was that data that you help generate or was it provide by north side carting? Can you do an independent review of that number? Jeff Derk North Side Carting provided that information- Yes David Murphy why is projected # smaller of trips smaller than 75 or so trips that we're seeing now? Bill Thompson—Now there are small dump trucks coming into the facility—In the future full side packers heavier will be taking their place—not projecting change in the current vehicles. David Murphy- How could the board be protective of number of trips into the city? Is the applicant willing to agree to a condition will not exceed a certain amount per day during peek hours? Bill Thompson Roughly 500 per day would be brought in if there's a weekday holiday— further studies on peak days David Murphy distribution of traffic—good-approve level of service at intersection— more documentation Atty. Whittaker We should establish a time limit (a week) for traffic study increase. Barbara Poremba Would this be a sufficient amount of time to get this done? Allen H. A report on traffic studies given with in a week Allen H - submitting a supplemental traffic study that was done that looks at the peek day of traffic for 500 tons per day. David Murphy—reviewed air quality—was 1 Dipietro Ave (residents) included in noise and air quality report? Dale - No we do not include every resident—unaware of 1 Dipietro Ave -but it wouldn't change any results David Murphy do you know the distance between location B and dumping site? Allan H. It's about 120 feet. David Murphy Would like to have for record 1 Dipietro Ave as part of the noise study Dale yes David Murphy Truck back up alarms are less than 30 seconds. Help define the pour tone condition. Allen H. Pure tone is 3 decibels higher than regular back-round noise -back up alarms will only be during one truck trip— so for 70 trips 35 of them would have back up alarm noise for about 15 sec per trip—question#4 on hand out David Murphy review design features to evaluate noise for residents Allen H. A wall will start at 3 It going up to 16 It - plantings in area—off Swampscott Road 60 feet above noise leaves - we could put wall on top of attaining wall if noise is too loud. Barbara Poremba - This will be a condition that will be negotiated with applicant at a later time David Murphy- The model used to conduct the air quality is from 1995, would you conceder using a more up to date model? Dale—This model is commonly used for this type of testing David Murphy—Is there a risk assessment with 1 Dipietro Ave not being included in the air quality testing? Allen—There would be no real change to the studies that were done in the area David Murphy- Was DEP contacted about 1 Dipietro Avenue? Allen H. left a message with DEP David Murphy- Was MEPA contacted? *Allen H. can call to let them know if the board would like David Murphy—any maintenance to be done outside the facility? Bill Thompson—Will sweep the areas around the building daily to maintain cleanliness. Marc Salinas—there was solid doors on original design not plastic strips? Will you add the plastic strips? Allen—We could use both or just plastic strips Marc So will you submit a new design? Allen we will provide them David Murphy Can city and North Side Carting can provide design slanders Bill—yes we will provide them subject to several conditions of the board and city council Barbara Poremba—I think that it's far to not give final design until all conditions are given Noreen Casey A 400 ton per day facility requires a 1,200sq feet tipping floor. Is there enough room for this at the facility? What are you doing for pest control management as well? Bill Thompson—Updated plans include 9,800sq ft will be devoted to the first floor including space for a tipping floor—we will provide a pest control plan we do exterminate once a month in N. Andover. DEP requires a pest control plan. E. Questions/Comments Council President Paul Prevey ward 6—notification process to abutters what process did from the public applicant use- Environmental clean up on site Allen H. - imitate adjacent residents to site and residents who share the property line were notified. We received that information from the Assessor's Office. Building needs to be demolished and an update to the demolition audit will be done Paul Prevey - how many abutters notified Allen notified—319 Highland Avenue, owner of Richmond Highlands, 329,331 & 333 Highland Avenue, North East Animal Shelter, 9-13 Cedar Road, 3 Swampscott Rd & 36- 58 Swampscott Rd. Scott Morgan of Sedona St - Air quality question- smell from packing trucks—does the studies include odor from trucks?—How did it go from 25-100 tons? Where is this negative air pressure going from the interior of the building? Mr. Bruce Linskey 33 Cabot Circle—Air quality concerns- rodent problems concerns— concerns for future developments of project. Richard Pincool—How much garbage is left over night? Allen H. —Garbage will be shipped out overnight—There will be no storage of waste overnight Paulette Puleo Freeman Rd— Oct of 93 DEP landfills—threat and no threat—where does Salem landfill stand— (need to get her questions and concerns from David G. to add to notes) Atty. Ken W- irrelevant question Paulette Puleo How did applicant find out they missed 1 Dipietro Ave Allen H. - We were notified by David Greenbaum and Beth Rennard—will issue addendums Paulette Puleo Do you have any plans in place to keep the birds away? Bill Thompson- noise or wires will scare away birds Paulette Puleo —Would the board put limits on the permit so they would have to renew every year or two? Atty. Ken Whittaker- Restructure question to comment Chuck Puleo —new traffic study when they count the trips would you include the yard waste drop offs?—How will they add that impact of yard waste to the facility? Allan—We have generated plans for a recycling area - can provide this to board—yes Jeff Derk—This has been included in traffic study. Todd Segal 28 Britannia Circle—traffic study—did it look at impact on side streets? Jeff Derk We are not sending trucks down side roads—will head up to highland avenue- this should not increase delays on first street. Todd Segal 28 Britannia Circle—Are you using the same entrance as of today; is there going to be an additional exit?—There will be a Lowe's, Super Wal-Mart and 11 additional residents being added in the future do these location existing traffic study Also concerned about possible accidents will trucks leaving transfer station. Allan yes—there is a curb cut and exit Jeff—Lowe's and Super Wal-Mart was not included but there are other projects that were added. We did account for additional traffic, on top of the possible traffic impact in the area once the transfer station is finished. Stan Fourier 8 Cottage Street—spraying of materials in facility—where is this water going - what do you do with this material? Do you except hazardous waste materials? Bill Thompson—no hazardous waste will be accepted—DEP will be notified if HW is in garbage. Stan Fourier 8 Cottage Street what is the environmental impact on diesel trucks idling at facility? Bill Thompson There is a limit on how long a truck can idle in this state—limit is 5 minutes. 8 Cottage St—According to the traffic plan trucks will not pass schools—There is a high school, middle school, and grade schools on Highland Avenue. Concerned about trucks using this part of Highland Avenue. Bill Thompson—We would agreed to a condition to turning on left onto highland avenue— We have GPS systems on every vehicle to track this. Beth Rennard—presenting letters of approval of the transfer station to board Unknown? -Air quality report looks at cancer study—does it look at asthma or respiratory problems as well? Dale—There will be a very slight decreases in air quality for anyone with respiratory problems Very Short Brake to change video tape Susan Howland 3 Thomas Circle—Because of the size of the truck what will be done about the traffic light timing? Jeff—traffic timing will be revisited after a year but we can check this earlier Richard Williams Thomas Circle—If there is an emergency of some sort at the facility do you have a contingence plans for this? Bill Thompson—We will divert trucks to different facilities Atty. Carl Goldman—152 Lynn way in Lynn MA-representing Alan Samilian of Cabot Circle -Filed a petition to intervene—undermined if public hearing is closed after tonight— documents that the board is reviewing shall be available for public inspection - amendments to the application have not been available to the public-I ask the hearing officer that the hearing must continue after the submission of these documents—rule on minor modification application;board has concluded this—requesting that the board rule that is not minor for the following reasons- increase in tonnage and substantial reconstruction of site—were is the 2 feet buffer?—there is a dwelling w/i 200ft of tipping floor; should not be w/I 500ft—could move building but it's prohibited because there's no other site on parcel that is suitable -Traffic study relies on numbers given by applicant - I suggest they completed the files—tonnage differs with this study—environmental engineer relied on applicants data—air quality for stack—wind could head dust into condos off first street. Bill Thompson- site assignment and site suitability—Was deemed suitable 1959 and permitted. The site for the building is not changing. Martin Fair Submitted application to DEP as well as the Board of Health—Has DEP issued any determination of suitability. Allen H—DEP will be looking at land closer plans, corrective action plans for closure of landfill. We have not submitted plans on reconstruction of the transfer station but ultimately we must do that and submitted reconstruction plans to DEP. Can you rephrase the question. Martin Fair—Did you submit the same application to DEP than you did to the Board of Health for the modification. Allen H. —I don't believe that we have—we can do that Tease Riley Gogan 9 Wisteria Street-8 square miles is what we live on in Salem—very much against it—What would be the road impact with this extra tonnage? Bill Thompson—Vehicles are operating within the Ma weight restrictions—Highland Ave is a state roads are responsible for any wear and tare— Marc Burns 18 Aurora Lane First St neighborhood assoc—Home Depot used continuation noise have received complaints about bird depression noise? - 1 Dipietro Ave is higher level so air quality could be different. Councillor Steven Pinto Columbus Avenue—hope that the board continues this at another date because a lot of questions from the public have not been answered yet & more info will be available next week—tipping floor 750 sq feet— 1200 sq feet for 400 tons—25-30 feet above floor Bill Thompson 1" floor is 9800 square feet—waste can be put on side of building— building meets industry standards Steven—tipping floor square footage Bill Thompson - 9800 square feet is the I' floor minus the square footage of the walls of the building is how but the tipping floor will be. Steven—Is tipping floor heated?—Will there be freezing of water from misting during the colder seasons? Bill Thompson- It's not heated - can not have water in piles—heat trace the water—odor control will be added into water piled for misting. Short Brake Comments from public only at this time Laura Da-LeFlora 18 Aurora Lane - How can we determined impact on environmental if the air quality and traffic studies are not accurate?Would not like noises being made to scare away birds Anthony Germaine—why do we have to go from 100 tons to 500 tons? Ronda Tarmy 60 Cavendish Circle— Concerned about storage of trash next to building. Where is the 500 tons coming from will it turn into 600 down the road?Noise impact will be greater at condos off First St.because they are at a higher level. The Stacks; concerned about wind sending air from facility our way Jerry Ryan ward 4 councillor—Traffic—some projects on Highland Ave didn't happen- Halloween peak traffic time John Ronan Ward 5 councillor— concerned about smell from facility— studies should be done on smell of 400/500 tons of mixed waste at facility. Barbara Poremba— can the applicant be in charge of and pay for posting a notification on the Salem News Bill Thompson - Yes Kemith motion to continue Gayle 2nd all in favor Continuing Public Hearing to November 24, 2009 8. MEETING 10:50 p.m. ADJOURNED: Respectfully submitted, Heather Lyons Clerk of the Board Next Public Hearing is November 24, 2009 at 7pm At City Hall Annex, 120 Washington Street, Room 311 Salem.