2008 LETTER TO MEPA FROM COUNCILOR LOVELY 10/21/2009 08:16 FAX 617 626 1181 EXEC OFFICE ENV AFFAIRS 0001/003
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10121/2009 08:17 FAX 617 626 1181 EXEC OFFICE ENV AFFAIRS 1x1002/003
July 15, 2008
Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
MEPA Office
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900
Boston,MA 02114
Attn: Ms.Aisling Eglington
Via email Aisline.Eelington@ama.eov.us
Re: City of Salem Transfer Station Expansion
Environmental Notification Public Comment
Dear Ms. Eglingtpn:
Please accept this correspondence as my opposition to the expansion of the Salem
transfer station permit from 100 TPD to 400 TPD. Please allow me, as an elected official, to
give you my history and experience with the transfer station and its current operator, Northside
Carting.
1 have served on the Salem city council for approximately 10 '/z years during which time
the transfer station has been a consistent problem in our community. When Northside Carting
initially occupied the site, it moved large amounts of dormant ash from the central portion of the
site to other portions, including pushing the ash into the adjacent stream and wetland area,
Northside Carting excised large depression areas to accommodate 30 yard containers with an'
earth/ash ramp constructed to allow vehicles to back up and dump construction and demolition .
materials into the containers. When the containers were at capacity, they would be hauled away
and replaced. Northside Carting operated the site in this manner for several years, in addition to
its current operation of separating materials within the old incinerator building. As a result of
Northside Carting's past and current use of the site, the site has deteriorated to its present
deplorable condition and has been operated in this manner for several years, much to the
unhappiness of the adjacent neighbors and residents of Salem,
During my elected years of service, I have received hundreds of complaints regarding
dust, noise, and traffic surrounding the transfer station, not only from adjacent neighborhoods,
but citywide. In approximately the late 1990's,Northside Carting began discussions with the
10 21/2009 08:17 FAX 617 626 1181 EXEC OFFICE ENV AFFAIRS 0003/003
Ms.Aisling Eglington
July 15,2008
Page two
City and myself to construct a building in which to operate the transfer station. Unfortunately
the discussions were not serious and meaningful. As you are aware, as a result of the city not
properly capping the site after the incinerator was closed, and Northside Carting's movementof�
the ash piles to accommodate large containers, the city and Northside Carting are now
encountering action by your office with resulting fines. As a result of the many complaints the
city has received,I and other members of the city council have met with Northside Carting.bnth
informally and formally in committee sessions to address these complaints. Unfortunately even
with the city addressing the concerns of the residents with the current operator, the transfer
station remains in even worse condition today than it did when Northside Carting began its
operation ofthe-site
With regard to Northside Carting's traffic impact study,I question why a key intersection,
located less than one hundred feet from the current transfer station entrance was omitted from the
study. This intersection is located at Swampscott Road and First Street and encounters heavy
traffic congestion and accidents. As you are probably aware, Swampscott Road is a heavily
traveled roadway which provides access-for Marblehead and,Swampscott residents through,
Salem to Peabody and highways. Also,the nearby quarry produces heavy industrial truck traffic
from early morning to late in the evening. The city council and mayor's office have received,
numerous requests:fortraffic signalization at this intersection. I have brought the omission of
this intersection to the attention of the mayor's office, however, to my knowledge no amended'
study has been conducted to include this intersection:
With regard to Northside Carting's air quality analysis;I question the seemingly lack o�
air monitoring stations in and around the closest neighborhood located approximately 300 feet
away. Also, Northside Carting's noise impact assessment study is predicted to raise the decibel,
levels by 3dB,however, I receive consistent complaints from neighbors about the noise currently
generated at the site and that travels across their real property fines and is very disturbing and
disruptive to their quality of life.
In closing, given Northside Carting's poor track record to date, I have severe reservations
that it has the capacity to properly remediate the site and reduce and/or eliminate the current
problems associated with its operation of the current transfer station. I therefore oppose the
expansion of the permit from I00 TPD to 400 TPD.
Thank you for your attention in this mgar -
Very truly yours;_
Joan B. Lovely
Councillor at Large-