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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTS SENATE STATE HOUSE. BOSTON 02133-1053 SENATOR MICHAEL W. MORRISSEY COMMITTEES NORFOLK AND PLYMOUTH DISTRICT GOVERNMENT REGULATION (CHAIR) Room 413D WAYS AND MEANS TEL. 617-722-1494 NATURAL RESOURCES AND FAX 617-722-1055 AGRICULTURE E-Mail: MMorriss@Senate.state.ma.us TRANSPORTATION REDISTRICTING (VICE-CHAIR ) December 27, 1999 Mr. William T. Gage MEPA Unit Executive Office of Environmental Affairs 100 Cambridge Street Boston, MA 02202 RF,: EOEA File No, 8694 - Abington Transfer Station Dear Mr. Gage: We write with regard to the proposed Waste Transfer Station at 1477 Bedford Street, Abington, MA, 02351. We would like to repeat our request made December 15, 1999 at the Department of Environmental Protection's MEPA Consultation Meeting that an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) be required of the applicant and offer additional reasons why a full EIR is warranted. The close proximity of the proposed facility to residential neighborhoods in Abington and South Weymouth raises concerns regarding public safety, health and traffic issues. The neighborhoods that abut the proposed facility are densely populated. The main artery serving this region, Route 18 is a heavily traveled, congested road. Surrounding neighborhood roads are burdened by cut through traffic and are also heavily traveled. We have been engaged as a delegation for four years now with our communities working to redevelop the now defunct South Weymouth Naval Air Station to recoup the significant economic loss incurred after its closure. In order to realize the full economic potential of the approximately 1400 acres available for development at the site we've been hard pressed to find a solution to the site's limited access. We will be challenged for years to come to find significant resources, both state and federal, to achieve our goals. The development of the site must be made the highest priority in the region and any other nearby development must adequately account for the base's full redevelopment potential. It is our opinion that the traffic study filed by the proponent does not adequately evaluate the scheduled redevelopment of the naval air station site. We have received calls from both constituents and businesses along the Route 18 corridor about the negative health and quality of life impacts that emissions from 800 additional large industrial vehicles will present. In addition, there is a concern about health and safety of the residents from the contents of these vehicles going to the transfer station. The addition of up to 800 truck trips per day to the proposed facility via an already overstressed, congested, densely populated Route 18 will impact the safety, environment and traffic of this region. We are also concerned that the proponent's traffic study contains no data on the content of the large trucks that will travel Routes 27, 139 and 123, which intersect with Routes 58 and 18. We contend that the proponent's traffic StLidv, which only focuses on Routes 18 and 58, is too narrow in scope. It is our opinion that the proponent has not adequately addressed the health and safety impact resulting from the increased traffic from Route 3 to the site via Route 18. Due to the increased congestion on Route 18 and the Route 18/58 intersection, there will be a clear danger to the many residential side streets already used as cut- through streets. It is clear to us that introducing upwards of 800 additional truck trips per day into the Route 18/Route 58 region threatens the safety of the surrounding neighborhoods. Other environmental concerns include the need to address the issue of storm water runoff from the significantly large paved area and the impact it will have on drinking water in the area. We contend that the proponent has not adequately addressed the site's potential impact on the aquifer downstream at the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station and nearby streams that drain into Studley's Pond, which is a secondary drinking water source. The large volume of truck traffic each day will adversely impact the air quality of the surrounding community and therefore requires further evaluation. It is our understanding that a decision as to whether or not an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be required will be made by January 7, 2000. Given the enormous potential for adverse impacts on the region as a result of this project, we urge you to see that this proposal is investigated to the fullest extent of your authority. We respectfully urge you to require that an EIR be performed for this proposal. We would like to thank you for the opportunity to submit our comments and concerns on the proposed Abington Transfer Station. Should vou require any additional information or have any questions, please contact us. Sincerely, ROBERT L.HEDLUND MICHAEL W. MORRISSEY State Senator State Senator Plymouth & Norfolk Norfolk & Plymouth
PAUL R. HALEY RON MARIANO State Representative State Representative Fourth Norfolk District Third Norfolk District
KATHLEEN TEAHAN State Representative Seventh Plymouth District
Cc: Robert Durand, Secretary, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
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