REACT TO TRASH

For Immediate Release                                         Saturday, January 8, 2000

REACT contacts:

Linda Annett (781)-331-2513

Dory Hall (781)-982-0655

Abington – CITIZEN GROUP REACT FORMED TO OPPOSE

ABINGTON TRASH TRANSFER STATION

REACT is a citizens’ group formed to oppose the Abington TRASH Transfer Station. REACT is composed of citizens from both Abington and Weymouth. All citizens opposed to the Abington TRASH transfer station are welcome to join REACT.

The proposed Abington Trash Transfer Station is to be located at 1477 Bedford Street (Route 18). It will be located between the Farmers’ Market strip mall and the Johnson Bus Terminal. The proposed facility will have a capacity of 1800 tons of trash per day. This will be the largest transfer station in New England.

REACT is opposed to the transfer station because the environmental, safety and health impacts to the towns of Abington and Weymouth have not been adequately addressed by the trash station developers. The following outlines some of the trash station plan deficiencies:

Inadequate traffic study – The study only include ¼ mile of Route 18 and do not include any side streets. The study did not include impacts from the Old Colony Rail Station, Naval Air Station Megamall or a neighboring bus storage location.

Inadequate noise studies – There will be excessive noise from additional diesel truck traffic and operational machinery.

No air emission studies – Emissions from trash transfers, diesel truck fumes and uncovered trash trucks were not modeled or otherwise considered.

No assessment of residential impacts – There is a significant residential population within ¼ mile of the proposed transfer facility. No plans exist to minimize impacts to these residents.

No odor control plan – It is suspected that obnoxious and pervasive odors will be generated from the trash station.

No plan to control pests including seagulls, rats, mice, cockroaches, and mosquitoes.

Failure to meet site suitability criteria – The regulatory requirements for site suitability have not been met for groundwater contamination.

Nearby species of concern were not considered - Spotted turtles and salamanders have been found on the Naval Air Station in the vicinity of the facility.

The Abington Trash Transfer Station will have a significant impact on the towns of Weymouth and Abington. We are worried about the significant increases in truck traffic throughout our towns, obnoxious odors, increased air pollution, the potential for water pollution and a large increase in pests (e.g. rats and seagulls) in our towns. We are working to make our communities places that we will be safe to live in.

If you want to know more about REACT, visit our website at: https://members.tripod.com/reacttrash

or email us at: reacttrash@worldnet.att.net.

REACT Steering Committee

Co-Chairs Linda Annette, Weymouth

Dory Hall, Abington

Members

Matthew Whalen, Abington

Joanna Morganelli, Weymouth

Cathy Creighton, Abington

Joe Mullen, Abington

Harvey Welch, Weymouth

Kevin Whalen, Abington

Bill McGowen, Weymouth

Dennis Lynch, Weymouth

John McNabb, Clean Water Action

 Tony Pignone, Abington

REACT to TRASH, Residents Environmentally Active,  Email -- reacttrash@hotmail.com

Government was "Made for the people.   Made by the people.

And answerable to the people."             Daniel Webster