EPA Hears Objections To Its $11M Plan to Cap Reservoir No. 2

The federal government’s plan to cap portions of one of the town’s contaminated reservoir basins appears to be a long way from becoming reality.

With almost universal opposition from about 40 residents, a strongly worded letter listing concerns from town officials opposing the plan and funding uncertainties the future is unclear for the EPA's long-researched plan to deposit layers of sand at the bottom of Framingham’s Reservoir No. 2.

The reservoir is the final resting place of a host of chemicals and toxic substances that are related to the Nyanza Chemical Superfund Site in Ashland.

For most of the 20th century, various companies on the Nyanza site spewed industrial wastewater that contained high levels of acids and chemicals into the Sudbury River. Once the river opened up to form the reservoir, the heavier substances, such as mercury, sank to the bottom.

After 10 years and $2 million of research, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created a scenario that would further bury the mercury and other toxic substances under six inches of sand.

Representatives of the EPA heard from Framingham residents and officials during an informal, informational meeting Thursday night at Municipal Hall.

A comprehensive overview of the proposed project by the EPA’s Daniel Keefe and a representative of the firm that would actually do the work was countered by residents who asked the seminal question, is the project necessary?

Keefe plainly stated that the EPA’s research showed the mercury’s only possible threat to humans was by way of consuming large quantities of fish from the reservoir.

That led to a number of residents to ask about the feasibility of posting more “Don’t Eat The Fish” signs around the reservoir rather than going ahead with an $11 million sand capping project.

Keefe responded by saying the potential consumption of contaminated fish was an unacceptable risk and that triggered the EPA’s remedial process.

After the meeting, Framingham Board of Health Chair Mike Hugo explained that mercury in fish is a public health risk and the Health Board is charged with protecting the health of the most vulnerable members of society.

The EPA representatives deflected other objections to the proposed sand capping plan, such as dust, noise, traffic, construction staging areas and clouding of the water, by stating each issue has been fully investigated and steps will be taken to mitigate the impact on the environment and the residents.

Members of FACES, Framingham Action Coalition for Environmental Safety, passed out flyers explaining what the organization stands for and invited residents to join together and get involved with the organization if they are opposed to the sand capping plan.

FACES has a Facebook presence at:

https://www.facebook.com/FACESFramingham.