Residents: General Chemical Cleanup Plan Doesn't Address Safety, Lacks Details

Neighbors of General Chemical said they are worried about children playing in the wetlands behind the property and in a nearby drainage ditch near a condo complex during a public involvement meeting Thursday night, held by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) on the ongoing assessment and cleanup plan for the closed disposal site on Leland St.

Residents want signs placed on the wetlands, at the drainage ditch and also on two homes General Chemical purchased, now abandoned, to warn people of the potential health and safety risks.

"Jack & I have been all through the wetlands," said Rodene Lamkin, MassDEP's project manager for the General Chemical site. "I don't see how kids are going through that dense area." She suggested residents show them how kids are playing and walking through the wetlands.

"The kids play throughout the wetlands looking for frogs," said Kristen Nason.

Town of Framingham consultant Carol Boise said behind the condos is a clear path down to the woods that kids take.

"Children are constantly playing in that ditch area. Wake up, please," said Anne Sullivan.

"It's just a sign we are asking for. You can't put the kids in danger like that. The kids do go there," said resident Maria Landaverde.

"Can we assume there are a lot of children" and just post the signs, said Town Manager Bob Halpin to MassDEP. "If posting signs are the most complicated thing we are facing here, we are in trouble."

Halpin was not the only Framingham officials to get frustrated with MassDEP at Thursday night's hearing.

"You have come a long way in the last couple of years," said Framingham Health Board Chair Michael Hugo. "But you have not come far enough and quick enough yet."

He said the Framingham Board of Health has been overlooked and not included in the process until tonight.

Hugo told DEP and the General Chemical consultant that their slide presentation, which started the meeting may have been the "truth but not the whole truth" as many items were omitted.

Drew Smyth, the environmental consultant hired by the Town of Framingham, agreed with Hugo. He cited more than a dozen areas that the plan did not go far enough or ignored areas of potential risks. (Watch part of his presentation in the attached video.)

Framingham Board of Health held 10 hearings in regards to General Chemical's site assessment when the company filed with the state its plans to close. It shut down its operations last summer and now must present an assessment and cleanup plan. 

A group of residents, including the non-profit organization Framingham Action Coalition for Environmental Safety (FACES), filed a petition to have the community involved in any plan, thus the meeting Thursday night at Wilson Elementary School. The school's playground abuts General Chemical.

"My kids comes to this school. I do have concerns," said Roberto Viana. "Is this going to be a waste of time coming here (meeting)? I hope not."

Besides the elementary school, the potential area of harm from General Chemical, touches a nearby condo complex and the Town of Sherborn.

Residents may submit comments about the plan up until April 24.

General Chemical, located at 133-138 Leland St., is scheduled to submit more in-depth assessments by May 31, said MassDEP.

"It will give us a lot of information, more than we have now,"  said Stephen Johnson, deputy regional director for MassDEP's Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup.