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Why Were Hazmat Teams on Circle Drive?

Framingham Fire, and later the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, were investigating a strong odor at three homes on Circle Drive Monday and Tuesday.

Neighbors asked why hazardous materials teams were on Circle Drive Monday and Tuesday. Framingham Fire Department was called to investigate a strong odor Monday on Circle Drive. The investigation centered on three homes, including one owned by Selectman Dennis Giombetti. Framingham Fire tests indicated a reading of "volatile organic compound," said Framingham Assistant Fire Chief John Magri. "But we couldn't identify the type or source." Thus Framingham Fire called in a state hazardous materials team. When that agency couldn't identify the type of compound and cause, it called in the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Monday around 7 p.m. A DEP Field Assessment Support Team (FAST) and vehicle was in the neighborhood…

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SMOC Assessed $10,000 Penalty By DEP

South Middlesex Non-Profit Housing Corp. of Framingham Assessed $10,062 Penalty for Failing to Timely Report, Cleanup Oil Release in Marlborough

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) assessed a $10,062 penalty to South Middlesex (SMOC) Non-Profit Housing Corp., a non-profit corporation based in Framingham, for failing to notify MassDEP of a release of fuel oil to the dirt floor basement of one of its properties, thus to the environment, within the required two-hour time frame, and for failing to conduct cleanup actions in a timely manner after obtaining knowledge of the release. On Feb. 23, 2012, SMOC Housing notified MassDEP that fuel oil leaked from an above-ground storage tank to soils in the basement of the shelter at 57 Mechanic St. in Marlborough. The oily soils were noted by maintenance staff as early as Feb. 17, 2012, but went unabated until …

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State Approves General Chemical Clean-Up; Residents Advised to Avoid Playground

The state will allow cleanup between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday; it is suggested residents in the area should close windows and avoid the Wilson Elementary playground.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has agreed to allow General Chemical Corp. to begin clean up of its hazardous waste transfer facility in anticipation of its closure. The state is allowing General Chemical to conduct cleaning Monday through Saturday, between 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.  Residents in vicinity of Leeland Street are advised to close their windows andstay away from the playground at Wilson Elementary School. A test of the cleaning was done in June, and the state determined that there was no air quality issues during that test. MassDEP plans to continue to monitor air quality throughout the clean-up period, which is expected to end about a week before school starts on Aug. 15. The state maintains if air quality …

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Jim Rizoli

1:08 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Don't worry the "Faceless" group will be on GC back waiting for something to go wrong. They probably have dog sniffers out there. Opportunist waiting for the big payout. Jim@ccfiile.com   more ›

Hazardous Waste Trucking Company Wants to Operate Next To Elementary School

A few days after General Chemical announced it intends to close, Clean Venture, a hazardous waste trucking company, filed paperwork with the state, to operate in its location; the two companies have the same owner.

On March 1, the Framingham Board of Health held its fifth hearing on General Chemical. The next day, the company, in a letter to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said it plans to close it hazardous waste transfer site, located next door to Wilson Elementary School. Last week, in a conference call town and school officials were "horrified" to learn that General Chemical Clean Ventures, that operates at 138 Leland St, filed paperwork with the state to expand its operations to 133 Leland St, when its sister company General Chemical closes in April. Clean Venture "operations do not permit transfer of wastes, as did General Chemical, but do include the storage of parking of trucks holding various hazardous wastes, …

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Jim Rizoli

12:19 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012

Here you go.....what you have there at General Chemical and the School... http://tinyurl.com/7a9v9c4 Jim@ccfiile.com   more ›

Abutters Maintain Ellingwood is a Serious Health Threat

Framingham Board of Health is waiting for answers and action from DEP before it moves ahead on what to do with Ellingwood Construction.

Members of the working group looking into possible illegal and health-related issues swirling around activities of Ellingwood Construction at its site in north Framingham reported limited progress in resolving a myriad of issues before the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night. Board of Health Director Ethan Mascoop told Selectmen the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has not adequately addressed some of the concerns of the working group and until they get some answers, there is very little the Board of Health can do to alleviate the situation. But Health Board member Mike Hugo assured the selectmen the Board of Health will work on the issues once it is clear what DEP can and will do. “DEP can only do this much,” said Hugo, …

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Jim Rizoli

12:09 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012

Sue..did you notice who took this off topic in the first place? Jim@cciile.com   more ›

Selectmen, Health Board Join to Address Ellingwood Construction

Framingham Board of Selectmen met the Board of Health Tuesday night and voted to create an action plan for issues with the Ellingwood Construction operation.

Framingham Board of Health appeared beforeSelectmen Tuesday night to discuss the Ellingwood Construction operation. “There are issues and there are violations,” said Board of Health Director Ethan Mascoop. Mascoop admitted the health board has been focused on General Chemical and has not been able to devote enough time to the Ellingwood issues. Further complicating matters, the Board of Health shares jurisdiction with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which limits the board’s ability to take action on the situation.  The state has said Ellingwood needs to build a berm to separate his property from neighboring properties, and Ellingwood agreed to do so. However, the berm has not been built and the state has not…

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Brazilians Worried, Apathetic About Toxic Contamination in Neighborhood

Only about a dozen parents attended a Framingham Board of Health meeting about a chemical plant, that is located next door to their child's elementary school. Other parents are very concerned.

The emotions of parents of whose children attend Woodrow Wilson Elementary School range from apathetic to panic, when it comes to the school's neighbor General Chemical. Rosana Souza, a Brazilian mother of a third grader at Wilson Elementary School, speaks little English. “I was told that the whole school was contaminated. I called a teacher and she told me if that were the case, she wouldn’t be working there,” said Souza in Portuguese. Monday night at a hearing attended by more than 100 people Framingham Health Director Ethan Mascoop restated the school is safe. The air quality is tested very regularly, he added. Mascoop, who spoke for over an hour at Monday night's Board of Health hearing,  presented a series of safety violations he …

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Susan Petroni

9:14 am on Tuesday, September 27, 2011

I did not touch any post at 2 a.m. in the morning. I have to agree with Scott.   more ›

General Chemical Hearing Could Last Months

The first in a series of Board of Health hearings on General Chemical got underway last night with Framingham's Director of Health reporting that there could be safety and health threatening issues at the site, which is adjacent to Woodrow Wilson School.

South Framingham residents gathered at Woodrow Wilson Elementay School Monday night to hear they will not get a quick resolution to possible environmental contamination from a chemical waste transfer station facility in their neighborhood. The Framingham Board of Health held the first of a series of site assignment public hearings on whether General Chemical is an appropriate occupant of the site off Leland Street. In opening remarks, Board of Health Chair Michael Hugo said the evening was the first of “several” hearings, with the next one scheduled for Nov. 3. The facility, General Chemical, is next to Wilson elementary school and in a mostly residential section of Leland Street. Residents are concerned about soil and water contamination …

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Town Looks Into Ellingwood Construction Operation

Representatives from town departments are looking into the operations at Ellingwood Construction in Saxonville.

Various town departments are looking at separate issues surrounding Ellingwood Construction, off of Riverpath Road, as the Town of Framingham continues to gather information on the asphalt and concrete processing operation.  Board of Selectman Chair Jason Smith assured residents the town, “made this a priority and we’re working on it. We have to follow procedure and laws.” Town Manager Julian Suso was charged with forming a working group at a previous Board of Selectmen’s meeting to look into resident’s complaints that Ellingwood is engaging in activities that may be in violation of town bylaws, zoning regulations and threatens public health and safety. Suso reported that working group has had two meetings and discussed Ellingwood’s …

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State May Close General Chemical

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has ordered the facility, located next to Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, to set aside $1.2 million to clean up an underground pollution plume affecting groundwater by Sept. 9 or be closed.