SAVE THE DATE: Next EHCA Meeting is Wednesday,
September 24th at 7PM at the East Boston High School
**Agenda items: East Boston Anti-Litter Campaign; also the East
Boston Police Drug Unit will be on hand to update residents and
answer questions
Dear Eagle Hill Residents,
At its last meeting held on August 27th, the Eagle Hill Civic
Association, devoted the meeting to a presentation from Jeff
McLaughlin, Mo Falsafi, and Isidoro Perez of the Massachusetts Water
Resources Authority (MWRA). The MWRA will be starting a large
project in East Boston this fall as part of their three-phase
project to reduce the overall drainwater runoff into the Boston
Harbor and Chelsea Creek.
The MWRA spent over one hour specifically
detailing the construction process which will involve creating
numerous large openings in the streets through which they will drill
new combined sewer/outfall pipes which will bring almost all of the
drainwater through the Deer Island sewerage plant and out into the
deep ocean. Please note this is a different project than the current
BWSC project underway.
Although the work will be fairly disruptive to Eagle Hill residents,
this is a court-ordered project that is part of the long-term clean
up of Boston Harbor. The MWRA has elected to selectively open the
street and drill pipe through the ground instead of opening up the
entire street. All streets where the drilling ocurrs will be open
for two-way traffic throughout the process. After the project is
complete drainwater outfalls into the Harbor will be reduced from 31
times to 6 times per year and the Harbor should see significant
improvement in its cleanliness.
Several steps are being made at remediation for residents, including
the following:
--Any resident within a 250 foot zone around one of the drill pits
will be offered (and are strongly encouraged) to have a free home
inspection paid for by the project contractor to inspect any
structural issues in their homes. Upon completion of the project, if
any structural problems have occurred, a re-inspection will be
ordered. However, in 20 years of doing this type of project, the
project manager said he has not heard of a structural problem with
any homes.
--The zone around the open drill pits will be plowed for snow by the
contractor at their own expense.
--Two-way traffic will always be permitted.
--Sound barriers will be constructed and the contractor is under an
obligation to keep all noise in the early to late evenings below 50
decibels. Violation of this limit will end the contractor's right to
work in the evening or night.
--Comprehensive rodent control measures will be taken prior to
construction and during construction
Some of the controversial issues are:
---Work on some sites will take place until 11PM for several months
at a time. This is necessary in order to complete the project in a
short period of time. By working until 11PM they can have 2 shifts
and only be in any given pit for a few months instead of many months
or a year.
--The project will last 2 years, but is under a court order to
finish within 2 years.
--Very large excavating machines will be used to dig the drill pits,
which will range from 25 to 40 feet (taller than most 3-family
homes).
--This project is being funded through your Boston Water & Sewer
payments and is not receiving any federal funds (although it is
federally-mandated, the federal government is not assisting in
funding the project as they did with the Deer Island project)
Streets and areas to be affected directly by the work are:
-East Eagle Square
-Condor Street
-Border Street
-Central Square
-New Street
-Orleans Street
-Part of Bremen Street
-Marginal Street
-Maverick Street
This is a very large project and you will surely have many
questions. The MWRA will make a similar presentation to the Friends
of the East Boston Greenway at its meeting at the EB YMCA on Bremen
St. on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. If you live in the
affected areas, you should definitely attend to learn more about
this project.
If you have any complaints or questions during the project, please
contact:
Jeffrey McLaughlin, Community Relations Manager
(617) 660-7976
jeffrey.mclaughlin (at) mwra.state.ma.us
Here are several online resources with more information about the
project:
