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EBOL Public Documents - East Boston Chelsea Creek Action Group
Attending: Lucy Del Muto, Ana Maria Gomez, Anna Lane, Christopher Blackler, Madeline McComiskey, Vinnie Ieni, Mary Ellen Welsh, Karyl Stoia, Joe Battersby, Roberta Marchi, Arlene Gehring, Mary Crisati, Uma Mirani (Urban Rivers), Dave Prusky (Chelsea Greenspace), Charlie Lord (The Watershed Institute), Sandra Ramirez (NOAH), and Stacey Chacker (NOAH). Meeting commenced at 6:30PM ended 8:20PM Meeting Minutes: November 17th meeting minutes were reviewed and accepted. Channel Fish: Stacey found out the following from Jack Tracy, Boston Environmental Strike Team (BEST): a) BEST did a major strike in 9/95. Fined Channel $16-$20,000; b) Channel is supposed to use a chlorine bleach to wash down the loading dock/entrance. Discussion: Participants brought up the following issues re: Channel Fish: How trucks are parking at facility blocks traffic. Say can park for 15 minutes to load/unload – but often exceed limit. Question – Does Channel need to have a permit/written permission to block traffic? It is our understanding that when blocking traffic, facilities need to leave one lane open for traffic and have police detail directing traffic. Joe will call Police Captain to find out. If needed, EB-CCAG will follow up with a letter to the appropriate authority. Odors from the site – in the winter, the odors are not as bad Trucks leak – probably one cause for odors and maggots The back of Channel is a mess. Stacey to ask someone to take picture of facility from the water. "Who’s polluting Chelsea Creek?" – Chelsea River oil hazards study: Charlie, Watershed Institute (WSI), further explained report, which we discussed at 11/17 meeting. Below is additional information to that contained in 11/17 meeting minutes. Study began by looking at 1-2 sectors that are polluting the Creek. Found that oil companies are the major polluters. The study focuses on the nine worst polluting oil companies. Clean Water Act (CWA) – is federal law protecting rivers. If polluting groundwater (which flows under land), and groundwater is flowing into a river, this is a violation of CWA. EPA and DEP are both weak at enforcing CWA. CWA is difficult to enforce since it only goes after present polluting owners (so if land was sold, and new owners are not polluting-can’t go after them). One gallon of oil can pollute up to a million gallons of fresh water. We’re all paying a lot of $$ for Harbor clean up, which takes care of sewage and heavy metals. MWRA says this was 50% of problem; other 50% are from polluted rivers flowing into Harbor. Discussed strategy. Mary Ellen made motion to move ahead with strategy steps. All agreed. Mapping Project – Charlie told us that Campaign for the Water’s Edge is working with Urban Harbors Institute to further develop Chelsea River/Mill Creek map (produced for CCAG by Tufts students), and map of entire Harbor. Map will focus on polluters, and potentials along water’s edge. WSI will bring a list of what will be included on the map to next meeting for discussion. Hess Update: "Immediate Response Action" clean up – tentatively planned for next week. Joe did site visit with Hess; it’s hard to see if there are oil sheens on water, but he didn’t see any leakage. Noted that Boston Fuel Boat is docked at Hess. Suggestion that we need to get onto pier at low tide so that we can properly see water. Stacey to request from Hess. Conservation Law Foundation sent Hess a letter, and called. So far, they have put them off. Other Sites/Misc: Boudreau Boatyard: 1) Boudreau Boatyard court hearing-1/5, 90 Devonshire Street. Hearing is for contempt of court; court is putting a $100,000 lien on their property; 2) Stacey will write a letter to court with following points: a) Has been a disgrace to community for sixteen years, with solid and hazardous wastes on site; b) Currently a sunken barge on site (may have historical value); c) Children get into the site to play; d) It is a source of constant pollution into the Chelsea River; and e) Fire hazards on the site; affects the insurance rates of abutters. Trucking on Condor Street - Discussed problem on Condor Street. Laws aren’t being enforced. Should report 2 ½ ton trucks when they are seen. Write a letter to Senator Travaglini Tour with Senator Travaglini and Representative Petrucelli – Stacey to set up after New Year. Joe, Maddy, Anna and Mary volunteered to participate. Logan Commerce Park – group got lawyer to do an appeals process for the Chapter 21 license. Communities Against Runway Expansion meeting – Dec. 8th at 7 P.M. at Boston City Hall. EB-CCAG 2000 meeting schedule Meet every third Wednesday of the month (except April and December). Please note, we may need to change some of these dates. Next Meeting is January 19, 2000. Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR! January 19th February 16th March 15th April 12th May 17th June 21st July 19th August 16th September 20th October 18th November 15th December 13th
M. McComiskey and S. Chacker recorded these minutes to their best recollection. Please call Stacey at 569-0059 ext. 13 to make changes within 30 days. S. Chacker recorded these minutes to their best recollection. Please call Stacey at 569-0059 ext. 13 to make changes within 30 days. posted on EBOL on
2/23/99 |
