On Monday, Jan. 3, I attended the Winchester Planning Board meeting where one of the items on the agenda was the vote to approve the proposed asphalt plant.
To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. The board voted to approve the plant, but the reasons for my disappointment stem more from the following:
1. A member of the planning board seemed to abandon any pretense of impartiality as evidenced by his repeated eye contact with (including eye rolls) and nods toward the applicant’s representative (Robert Snedeker) as each issue was discussed. I had the uneasy suspicion the board member was acting as an agent for the applicant. The board member is well entitled to his position, but for appearance’s sake, he could have waited for the vote.
2. At one of the public meetings, the chairperson stressed that the asphalt plant was the matter to be considered and not the existing gravel pit. And yet, at this meeting the gravel pit’s runoff survey was pushed as sufficient guarantee that chemicals or contaminated soil and water wouldn’t make their way into the Ashuelot River. The contention that there should be a new survey done because there would be a new structure on the site was raised by a board member, however, the board still decided to accept the gravel pit’s certification.
Which brings me to my third, and last reason — the blissfully offered “guarantees” that the facility will be safe to the environment and surrounding residents. I continue to be very uncomfortable with language like “chances of (accidental spills) happening are practically zero,” that chemical runoff “wouldn’t go into the river,” that the ground “is impervious, and besides, there’ll be concrete,” or that someone somewhere said that “asphalt isn’t a toxic substance.”
I would hate for these to be famous last words.
JENNIFER MARIE BELLAN
P.O. Box 3
Old Hinsdale Road
Ashuelot
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Just another disgruntled person who did not hear the all the real evidence and not the crap the opponents tried to pass off as something the boards could possibly consider credible. I guess we should pull up all the asphalt playgrounds, driveways, and roads and then put it..... where.... hmmmm. If it was so dangerous, why do we have it all around us. If it is over our rivers and streams on bridges shouldn't we be concerned it will run off and kill the fish? Lets get real. Asphalt is not like gasoline. The evidence was clear. This is not an environmental disaster waiting to happen. It is a business that is allowed in the commercial highway district...and the ZBA correctly concluded it was better to move it away from the highway area so people passing by on the Route 10 would not be able to see it. The evidence was also clear from the hydrogeologist that the aquifer under the Mitchell property is of little importance, serves as the source of water storage only for the the Mitchell property, and has nothing to do with neighbors water supplies. The opponents tried to raise the issue that if a leak happened it would pollute neighboring water supplies.... however they had no proof. They offered no expert testimony to rebut the applicants experts. Some sort of logical conclusions can be made from the evidence.
Now we should just get over it and move on. Who knows, we may get some jobs, more tax dollars, and cheaper asphalt. I understand Mr. Mitchell has donated sand dumped up by Bobs Fuels to be used by Winchester residents. Sounds like he is a good guy. Lets give him a chance. Lets thank him for investing in our town and being a good guy. Enough of the bashing. Lets move on.
Winchester Ed
Did Mary Ryan do something last night at the Planning Board? Did she file an appeal in time with the Court or did she follow Mr. Towne and miss the deadline?
Ashuelot Annie
To anonymous and the other fool Ashuelot Annie, you both are so far off the mark that both your comments should never have been posted. Read the minutes and see what bs was posted by the first fool and the second fool who obviously didn't attend the meeting is only posting to fuel more rumors. Wouldn't surprise me if both are one in the same, neither has their facts straight. Go back and post on your own site Donna and ED, you're not welcome here. Wonder if ED will have internet access while he's serving his time?
Dear Winchester Ed -
We encourage you to eat off the pavement from now on!
You are entitled to your inerudite opinion.
To the anonymous poster at the top; your comments are very misleading and several are downright untruths.
First, we all agree that finished pavement doesn't pose much of a threat to anyone's health; however the concerns are not the finished product but the manufacturing of said product, mainly the liquid asphalt which is very toxic and the threat of fires and spills, which happen quite often and which are well documented in news archives all over the country. Other concerns are the fugitive emissions released during normal operations and the increase in exposure and threats to human health. The DES and EPA admit there is no way to test these emissions and therefore no way to accurately determine the amount of particulates released and the exposure level people living within the area are exposed to.
Your statements about the aquifer shows you are really misinformed about what was said and what and who would be affected. The aquifer not only runs underneath this proposed site; but all the way to downtown and under the village of Westport. In fact not only does the town get it's water from the aquifer, many private wells do also. It is not just a small confined area under the gravel pit. Your misleading statements lead me to believe you are either an agent for the plant or someone involved in this process on one of the boards attempting to mislead with misinformation. Reams of expert testimony was submitted in the form of reports done by doctors and health professionals as well as leading scientists and our own state agencies, including DES; all concluding that asphalt is a toxic substance, requires constant monitoring and is made up of numerous cancer causing chemicals and other toxins which cause numerous ailments and serious diseases in adults and children. There haven't been any updated studies by the EPA in years, mainly because of big business lobbyist and the fact that the agency lacks funding. The science is just now catching up with the threats posed as has happened recently with smoking and tobacco and asbestos.
If you feel that this is something you'd want in your neighborhood or backyard and don't feel the threat is real then perhaps you can coax Mr. Mitchell to build this plant in your area, but I bet your neighbors would have something to say about that.
My wife suffers from COPD and is required to depend on two inhalers to get through a normal day. This plant will not only affect her health; but the quality of her life and her ability to enjoy the outdoors. Before you quip we should move, we were here first as were the other residents which will be severely affected by this business.
Sorry I am too stupid to know what "inerudite" means. Have to go back into the trailer and brush off the dictionary that is used to prop my fat rear end up off the couch.
Winchester Ed
Thanks for the facts Mike. I wish someone would listen that could make a difference.
Thanks for the misinformation Mike. I will vote for you on election day..... not.
Post a Comment