Attleboro Councilor on Landfill: 'We Are Not Alone' [VIDEO]

Ward 4 Attleboro residents were invited to an informational meeting Wednesday night concerning the capping plan for Attleboro Landfill, but mayor Kevin Dumas, landfill owner Al Dumont and EndCap associates were not on the guest list.

“We were trying not to have a disruptive meeting,” city councilor Richard Conti said. “We did not invite the mayor. We did not invite Al Dumont. We did not invite EndCap. EndCap asked to come. We asked them not to come, because we wanted this to be a neighborhood meeting.”

Using a slideshow presentation, Conti and city councilor Jonathan Weydt informed residents on the current condition of the 55-acre landfill and what the capping project could entail. Landfill activity ceased in 1994 with a portion of the land being capped. Two years later, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection ordered the Phase B section of the landfill to be capped. It was determined that Dumont did not have the financial means to do so himself, and chose EndCap, a soil management company, to draw up a proposal.

The required closure and post closure work that EndCap is expected to do will cost approximately $3.5 million. Though it would take about 30,000 cubic yards “of slightly contaminated materials” to properly cap the eight to 10-acre parcel, EndCap determines that 650,000 cubic yards, or 780,000 tons, would be needed to make a viable profit. Conti noted that because the contract between Attleboro Landfill and EndCap is private, residents may never know how much of a profit EndCap will make.

Attleboro resident and former city councilor Roxanne Houghton expressed concerns over the reliability of the cap. “A portion of the dump is capped now, and it’s leaking,” she said, noting that it is a health concern.

“These caps, they are not very durable,” agreed Weydt.

The layer of materials is made up of debris from demolition sites and could include brick, wood, sand, steel and numerous other items. The material would be approved under conditions stated by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. However, “acceptable” and non-hazardous amounts of arsenic, chromium and other substances may be found in the material as well.

This material would be delivered by at least 35 trucks per day from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday for about three years. They will travel from the Bay Street exit off of Route 495 in Taunton, going through Myles Standish Boulevard, Eddy Street, John Scott Boulevard, S. Worcester Street and Union Road. Trucks leaving the facility will follow Peckham Street, Pike Avenue, Starkey Street, Holden Street and N. Main Street to Route 95.

Weydt said the main area for concern is Pike Avenue. A No-Through Trucking Ordinance was passed for for this street in 1992 to increase the life expectancy of Bearcroft Bridge. The street also contains a 70 degree corner known to be the site of many accidents.

“We are not in this alone,” Weydt said. “Norton and Taunton are concerned about this as well. Norton residents have a strong resolve on the issue of contaminated materials and trucks coming through their town. What concerns me is the strong opposition from Norton. I feel like that could possibly result in EndCap maybe wanting to have trucks come both ways in and out of Attleboro.”

The 2009 agreement signed by Dumas and EndCap president Kurt Schulte says that EndCap would pay Attleboro a 25 cent per ton tipping fee of delivered material. EndCap has also offered Norton 25 cents per ton. Taunton has not been offered a tipping fee, but requests $1 per ton.

“$192,000 is not going to cut the mustard at all,” Weydt said.

EndCap deemed the so-called rail option as “not feasible.” The company said using the rail would require more debris to defray the added costs.

Weydt and Conti admitted that using the rail would be a difficult route since different companies own pieces of it. The company would have to pay certain fees and find a way around commuting and existing freight schedules. He also noted that the rail doesn’t reach the landfill property.

“The mayor promised me that he would use his position as leverage towards rail option. It’s not a good option,” Conti said. “We are going to wind up with trucks one day with whatever happens with this landfill. I think that’s inevitable.”

Dumas attended a portion of the meeting, leaving prior to the question and answer session. Attleboro health agent Jim Mooney was also in attendance. He approached the microphone, but left after Conti asked him to wait for Ward 4 residents and non-administrators to finish speaking.

The commenting deadline for residents to submit letters is Sept. 28. They may be emailed to EndCap representative Kurt Schulte at kschulte@endcaptech.com or Mark Dakers of the Massachusetts DEP at Mark.Dakers@state.ma.us. A status report is due in December at the magistrate of Mass DEP from Attleboro Landfill regarding the future plans to cap and close Phase B.

“There will be another proposal,” Conti said.