Posted by Ed on January 8, 2008, 1:28 am
24.34.144.49
Hey Group and all concerned citizens of the Merrimack Valley,
At the Selectmen's meeting last night, Billerica Selectman Lombardo
proved to many in attendance at that meeting or to those who may have
viewed at it home, that Billerica still does have a selectman who
cares about our community and our valley's future. During the
discussion of twelve points of concern which were given to the
selectmen around a month ago to consider for public discussion
relating to the power plant project, many of our selectmen proved to
us along with citizens of Tewksbury, and Chelmsford just how much
personal time they really spend preparing for the agenda. We can
basically give them a little slack because of the holidays, but they
have had this material for a month to review.
1) Water Available – See Page 189 - 190 of transcript, see
attached letter; They want to return 18,000 – 30,000 return to the
treatment plant; We have major capacity issues already?
Abdul happen to be there and answered where we were on the process.
Mr. Lombardo explain about how we have water bans, and could we
really afford to let the power company displace this volume of water
into the Air.
2) Town officials "Encouraging" use of site (see page 198- 199
of transcript); On what basis is this project being encouraged?
Master Plan guidelines?
Mr. Longo told us he met with him and did not consider that he was
encouraging at all, and
Mr. Scanlon had also met with him also.
*****
So either Mr. Fitzpatrick "is a legend in his own mind" or hears
things the way he feels like he wants to hear them or someone is
basically lying!!! Keep in mind, Rep Greene did give our group a
letter on state letterhead, stating, he in no way was encouraging but was
cordial enough to listen to Mr. Fitzpatrick, which we presented as
evidience at the State Hearings!
3) "Permit Tweaking" by AJ Jablonowski, Chief Engineer of the
power plant project.(available in our file section) Provided info to
Dr. Spangler for his reports. Why not an independent data gathering?
************
Most agreed wholeheartedly or figured they better go along, and we
can expect a visit from Dr. Spangler in hope of getting Independent
data for additional future reports or were we getting more lip
service?
*******
4) "We had several meetings with selectmen during that period."
Did any member of this board have meetings with the Power Plant
representatives? Was there more than the one presentation in
September of 2006? (See page 624)
********
Selectman O'Donnell and Selectwoman Matos stated they had met with
Mr. Fitzpatrick from being members of the commerce committee and also
claimed that they were not encouraging but listened. When asked for
minutes Matos claimed they were not required to have any.
5) The plant cold run 24 hours a day (See page 631-632)
*******
Mr. Rosa began to bring up the Letter submitted to Northern Council
of Government where these questions have been asked and they were
waiting for a response (I hope they don't hold their breath). Mr.
Lombardo explained how, the Town nor the Proponents had control of
running time ISO New England would tell the plant to run. PEOPLE WE
WILL NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE PLANT!! If you read the proponents
Initial brief, that is what they considered Positive Community Issues
and chose the Billerica site, THEY WERE NOT CONFRONTED WITH ANY
QUESTIONS OF CONTROL OF THE OPERATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6) We don't have standing at the Sitting Board meetings because
the administration didn't put in for it. Why?
******
The Board became defensive and Matos especially reminded him he was a
member of the Board at that time also. He agreed, and Mr. Correntti
stated he was not part of the Board, at that time.
MEMBERS OF OUR GROUP WENT TO OPEN MIKE IN APRIL OF 2007
CONGRADULATED MR. CORRENTTI and MR. ROSA ON THEIR ELECTION VICTORIES
and expressed our concerns along with handing out packets of
information to them all!!!! We even volunteered our personal time
that weekend to provide insight to the information in the packets!
7) The plant will not put personnel in the plant; major security
and safety risk.
*******
Here is where the NMCOG Letter and FEIR excuse came-up again, but IT
WAS NOW EVIDENT THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE BOARD TO DO ANY READING ON THE
SUBJECT WAS SELECTMAN LOMBARDO!!!!
Answers to the NMCOG letter and waiting for the Final Environmental
Impact Report may be too late!
*************
8) There has been no testing of the current air quality of
Billerica; engineers used Lawrence, Haverhill and Lowell; wind
direction testing was done at Lawrence Airport- Why not Bedford
Airport for accurate figures?
******
Again, the NMCOG letter and more defensive comments from the Board, and
was part of the discussion on the rest of the questions.
9) The plant call for 50,000 gallons of ammonia and 500,000
gallons of diesel fuel to be stored less than 750 feet from the
Concord River.
10) No specific study has been done regarding size or visibility
of vapor plumes for this project according to the transcripts; (see
page 643-644)
11) Proponents' own research states that they will emit 428,777
tons of CO2, 41 tons of particulates (the most harmful type of
emission for those suffering from asthma, cardiovascular and
respiratory disease, and lung disease) and 44 tons of NOx per year. –
Are we happy about this? The Hajjar (600 kids) less than 1 mile
12) Payment to the town?
• The Lowell Sun, 11/13/07, Joe Fitzpatrick – "Montgomery
Energy Billerica Power Partners has made a proposal to the town of
Billerica that will provide for the payment of $30 million over 20
years, making the Billerica Energy Center the largest taxpayer in
town for the indefinite future -- all without burdening town services
or resources."
• Status on proposal if plant is accepted; is it going to be
negotiated? Town services will be burdened: Water, Fire and Police
*****************
It became clear when the Rest of the Selectmen attempted to defend
themselves by claiming they were waiting to hear more information
about the project, from the NMCOG letter and the FEIR, Not One Of
Them with the exception of Selectmen Lombardo, had taken the time to
read any of the State Hearing Transcripts and the subjective, vague,
or non answers which were given by the proponents to the questions,
which were the same questions and more that were contained in the
NMCOG Letter.
After a sincere, statement by Lombardo about how he was raised here,
intends to live here, and hopefully raise a family here, a round of
applause came from the audience, which actually did not please the
rest of the Board. After question 11. Was referenced, He also stated
for the record he could not see how any amount of money could be
worth this great number of risks a project like this would come with.
(more applause) Why, would support for a Fellow Selectman displease
other members who are there to represent us the taxpaying citizens?
When Mr. Ed Bunker (who was selected as an alternative co-counsel to
represent the concerned members of our Valley at the state hearings,)
requested to make a final clarification he was refused by Chairman
Rosa. Mr. Bunker then stated in a firm manner that we do not have
time to wait for these answers and what are we waiting for, for it to
be too late to stop this!!!
It is time to make sure you register to vote to be sure that First,
Mr. Lombardo is re elected and Second, whoever runs to replace Ms.
Matos, has the time to research the most serious proposals which come
into our Town that will affect the Merrimack Valley.
BTW: This plant can start construction before the Final Environmental
Impact Report is submitted; too bad none of the other selectman have
taken the time to inquire about the laws to find this out!!!!
Transcripts are posted in the File Section of the http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BillericaWatchers/ Site for
referencing these questions.
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