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Task force hears EPA meeting planned and cleanup timeline updates for MCI site
Summary
Members of the Town of Concord 2229 Advisory Task Force discussed an EPA response requesting an agenda and questions for an initial meeting on the MCI site, upcoming public forums, and cleanup activity timing including injection work, wall installation next spring and soils-plan review.
Town of Concord’s 2229 Advisory Task Force on April 24 discussed recent outreach from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and cleanup timing at the MCI site, and recommended holding off on proactive risk-communication until later cleanup phases proceed.
"EPA had responded and basically asked the town for, sort of a set of questions and an agenda for the first meeting and to set a date for the first meeting," said Paul Baum, chair of the task force. Baum said the EPA is "anticipating the first meeting to be sometime next month" and that the agency suggested "the first thing he wants to do is discuss the leads." Baum said staff had been busy and had not yet provided a formal agenda.
Baum also said the MCI advisory group circulated a request for input from town task forces and committees ahead of informational forums on April 30; he asked members to submit personal responses to that request.
On cleanup progress, task force members were briefed that injection work is planned to begin, major digging and construction of a containment wall is expected next spring (not this summer), and the final soils plan is under review. "They're gonna be doing the clean the actual digging and and putting the the wall in next summer, not this summer. And, they're or next spring," a member said during the meeting. The transcript also records that staff members Addie Fisk and Sarah Meeks remain in their positions and that no change in turnover to an owner has been reported.
Members discussed risk communication and outreach strategy. Several members said it would be premature to pursue aggressive public risk communications while final cleanup phases are still underway; one member recommended waiting until the final cleanup phase or more concluded work is available to show the public. Baum and others noted upcoming cleanup activities — including work at the holding basin and a bridge project that could serve as a public awareness opportunity — provide occasions for renewed community education about remediation efforts.
Task force members also flagged internal town staff perceptions: some DPW workers reportedly expressed concern about working at the site, which members said is a perception issue to be addressed through education. Funding was discussed in general terms: members said project funds on hand would cover work through holding-basin capping and that another pot of money was expected, but no specific funding amounts or sources were provided in the meeting.
No formal directives or votes on cleanup strategy were taken at the meeting; members agreed to continue monitoring EPA scheduling and the advisory-group request for input.
