FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 26, 2020
CONTACTS:
Ed Coletta (MassDEP) 617-292-5737
Andrew Major (USFWS) 603-227-6413
Jennifer Goebel (NOAA) 978-281-9175
Environmental Agencies Propose to Fund Wetland Restoration and Fish Passage Projects in Woburn and Winchester
Public Invited to Comment on the Draft Restoration Plan and Attend Information Meeting in Woburn on March 4
WOBURN – The Natural Resource Trustee Council for the Industri-Plex Superfund site has proposed to fund several projects including wetland and stream restoration at Shaker Glen Extension (Woburn), Scalley Dam fishway design and construction (Woburn), and riparian habitat restoration at Davidson Park (Winchester) that would restore wildlife habitat using $3.9 million in natural resource damage settlement funds. The projects are described in a draft restoration plan released today for public comment through March 27, 2020. The trustee council will present the draft plan on Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. at Woburn City Hall, 10 Common Street. In the case of inclement weather, the meeting would be postponed to March 5 at the same time and location.
The Natural Resource Trustee Council for the Industri-Plex Superfund site is comprised of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, representing the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, representing the U.S. Department of the Interior; and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, representing the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program, trustee councils identify the natural resources injured, determine the extent of the injuries, recover damages from those responsible, and plan and carry out natural resource restoration activities. The primary benefit of the program is that injured natural resources can be restored at no cost to the taxpayer. Instead, the parties responsible for the injuries pay for the restoration.
The restoration projects must restore, replace, or acquire natural resources and natural resource services harmed by the release of hazardous substances from the Industri-Plex Superfund site in Woburn. Chemical manufacturing and glue-making operations dating back to the 19th century contaminated the site with arsenic, lead, and chromium. Fish, wildlife, and their habitats were harmed by contaminants released into the Aberjona River and other local ponds, streams and wetlands, as well as soils.
The draft restoration plan is available online at:
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/more-nrd-settlements-massdep
The public is encouraged to submit comments on the draft plan no later than March 27, 2020. For more information on the Industri-plex Superfund site, visit:
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0100580&msspp=med
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