Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, February 14, 2020 MASSDEP’S | from page 1 raged, that MassDEP is once again failing to protect the people of my district as they always do when it comes to this dinosaur of an incinerator,” Vincent told The Advocate. “The DEP asserts that they are requiring Wheelabrator Saugus to meet the 150 particles-per-million emission limit for Nitrogen Oxides (NOx). However, they are allowing this to be done by letting the company purchase ‘Emission Reduction Credits’ from other municipal waste combustors in the Commonwealth that meet and exceed today’s standards,” said Vincent, whose 16th Suffolk District includes two Saugus precincts – including Precinct 10 – where the incinerator on Route 107 is located. “So, essentially, Wheelabrator Saugus can discharge higher than acceptable emissions into the air that we breathe, as long as they are paying for these so-called credits. This is reprehensible and beyond unacceptable,” she said. “Sadly, I am not surprised that the MassDEP did not have the fortitude to stand up and force Wheelabrator to comply in a reasonable manner. This agency has a consistent track record of failing in its core mission to protect the people who live in Wheelabrator Saugus’ shadow.” ASKS | from page 13 people enjoy … whatever it is … that’s more rewarding than all of the money in the world. Arlene: Food is very important to him. Q: So, how are you going to celebrate Valentine’s Day this Friday [Feb. 14]? Eugene: I will probably end up cooking! Just kidding. We’ll probably go to Hammersmith [Family Restaurant]. They have great seafood. We’ll eat out. We’re just starting to enjoy it because all of our lives, we haven’t spent it because we couldn’t afford it. And now we’re at a point where at our age we don’t have to worry anymore. Arlene: We can go out and have a cup of coffee and whatever. It’s a good feeling. We haven’t had that feeling. Eugene: And the kids have been extremely helpful. Q: What’s the most remarkable thing in your 67-year union? Arlene: All I can think of is family. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren we have a wonderful time with. And we love getting together with them and watching them Wheelabrator “reviewing details” of MassDEP decision Wheelabrator officials had little to say about the plan approved by MassDEP. “We received MassDEP’s approval of our Emissions Control Plan Tuesday and we are in the process of reviewing its details,” Wheelabrator Director of Communications & Community Engagement Michelle Nadeau said in a brief statement to the newspaper. Vincent was one of 40 people – mostly from Saugus and Revere – who testified during a three-hour hearing in the Saugus High School auditorium last October on MassDEP’s draft approval of Wheelabrator’s ECP. All those speakers opposed the plan. Many of them expressed concerns about the ERCs. Selectman Debra Panetta spoke out this week about what she sees as a lack of fairness to residents throughout the area. “The DEP is requiring Wheelabrator to adhere to the 150 PPM, but they will allow Wheelabrator to buy credits from more efficient incinerators to make up the difference in their Saugus plant’s inefficiencies,” Panetta said. “This means, the people of Saugus, Revere and Lynn will have to live with the higher nitrogen oxide levels, which will negatively impact our health and the health of our families. This isn’t fair or just. The health and well-being of our residents should be of the utmost priority for the DEP,” she said. “If all the other incinerators in Massachusetts can meet this requirement, so should Wheelabrator Saugus. Just because this is the oldest incinerator in the nation doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be held to the same standards as all other incinerators.” Selectman Corinne Riley said she “couldn’t be more disappointed in the MassDEP decision” which allows Wheelabrator to exceed the 150 ppm nitrous oxide emission standard. “I, along with dozens of other residents from Saugus and Revere, spoke against allowing this at the October DEP hearing at the high school. The concerns of every speaker except Wheelabrator’s representative have been ignored by the MassDEP,” Riley said. “This is just not a Precinct 10 issue; all residents of Saugus and surrounding communities will be adversely affected by this decision. I will do everything I can to fight this decision.” Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini said he is “saddened” about MassDEP’s decision that allowed Wheelabrator to purchase credits, but not require the capital investments be made in the plant to lower the NOx level. “The MDEP exists to protect the health and ensure the safety and well-being of our residents and those of surrounding communities,” Cicolini said. “I find it hard to believe it can be said that MDEP is living up to its intended mission based on the concessions they continue to make by offering extension after extension of the final capping of the landfill – and now this. Truly unfortunate and very discouraging to say the least,” he said. MassDEP’s 30-page ruling was accompanied by 42 pages of responses to public feedback at the October hearing and the agency’s responses. “MassDEP notes and appreciates that the Town of Saugus Board of Health submitted a comment letter by its independent peer reviewer, GeoInsight, who concurred with MassDEP that the ‘… 185 ppm limit is not adequate but the 150 ppm limit is adequate… MassDEP acknowledges that several commenters supported the Draft ECP limit of 150 ppm NOx for the Saugus Facility,’” the report says. Concerns about ERCs MassDEP cited “Numerous commenters opposed the use of Emission Reduction Credits (ERCs) as a compliance mechanism for the facility to meet the 150 ppm limit.” These are some of the comments that expressed opposition to the ERCs: • “What good is it here if WSI gets ERCs from another facility miles away…” • “… should not be allowed to buy ERCs or pay-to-pollute; ERCs are like monopoly money” • “Assigning arbitrary monetary value to credits is a ridiculous concept” • “…should meet the standards that all other incinerators must meet in this day and age” • “…should not get a pass to meet today’s standards…” • “Why isn’t Wheelabrator required to retrofit?” • WSI will “continue blanketing the community in dangerous levels of NOx …” • “MassDEP should enforce the standard” • “Allowing ERCs prevents Wheelabrator from making upgrades” • “ERCs are a way to circumvent the spirit of the law that is designed specifically to protect us” • “Would like to see actual emission reductions at the stack rather than buying credits” In its response, MassDEP said it “appreciates WSI acknowledging that it plans to submit a demonstration of how ERCs will be used to achieve compliance with the 150 ppm NOx limit within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the ECP Modified Approval.” MY THREE SONS: Eugene Decareau, front and center, with his three boys, left to right – John, James and Stephen – in an old family photo. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) grow. There are so many things. We’ve had a lot of good friends, which I think is a blessing. Q: Eugene? Eugene: One of the most rewarding things for me was when her mother [Arlene’s] was dying at home. The three boys took turns and stayed with her so she could stay in that house. And they stayed 24 hours and they kept alternating, so she never had to leave the house, Arlene: She died at home. Eugene: Three boys. It’s amazing that they did that. They took care of her. They handled it all by themselves. Arlene: The daughter-in-law was there, too: Sue, Stephen’s wife. She helped out, and it was a couple of months that this went on. Q: How long ago was that? Arlene: My mother died in 2002. She had lung cancer. It was tough. ASKS | SEE PAGE 15
15 Publizr Home