Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023 C enter of Attention: Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano, wearing suit and tie with glasses on top of his head, was mobbed by supporters in the second fl oor auditorium at Town Hall on Tuesday night (March 21) after he publicly responded to allegations he made “homophobic comments” on social media. Cogliano drew applause during and after his public response in which he defended his social media posts and would not apologize for making them. Please see inside for other photos and story. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) $3. GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602 By Mark E. Vogler T he Board of Health’s longtime technical consultant determined in Clearing The Air Board of Health’s consultant issues positive fi ndings on air quality related to WIN Waste Innovations Saugus Plant a recently-issued report that WIN Waste Innovation operations in Saugus comply with air quality guidelines and are not having an adverse impact on the environment. “The maximum predicted air toxics concentrations were predicted to be safely in compliance with the air quality guidelines,” Tech Environmental concludes in its annual air monitoring report for the trash-to-energy facility. “The results demonstrate that even under the worstcase meteorological conditions, the emissions from the WS facility will not cause adverse eff ects on air quality,” the report said.. “In the course of the monitoring program for calendar year 2022, all evidence suggests that the facility was in compliance with its permitted conditions,” it continued. Tech Environmental noted that WIN Waste did experience its share of deviations or operational challenges. “However, the WIN Waste Innovations team has consistently reported all deviations to the MassDEP, the Town Board of Health and Tech, fi led the required reporting documentation, taken targeted mitigation measures to address operational defi ciencies and addressed staffi ng roles through incident reviews in order to improve future performance results,” the report noted. “In addition, WS hired a well respected, professional stack testing fi rm to conduct the required emissions testing. WS has been diligent in reporting any concerns to the MassDEP, the Saugus BOH, and Tech, so that concerned parties can obtain information in a timely manner.” WIN Waste Innovations’ Vice President of Environmental Compliance Jim Connolly welcomed the report paid for by the town “a pretty strong validation of what we do.” “The report confirms that our substantial eff orts to operate in compliance with regulations and permits and to be protective of public health and the environment are successful,” Connolly told The Saugus Advocate this week. “I think that this report should bring comfort to the Board of Health and to our neighbors,” Connolly said. Environmental critics and opponents of the trash-to-energy plant on Route 107 in Saugus have expressed concerns over many years that the plant’s operations have contributed to air pollution while jeopardizing public health. “But this report seems to debunk all of that,” Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano said after reviewing a summary of the report. “I think it confi rms what I’ve said all along, that they (WIN Waste) have a path to proceed. And my plan puts Saugus in the driver’s seat,” he said. Cogliano said he hoped the report would prompt a return to discussions with WIn Waste on the Host Community Agreement (HCA). “I hope we can get the Host Community Agreement back on the agenda again at next month’s meeting,” Cogliano said. “WIN wants to modify the proposal, we’ll take another look and hopefully get this moving in the right direction so we can get an agreement for the town,” he said. Cogliano said he thought the Tech Environmental report would bolster eff orts for expansion of the ash landfi ll — a move he supports in return for an HCA. The 53-page Tech Environmental report is the latest in a Board of Health program that includes annual air quality monitoring reviews by the company. CLEARING | SEE PAGE5
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