Leslee Bassman

News reporter at The Berkshire Edge; Former reporter Austin American-Statesman/Lake Travis View/Westlake Picayune, Austonia, Four Points News; Community Impact

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Wow--kind of an eye opener for a small town #stockbridgema @BerkEdge #theberkshires https://t.co/0xIoqAdP1T

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

The latest on the #HousatonicRiver cleanup plan: the toxic waste transportation route, why trucks, what options are still available #cleanthehousatonic #restofriver #leema https://t.co/3x6kPOv7a4

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Two more towns consider putting a real estate transfer tax proposal to citizen vote this month #berkshirecounty #theberkshires #westernma https://t.co/NZYw6EkpJ8

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Two more towns consider putting a real estate transfer tax proposal to citizen vote #stockbridgema #weststockbridgema #stockbridge #weststockbridge #theberkshireedge #greatbarrington #leema @WestStockbridge https://t.co/NZYw6EkpJ8

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Big decision handed down in #housatonicrivercleanup https://t.co/lOvypMGWMd
#leema @EPA @riverkeeper #sheffieldma #superfundsite

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

A proposed route for trucks carrying PCB-laden sediment is via Main Street of a quintessential New England town; other communities may find those same trucks on their roads as well. #leema #lenoxma @BerkEdge https://t.co/8J1kxliK7m

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Meeting is winding down. Chair: The most important part of meeting is town has prelim idea of truck route. This is just a preliminary convo and nothing set in stone, including the disposal facility. Will reconvene after materials distributed. @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Per Chair Jones's question, GE or its contractor will be responsible for addressing a catastrophic event on the transport route, GE says. @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

GE: Location for offsite deposit of materials hasn't been determined yet. @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Peg Biron, who lives on Rte 20: "When you dredge a river and you don't treat it and becomes in the air, I pray that there isn't any sort of accident..but accidents do happen." She questioned how residents can be protected should particles be in the air. @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Resident: If it's only going to be cleaned up 30%, "why stir the pot" @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Anne Langlois: State roads are thicker and stronger than local roads plus fewer stop lights for things to get jostled in the trucks. @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Resident: Will you/GE have monitors to ensure there isn't cross-contamination of toxic debris "so we can feel safe as a community." GE: EPA will have oversight at UDF and where work occurs so GE contractors and EPA oversight. @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

GE: May not contract directly with local trucking company and must meet safety qualifications. The contractor has to find a cost effective way including what's locally available as well and then pick best option. @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

GE: The trucking company doing the transport hasn't been hired yet. Residents say they want to see their track record. GE says that is a few years away and the design will then be put out for public comment, with the contractor for trucking put out for bid after. @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

GE: Hydraulic pipe to be started just below East Lenox Road and piped three miles with a series of pumps. A booster pump will keep the materials moving down the pipe. @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

GE: Treated water will be tested before being discharged back into river. #leema @berkedge

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

GE: Pipeline is sealed and material in a water slurry to be able to be pumped at a 10-15% solids rate so rest water used to be all pumped to UDF where water will be removed and treated, to be discharged back to river with dried material put in disposal facility. @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Resident to GE/EPA: "Nobody wants this dump. Not one single person in town. We don't want it." @berkedge #leema

[Leslee Bassman @lbassman]

Tim Gray: "EPA needs to get their act together." He said the group isn't releasing complete plans and reports such as the UDF plan and "can see it happening here with the truck traffic." He said the communication to residents re trucks and UDF are incomplete. @berkedge #leema