Protesters Chant "Down with DEM"; Police Called After Confrontation
Island Park residents gathered Saturday afternoon to protest outside the former town landfill.
More than 50 Portsmouth residents, including many from Island Park, rallied Saturday afternoon outside the former town landfill owned by the private company, AP Enterprises.
Some wore hazmat suits and breathed through respirators. Others held up signs and shouted "down with arsenic, down with DEM."
The organizing group for the protest is a newly-created private citizen group called the Island Park Landfill Committee.
Residents are protesting AP Enterprises' request to recap this former landfill with higher levels of normally-occurring arsenic.
Last year, the company received final approvals by the state to recap this land at the corner of Park and Mason Avenues in Island Park. The land is privately owned by AP Enterprises, but was leased to the town in the 1970s.
However, in December, AP Enterprises submitted a request to modify an aspect of a prior DEM approval in order to accept sub-grade capping materials with elevated levels of naturally-occurring arsenic.
The main concern by the Island Park Landfill Committee is an allegation that soils are being dumped at the Island Park location from an out-of-state construction site that may or may not contain high levels of heavy metals and toxins, according to the group.
Gary Hahn of 65 Walnut St., a member of IPLC, testified before the town council that on Feb. 10, he followed a dump truck from the Island Park site to Fairhaven, MA.
At the Fairhaven location, stated Hahn, the dump truck was reloaded with soil from what appeared to be the site of a former gas station. Hahn said he followed the truck back to Island Park, where the dirt was dumped at the former landfill site.
Hahn further said he took five samples of the soil that had been dumped. That sample had been sent out for testing the next day with the results to come back the following week.
Hahn was asked Saturday during the protest about the results of the sample. He deferred the question to Larry Fitzmorris, spokesman for IPLC.
Fitzmorris stated in a telephone interview after the protest that New England Testing Lab of North Providence had tested the Fairhaven soil sample for a cost of $220.
“Arsenic was not detected, he said. "Lead was found to be 3.24 milligrams per kilogram and Benize was 48UG/KG. I’m not a chemist so I can’t give you a definitive answer. We are still trying to sort this all out. The core issue is the arsenic levels at the site are 4ppm. I believe state law requires a limit of 7ppm. DEM wants a waiver to bring in 20 to 40ppm."
The IPLC has hired the law firm McGregor & Associates of Boston to assit them with the issue.
Many members of the IPLC held up signs Saturday and chanted, “Down with the DEM.”
One of those holding up a sign was Joe Barretto, a life-long resident of Island Park. He was concerned about precautions at the site.
“When this soil was in Fairhaven, it had to be covered but now it is not. Why is the DEM not making them cover it. It’s in the air all over on a windy day like this,” he said.
Nick Babbitt was surprised by all of it.
“I’m astounded that anything like this could happen here. Rhode Island has a good history of protecting the environment. I can’t believe people are trying to get away with this,” he said.
“DEM’s job is to protect us. Why aren’t they,” asked Siobhan McDonnell.
Rachel Roberts was more blunt.
“DEM is full of crap. On windy days like this, it’s getting into our lungs,” she said.
Police Called to Rally
But not everyone was there to protest AP Enterprises' request. John McDaid, operator of the blog Hard Deadlines, distributed literature about the site.
McDaid explained his reasoning for his literature on his blog, which can be found by clicking here.
“I’m just here to get the facts out so we can have a conversation based on the facts,” he said.
At one point an emotional protester came nose-to-nose with McDaid during a press interview, at which point McDaid asked for a policeman to be called. The protester withdrew and no arrests were made.
The conversation about this issue will continue at a special Town Council meeting on Monday, March 7, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
Joe Sousa.
5:52 am on Sunday, March 6, 2011
To the families in Island Park . Don't let them dump this toxic fill in your back yards. The DEM is wrong, again. John Mcdaid is looking for a head line and publicity for his blog. The soil is not suited for placement along side homes and recreation areas. The people I know support your efforts.
DSilva
11:14 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Joe,
I don't agree with all of John's positions, but you are way off base with that comment. Making things personal is never the way to go.
Doug Smith
10:01 am on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Wait - isn't this a former landfill? I would think that residents would be more concerned about living next to an uncovered landfill than one capped with soil that contained slightly elevated (but still within permissable standards) of arsenic. Critics of John McDaid's blog might want to read it before questioning his motives. And speaking of motives, why does the ILPC need a "spokesman" from a distant neighborhood? I think Mr. Hahn has shown that he is quite capable of speaking for himself and applaud his investigative efforts.
Robert Alexander
11:27 am on Sunday, March 6, 2011
It is a DUMP and a very toxic dump. Ilesha Cherry went clamming just three weeks ago??? - BTW these clam beds are closed! We hike there with our kids... Folks you are hiking on a very toxic piece of land, irrespective of the bunnies and open space. Lead, cadmium, arsenic... its all there and at highly toxic levels. Seriously, when the DEM Counsel months ago said to keep off the land, she meant it. AP is not building a dump, they are capping an existing dump, and they are doing so with DEM approval. When finished Island Park will have a safer environment. The facts speak for themselves and all the yelling doesn't change the facts.
Joe Sousa.
4:10 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
I think it's safe to say Doug Smith and Robert Alexander don't live on the abutting properties. People from RI. understand the meaning of Brown bag $$ approval . Something stinks worse than the soil.
a silow
5:38 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
bottom line is AP Enterprises shouldn't of purchased the land in the first place if they are not willing to shell out the cash for clean soil to cap it. The residents of Island Park and the surrounding area have the basic human right to uncontaminated soil being dumped in our backyard. ITS OUR RIGHT to live without additional toxins poisoning the ground water and wetlands. The contaminated soil does not meet national EPA standards for the town of New Haven but its ok to dump it 20 feet from Portsmouth's 1 of 2 childrens playgrounds!? Get upset, speak up people, this is not acceptable! Also, I would like to suggest that the IPLC set up a PayPal account to make it easier to donate funds for the lawyer expenses.
DSilva
11:12 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Joe said "I think it's safe to say Doug Smith and Robert Alexander don't live on the abutting properties. "
Come on Joe. I respect your right to comment and all, but you live in Tiverton. Isn't that a little bit like the pot calling the kettle black?
Bob Cosgrove
12:40 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Capping toxic meterial with more toxic meterial does not sound like a good idea to me. If this soil is so safe why did Mass DEM order it removed? the un capped dump is not blowing around the neighborhood like the piles of soil. The DEM should order the site cleaned up not covered. The dem is concerned about septic system runoff but not this posion leaching into the ground water. Keep protesting!
Robert Alexander
12:52 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Do you realize that after AP files for bankruptcy, the previous owners would be liable. I'm sure the Town isn't far down that list! Lets get this capped, under DEM approval! Delays will be disastrous to this town... among all the other poorly handled "hot potatoes" ! Given what is under the ground, the cap material is like pure rocky mountain water.
Joe Sousa.
4:16 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
The Town never owned the land it was leased. It belonged to two owners. . The owners sold the sand that was dug out while digging the trash pits. I'm sure some of the older residents know the names.
stoney larue
6:06 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Joe what did you mean by brown bag approval in your prevous post? That is an interesting idea, please tell us more.
stoney larue
8:34 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Mighty strong allegations wouldn't you say Joe Sousa . Or are you going with one of the old names like Jethro or the really sick one Crazy Richard or the more sublime and recent JimL. Joe given the recent close voted at the ftm and the great power of the unions and red shirts do you really think that there is only one person who opposes you and writes about it. You said you knew who I was well go ahead and print it with some proof. Until then continue to live in your fantasy world with the delusion that anyone really finds your comments of any value and that everytime someone posts in opposition to you, that they must be one person only and that one person is the NEA mastermind attacking you . Who are we John Liedecker or that providence firefighter you were so sure was out to get you.
stoney larue
8:15 pm on Monday, March 7, 2011
You said that before Joe, you also said i was Tiverton Red just the other day and I think you implied I was Bob Devolve and Brad Dalp. Is there anyone else that you want me to be. I think you spend way to much time thinking about me and these other men.
stoney larue
6:31 am on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Really Joe, as an elected official of the town don't you think it maybe time to grow up just a little bit. I mean I could insert any variety of mother jokes to fit your last post but I will try and rise above your low level.
Sandy McGee
8:50 am on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Stoney larue, Jim L and Joe Sousa, please review our Terms of Use. Please be considerate of others when posting. Please keep in mind Patch's 3 main policies: keep it clean, don’t try to trick people and treat others as you’d like to be treated.
albert
1:43 pm on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
thank-you. There are times when I don't want to read the Patch due to the playground behavior that is exhibited in the posts. Keep it positive!
Portsmouth Neighbor
9:42 pm on Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I wholeheartedly agree with albert - I stopped reading for about a week because of the nastiness of some participants - thank you Sandy.
stoney larue
9:10 am on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thank you Sandy. I will try
StoneyL
Bill Carson
2:59 pm on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Did Envirologic company dump in Portsmouth?
I'd like to see DEM look into that deal in Tiverton on Bay Street where the company that went bankrupt during the clean up put all those toxic materials from Tiverton . The company was called Envirologic from New Hampshire . I read recently about dirt or fill being found in Portsmouth that came from Fairhaven ,Massachusetts . If you Google this company it looks like they did clean up work for the Bouchard Oil Spill from 2003 in Buzzards Bay and Fairhaven .You wonder if the oiled rocks and sand ended up in Portsmouth ?
Where did thehauling contractors dump all the materials from the Envirologic jobs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ?
The answer will be " I'll get back to you on that one " or "no one could be reached for comment"
Where does all that contaiminated soil go after these oil spills and hazardous waste removals ?
Dan Force
9:55 am on Thursday, March 10, 2011
After reading the article in the ProJo this morning (10 March) about the situation, I have to say that I understand the situation more completely now. It would appear that AP Enterprises followed applicable regulations set by the state/DEM. In fact, it appears that AP intended to go above and beyond the state/DEM regulations to use soil with less arsenic than the maximum allowed by the DEM. I’m not necessarily saying that the soil being used should be permitted. But complaints should probably be directed at the DEM…and maybe the town. The final product of what the article says AP wants to build on that lot sounds very positive and maybe they should be allowed to continue/finish it.
Lori Stevens
10:18 am on Thursday, March 10, 2011
Do not be fooled by the article in the Projo this morning. There are many inaccuracies printed in this article both from Mr. Palmer and DEM.
Dan Force
11:02 am on Thursday, March 10, 2011
Lori,
Can you specifically define those inaccuracies?
Dan
Lori Stevens
11:09 am on Thursday, March 10, 2011
Not at this time. The truth will eventually be revealed.
Jim L
11:18 am on Thursday, March 10, 2011
maybe not inaccuracies so much as slightly misleading statementlike, The soil will come from Aquidneck island and from several sites. Now for example Mr Palmer says he has some soil from Portsmouth and he proceeded to dig up the dirt from Ray's shell and dump it in island park, there might be an outcry.NOWHERE in this article does it sate that the dirt came from a GAS STATION in FAIRHAVEN, MA.perhaps just a tiny omission of not realy inportant FACTS
Dan Force
2:02 pm on Thursday, March 10, 2011
It doesn't mention the gas station per se, but it specifically says that the soil came from Fairhaven...and that it was tested by DEM and found to be within set limits. So that's the point trying to make. Who is at fault? AP followed the state guidelines. If there are complaints they should be directed at the state (or the town). Further, the article says that AP intends to cap the fill dirt from Fairhaven with two feet of acceptable soil from right here in Aquidneck Island when the DEM only calls for a six inch cap.
Joe Sousa.
4:08 pm on Thursday, March 10, 2011
I have to wonder how any structure could be built on trash filled holes. It wound sink from the weight. Maybe the technology has changed . How would it not sink ?
Va. has Mount Trashmore.World-renowned Mount Trashmore Park is 165 acres, 60 feet high, over 800 feet long, and was created by compacting layers of solid waste and clean soil. ...
Island park will have "Toxic Hill " Keep off the grass!