11/01/11 EPA/DEEP GHS PCB Testing and Remediation

To: District 7 RTM Members

From: Bill Effros

Subject: EPA/DEEP GHS PCB Testing and Remediation

Date: Nov. 1, 2011

I attended a major environmental conference over the weekend at which I had the opportunity to discuss the GHS MISA PCB situation with national, regional and state EPA and DEEP administrators.

Typical was this response from an adviser to Ms. Lisa P. Jackson, (EPA Administrator, Obama Administration Cabinet Member, Chemical Engineer) who literally laughed when I told him the town has allocated $1.5 million for PCB remediation,

"$1.5 million won't even cover the cost of testing. You will probably have to remove all the fill and test under all of the buildings; or remove all the fill to a depth of 4 feet below the surface, and cap the entire site. The remediation will take years--I can't even begin to estimate the final cost, or whether you will ever be able to use the facility again. That will depend on the results of the testing."

Every EPA/DEEP official I have contacted, at every level, has affirmed the substance of the comment above. All have asked to see the permits Greenwich claims to have, along with test results, supporting documentation, and public notice pursuant to federal, state, and municipal law. All have promised EPA/DEEP will ensure the entire high school site is properly tested and remediated.

I have sent the following FOIA request to town officials and contractors working for BOE and DPW asking for copies of documents EPA and DEEP officials have asked me to forward to them:

GHS PCB Remediation FOIA Request

PCB remediation at Greenwich High School is a Municipal Improvement requiring public notice, agendas, meetings, minutes, votes, permits, site plans, Planning and Zoning Commission and RTM approval, etc.

Please send pdf copies via email of all notices, agendas, meetings, minutes, votes, permits, site plans, contracts, or any other document in your possession regarding PCB remediation at Greenwich High School, along with all notes, email, risk calculations, test results and every other physical record of your involvement.

Copies of these documents in your possession are required within 4 days whether, or not, you consider yourself subject to FOIA requests. If you do not have any GHS PCB Remediation related documents, or if you dispute your obligation to release them, or cannot provide them within 4 days, you must immediately send me an email telling me so. No one else can do this for you.

I currently have a FOIA complaint before the Freedom of Information Commission regarding GHS PCB Remediation documents. I have requested the Commission impose a fine of $1000 per document against the custodian of each, and a Court Order compelling their public release.

My Complaint has been heard by the Commission on an expedited basis. A ruling from the Hearing Officer is expected in November.

Please Respond to:

Bill@Effros.com

Thanking you in advance for your immediate attention to this critical matter concerning the lives and safety of our children and members of our community, I remain,

Respectfully,

Bill Effros