Saugus board discusses where to apply RESCO settlement money

SAUGUS – The Board of Selectmen discussed project ideas Friday morning as part of the RESCO settlement reached in May with the Attorney General’s office that saw Wheelabrator pay $7.5 million for alleged environmental violations.Part of the settlement stipulated that a portion of the money is to go toward an environmental project, and at Friday’s meeting, the board met to request an extension.”We got some additional information regarding the guidelines put out by the (Department of Environmental Protection),” said Selectman Scott Crabtree. “And we’re now going to try and regroup and take a look at that and put something in the right framework.””We were looking for an extension of time to put some ideas together,” added Crabtree. “We’re going to send them a letter for the extension and try to come up with something that’s in the framework of what’s acceptable as a set program in the guidelines for DEP.”In May it was announced that Saugus would receive $261,000 of the $7.5 million. In a statement by the Attorney General, it was alleged that Wheelabrator released ash into the air and dumped 8,000 gallons of ash sludge into nearby wetlands.The Board of Selectmen in May said they were not satisfied with the payment.”We haven’t agreed to sign or waive anything, but part of (the settlement) doing a project,” said Crabtree. “There’s a deadline for submitting something to be approved and we want to stay on track with that.”Some ideas include for a project include replacing lead pipes at the Waybright School and creating an educational environmental park on Bristow Street in Saugus, an idea put forward by the Board of Selectmen.”There are wetlands that are attached to the park down there,” said Crabtree. “And doing something to protect those would have an impact in a direct nexus to the geographic area of Wheelabrator and rectify some of the damage caused allegedly.”