Wheelabrator officials update Saugus Board of Health

SAUGUS – Representatives from Wheelabrator gave an update to the Board of Health Monday night on several new projects and improvements at the trash-burning facility.Updates to the plant include new enclosure walls around the facility to improve containment of any potential spills, a new ash de-watering system to filter ash from wastewater, a new enclosure of the existing ash conveyor to ensure worker safety, a new runoff collection system and two new, smaller stacks to vent steam and warm air from the ash houses.Jairaj Gosine, Regional Manager for Wheelabrator, said his company is taking an “abundance of caution” approach to operations at the plant after the company was hit with $7.5 million in fines from the Attorney General?s office for alleged environmental violations.?Over the last year we?ve been looking at ways to go beyond compliance,” said Gosine. “Nothing here was dictating by any compliance issues. We choose to do all of these to things to better the plant.”One issue of contention was the plan to install two new smoke stacks for the ash houses.Board member Pamela Harris had concerns about possible contaminants being released into the air from the new stacks.?I deem the ash house as being a huge problem in light of the history,” said Harris. “You?re telling me it?s going to come out clean, I?m asking you, clean how?”Gosine assured the board that the only thing vented would be excess heat and moisture from the ash house, where employees currently work, and said the Department of Environmental Protection will monitor emissions from the stacks.?This is just the heat and humidity we?re trying to get rid of,” said Gosine. “It won?t have any particulates in it. It may have a small bit of ammonia. It will be measured for different things and ammonia, and stuff like that. The guys walk in and out of there every day.”Most of the projects are scheduled to be completed throughout 2012, and board members will look to do a site visit sometime in the spring.Board of Health Chairman Joe Vinard called the meeting a “big step,” while board member Stephen Rapp noted, “this is the most transparency we?ve had.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].