Saugus board hears reason for excessive noise at Wheelabrator

SAUGUS – Wheelabrator Plant Manager Eric Lucier said the recent week-long heat wave limited cooling functions at the plant, which created some noise issues for East Saugus residents.Lucier, who was giving his monthly update to the Saugus Board of Health Monday, said the noise issues were caused by excessive venting because the river water coming into the plant was so warm.?We depend solely on the river water coming out of the Saugus River,” said Lucier.Lucier said the plant?s river water cooling permit prohibits Wheelabrator from discharging water greater than 90 degrees back into the Saugus River. During the heat wave Lucier said water coming into the plant was more than 85 degrees.?We had to vent some steam because there was no cooling available from the water … especially at low tide,” said Lucier. “Unfortunately that was on a daily basis until the heat wave broke.”Lucier said he and Public Health Director Frank Giacalone put out a reverse 911 call to notify residents in the area about the noise.Board member Pamela Harris said she was disappointed that Lucier didn?t notify the board at its last meeting of a May 25 incident, where 35 gallons of hydraulic fluid were spilled when a truck carrying ash ruptured a hydraulic line.?It?s a little bit unsettling to say the least because you sat here and went though your updates … and it was never mentioned,” she said. “To say that I?m disappointed is an understatement.”Lucier apologized and said it was “my error” because it was a “busy meeting.”?We were so focused on the tipping floor and operations … it was a busy meeting and the attorneys were …” he said. “We did the immediate response and we?re still working with the DEP. The issue is now the impacted ash from the oil and how to we dispose of that property … I apologize, it was just a busy meeting.”Harris said she didn?t “want an apology,” but wanted Lucier to “live up to what you say you?re going to do.”?We have to know,” she said. “It takes two seconds to let us know, to send an email saying, ?Look, we had an incident.?”In other business, the board had several questions over an increase in critical and non-critical health violations at Applebee?s on Route 1, including improper handling of food and coolers with temperatures in the 50s.Assistant General Manager Oliver Richardson said maintenance was “in flux” because the restaurant was switching from corporate-owned to a franchise.?We were switching out old maintenance-providers with new maintenance-providers,” he said.Richardson said the issues have been taken care of, but board Chairman Joseph Vinard said the board will “take action” if there are more violations.?If we continue to see this, there is action that we can take,” he said. “We don?t want to. If we get another report on the next inspection that looks like this, there are actions we can take … It?s very important that you stay on top of it.”