Landfill updates

This was in the Aug. 28 update on the landfill, from MassDEP:

In addition to tracking the causes of odor complaints, Shaw continued to inspect the Landfill identifying and marking landfill gas and leachate breakouts first thing each morning and throughout the day. In addition, Shaw personnel observed a problem with the operation of a number of extraction wells at the landfill. They notified New Ventures, of the issue and New Ventures, under the supervision of their engineer, SITEC, is implementing measures to identify and correct the cause of the problem. Shaw personnel are monitoring these activities.

I found this very interesting. The "problem with the operation of a number of extraction wells at the landfill" obviously has been a "problem" for a while.

This is from today's update:

Today New Ventures, under the supervision of their engineer, SITEC, is conducting a repair of the landfill gas extraction system at the landfill. This repair requires in part excavation of a shallow trench in the uncapped area of the landfill. These activities are likely to cause odors. The trench will be backfilled as soon as the repair is complete today.

Obviously, some kind of environmental engineer not related to New Ventures was always needed on site.

Nobody thought that something was wrong, with all the gas that has been escaping? Nobody but the landfill neighbors, that is ...

This is really inexcusable.

On a lighter note, apparently last Thursday, Aug. 27, was a day free of odor. One of the neighbors wrote an email to all concerned thanking them for this.

Thank you for last Thursday. We had all of our windows open for 9 hours straight. It was the first time for us to do that since April. We even had lunch on the deck. It was truly amazing.

Can you imagine living like that? Thanking all and sundry for ONE day without a nauseating stench in your home?

I remember, way back in July it was, Mayor Moak saying that the work causing the stink would all be done "in a couple of weeks."

I'm not necessarily blaming him; obviously he has no control over New Ventures.

Charter review update

Are you guys interested in Charter Commission people? Tough.

I got the newest list here in front of me and I'm re-typing in every name and indicating with an (*) that they returned papers to the Clerk's Office (as of about noon today, Aug. 31).

So here goes (it's in the order of when they pulled nomination papers):

1. Paul M. Bevilacqua*
2. David R. Clarridge*
3. Steven P. Cole
4. Roger A. Gagnon
5. Judith C. Grohe
6. Gregory M. Kelly
7. JoAn Kincaid*
8. Douglas A. Locy*
9. Thomas Tolman Lyons*
10. Olga S. MacFarlane*
11. Janet K. Marcus
12. Bruce M. Menin
13. Cynthia S. Muir*
14. Sheila A. Mullins*
15. Bonnie P. Perkins
16. Thomas L. Salemi
17. James A. Stiles*
18. Bruce L. Vogel
19. Alexander Z. Warren*
20. Kenneth A. Woods
21. Kathleen E. Bailey*

So 21 people; 11 have returned papers and one pulled papers but has withdrawn. That would be Julia B. Godtfredsen. She pulled papers on Aug. 18 and withdrew Aug. 25.

I could make some wild, random speculation here - but I won't.

Public service message

Mayor John F. Moak, as chairman of the School Committee, is seeking individuals to serve on the Newburyport Schools Superintendent Search Committee.

Applications will be accepted until Sept. 9, 2009. Selection of the committee will be completed by late September. The goal is to submit to the full School Committee final candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools.

The mayor is seeking those interested in applying for the search committee from the following groups: parent representing the high school education program, parent representing the middle school education program, parent representing the elementary school education program and members of the community-at-large.

The committee will include: three members of the School Committee, two school principals, one representative from the Superintendent's Office, three teachers, three parents and two residents-at-large.

The initial meeting of the committee will be in early October. Attraction and retention will be discussed as well as planning the schedule for the committee. The School Committee will contract with a recruitment specialist to manage the selection process.

Applicants can submit letters of intent and resumes (not exceeding two pages) to: Office of the Mayor, 60 Pleasant St., Newburyport, MA 01950 or at mayor@cityofnewburyport.com. Those applying via email should put in the subject line "Superintendent Search Committee."

I know, I gave them a "freebee"

I explain all this stuff about the beach not only to keep you guys informed but I know that now that Victor Tine is back from vacation, he will get it straight.

And the editorial is correct about the bureauocracy, but there are also too many people with their hands in this project, as far as I am concerned.

Ron Barrett, PITA president, asked at the meeting of the Alliance if DCR couldn't just have shot the Army Corps a fax or email of the easement documents - just to make sure the Corps was on board with the everything.

On the flip side, the Corps only decided the week the letters went out that they had a problem with the language. But that's the federal government.

The deadline to have a project "shovel ready" and able to receive stimulus funds is Oct. 1, I believe. That is why the Oct. 1 deadline is so important.

It will take the Corps 3 months to send out bids and hire the company that will do the construction.

I'm sorry to keep harping but good grief!

My sister, who every year with her husband goes down to the Outer Banks, continues to be sort of offended that the erosion there gets so much less press and attention that does the situation here.

It's all a Band-Aid, anyway. The dredging is probably a good idea, because that's what needs to be done to keep the channel open. The beach nourishment is the icing on the cake.

The dredging can go forward without the nourishment, you know. I think that bit was edited out of my piece.

Oh, Daily News

I have been kind of laying off criticizing the DN recently, but honestly, the story and Opinion on Friday about the beach project contain so much misinformation, I can't help myself.

I can't find Lynne Hendricks' story from last week on the website so I can't link to it. She wasn't not at the last meeting of the Merrimack River Beach Alliance and it almost appears as if she was relying on this blog - and a kind of red-faced Army Corps of Engineers - for information.

I have a timeline for the project right here in front of me. It clearly indicates that construction has ALWAYS been scheduled to begin in January. Oct. 1 is the deadline to get all permitting in place so bids can be sent out for the work.

The point was, construction may not have taken place at all, not that it had been delayed. I don't see my story on the Current's website, so I can't link to that, either. What's with these news organizations?

I write "may not" because someone has given me a copy of an email sent out on Friday by lobbyist Howard Marlowe's office saying that the Army Corps of Engineers has given DCR the go-ahead on the easements.

There's also something about a no-jeopardy statement on the piping plover but that's not as clear.

There still also needs to be a partnership agreement approved between the Army Corps and DCR.

"While there still exist potential hang-ups with the PPA, we hear that Senators Tarr and Baddour, as well as Representative Costello and Stanley, have all been involved in behind-the-scenes conversations to assure efficiency," writes Brendan McGonigle (from Marlow & Company).

He goes on to say, "I would contend that the project is in a much more favorable position than public opinion seems to suggest. It is clear to me that all players are back at the table and ready to navigate this effort toward fruition."

And that's the latest, as I know it.

Regrets

I just received an email about my last post, expressing the sentiment that there is nothing funny about the situation in which the landfill neighbors find themselves.

I heartily agree with that sentiment, and I explained to the sender that I was being sarcastic.

For one, in my (should be well-known) opinion, FoxNews is garbage and for two, I thought the last line about the whole thing being (not) definitive made it clear I thought it was rubbish.

And for three, it just goes to show how a "study" can be taken seriously just because it was published in a journal. I used to be the managing editor of a clinical journal, and I can tell you a study with that small and narrow a study group would never have appeared on its pages.

In any case, I apologize to anyone who took offense and/or thought I was saying the neighbors have nothing to complain about. It was certainly not meant that way.

What're they complaining about again?

As always, FoxNews has the answer (March 3, 2009):

The New Vi-eggra? Rotten Egg Smell Has Viagra-Like Effect on Men, Study Finds

The smell of rotting eggs has a Viagra-like effect on men, and the bizarre finding could help doctors develop a more effective version of the popular sex drug, according to a study.

The gas that gives rotten eggs their pungent smell is hydrogen sulphide. Scientists say it also is released from car exhausts and from men just before they have sex, according to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Tiny amounts of the gas are released by nerve cells in a man's private part to prepare it for intercourse, a study found.

The gas causes muscle cells in the region to relax, boosting blood flow, and leading to a better erection.

Researchers, from the University of Naples in Italy, made the finding in a study of eight men who had sex-change operations.

Viagra, on the other hand, harnesses a different chemical — nitric oxide — to give users a boost. But one-third of men have found the drug ineffective.

Researchers hope the finding will lead to new drugs to treat erectile dysfunction.

Click here to read more on this story from The Sun.

Yep - 8 men in Italy who had sex-change operations. Now that's what I call definitive.

More landfill photos

I wasn't going to say anything, but ...

Just kidding; of course I have comments.

OK, so that broken down fencing and those rotting bales of straw (or whatever it is) are on city property. Not to mention I am told there is supposed to be a double stack of the bales.

Isn't the site just so well maintained?

And there were pools of water everywhere from yesterday's rain, during which I imagine the water was running fast and furious down that final membrane layer, or FML as they call it. You know, the one that's supposed to be covered with sand and top soil to prevent just such an occurrence.

I got a little tour of the whole area, including the wetlands around the property and the little stream that flows into the Little River.

And I didn't take a photo of it specifically (but you can see it in the first photo), but where the retaining pool is supposed to be, there is a big pile of dirt.

Hey, I wish I could get away with ... oh, wait, I said that already. Never mind.

My morning at the landfill

What a way to spend a Sunday morning.

At about 9:30 I was at the landfill doing ... something secret.

Nah, I was just there for reference purposes.

And I have to tell you - it comes in waves, but it stinks. It really, really smells bad. Not that I ever doubted it, but it's one of those things you really have to experience to make you glad you didn't eat before you got there.

Furthermore, here are photos showing construction debris left uncovered after Friday's work day. According to DEP, all the debris is supposed to be covered with a layer of dirt at the end of every day.

Does that stuff look like C&D "fines" to you?

And according to city officials, that space there in the first photo, where the haul road used to be, was supposed to have been filled in about - oh, a month ago.

I wish I could get away with holding both the state and a whole city hostage. Then again - I haven't given it a shot.

Congratulations are in order

Before I forget (again), congratulations to Tom and Nicole Salemi on the arrival this morning of their second son, Zepherin "Zeph" Michael Salemi.

Zeph arrived at 8:39 a.m. and weighed 7lbs 4oz.

Welcome to the world, Zeph! I love that name.