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WMS Fields Closed as Precaution; Soil Results Released

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SoilRemediation-6-10

Preliminary oral reports received from Langan, the Town’s environmental consultant, show levels of constituents, such as lead, arsenic, PCB’s and chlordane that exceed state residential direct exposure criteria in portions of the fields at Western Middle School (WMS).

This summer, environmental testing was conducted on soil samples from the WMS fields as requested by the State Department of Public Health (DPH).

Samples identified do not exceed Federal or State regulatory thresholds requiring immediate reporting or action. However, based on the results and after initial consultation with the Town and State Departments of Public Health, the WMS fields are closed until further notice as a precautionary measure.

The joint release by Greenwich Public Schools and the Town of Greenwich reads, “These elevated levels are below the CTDEEP threshold for significant environmental hazard, but above the State criteria for Residential Direct Exposure (RDEC), although the RDEC do apply to this property.

According to the testing process, the WMS field was divided into a 30-section grid and soil samples were collected from each grid at depths of zero inches to three inches below ground surface. The samples were analyzed for semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), metals, pesticides and herbicides.

The test results show elevated levels of lead in five grid sections, elevated arsenic levels in three grid sections, elevated PCBs in two grid sections and elevated levels of the pesticide chlordane in nineteen grid sections.

The table above illustrates that the constituents identified at the site were detected below the CTDEEP thresholds for a significant environmental hazard. Note: The DEC does not apply to this property, but the criteria are used as guidance absent any regulatory requirements.
The table above illustrates that the constituents identified at the site were detected below the CTDEEP thresholds for a significant environmental hazard. Note: The DEC does not apply to this property, but the criteria are used as guidance absent any regulatory requirements.

“Although we are not obligated by State or Federal standards to close the fields based on these initials findings,” the report says, “First Selectman Peter J. Tesei and Interim Superintendent of Schools Salvatore Corda, agree with Town DPH recommendations that it is in the best interest of students, families, staff and the community to close the fields until such time as a plan of action can be developed and implemented.”

The release confirms the school is safe for use, but the precautionary measure taken by closing the fields is to prevent direct contact and potential ingestion of on-site constituents from the soil. The potential for inhalation of wind-borne dust particles for students and staff at WMS was evaluated and the risks were calculated to be well below federal EPA’s negligible risk levels.

Fencing will be installed and signs will be posted on the first day of school notifying the community that the fields are closed and may not be used.

Langan will complete/submit the findings of the soil sampling, the Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA), and any recommendations for remediation to the State Department of Public Health for review on or before Tuesday, September 6, 2016. Upon completion of DPH review, an appropriate and acceptable course of action will be determined for the safe re-opening of the fields.

Western Middle School Principal Gordon Beinstein, with support from the District’s Facilities Office and Town Parks and Recreation, will develop a plan for addressing the impact that closing the fields will have on outdoor physical education classes, as well as for interscholastic and intramural sports programs.

The Town’s of Greenwich Department of Parks and Recreation also will assess the impact of the loss of use of the fields and develop a plan in the next several weeks to reasonably accommodate Town recreational programs that use the Western fields.

As part of the evaluation for the New Lebanon School (NLS) Building Committee, Langan was contracted to sample soils in the proposed construction area to evaluate potential environmental concerns.

After initial testing was completed, Langan presented an HHRA based on their findings to the State DPH for review. The State DPH requested that the remaining portions of the Western Middle School playing fields be included in the overall assessment. While the NLS Building Committee has since determined that Western will not be used as a temporary swing site for the construction project, Greenwich Public Schools administration continued with the testing in order to finalize the HHRA as requested by the State DPH.

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