WMECo, residents to meet on contamination

Date: 2/7/2011

Feb. 7, 2011

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

LONGMEADOW — Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) will meet with residents on Feb. 16 to talk about problems with the underground electrical system in the area of Ardsley Road.

The meeting, which will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Greenwood Center, will specifically address the release of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), which have leaked into the soil.

"Apparently, one of the underground transformers ruptured and when it did, the coolant — the PCBs — leaked out into the ground," Selectman Mark Gold said.

According to an e-mail from Department of Public Works Director Mike Wrabel to Gold, which Gold shared with Reminder Publications, nearly 30 gallons of PCB contaminated oil leaked out of the ruptured transformer into the submersed vault in which the transformer is held. The vault is located five feet beneath the surface of the earth.

Wrabel further stated that representatives from WMECo told him the company has done borings that suggest that the PCB contaminants have also leaked out of the vault and into the soil up to five feet below the vault.

"[WMECo] has been very good to work with and very good in the sense that they have taken responsibility for this accident and its cleanup," Gold said.

Representatives from WMECo will tell residents how they plan to remediate the soil in the area, a process that they plan to start in April, after the ground thaws. The remediation does not come without a price to local residents.

"They're saying that there could be long periods of time where people will be without power," Gold said. "They said that it could be up to 2 to 3 days."

Gold said the meeting would be an opportunity for residents to voice any concerns over the possibility of extended black outs. He was not sure if it would be possible to bring in emergency generators, but said that would most likely be a scenario discussed at the meeting.