Order issued against chemical plant near Mass. school

The town of Framingham, Massachusetts ordered a local chemical waste-disposal company Tuesday to keep toxic chemicals out of the water in its fire-prevention system.

Massachusetts (Boston.com) May 19, 2010 -- The town of Framingham, Massachusetts, issued a cease and desist order against a local chemical waste-disposal company Tuesday, ordering the company to keep toxic chemicals out of the water in its fire-prevention system.

Testing of a water storage tank used for fire prevention at the General Chemical Corp. plant on Leland Street revealed several chemicals that should not be present, according to the building commissioner. The Framingham Fire Department and Building Department issued the order.

“We don’t think it’s practical for them to have those chemicals in a system to prevent fires,” he said. He said the town was not certain how the chemicals ended up in the storage tank, but after they became aware of the contamination, officials acted quickly. The cease and desist order comes after several weeks of public struggles for the waste-disposal company.

After rains in March flooded the basement of a home next to the plant, the owner had the water tested and found high levels of harmful neurotoxins. Earlier this month, the health board called for a public review of General Chemical’s site assignment, a permit issued by the town for the plant.

Chemical contamination found over the years in groundwater around the plant has led health officials to install monitoring wells. Two years ago, higher than allowed levels of toxic chemicals were found in monitoring wells at the Woodrow Wilson School, which is near the plant. The contamination was cleaned up while the school was on Thanksgiving recess.

Link: http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/framingham/2010/05/order_issued_against_chemical.html

Source: DHS Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report