Reichold property important to set aside for future generations             4/12/01
Editor, Townsman:
   The Reichold site is a storied property that presents a wonderful opportunity for the town. It has more than 1.3 miles of river frontage, flat flood plains, forested uplands and wetlands. It fills a major gap in the open-space corridor that runs along the Shawsheen River. There are very few parcels left in town that offer the potential of this 46-acre site. There are also few that offer such a checkered history: For more than 40 years a chemical plant occupied the site, spewing its effluent into the Shawsheen River, dumping hardened resins into on-site landflls, and processing waste chemicals on site.
   About 10 years ago, Reichhold acknowledged that indeed it had been polluting and began to clean up the site. In Massachusetts, the law requires clean-up to be designed and directed by a "licensed site professional" or LSP who reports its findings and progress to the Mass. Dept of Environmental Protection and the town of Andover's Board of Health. Reichhold hired CH2M Hill, a very reputable, very well known environmental consulting firm.
   More than 18,000 tons of resins, old structures and contaminated soils, have been removed from the site. Subsequently, those areas were covered with three feet of clean soils. The ground water was also polluted with volatile organic compounds. Given time, with bxygen present, these compounds will decay. Presently, most of the soils have met the state's highest standard, which is sufficient for residential use including growing vegetables. The remaining substandard soils are under the buildings that are soon to be torn down. The same processes used on the rest of the site will be used there. The groundwater does not yet meet state standards in some areas of the site. However, monitoring wells show a positive trend toward reducing concentrations as the natural decaying process and the flow of groundwater into the Shawsheen continues.
   When the possibility of acquiring the Reichhold site first arose there was skepticism. The town does not want to assume any clean-up liability, nor does it want to expose users of the site, be it through passive or active recreation, to any chemical that they wouldn't find in their own backyard. The Conservation Commission hired Ramson Environmental Consultants, an LSP to review the work that had been done to date. Its opinion is that the site can be cleaned up to meet the state standards for soils and groundwater. If not, then the town will not purchase the site.
   The advocates of the Reichhold site acquisition  support this purchase because of the site's multiuse potential. This would be a worthwhile acquisition for the town even if it were only used for passive recreation. But in addition, the town can use the 27,000-square-foot existing warehouse for much-needed seasonal storage, i.e. snowplows in the summer, mowers in the winter. To purchase the land and build a similar facility would cost more than $1 million. The third use could be converting some of the level areas into playing fields. This would be similar to the soccer fields in Lowell that were built on a brownfields site 10 years ago. Such fields would only be on soils that meet the state's "S-1" standard and then covered with 8-12 inches of imported clean-fill.
   This acquisition will not take place until 1) the state DEP signs off on the complete remedlation of the site, 2) a town-hired LSP conducts its own study and gives the town an opinion that the site is suitable and safe for its intended uses, 3) the town's legal counsel is comfortable the town is not taking on any new liability for any future clean-up of the Reichhold contamination.
   The rationale for approving the funds now, rather than waiting the two to 10 years until the clean-up is finalized, is that the owner, seeing that the end of the process is in sight, is determined to sell the property now. In the event the town elects not to purchase the property, it will be sold to an industrial developer. Given the zoning of the site (residential C, industrial A and industrial G) any kind of industrial development is possible as Industrial G is the least restrictive of any of our zoning regulations.
   This acquisition meets the top requirements for open space acquisitions set forth in the town's Open Space and Recreation Master Plan: It adds protection along our river corridors, provides suitable terrain for more playing fields, abuts existing conservation land and protects part of the town's water supply. It is an important property to set aside for future generations.
Jerry Bird
67 Argilla Road
Past Chairman,
Open Space and Recreation Plan

Town meeting could buy Reichold land             4/12/01
 Rebecca Piro
    A handful of town officials floated down the Shawsheen River last Saturday to view the Reichold Chemical property that the town could elect to buy at Town Meeting.
    Supporters of the $3.6 million purchase need to convince voters that the 46.7 acres of land and watertront is what the town needs.
   None of the proponents deny that the property, polluted by resins Reichhold produced until 10 years ago, is still unclean. Reichhold continues to clean up the site. But the day when the land and water chemical levels meet state requirements is not far away, say supporters. Plus, the Conservation Commission is willing to help buy the land.
   Purchasing the Reichhold property would replenish the rapidly disappearing open space in town, and provide space for active and passive recreation such asplaying fields and hiking trails, says former Open Space Committee Chairman Jerry Bird. The town could use the land to create badly needed playing fields for youth sports and store some town-yard equipment. If Andover does not purchase the 46 acres, another developer, who might not have any regard for the environment, could buy the property and erect another industry, warn supporters.
   Though the article asks for $3.6 million, the Conservation Commission has agreed to pay $1.6 million of the price in exchange for a piece of the land to be protected, says Bird. That would leave the town to come up with a maximum of $2 million. However, the $3.6 million figure is Reichhold's asking price, and the town has not yet begun negotiations, Bird says. Not only is it possible that the town could knock the price down somewhat, but the town won't purchase the land if it's not completely clean within the next few years.
   "While the town may commit itself to spending a certain amount of money, no money changes hands until the title is passed and the land is clean," said Conservation Commission Chairman Don Cooper at an earlier Presentation. The town will likely hire a consultant to inspect the land for contamination before signing a purchase and sales agreement, adds Bird. The selectmen and the Conservation Commission have recommended approval.
 

With substantial schools and safety-center construction starting, town has few new CIP projects
Buying Reichold land, possibly for fields, is CIP proposal               3/30/01
By Rebecca Piro
    There are no big surprises hiding in this year's Capital Improvement Plan, says Selectmen  Chairman  Brian Major.
The Board of Selectmen voted to accept the fiscal year 2002 to 2006 CIP Monday, Dec.18. The possible purchase of the Reichhold Chemical property, slated for fiscal year 2002, is one of the only major additions to the plan, says Major.
   The CIP is a five year plan that budgets the town's money and plans for projects costing more than $15,000. Each year, town -department  heads submit their financial needs to the town manager, who compiles them in the CIP.
   The town is considering the purchase of the Reichhold land, 46.7 acres off Lowell Junction Road, for $3.3 to $3.6 million. Though the land has had a long history of contamination from the chemical resins once produced at a factory   on-site,   the cleanup is just about complete, say Reichhold representatives. Major says that the town could use the open space for playing fields.
   The town will have to act soon if it wants to beat other buyers to the Reichhold  property,  Major says.
   "It's a parcel of land that's available to us now, and we don't know how long it (will be) available to us,"he adds.
Funds for the purchase would come from a 2001 Town Meeting vote and from the Conservation Commission, Major says.
Other than the Reichhold land, the town intentionally kept this year's CIP brief, he adds.
   "There's not a lot of heavy, new projects on the CIP this year," says Major. "A lot of it is routine maintenance, routine cycling of (replacing town) vehicles. There's not a lot that is brand new."
The town is already involved in three major construction projects the new schools and the safety center, both already under construction, and the Rogers Brook and South Main Street additions to the town sewer system. That is enough to keep the town busy for quite a while, says Major.
   Funding for the sewer expansion will come from betterments, charged to those who will be connected  to  sewers,  and increased sewer  bi11s, charged to current sewer users.

Recreation land, at a reduced price?                       3/30/01
   A little state help could make the Reichhold Chemical property purchase a little less costly.
   Residents will decide this April whether the town should purchase the 46.7-acre parcel for up to $3.6 milllon. Once used as a resin-production site the now clean land would add to the town's open space and provide more room to build playing fields, say some residents.
   Andover could qualify for Up to $250,000 in state grants to help pay for the purchase, says Doug Pizzi, public relations representative for the Environmental Affairs office. Up to $8 million is available this upcoming fiscal year for land-preservation projects statewide.
Last year, state funds were spread throughout 42 communities, with the maximum award at $250,000, says Pizzi. Director Joel Lerner says that the Division of Conservation Services will consider each community's application this June, based on the project quality and the community's need.
   Residents supporting the Reichhold article are aware of the state grant program, and intend to pursue it, along with other grant opportunities, says Conservation Commission Chairman Don Cooper. However, it is unlikely that the town would pay the full $3.6 million even if it did not secure any grants, he adds.
  "We haven't agreed with Reichhold as to a price yet," says Cooper.
   The Conservation Commission will also kick in about half the price tag in exchange for about 25 acres of land to be designated conservation property.
   The warrant article is written so that town officials have the authority to borrow only as much as they need for the purchase. If residents pass the article — at the maximum cost of $3.6 million - the town will borrow less than that if possible to purchase the land, Cooper says.
— Rebecca Piro   Andover Townsman

Once brown, Reichold site now deemed safe
Town eyes pitch for land           12/7/00
By Rebecca Piro      Andover Townsman

   The Reichhold Chemical property, 46.7 acres with a long history of pollution and contamination, has a new look - it's finally clean.
   That's what John Rendall of CH2M Hill, a private environmental consulting firm in Boston, says of the former industrial plant property, located off Lowell Junction Road. After oveseeeing the clean-up since the plant's closing in 1990, he says the former Reichhold Chemical property is no longer a health hazard.
   "The site is now ready for any redevelopment-type planning," says Rendall. "That would be the logical next step."
   Town officials have expressed interest in purchasing the property in fiscal year 2002 for between $3.3 and $3.6 million, and using it for playing fields and passive recreation.
   Though the area at one time was polluted by the chemical resins produced by Reichhold, the land is now clean enough for any of those recreational options, says Rendall.
   "Our cleanup is compatible with those uses," he says. "The property would certainly be suitable for that."
Reichhold hired CH2M Hill, a licensed site professional, to perform five phases of remediation under the state's brownfields law.
    The fourth phase - removing contaminated soil and cleaning buildings where chemical residue was found -has just been completed. The last phase is ground-water testing, which Reichhold will continue doing until it is determined that the water does not exceed acceptable chemical levels.
   Health Director Everett Penney receives periodic reports from CH2M Hill on the clean-up progress, which the state Department of Environmental Protection also receives. Though the town's health department will not inspect the property, Penney says he looks to those reports for assurance of cleanliness and usage liinitations.
   The land is not suitable for residential development, says John Oldham of Reichhold Inc.
   It was once an industrial site, and it has been cleaned up to industrial standards. When asked how he would respond to residents concerned with the safety of a child digging in the dirt at that site, he dismissed any need for concern. There are always risks at any site, whether or not it was once contaminated, he says.
   "No matter how much investigation you do at this site, no one can ever say that there is never a risk to anything," Oldham says. "if you're going to put playing fields in, bring in enough clean fill so that someone who would have those concerns would put them aside."
   In fact, Oldham is prepared to listen to only so much regarding the repeated safety concerns. He indicates that if Andover can't overcome its fears, then Reichhold is prepared to look elsewhere for a buyer.
   "If people are concerned about that, they should voice their opinion and decide if they want to do this or not," Oldham says. "Reichhold has other opportunities to develop this property into other things. Nothing has been signed, nothing has been set in stone. If we can't get past those issues, we're not interested."
   The town is serious about purchasing the property, says Town Manager Buzz Stapezynski. Officials have hired a consulting firm to review CH2M Hill's reports, and the town could go even further to ensure the parcel's cleanliness, he says.
   "I haven't taken the step to hire someone to do some independent sampling, but we could do that just to verify the (reports)," he says.
   When the possibility of purchasing the Reichhold property was publicly announced three weeks  ago,  several  residents expressed enthusiasm for the idea. Resident Chris Huntress of Tewksbury Street agrees that the town would certainly miss out if it didn't buy the property.
   "It brings a significant portion of the riverfont property into conservation land," he says. Purchasing the land and turning it into open space would also prevent future development at the site —which he views as a way to avoid extra traffic in the already-congested Ballardvale area.
 

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