Rockland Industries Site Update - Part 1

Suzanne Dube of the Middleborough Citizen's Environmental Health Impact Committee gave an update of the work the committee has on going to the Board of Selectmen at their Monday night meeting.

Ms. Dube, the chair of the committee, spoke about the ongoing work the Massachusetts Department of Health is working on with respect to assessing environmental data at four locations in Middleborough. The data assessment is to include:

1. Environmental water and air data
2. Health data
3. Background data and information

Ms. Dube stated how the state should be releasing a new tracking website this summer. The site will allow people to quickly look at regional data in one location. The website address is http://matracking.ehs.state.ma.us/.

Ms. Dube noted that the incidence of ALS since 1938 is much higher in Middleborough than other local communities and the tracking information may shed light in the future as to why.

Also on the committee agenda was the Rockland Industry update. Environmental Strategies & Management (ESM) has been retained using a technical assistance grant (TAG) to assist in review of the site, monitoring actions on the site and help provide a technical voice to the people of Middleborough.

Along with assistance from a SRPEDD provided technician, ESM has been assembling a database of all the environmental data that collected from the site dating back to the laste 1960's. From an unlined lagoon in 1968 to EPA noted contaminated soil and drums in 1980. The information is slowing coming together.