On Monday, Feb 26 at 6:45Pm the Con Com meeting includes review of VHB’s plan to drill holes along the rail bed to test for oil and hazardous materials. Attend this meeting if you wish to understand the scope of their activities.
The Plan:
According to the Notice of Intent (NOI), 84 holes will be drilled to test for oil and hazardous materials. VHB plans include removing a “limited number” of trees and shrubs for several 10’ x 25’ work areas to facilitate machinery and drilling activities. Where they don’t take down entire trees they may do “trimming.”
This intrusive testing, for a project not approved, includes:
- Machinery: tractors, motorized gasoline powered hoists and portable derricks, “track carrier auger drills,” as well as Gators for drilling and clearing.
- Noise: Decibel levels for these machines are “estimated.” For example, tractors produce about the same noise level as a diesel truck going 40 MPH at 50ft. This machinery will impact and limit the way we enjoy our usual peaceful spot.
- Tree loss: VHB plans to “clear” and “trim” a number of trees.
- Potential contaminant spread: If there is contamination on the path do these activities disturb these contaminants?
Questions:
- What, if any, is the impact of drilling 84 holes into potentially contaminated soil to our water supply?
- VHB plans to drill 50 foot deep holes in Hop Brook which may require “drilling fluid” to assist. What impact, if any, would this fluid have on the Hop Brook were it to spill in?
- How are brook trout and other aquatic life impacted by this drilling?
- Where exactly ARE the 80 or so other 8-inch diameter holes (8 inches is the width of a standard sheet of notepaper)? And who makes sure holes are filled properly?
- Are the holes in an area where a horse (or deer) hoof, a dog (coyote, fox) paw, a child’s foot could step in it?
- Will equipment be parked in the planned 10 x 25-foot “work areas?
- How does the clearing of those work areas affect friends who live along the wooded path? For example, how many hours a day and for how many days will they hear machinery?
The public is welcome to attend this meeting and support the Con Com as they review the VHB plan. Monday, February 26th at 6:45 PM at the town hall.