Greenwich Board of Ed Gets $1.3 million to Clean Up Contaminated Soil at GHS MISA Site [Video]

Money to pay for the removal of more than 3,100 tons of contaminated dirt from the Greenwich High School auditorium construction project, was unanimously approved by the Board of Estimate and Taxation Thursday night.

The Building Committee sought $1,390,000 to pay for continued testing of and cleaning up the site at the rear of the high school, adjacent to the athletic fields, and replacement of the PCB-laden soil. Committee Chairman Joseph Ross said the release of the money was necessary so the site can be cleaned up enough to allow classes to start on time at the end of August.

The BET held the special meeting on the request by the Board of Education which also revealed that the state Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Environmental Protection Agency has ordered additional testing in and around the athletic fields which were closed July 29 after tests revealed high levels of the contaminants.

After nearly 2 hours of presentations by Ross and discussion, the BET voted 10 - 0, to release $1,338,000 for the clean up of the site which includes a major portion of the rear parking lot used by staff and students. The money also will pay for new fill and top soil to replace 3,130 tons of contaminated dirt that has been sitting in two huge piles, covered with tarps in the fenced off area. The resealing and striping of the parking areas, temporary lighting, installation of temporary security cameras and drainage work also will be paid for.

Before the vote, discussion focused on whether the Board of Education should be responsible for paying the additional money needed to cover the unexpected costs, and the ramifications of the test results.

Russo said work was halted in mid-July after workers discovered a layer of black dirt within the soil being excavated. Tests showed the presence of the PCBs and heavy metals. Ross said it is more expensive to dispose of the contaminated soil because of stringent disposal requirements by the state and federal agencies, which do not allow clean dirt to be mixed in with the contaminated soil "to dilute" the contamination.

The state and federal environmental departments also have ordered an additional 143 soil samples be taken from in and around the school's 7 athletic fields. With the exception of two baseball fields, all are covered with artificial turf. The latest battery of test results should be available by Aug. 11 and help determine how and where the contaminated soils can be disposed, Ross said.

Ross and Schools Superintendent Dr. Sidney Freund said it was necessary to begin the remediation work immediately if the school is to be ready for athletic practices which begin Aug. 22 and the return of staff and students, beginning Aug. 29. Freund said staff is working on securing alternative practice and game sites in the event the work is not finished. He said it could cost the school board an additional $125,000 should activities need to be relocated.

BET members discussed whether paying for testing and remediation of the contamination should be charged to the auditorium expansion project, commonly referred to as MISA for the $28 million Music Instruction Space and Auditorium project, or whether it is part of a larger problem the town should be responsible for.

Ross said both the state DEP and the federal EPA want to know whether the athletic fields were filled in first before the high school was built and opened in 1970 or whether the school was built first and the fields later filled in.

The testing of the athletic fields and if any remediation is required is beyond the scope of the MISA project, said BET member William Finger. BET Chairman Steven Walko expressed concern that the test results could prompt further testing in, around and beneath the high school building.

Freund said it was "prudent to close the fields. Air quality test results  show that we do not feel anyone in the building or anyone who played on the fields (was in a health) hazard but it doesn't necessarily mean the fields are safe long-term."

Following the vote, Freund said, "I think everyone understood the urgency of the situation. This was the prudent thing to do even though there are still many unanswered questions."

Selectman Drew Marzullo said, "What might have started as a MISA issue has become a town issue. This puts a blight on a well-deserved project. It's a nightmare."

The MISA project has been on the drawing boards for several years and finally received partial funding to begin construction July 1. The actual construction of the auditorium is scheduled to begin next year when the remaining $17 million for the project is included in the town's capital projects budget.

Despite the contamination issues for the auditorium part of the project, work continues on the classroom expansion which is located on the south end of the Hillside Road school campus.

Freund also sent a letter via e-mail to school parents Thursday. A copy may be seen to the right of this story.