Greenwich Schools Release Latest Info on High School Project

Late Tuesday, Greenwich Public Schools released the following statement and update on the contaminated soil situation at Greenwich High School and its athletic fields.

GREENWICH HIGH SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING UPDATE GHS

Fields Remain Closed Until Further Notice MISA Building Committee Reviews Plans for Environmental Evaluation

Review of current status: In mid July 2011, during the course of the excavation work for the Greenwich High School Music Instructional Space and Auditorium (MISA) project, unexpected soil conditions were discovered in the West (or back) parking lot, adjacent to the fields, which prompted immediate environmental testing.

The site work in the west lot was stopped and the excavation area was contained. The initial tests reflected low levels of some metals, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the soil. A second round of samples was taken on July 20th and included soil and indoor and outdoor air testing. The results of the air quality tests indicate all selected factors are within acceptable levels. The results of the second round of soil samples duplicated the previous results, which showed low levels of some metals, VOCs and PCBs in the soil.

On Friday, July 29, 2011 the results of a third set of soil samples taken closer to fields 3 and 4 at a depth of one foot beneath the surface, reflected PCBs levels that are above acceptable standards for residential or commercial use as determined by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

These results prompted the closure of all fields as a precaution until a more comprehensive understanding of the extent of the issue could be determined. The Greenwich Public Schools/Board of Education, the Town of Greenwich and the GHS-MISA Building Committee are working in collaboration to address the environmental concerns of the fields at Greenwich High School. Licensed Environmental Professionals have been contracted to plan for and conduct more comprehensive testing. The Town and State Departments of Health and Environmental Protection have also been consulted.

Update:
Fields: Greenwich High School fields will remain closed until further notice. School District and Town officials are working together to create contingency plans – in case they are needed - for all programs (GHS Physical Education, Athletic, Town, and Community, etc.) that use the fields.

Start of School: At this time, school will open for students as scheduled.

MISA Building Committee: The Greenwich High School Music Instructional Space and Auditorium (GHS-MISA) project Building Committee met today, Tuesday, August 2, 2011 at a regularly scheduled meeting at which they reviewed information regarding the environmental evaluation, plans for remediating the soil excavated from the west lot, and short-term timelines on the MISA project, summarized as follows:

Environmental Evaluation Plan: The environmental evaluation plan is conducted in three phases per regulations. Phase I is a report on the history of the site and the building. The environmental consultant is compiling this report and it is expected to be completed within a week. Phase II/III is a comprehensive testing plan for the construction site and the fields in order to delineate the extent of the contamination both vertically and horizontally. Phase II/III may take up to four weeks to complete; however surface level testing on the fields is beginning immediately.

Remediating Excavated Soil: At the same time as the evaluation plan is being developed, a plan to remove the excavated soil is underway. There are three large mounds of soil on the site. Pile ‘A’ came from the South Parking Lot and is unsuitable for re-use (contains roots, etc.), but was not contaminated, and is being removed from the site. Pile ‘B’ came from the west lot excavation. It is known to be contaminated and has been contained properly. Estimates are being developed for its appropriate removal. Pile ‘C’ is topsoil from various parts of the site. Additional testing is scheduled to determine if it is reusable or if it must be removed from the site.

Funding: The building committee reviewed possible costs involved in addressing the environmental testing and remediation. The costs to remove the excavated soil and continuation of soil testing will exceed the remaining balance of the summer site work budget. Committee representatives, the contractors and the environmental consultants are working to develop a revised budget for the site work. They will request that the Board of Estimate & Taxation (BET) schedule a special meeting to consider approving the release of additional MISA project funds; funds which were previously budgeted and approved by the BET and the RTM for the MISA project. This work needs to occur as soon as possible in order to prepare the site for the start of school.

Impact on the MISA project: It is expected that the scope of work planned for this summer at GHS will be completed with the exception of the west lot. At this point in time, the building construction work slated to begin on November 1st is on schedule. Adjustments may need to be made once more information can be obtained by the environmental evaluation of the construction zone.

The next regularly scheduled GHS-MISA Building Committee meeting is August 16, 2011, 7:30 AM, Havemeyer Building.

Updates are posted to the District and Greenwich High School Web Sites as new information becomes available: www.greenwichschools.org - click on “Updates on Environmental Testing at GHS”