An Unexpected Find |
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An underground cavity found near the northern driveway (click image for larger view) |
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View from Ardmore facing north (click image for larger view) |
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View from Ardmore facing south shows the thickness of the "roof" of the structure (click image for larger view) |
For several days, contractors have been busy repaving the driveway at SMOC's proposed drug rehab at 517 Winter Street.
On June 19, 2007, work was temporarily halted when a crew made an unexpected discovery near the northern driveway. Apparently a section of ground collapsed under a backhoe, revealing an underground cavity partially filled with water. The structure seemed to have had a roof of wooden timbers covered with about eight inches of concrete.
There was apparently no record of this structure on any town engineering drawing or blueprint, but Building Commissioner Michael Foley unilaterally declared it to be a septic tank or cesspool and approved removal.
Hopefully that's all it is, because if Foley was wrong about the structure, then he would be in violation of Massachusetts law for not investigating further. According to MGL ch. 40, sec 8D, the town
shall report to the state archeologist the existence of any archeological, paleontological or historical site or object discovered in accordance with section twenty-seven C of chapter nine, and shall apply for permits necessary pursuant to said section twenty-seven C.
We also hope Foley was correct in his assumption that there is no environmental risk in digging it up.
As of June 22, the issue has been dealt with. According to the state's Department of Environmental Protection, whatever it was has been dealt with properly. By state law, the property owner (SMOC) had to notify the town of this find. They did notify the town's Board of Health and subsequently hired a contractor to pump out the structure and applied for a permit to "decommission" the system. Their options were to either crush the tank and bury it, or excavate it and fill the hole with clean fill. They did the latter. As for the possibility of hazardous waste, the Board of Health stated that unless there is specific evidence of toxic dumping or industrial use on the property, the owner is not obliged to do soil testing or take further steps. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, it is not a concern that no record of this structure was found in town records, as it could have been lost over the years.
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