Letter from Ashlin Brooks, Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA - New England, Region 1

re Shatz letter [ Correcting the record on letter-writer's Stockbridge Finance Committee comments — Berkshire Eagle - May 16, 2024]

Good afternoon, Carole,

RE: About the settlement received by ROR from GE

The Settlement Agreement stipulates GE will pay a total of $55 million to the towns of Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and Sheffield. EPA had no role in the negotiation, allocation, or distribution of funds from the Settlement Agreement and is not aware of Stockbridge's process for determining or approving the formula.

The letter is correct that there is no permanent storage or disposal of excavated material in Stockbridge. Temporary stockpiling of material excavated in Stockbridge may be required for a short period while arranging for transport.

The letter is correct that dredging of sediment from behind the Glendale Dam and excavation of floodplain soil from up to six parcels is anticipated to occur 12 years after the remediation starts in Pittsfield and is estimated to take a maximum of one year to complete. However, there may be some transport of material through Stockbridge via trucking prior to year 12 for material from Lee or Lenox to get to the Upland Disposal facility in Lee or to go to out of state landfills. Clean backfill could also potentially be transported through Stockbridge to other affected communities, however, a source of backfill has not been identified.

Photo: Lionel Delevingne