E.L. Harvey Recycling Pitches for Expansion

E.L. Harvey & Sons last night presented the case for expansion of its recycling plant to the Hopkinton, Mass., health board, calling on two engineers, a retired police chief and a Westborough, Mass., selectman speaking as a citizen to back its position.

"Based on predictions of emissions concentrations, with particular attention to diesel exhaust, the risks are small," said Stephen Zemba, a senior engineer for Cambridge Environmental Inc., which conducts environmental health risk assessments,

The four testimonials came from individuals called by Harvey during the first night of what is expected to be a multi-session hearing. The hearing continues tonight at 7 in the high school auditorium.

Harvey wants to build an 80,000-square-foot building to sort recyclables; a 20,000-square-foot construction and demolition waste building; a 20,000-square-foot maintenance garage; an outdoor compost area; a truck fueling station; and parking for up to 50 trucks and 90 employee vehicles.

The facility would be on 40 acres in Hopkinton and 10 in Westborough, just northwest of where Rte. 135 and the Mass Pike cross.

Neighbors oppose the expansion, citing increased traffic, trash and noise, and negative impacts on property values, quality of life and the character of the towns.

Harvey predicts 332 additional truck trips per 11-hour workday, or one truck trip every two minutes.

Dr. David Weinstock, a Spring Street resident, said his biggest fear is the air pollution associated with the trucks. He said diesel pollutants negatively affect air quality, and can cause major health risks including asthma, respiratory problems and cancer.

When pressed by Bob Cox, Harvey's attorney, Weinstock said he did not know at what threshold diesel exhaust concentrations would cause harm, or if the Harvey expansion would cause local air quality to break the threshold.

Zemba said the air would still meet national ambient air quality standards.

He said the Environmental Protection Agency estimates annual average concentrations of diesel particulate matter in the air at 1.7-2.4 micrograms per cubic meter. He estimates the Harvey expansion, including on-site equipment and truck traffic, would add less than 0.033 micrograms per cubic meter - an amount he characterized as negligible.

"This site is considered a small pollutant source," Zemba said.

He said the chances of getting cancer from additional diesel pollutants from on-site equipment would be 3 in 1 million, and from truck emissions less than 1 in 1 million.

Zemba compared that to levels permitted by the EPA's Superfund program: up to 100 in 1 million.

Michael Theriault, president and principal consultant for Mike Theriault Acoustics, testified that noise levels associated with the project would be well within allowable standards.

"I concluded the health risk associated with hearing loss is negligible," Theriault said.

Retired Westborough Police Chief Glenn Parker said he couldn't remember an accident with any of Harvey's trucks in the last 10 years.

He said routes 135 and 30 and South Street are adequate to support the traffic increase. Parker is more worried about the pending increases in passenger traffic associated with major housing developments.

Parker said the East Main Street bridge has been struck by trucks 23 times in the last 14 months, but only six incidents required police control or caused damage.

"No truck is going to damage that bridge," he said of the World War II-era construction.

Parker and Westborough Selectman Denzil Drewry, who said he was not speaking in his capacity as an elected official but as a concerned resident, said Harvey has always maintained excellent relations with Westborough.

"They're committed to being good citizens," Drewry said. "For me that's very important because I trust them. We can't trust outside developers. I know I can sit down with them and say, 'Look, we need to compromise.' "

Harvey will continue its presentation tonight. Several town boards and opponents will follow. – The Milford (Massachusetts) Daily News