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Tyer Cautions Public Health Data Will Inform Phase 2 Reopening

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — In her weekly COVID-19 update on Friday, Mayor Linda Tyer asked residents to stay strong during the potential last week of Phase 1 of the reopening process.
 
She said as the state enters the third and potentially final week of Phase 1, residents need to continue to practice "safer at home" protocols.  
 
"I am confident that the city will do what needs to be done as we always do because even in the toughest times our community pride finds a way to shine bright," Tyer said. 
 
She reiterated that the beginning of the next phase will be guided by public health data and said the governor announced this week that the state was past the "surge."
 
"That is certainly goods news for Massachusetts and it reflects the collective commitment that so many people like yourselves who have adhered to the preventive measures to keep our communities healthy and safe," she said. 
 
She said the city will continue contact testing that will surely increase the number of cases but give the city more data to inform its own reopening. 
 
Tyer added that CVS on West Street is now providing testing. Those who qualify can pick up a kit to be later dropped off at a drop box at the store to be sent out for testing. She said they are only allowing 50 tests a day by appointment and people can visit CVS website to see if they qualify.
 
The city will continue to work with businesses and establishments opening up in Phase 1 and preparing those getting ready to open up in the coming phases. The state has asked local boards of healths to inform reopening businesses who have not used their buildings in some time that their water systems may be unsafe for use. She said those reopening should check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website for more information.  
 
Tyer said it was released that the 62 percent of the deaths in the state were cases from long-term living facilities. She said although this is heartbreaking, this has not been the case in Pittsfield, which has been working closely with local nursing homes.  
 
"We are deeply saddened by this reality and we are grateful that none of our nursing homes have experienced loos of lives because of this virus," she said.
 
Tyer noted that there is a nationwide unemployment scam being reported and victims have received claim notifications from the Department of Unemployment. She said anyone who believes they have been victimized should contact the Department of Unemployment.
 
In closing, Tyer urged residents to continue to enjoy the nice weather safely and visit the downtown to view the banners set up to honor the Pittsfield and Taconic high school graduates.

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EPA Lays Out Draft Plan for PCB Remediation in Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Ward 4 Councilor James Conant requested the meeting be held at Herberg Middle School as his ward will be most affected. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency and General Electric have a preliminary plan to remediate polychlorinated biphenyls from the city's Rest of River stretch by 2032.

"We're going to implement the remedy, move on, and in five years we can be done with the majority of the issues in Pittsfield," Project Manager Dean Tagliaferro said during a hearing on Wednesday.

"The goal is to restore the (Housatonic) river, make the river an asset. Right now, it's a liability."

The PCB-polluted "Rest of River" stretches nearly 125 miles from the confluence of the East and West Branches of the river in Pittsfield to the end of Reach 16 just before Long Island Sound in Connecticut.  The city's five-mile reach, 5A, goes from the confluence to the wastewater treatment plant and includes river channels, banks, backwaters, and 325 acres of floodplains.

The event was held at Herberg Middle School, as Ward 4 Councilor James Conant wanted to ensure that the residents who will be most affected by the cleanup didn't have to travel far.

Conant emphasized that "nothing is set in actual stone" and it will not be solidified for many months.

In February 2020, the Rest of River settlement agreement that outlines the continued cleanup was signed by the U.S. EPA, GE, the state, the city of Pittsfield, the towns of Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and Sheffield, and other interested parties.

Remediation has been in progress since the 1970s, including 27 cleanups. The remedy settled in 2020 includes the removal of one million cubic yards of contaminated sediment and floodplain soils, an 89 percent reduction of downstream transport of PCBs, an upland disposal facility located near Woods Pond (which has been contested by Southern Berkshire residents) as well as offsite disposal, and the removal of two dams.

The estimated cost is about $576 million and will take about 13 years to complete once construction begins.

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