Public Meeting to Review Woods Pond Remediation Plans

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BOSTON — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has scheduled a virtual public meeting on the Reach 6 (Woods Pond area) Remedial Design/Remedial Action (RD/RA) at the GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site for Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, from 6:30 – 8:30 PM on Zoom.

The meeting will be completely virtual out of an abundance of caution for weather and any residual illnesses continuing from the holidays, and it will be recorded and posted to the website.

The link to the meeting is here and on the GE website:

https://usepa.zoomgov.com/j/1613982552?pwd=zlTgzqk0PpViqu6iHNHaEP9dSgPp0i.1

Meeting ID: 161 398 2552

Passcode: 30052177

GE will be presenting its remedial design for Reach 6 (including Woods Pond and Valley Mill Pond) followed by a question-and-answer period. GE will be removing sediment in Woods Pond up to 6 feet below the crest of Woods Pond Dam regardless of PCB levels, and an engineered cap comprised of an erosion protection layer, geotechnical filter layer, and chemical isolation layer will be placed to isolate any remaining contamination.

The primary human health risk drivers for the Rest of River cleanup are consumption of fish and direct contact with some floodplain soil along with ecological risk drivers. The proposed cleanup will also improve Woods Pond by increasing total water column depth allowing for greater community access and recreation.


Tags: Rest of the River,   

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Pittsfield Eyes OPM for Crosby/Conte, Seeks Funds for PHS

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city plans to hire an owner's project manager for the Crosby/Conte proposal this week and pursue additional school construction funds from the MSBA. 

The School Building Needs Commission last week voted to move forward with a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority seeking funds to renovate Pittsfield High School.

Interim Superintendent Latifah Philips reported that the MSBA's core program statement of interest filing period is open until April 17, if the commission would like to consider it for renovations to PHS.  According to MSBA's website, the core program is intended for new construction, addition, and/or renovation projects. 

Members recognized that it is a tight schedule to put together an SOI, but agreed it is best to try. 

Pittsfield is seeking up to 80 percent reimbursement from the MSBA to rebuild and consolidate John C. Crosby Elementary and Silvio O. Conte Community School on the Crosby property.  

The MSBA has invited the district to a feasibility study phase, and a selection committee is working to bring forward applicants for an owner's project manager. This hired consultant oversees a construction or design project in the owner's interest. 

Owner's project manager proposals were due on Feb. 18, and Pittsfield received nine proposals. Last Monday, the OPM search committee finalized three selections for public interviews, which were to be held on Friday at City Hall; the selection package is due to the MSBA by March 11. 

During last week's School Committee meeting, Phillips said the district is on track to submit for consideration on April 6.  

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