Heating Oil Leaks Into Dalton Brook

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — A residential oil tank at Wahconah Falls Mobile Home Park leaked heating oil, which entered Wahconah Falls Brook on March 10. 
 
Approximately 200 to 250 gallons of heating oil leaked from the tank, Fire Chief Chris Cachat said. 
 
The department responded to the report of gasoline in the brook on Cleveland Road at 6:43 p.m. Wahconah Falls Brook flows underneath the roadway.
 
Cachat, squad one, engine three, and utility 11 arrived on the scene where they detected "a strong odor of fuel and upon inspection of the brook a sheen was visible." 
 
The crews were directed to start working their way upstream to search for residential and commercial sites along the brook. The state Department of Environmental Protection was also requested, Cachat said. 
 
The leak was found and the area contained and firefighters remained onsite until the DEP representative arrived on scene
 
Upon the arrival of the DEP, the incident was turned over to them, and the department cleared the scene at 9:30 p.m. The DEP is currently managing the situation.
 
The DEP has been contacted for comment.

Tags: contamination,   DEP,   

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Pittsfield ConCom Sees Revised Work Plans for Wahconah Park

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Conservation Commission will dig into the notice of intent application for Wahconah Park's overhaul. 

The commission heard an update on the historic park's reconstruction during its regular meeting on July 23. 

The grandstand is expected to be down by early September, and the city has been working with SK Design Group and the Department of Environmental Protection to revise work plans, which can be complex on a site located entirely in the floodplain. 

The revised plan includes supplemental materials to address the DEP's comments, clarified riverfront area compliance, a separated wetland replication area floodplain, a fully documented stormwater conveyance and treatment approach, and addresses wetland floodplain and construction sequencing impacts. 

It was continued to Aug. 13 so that commissioners can review the new documents and comment.

"The revised design will replace the aging and failed drainage infrastructure," explained James Scalise of SK Design Group, on behalf of the city.

"…We have avoided and minimized impacts to regulated resource areas. We've reduced the potential for erosion control, drainage failure, and uncontrolled discharges." 

The over-a-quarter-century-old structure was deemed unsafe in 2022, and planners have determined that starting from square one is the best option; a $15 million rebuild is on the table.

The project team was before the ConCom in May after receiving several comments from the DEP.  Because of the difficult permitting path, they requested a continuance and have spent that time responding.

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