|
Friday night a tanker crashed at the intersection of Mystic Valley Parkway and Medford St in Arlington, spilling approximately 10,000 gallons of home heating fuel. The fuel ran into the storm drains which let out directly into the Mystic River. Medford officials have been coordinating directly with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). "A major spill like this one falls under the jurisdiction of MassDEP and we are cooperating fully with them in their cleanup efforts. I am very concerned about the effects on the Mystic River and the health of the abutting neighbors and we want to ensure that the Mystic River Watershed Association is fully involved with the situation," said Mayor McGlynn. MassDEP explained that residents are likely to continue to smell oil as it is rapidly vaporizing due to the heat and the fumes are being carried on the wind. MassDEP conducted air monitoring last evening and while there are contaminates in the air, no evacuation was deemed necessary as there were no immediate health risks. Clean Harbors is the Licensed Site Professional overseeing the cleanup under the supervision of MassDEP. They have been onsite since shortly after the spill Friday night. MassDEP and Clean Harbors expect to be on site for approximately a week. The cleanup is being coordinated from the Arlington side of the river and the primary work site is at the intersection of Mystic Valley Parkway and River Street in Arlington (Harvard Street in Medford). |
||
Environmental Official Updates Arlington Tanker Spill Cleanup
ARLINGTON (CBS) – A state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman said most of the oil that spilled when a tanker truck overturned in Arlington on Friday has been recovered.
The DEP spokesman said the tanker was carrying about 9,500 gallons of oil when it overturned near the intersection of Medford Street and Mystic Valley Parkway. About 6,800 gallons of oil had been recovered as of Sunday afternoon, he said, noting some of the oil had probably evaporated over the weekend’s hot weather.
The DEP spokesman said the cleanup effort would likely be disrupted by Sunday’s severe weather. But he said rain could help the effort by flushing oil from storm drains in the neighborhood so it could be recovered out of the Mystic River.
Friday afternoon, the tanker truck owned by JP Noonan rolled over after failing to navigate a rotary.
The driver, a 65-year-old Framingham man, suffered serious injuries and was taken to Beth Israel Hospital.
Tanker Accident Shuts Down Mystic Valley Parkway In Arlington
ARLINGTON (CBS) — A gasoline tanker-truck overturned on the Mystic Valley Parkway, leaving fuel running down the roadway.
Friday afternoon, a tanker-truck owned by JP Noonan was on its side at the intersection of the Mystic Valley Parkway and Medford Street.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Bernice Corpuz reports
State Police say the driver of the tanker, a 65-year-old Framingham man was ejected. He was taken to Beth Israel Hospital with serious injuries.
According to Arlington Police Chief Fred Ryan, the tanker was coming on to Route 60 from Medford into Arlington when it failed to negotiate the rotary and flipped.
The fire department and haz-mat teams set up booms to contain the spill, which was running toward the Mystic River in the minutes after the crash.
Mystic River Watershed Association’s Ekongar Singh Khalsa tells WBZ, quite a bit of gasoline has gone into the river.
Listen to the interview with EkOngKar Singh Khalsa
A member of the association who was kayaking on the river at the time of the tanker crash saw gas in storm drains and said the amount flowing in was “significant.”
A tanker-truck can hold up to 10,000 gallons of fuel.
A nearby bank was evacuated and tests were done to surrounding homes to make sure air-quality was not compromised.
No charges have yet been filed against the driver.
The Herring Are Back!
The annual herring migration at the DCR Upper Mystic Lake dam is being monitored by volunteers through the second year of the Herring Monitoring Program. To date, more than 17,000 herring have been recorded passing through the fish ladder to reach spawning grounds in the Upper Mystic Lake.
Read more about the Herring Monitoring Program here.
Herring Run & Paddle Draws Record Crowd
On Sunday, May 19th, the 17th annual Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle drew the largest number of participants yet. Thanks to our sponsors and all who came out to run, paddle, bike, volunteer and spectate!
RACE RESULTS HERE. Photos here.
See the full list of events for the Mystic River Herring Run and Paddle here.
Rain Gardens in Arlington Planted
Hardy School Rain Garden
Dozens of volunteers helped plant two rain gardens in Arlington, MA. These specially designed gardens collect, absorb and clean stormwater runoff from parking lots. Check out the rain gardens at Hurd Field off of Drake Road and at the Hardy Elementary School at 52 Lake Street!
Mystic River Watershed Named as new Urban Waters Federal Partnership Location
The Mystic River Watershed is one of eleven newly selected locations for the nation’s Urban Waters Federal Partnership. This partnership will reconnect urban communities with their waterways by improving coordination among federal agencies and collaborating with community-led revitalization efforts to improve our nation’s water systems and promote their economic, environmental and social benefits. The Mystic River Watershed Urban Waters Federal Partnership will focus on improved water quality as well as increased access to public open space in the watershed. This Partnership greatly enhances and strengthens the ongoing efforts of the Mystic River Watershed Initiative Steering Committee and leverages more support for EPA’s Initiative. EPA will be working with USGS, HUD, ACOE, and FEMA.
More information about the Mystic River Partnership:
http://www.urbanwaters.gov/pdf/UWFPMysticRiverBackgrounder.pdf
Read more about the Urban Waters Federal Partnership at http://www.urbanwaters.gov/
Read the full press release (May 10, 2013) about the 11 new Federal Partnership locations.
Special Guest Presentation June 4
On Tuesday, June 4th, join the Mystic River Watershed Association for the monthly Committee Meeting to hear from Pallavi Mande, Director of Blue Cities®, at the Charles River Watershed Association. Pallavi will discuss their work in Chelsea in collaboration with MyRWA. The meeting is free and open to the public. June 4, 7-9pm, Tufts University, Lincoln Filene Center, Rabb Room, Medford.
Flatbread Pizza Fundraiser Set For June 18
Enjoy Pizza and Bowling for a Cause!
On Tuesday, June 18 head to Flatbread Pizza at Sacco's Bowl Haven in Davis Square for a MyRWA fundraiser. That’s right, the more flatbread you eat the more money will be raised to support the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA) and our efforts to protect and restore the Mystic River Watershed!
Eat at or get take-out from Flatbread Pizza, 45 Day Street, Somerville, between 5pm and 11pm and a portion of your flatbread will automatically be donated to MyRWA.
Reservations are accepted for groups of 10 or more.
RSVP to this event on Facebook.
Join Somerville to DePAVE the WAY!
DePAVE the WAY!
Please note the corrected address: 88 Bartlett St.
Join Cador & Lenni from Somerville Climate Action:
Saturday May 11 from 12:30 to 3:00pm
Steve Langdon's house at 88 Bartlett St. (between Macoun Sq. & Winter Hill)
Rain date: Sunday, May 12 from 12:30 to 3:00pm
If you haven't already, please sign up on this Google Groups form to let us know you'll be there.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFFZbE1OS05XblFXYl9EQUc2UzVKcmc6MQ
See "Depaving the Way to a Safer Climate in Somerville"
http://vimeo.com/22830594
In Spanish: ¿Qúe Es Depaving?
http://talkingaboutsomerville.blogspot.com/2011/04/que-es-depaving.html
WHAT WE HAVE
Impervious surfaces prevent rainwater from entering the soil and instead divert it to nearby waterways. Along the way, the rainwater carries pollutants such as oil, antifreeze, plastics, pesticides, and heavy metals from the roads into local streams and rivers, devastating habitats and polluting local waterways.
BEA PARTOFTHE SOLUTION
The removal of pavement allows for the revegetation of land with trees and plants. The benefits of urban vegetation include:
* Storm water becomes purified naturally when water soaks into the soil and returns to the water table
* Climate change is decreased when plants remove carbon dioxide from the air and produce oxygen
* Green spaces reduce the "urban heat island effect" which results when dark-colored asphalt absorbs summer heat, decreasing the need for electricity to power fans and air conditioners
* Shade trees and bushes cool homes and outdoor spaces by shading of the sun’s rays
* Evapotranspiration of rain on the leaves results in further cooling
* Trees and bushes protect against harsh winds
* Green areas provide much needed beauty to urban areas
* Air quality is enhanced when particulate pollutants are removed from the air
* Trees and bushes provide visual privacy and reduce noise from the street
* Green spaces restore local habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife
* Vegetable gardens provide homeowners with local nutritious food
