North School clean-up ongoing
Published on March 18th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - A small hole in an oil tank may have put a big dent in the purse's of the School Department and, possibly, the town itself.
Last Monday, North School staff members noticed a large amount of oil on the school's grounds and contacted administrators. In the hours and days that followed, new light was shed on the extent of the damage, which was estimated at 1,000 gallons worth of oil dispersion, and the effort needed to remedy the spill.
Acting School Superintendent Robert Barbarisi explained earlier this week that the clean-up efforts are under way and the children are back in the classrooms.
"The DEP came in and said there was no danger for the staff and students," Barbarisi said. "As far as the clean-up, we're still in the early stage."
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) visited the North School on Tuesday and determined that the town of Stoneham and the School Dep-artment were partly responsible for the incident.
Barbarisi said that the tank was inspected and the leak was traced to a small hole on its lower portion. The large contaminated area, which spread nearly to the school's property line, was blamed on heavy rains Monday morning and afternoon. Those rains reportedly carried water from the the tank, which is located underground, into the soil surrounding the building.
Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Robert Grover explained that the town has been lending its support and muscle to the clean-up process. The town has hired Rizzo Associates, a consulting firm, to help plan and conduct the work.
Presently, pumps are being used to drain the ground of any oil which may have seeped into the ground. It is unknown, Grover said, how long the work will continue at the site.
"Once it stops pumping, that's when we're done," he explained.
"It's an expensive proposition. You have to haul all the dirt away and you have to replace it after.
"We still have to find out what to do with the contaminated soil."
Grover said that excavation of the soil will continue in order to clear the major traces of oil from the property. This soil will likely be used in the paving of roads.
Replacement soil will then have to be purchased at a cost yet to be determined.
Raymond Johnson of Rizzo Associates said that, although definitive proof has yet to be found, it appears as if the leak occurred over an extended amount of time rather than all at once.
"That's what it looks like," he said, "but it'll be easier to tell once we get the tank out of the ground."
If, in fact, the spill occurred over a prolonged period, insurance may not cover the cost for clean-up, Johnson said.
In order to excavate the tank, which is estimated to be 30 to 40 years old, Rizzo Associates and the DPW are working on the preliminary needs for the DEP-imposed Immediate Response Action Plan.
This plan is expected to include an order for the drainage of the tank (which has already been completed), the installation of trenches on the grounds (also completed) and several borings on the site which are expected to be done in the coming days.
"Right now," Johnson said, "we're sort of in a reactionary mode. Once we do the borings, and find out what's really down there, we'll have a better idea of what will be needed (for further clean-up) and of the cost."
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