PUBLIC NOTICE
October 31, 2019
On Friday, October 25, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) made a visit to review/inspect certain Falmouth Water Division operations, including an inquiry which the DEP had apparently received from an anonymous source regarding the “handling of Asbestos Concrete Pipe.” We understand that two individuals from DEP were involved in this site visit. The Town Manager was not notified in advance of nor subsequent to this DEP site visit. The matter first came to light on Monday afternoon, October 28 when the press forwarded an email to the Town Manager which included some type of social media posting alleging improper Asbestos Concrete (A/C) Pipe storage. This email was promptly forwarded to the Water Superintendent and the Public Works Director for information and review. At the Board of Selectmen’s meeting that same evening, Mr. Heylin made reference to the alleged inappropriate storage of A/C pipe in water main repair and replacement.
It was subsequently confirmed to the Town Manager that a DEP site visit had indeed occurred on that Friday and a review of the Water Division’s pipe storage area was conducted among other items, including a discussion of the Town’s routine process for complying with Water Division employee certification to work with such A/C pipe in their normal maintenance operations.
As of this writing, no response has been received from the DEP as a follow-up to their site visit. Nonetheless, we are able to confirm that requirements for storage and disposing of A/C pipe related to Town Water Division operations has not in all cases complied with DEP regulations. These same regulations require that A/C pipe which is cut/removed from the ground must be bagged and secured and that furthermore, such bagged pipe must be removed within a 30-day period.
Under the direction and oversight of Public Works Director Ray Jack, this has been corrected and all such bagged A/C pipe will be removed in accordance with DEP regulations. Corrective actions are now in place to ensure that all such DEP requirements will be routinely met. We are assured that, at no time has the public drinking water supply been compromised in any way. This matter remains under internal review. Further actions will be taken as deemed necessary and appropriate as this review further proceeds.
Julian M. Suso Ray Jack
Falmouth Town Manager Falmouth Director of Public Works
