Public Invited to Provide Input, Listen to General Chemical Cleanup Plans Tonight

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will update the community on the cleanup of contamination and closure of General Chemical in Framingham tonight, Nov. 13 from 7 to 9 at Wilson Elementary School, which is adjacent to the now closed facility.

This is the second Public Involvement Plan (PIP) meeting the State's DEP has held. There will be translators for Spanish- Portuguese-speaking attendees.

FACES (Framingham Action Coalition for Environmental Safety), along with residents, fought to close the hazardous waste facility and continue to fight for the cleanup of a toxic plume that contaminates the Leland Street neighborhood.

Earlier this spring at the first PIP meeting, neighbors of General Chemical said they are worried about children playing in the wetlands behind the property and in a nearby drainage ditch near a condo complex.

Residents wanted signs placed on the wetlands, at the drainage ditch and also on two homes General Chemical purchased, now abandoned, to warn people of the potential health and safety risks.

"It's just a sign we are asking for. You can't put the kids in danger like that. The kids do go there," said resident Maria Landaverde.

"Can we assume there are a lot of children" and just post the signs, said Town Manager Bob Halpin to MassDEP. "If posting signs are the most complicated thing we are facing here, we are in trouble."