Fuss & O'Neill has been Retained by DEM as an Independent Oversight Contractor to Monitor and Oversee Closure of the Site
PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management announces that the removal of construction and demolition debris from the site of the former Trans-Load America (TLA)/ Pond View recycling facility in East Providence is set to begin on Tuesday, May 28, in order to avoid any possible disturbance to residents over the long holiday weekend. TLA-Providence, LLC was the operator of the former TLA/Pond View construction and demolition debris processing facility located at One Dexter Road in East Providence. The business was put into Receivership in March 2012, and the facility ceased operations on September 10, 2012.
Under the terms of a Performance Agreement between DEM and the party performing the cleanup, closure of the site must be completed within 60 business days and performed in accordance with the closure plan and all license requirements, laws, rules and regulations. The hours of operation for closure work are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. During this time, residents may notice increased traffic and experience odors. The intent of the party performing the closure is to remove most of the material via rail; recyclable material will be removed via truck.
DEM will monitor performance to ensure that the property owner is performing the work satisfactorily and in accordance with all applicable requirements. In addition to DEM inspectors, the Department has engaged Fuss & O'Neill as an independent oversight contractor who will be on site during the closure. This independent contractor will be paid from the bond funds to oversee the closure, perform air monitoring and report daily to DEM. Air monitoring data will be provided to the RI Department of Health for review. As well, weekly construction meetings will be held at the site throughout the duration of the cleanup. These meetings will include a representative of DEM and the property owner. DEM will oversee the closure, including the disbursement of the bond funds dedicated to finance the closure. Money from the bond will only be used for activities directly addressed in the closure plan, and once the closure is completed, the existing license to process construction and demolition debris at this site will be terminated.
In order to monitor conditions at the site and the progress of the closure, the Department has been conducting regular inspections and actively participating in the legal proceedings related to the Receivership, with a goal of seeing that the required closure take place as efficiently as possible. DEM inspectors have examined and measured the piles on many occasions and have seen no evidence of any wastes other than the construction and demolition debris that TLA/Pond View was licensed to handle when it was an active facility. There is no evidence of any toxic or hazardous wastes on the site. The inspectors have also been specifically looking for any evidence that additional disposal had occurred at the site and have seen no evidence of this. What remains are the piles left when the facility ceased business operation.
Information and updates on the closure of the former TLA/Pond View facility are posted on DEM's website at www.dem.ri.gov. Inquiries about the closure of the TLA/Pond View facility can be made by emailing DEM at TLAPondViewClosure@dem.ri.gov. Interested parties are encouraged to periodically check the DEM TLA/Pond View Closure webpage for additional information.