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caption:
Drilling
Samples of the soils around the former Putnam Armory were done last week, as part of the Phase II examination of the property. Top: A sample pipe is pounded into the ground. Above: Some soil in the sample pipe. Linda Lemmon photos.
Soil tests
conducted
at armory
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- Engineers collected soil samples all around the former Putnam Armory property last week.
Six areas of concern were found during a Phase I survey of the National Guard property and the Phase II survey will pinpoint what substances of concern might remain at the site.
The Army National Guard’s 250th Engineering Battalion moved out several years ago and the state has offered the town the vacant Keech Street building for $500 in legal fees. The building is on 3.56 acres on Keech Street, near the town’s schools and Murphy Park.
The Board of Finance asked that environmental studies be conducted to see the true cost of taking the building before completing the deal.
Eagle Environmental conducted a pre-hazardous building renovation inventory. Following that, CME Engineering of Woodstock conducted a Phase I study. Examining all the records CME came up with six areas of concern, and recommended soil testing.
If rehabilitation of the property is not too expensive, the town is considering moving the Board of Education offices and the Parks and Recreation offices to the building, according to Town Administrator Douglas M. Cutler.
The Maguire Group Inc. of New Britain took samples at 24 sites around the armory. The results from the tests should come back in two weeks.
Engineers are looking at the soil to determine if any fuel or fuel oil tanks leaked.