- Details
- Category: Past Issues
Decisions
to precede
further
armory
tests
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM --- With two environmental studies completed, the former National Guard Armory awaits some decisions before a third is conducted.
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 and found asbestos in the gym floor and other building tiles, according to Town Administrator Douglas M. Cutler. In addition they found that certain fixtures are old and should be replaced to negate the environmental hazard with them, too. They estimated that, worst case scenario, it would cost about $150,000 to bring those items into "environmental line."
Following that, CME Engineering of Woodstock conducted a Phase I study. Examining all the records, Cutler said, CME came up with six areas of concern, and recommended soil testing.
The report pointed to a former diesel above-ground storage tank that was in a fenced-in area behind the armory. It was removed but CME recommended soil testing in that area.
They also noted that there was an oiled gravel parking and maintenance area and soil testing is recommended there. In addition they said the oiled gravel may present a risk to human health or the environment if not properly managed.
CME also looked at the former diesel and gasoline underground storage tanks that were installed around 1990 and removed in 2003. More soil testing recommended, although the records indicate that the tanks were in good condition when they were removed and "there was no evidence of contamination observed."
A former and current fuel oil underground storage tanks and CME suggested that soil testing be done to determine whether a release of fuel oil came from any leaks or from the buried fuel oil delivery line from the tank to the Armory boiler room.
CME also discussed the floor drain in the boiler room and noted that the drain is believed to discharge to a buried dry well or perforated pipe located outside the north wall of the building. Leaks are possible here and soil testing should be done.
And finally CME noted that the septic system receives wastewater discharge from the Armory building's kitchen, lavatories and showers. "However, because of the historical weapon maintenance and other historical activities conducted within the Armory Building, it is possible that releases of oils, cleaning solvents and other chemicals to the wastewater drains may have occurred."
Cutler said how specific the third set of tests, including soil tests, should be might be determined by what the town decides to do with the building. If, for example, the town leans toward using the building for a Town Hall annex, for offices, that would affect the impact of the areas of concern.
When he gets the estimate for the Phase II testing from CME, Cutler said he would pass that figure on to the Board of Finance and "we'd go from there." In the meantime, the town has placed $200,000 in its Five-year Capital Improvement Plan, in case the project goes forward. Cutler said funding earmarked for particular projects must be listed in that capital improvement plan budget if the town hopes to receive state funding for any project there. The state looks for a listing of that particular project when a town pursues state funding, Cutler said.