Community feedback
- W. R. Grace Site and adjacent areas

- from the North Cambridge Massachusetts / Alewife community
- to the media, government officials, W. R. Grace, and the community at large

(Quotes from Cambridge Chronicle copyright Community Newspaper Company.)

(This page updated March 30, 2005)

* = item from another part of this website, cross-indexed here for convenience.

• 2005
  • * March 28, 2005 Comments on Revised Activity and Use Limitation - Grace site - Alice Wolf, State Representative
  • * March 10, 2005 Comments on Revised Activity and Use Limitation - Grace site - Anne Paulsen, State Representative
• 2004
  • December 16, 2004 W. R. Grace meeting transcript: HTML (regular web page)   text file
  • December 16, 2004 W. R. Grace meeting: Alewife Study Group press release - December 11, 2004
  • December 16, 2004 W. R. Grace meeting: Alewife Study Group flyer
  • January 22, 2004 Permit Extension Application at W.R. Grace site
• 2003
  • December 15, 2003 Report on Phase II Comprehensive Site Assessment for the Presence of Asbestos - comments from Alewife Neighbors, Inc.
• 2001
  • * July 20, 2001 Cambridge City Council; Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee meeting - on W. R. Grace and asbestos
  • July 4, 2001 Factual errors in Chronicle editorial on Asbestos Protection Ordinance - letter in Cambridge Chronicle
  • July 4, 2001 W. R. Grace utility trench in North Cambridge - opinion in Cambridge Chronicle
  • June 7, 2001 Applicability of Cambridge Asbestos Protection Ordinance to W.R. Grace excavating a utility trench - sent to Cambridge City Councilors by Alewife Study Group
  • Jun. 5, 2001 W. R. Grace planned utility trench - Alewife Study Group flyer with map
  • Jun. 5, 2001 W. R. Grace planned utility trench - Alewife Study Group flyer
  • Jun. 5, 2001 W. R. Grace planned utility trench - Alewife Study Group request to EPA
  • * Jun. 4, 2001 Cambridge City Council order - W. R. Grace utility trench
  • Mar. 13, 2001 Commentary on Weston assessment, for EPA, on W. R. Grace site - by GeoInsight for Alewife Neighbors Inc.
  • Feb. 21-23, 2001 Feb. 21 EPA press release on Assessment of Sampling From W.R. Grace site - a resident's comments, on radio station WBUR, Feb. 22 and 23.
• 2000
  • * planned W. R. Grace utility trench - comment by EPA On-Scene Coordinator Mary Ellen Stanton
  • planned W. R. Grace utility trench - Opportunity for public comment (by Oct. 30 2000)
    Letters from Haley & Aldrich, Oct. 4, and comments by a member of the Alewife Study Group, Oct. 6.
  • planned W. R. Grace utility trench - public comment
    Letter to Haley & Aldrich, plus a summary for the City Council, Oct. 28
  • planned W. R. Grace utility trench - public comment
    Letters to Haley & Aldrich, Oct. 26
  • Sign on W. R. Grace property not connected with reality
    (Letter to the Cambridge Chronicle - text of letter; photographs; link to May 31 Chronicle)
  • Request for EPA to intervene and oversee asbestos contamination investigation and remediation at W. R. Grace
    (Letter on behalf of Alewife Study Group, to United States Environmental Protection Agency, April 12)
  • Interview with Alewife Study Group member - New England Cable News
    (link to NECN website's video of Feb. 14, requires RealVideo
        link no longer works - info provided for access to sources archives: www.necn.com/vidload/?vidname=/2000/02/14/1800lc03)
  • Environmental Justice: Examples from local communities - a speech.
    (by an Alewife Study Group member on a panel organized by Boston Schweitzer fellows, Feb. 3)
  • Environmental Justice: Examples from local communities - a notice.
    (a panel, with an Alewife Study Group member, organized by Boston Schweitzer fellows, Feb. 3)
    
    
• 1999
  • WBUR radio story "...neighborhood residents fear..."
    (brief description of story that aired Nov. 1)
  • "State says Grace plan falls short"
        link no longer works - info provided for access to sources archives: townonline.com/cambridge/archive/081299/009187_0_state_081299_708522ab02.html
    "The state has told W.R. Grace that the firm's plan to monitor and manage cancer-causing asbestos on its North Cambridge property is insufficient."
    (link to Cambridge Chronicle, Aug. 12)
  • "City not satisfied with W.R. Grace's asbestos plan"
        link no longer works - info provided for access to sources archives: townonline.com/cambridge/archive/071599/009284_2_city_071599_983d06a477.html
    ' "The proposed plan is not sufficiently detailed and complete..." said ... the city-commissioned Environmental Health & Engineering Inc.'
    "Jack Miano, an environmental engineer at the DEP, said the residents have legitimate concerns..."
    (link to Cambridge Chronicle, July 15)
  • Public hearing (a notice) on asbestos found in soil at W. R. Grace site.
    (Hearing held at W. R. Grace, June 17)
    Transcript of hearing (provided by W. R. Grace).
  • "Neighbors fume at W.R. Grace plans"
        link no longer works - info provided for access to sources archives: townonline.com/cambridge/archive/061099/009389_0_neighbors_061099_0a0272d99e.html
    "A public meeting to discuss environmental cleanup and development plans at Grace's North Cambridge site turned sour when the recent removal of an underground fuel storage tank was brought to the fore."
    (link to Cambridge Chronicle, June 10)
    Transcript of hearing (provided by W. R. Grace).
  • "Union asks feds to probe Alewife health claims"      link no longer works - info provided for access to sources archives:townonline.com/cambridge/archive/061099/009389_2_union_061099_c68e2e42bc.html
    "...Carmen's Union members have connected health complaints to alleged chemical contaminants leaking into the Alewife tunnel from the W.R. Grace site."
    (link to Cambridge Chronicle, June 10)
  • City Council rejects neighborhood's zoning petition for W. R. Grace site / Alewife area
    (A flyer distributed to North Cambridge homes, June, about Jan. 6 Council meeting)
  • "Council opts for limited rezoning of Grace site"     link no longer works - info provided for access to sources archives: townonline.com/cambridge/archive/011499/009885_0_council_011499_440b97a8a2.html
    Includes quotes from the community
    (link to Cambridge Chronicle, Jan. 14)
    
    
• 1998
  • "Event honors peace, justice award winners"     link no longer works - info provided for access to sources archives: townonline.com/cambridge/archive/100898/018991_2_event_100898_80aafb4e84.html
    "The Cambridge Peace Commission will honor members of Cambridge's many communities... ...The Alewife Study Group, recognized for its attention to toxic waste in North Cambridge..."
    (link to Cambridge Chronicle, Oct. 8)
  • Asbestos manufactured at W. R. Grace site (under Dewey & Almy)
    (to David Struhs, Commissioner, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Commonwealth of Massachusetts, May 7)
    
  • "Ex consultant to chemical firm oversees hazardous waste removal"
        link no longer works - info provided for access to sources archives: townonline.com/cambridge/archive/041698/019583_0_ex_041698_6e686aa681.html
    "Grace neighbors skeptical of cleanup"
    (link to Cambridge Chronicle, April 16)
  • Asbestos sampling plan proposed by W. R. Grace is incomplete
    (to Robert Sorrentino, W. R. Grace Feb. 27)
    
    
• 1997
  • Asbestos manufactured at W. R. Grace site (under Dewey & Almy)
    (to David Struhs, Commissioner, Executive Office of Environmental Affairs Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Nov. 12)
    
  • W. R. Grace site buffer zone / moratorium petition
    (to be discussed at Cambridge City meetings, Feb. 18 and 19)
  • Comments on the buffer zone restricting development.
    Note: on Jan. 6, 1997 W. R. Grace filed a lawsuit, related to the buffer zone, against the city and each of its nine councilors.
    (two letters to the Cambridge Chronicle, Jan. 13)
    
    
• 1996
  • Response to temporary buffer zone enacted by City Council
    (to Cambridge Chronicle, Nov. 4)
  • Report of W. R. Grace Site Advisory Committee (created by Cambridge City Council)
    - final version: detailed report on virtually all aspects of the site
    (to community at large, Oct.)
  • Zoning amendment requesting buffer zone restricting development needed around site
    (to Cambridge Chronicle, Sept. 17)
  • Need to check Russell Field and (due to flooding) basements for contamination,
    signed by 67 Concerned North Cambridge Residents
    (to Robert Healy, Cambridge City Manager, July 8)
  • Report of W. R. Grace Site Advisory Committee (created by Cambridge City Council)
    - preliminary version (final version issued in October)
    (presented to the Cambridge City Council, summer)
  • Traffic counts at Alewife - 1995 and 1996
    (to Stuart Dash, Cambridge Community Development Department, March)
  • Traffic signal timing and traffic mitigation at Alewife
    (to Liz Epstein, Cambridge Community Development Department, March)
    
    
• 1995
  • Objections to plans submitted by Spaulding and Slye, developers
    (to Cambridge Chronicle, Nov. 16)
    
  • Objections to comments of David Vickery of Spaulding and Slye, developers
    (to Cambridge Chronicle, Nov. 9)
  • Feedback is not the same as complaints
    (to Cambridge Chronicle, Sept. 28)
  • Cambridge City Council creates W. R. Grace Site Advisory Committee
    (creation of a forum for community feedback, Sept. 18 - see 1996 for reports)
  • Community meeting of 150 concerned neighbors - recommendations based on concerns
    (to the community, based on Aug. 15 meeting)
  • Community meeting of 150 concerned neighbors - summary of concerns
    (to the community, from Aug. 15 meeting; prepared Sept. 12)

* = item from another part of this website, cross-indexed here for convenience.

Contact the Alewife Study Group, North Cambridge Massachusetts, by email at information@alewife.org