Hazardous-Waste Site Ranking Perturbs Norwood-July 17, 1987

The findings were sobering: Norwood and Billerica each had twelve confirmed hazardous waste sites, placing them at the top of the state’s list.

This revelation sent ripples of concern through the community. Thomas Riolo, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, immediately called for an emergency meeting with state and local environmental officials. His alarm was not only about the number of sites but also about the lack of progress in cleaning them up. Riolo questioned why, despite the state’s cleanup law passed the previous November, none of Norwood’s sites had been addressed that year.

The DEQE’s list was the third in a series since January, mandated by the hazardous waste cleanup law approved by voters as Question 4. This law required the state to publish quarterly updates and set timetables for remediation. While 169 sites across Massachusetts had already been cleaned up since January, Norwood had seen no such progress. Instead, two additional suspected sites in town had been confirmed as hazardous.

Phyllis Boucher, Norwood’s Public Health Director, acknowledged that earlier lists may have been inflated by suspected sites later proven non-toxic. However, the latest list confirmed that many of those suspicions were valid. Boucher pledged close scrutiny and collaboration with Fire Chief Thomas Barry to ensure proper cleanup. Barry’s proactive testing of chemical storage tanks was cited as one reason for the high number of sites, but he warned that many towns were being lulled into false security, only to discover gasoline leaks and other hazards later.

The industrial legacy of Norwood played a central role in this troubling ranking. In the late 1800s, industries flourished along the Neponset River, leaving behind waste that persisted long after the factories closed. These remnants of the town’s industrial past now stood as hazardous sites requiring state intervention.

For residents, the news was unsettling. The presence of twelve confirmed hazardous waste sites raised fears about public health and environmental safety. Yet officials emphasized that awareness was the first step toward resolution. As Riolo noted, being at the top of the list meant the town knew about its problems and could take steps to fix them.

The situation underscored the importance of vigilance and environmental responsibility. While other communities celebrated cleaned-up sites, Norwood faced the challenge of addressing its industrial past head-on. The town’s officials, from the Board of Selectmen to the Health Department and Fire Department, committed themselves to ensuring that every site was properly examined and remediated.

This moment in Norwood’s history highlighted the tension between industrial growth and environmental stewardship. It served as a reminder that the prosperity of earlier generations carried consequences for future ones. The hazardous waste cleanup law provided a framework, but it was up to local and state officials to ensure that the promises of remediation were fulfilled.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger