The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) has approved a scope of work submitted by Wheelabrator Saugus to complete an acoustical study that will assess levels of noise pollution emitted by the plant.
The study, announced at Monday’s Board of Health meeting, comes following a June 2019 incident in which a steam turbine at Wheelabrator was taken out of use for repairs, ultimately resulting in 10 days of an unrelenting din that neighbors compared to the sound of planes constantly flying overhead.
Residents have since pushed for tighter regulations surrounding all plant operations.
“When there are any issues regarding noise, what you need to do is establish a baseline level of ambient noise. That’s what this acoustical study’s aim is,” said Saugus Public Health Director John Fralick.
Massachusetts noise laws currently indicate that anything above a 10-decibel raise from ambient levels is considered to be in violation of state regulations, Fralick said, adding that the study will be conducted in the fall because that’s when environmental conditions are ideal for establishing a noise baseline.
“When you’re talking about environmental conditions, sound can move differently through different mediums,” he said. “Whether it’s late-summer humidity, or fall leaves, or winter when there’s nothing on the trees and sound can be more piercing, there are a lot of different factors that go into a noise study.
“Basically, what has to happen is those ambient levels need to be established prior to being able to say if anything is in violation.”
Wood Engineering, the acoustic consultants tasked with evaluating Wheelabrator, will complete the first round of noise monitoring over a three-day and three-night period at some point in the coming months.
Once the study is complete, results will be submitted to Mass DEP and to Saugus’ Board of Health.
“We’re looking forward to the noise assessment being completed as soon as possible,” said Wheelabrator Vice President of Waste to Energy Peter DiCecco, who was present at Monday’s Board of Health meeting. DiCecco gave the second of what will be monthly updates meant to keep an open line of communication between the incinerator company and town officials.
Fralick, who was appointed to his position in July, said he’s since worked closely with representatives from Wheelabrator on the issue and believes the plant is taking all necessary precautions to prevent any future incidents.
“They are reallocating a lot of funding towards making sure things like what happened last year never happen again, and they’ve made it a point to let me know that as the health director, they’re going to be very forthcoming about anything that would even remotely generate noise over there in the years to come,” Fralick said. “I believe they’re trying to do the right thing and hopefully we can avoid any more future issues.”