PUBLIC   HEARING
WEDNESDAY,   AUGUST   24,   2011   AT   6:30   PM
AT
THOMAS   CRANE   PUBLIC   LIBRARY
40   WASHINGTON   STREET
QUINCY,   MASSACHUSETTS   02169
FOR   THE   PROPOSED
NON­RADIOACTIVE   HAZARDOUS
MATERIAL   ROUTE
IN   THE   CITY   OF   BOSTON,   MASSACHUSETTS
COMMONWEALTH   OF   MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS   DEPARTMENT   OF   TRANSPORTATION
HIGHWAY   DIVISION
FRANCIS   A.
DEPAOLA,   P.E.
HIGHWAY   ADMINISTRATOR
THOMAS   F.
BRODERICK,   P.E.
ACTING   CHIEF   ENGINEER
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PRESENTERS   AND   OFFICIALS
Thomas   Broderick,   Acting   Chief   Engineer
Arthur   Greenberg,   Battellele   Memorial   Institute
Neil   Boudreau,   State   Traffic   Engineer
Charles   D.
Rennick,   Esq.,   Legal   Counsel
Thomas   Tinlin,   Commissioner,   Boston   Transportation
Department
Donnie   Daly,   Moderator
Joe   Sakelos,   Arlington   Typing     Mailing
SPEAKER   INDEX
Name
Thomas   Broderick
Arthur
Thomas
Donnie
41,   42,   43,   45
Lee   Dingee
Tackey
Greenberg
Tinlin
Daly
Chan
Alejandro   Alves
Christine   Stickney
Chris
Ann
Morrissey
Moritz
Ann   Devlin   Taglia   Farrow
Al   Leers
Zee   Wang
3,
7
14
28
29
32
34
38
39
41
42
43,
12,
44,
38
45
Page
28,   29,   32,   34,   38,   39,
Description
Sign­In   Sheet
EXHIBITS
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Page
48
50

1
2     MR.
BRODERICK:    Good   evening.
My   name   is   Tom
3   Broderick.
I'm   the   acting   chief   engineer   for   MassDOT.
4   I'm   joined   tonight   by   Neil   Boudreau   to   my   right,   the
5   state   traffic   engineer,   and   to   my   left,   Charlie
6   Rennick   from   our   legal   department.
Arthur   Greenberg
7   from   Battelle   Memorial   Institute,   the   consultant   that
8   prepared   the   hazmat   study   is   also   here   to   provide
9   brief   summary   of   his   report   and   its   findings   and   its
10   compliance   with   federal   regulations   and   routing
11   criteria.
12     For   some   background   on   why   we're   here   today,
13   following     2009   decision   by   the   Federal   Motor
14   Carrier's   Administration,   the   City   of   Boston   was
15   required   to   conduct     risk   analysis   subject   to   the
16   federal   routing   criteria   evaluating   alternative   hazmat
17   routes.
The   City   of   Boston   engaged   the   service   of
18   Battelle   Memorial   Institute   to   perform   the   risk
19   analysis   which   examined     number   of   routes   in
20   consultation   with   MassDOT   which   ultimately   concluded
21   that   existing   route   through   the   downtown   area   of
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1   Boston   in   significantly   higher   in   risk   than   the   travel
2   around   the   beltway   around   Route   128.
3     MassDOT   conducted   technical   reviews   on   the
4   report's   risk   assessments   and   we   requested   additional
5   information   to   ensure   that   the   proper   methodology   and
6   procedures   were   consistent   and   employed   to   assess   the
7   risks.
Those   comments   and   responses   are   located   on
8   our   website.
9     In   accordance   with   the   federal   regulatory
10   process,   we're   here   today   to   provide   public
11   provide   the   public   and   interested   parties   with   the
12   opportunity   to   provide   their   comments   and   testimony   on
13   the   proposed   hazardous   material   routing   designation
14   that   came   about   as     result   of   the   analysis   performed
15   by   Battelle.
The   proposed   routing   designation   is
16   under   the   proposed   route,   hazmat   vehicles   will   be
17   prohibited   from   using   the   downtown   area   of   the   City   of
18   Boston   for   through   transportation   of   hazardous
19   materials.
Hazmat   deliveries   with   the   point   of   origin
20   or   destination   within   the   downtown   are   still   permitted
21   provided   the   motor   carrier   receives   the   required
22   permits.
Route   128   would   be   designated   as   the
23   preferred   through­route   over   which   the   hazmat
24   approaching   the   city   would   be   transported.
25     As   far   as   what   the   law   says,   under   federal   law,
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1   MassDOT   is   the   state   routing   agency   with   the
2   responsibility   for   ensuring   that   all   hazmat   routing
3   designations   comply   with   the   federal   routing
4   standards.
MassDOT   must   resolve   all   conflicts   among
5   hazardous   materials   routes   and   approve   all   hazardous
6   materials   routing   designations   under   the   federal
7   regulations.
8     The   federal   routing   standards   include   among
9   others,   population,   density,   type   of   highway,   type   of
10   hazardous   material,   emergency   response   capabilities,
11   consultation   with   affected   persons,   proximity   to
12   schools,   hospitals,   playgrounds   and   other   sensitive
13   areas,   (inaudible)   considerations,   continuity   of
14   routes,   alternative   routes,   affects   on   commerce,
15   delays   in   transportation,   climatic   considerations   and
16   congestion   and   accident   history.
17     Again,   we   have     number   of   speakers   signed   up   to
18   speak   tonight   so   I'd   like   to   remind   everybody   to   try
19   to   keep   their   comments   brief   so   that   everyone   who
20   wishes   to   participate   has   an   opportunity   to   speak.
21   Copies   of   the   report,   the   federal   routing   standards
22   and   frequently   asked   questions   and   other   relevant
23   information   are   available   through   the   MassDOT   website.
24   If   you   have   any   questions,   please   submit   them   to   us
25   through   the   comment   sheets   available   at   the   sign­in
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1   desk   and   we'll   respond   accordingly.
Again,   everybody
2   should   have     copy   of   the   hearing   notice   as   well   as
3   the   sign­in   sheets   as   well   as   the   comment   sheets.
4   Those   were   all   on   the   desk   when   you   were   coming   into
5   the   room.
6     After   receipt   of   all   comments   and   an   analysis   of
7   any   new   information   presented   for   review   relative   to
8   the   risk   assessments   that   may   alter   the   initial
9   determination,   MassDOT   will   inform   the   federal   motor
10   carriers   of   the   final   preferred   routing.
11     The   format   for   tonight's   hearing   will   be   for
12   MassDOT   to   solicit   testimony.
Responses   to   comments
13   will   be   grouped   by   topic   and   responded   to   through   our
14   website.
There   are     number   of   frequently   asked
15   questions,   as     stated   before,   that   are   already
16   displayed   on   the   website   and   we   will   be   adding   to
17   these   comments   as   the   hearings   progress.
Tonight   is
18   the   second   of   four   hearings   that   are   going   to   be   held
19   across   the   greater   metropolitan   area   on   this   issue.
20     Before     go   any   further,   I'd   like   to   acknowledge
21   Secretary   Mullen   is   attendance   tonight.
From   the   City
22   of   Quincy   we   have   Frank   Tramontozzi,   and   Jack   Gillon
23   representing   the   mayor's   office,   Mayor   Koch,   and   we
24   have     number   of   officials   from   the   City   of   Boston   and
25   I   see   that   we   have   some   representatives   from   other
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1   cities   and   towns   but     didn't   get   their   names   before
2   the   hearing   started.
3     Now   I'd   like   to   introduce   Arthur   Greenberg   who
4   has     few   remarks   regarding   the   hazmat   evaluation   that
5   was   undertaken   by   Battelle.
6     MR.
GREENBERG:    Thanks,   Tom.
As   Tom   mentioned,
7   Battelle   in   preparing   this   analysis   was   actually
8   complying   with   federal   regulations   and   this   was
9   he   mentioned,   we   were   requested   by   the   City   of   Boston
10   to   do   this   analysis.
The   regulations   we   followed   were
11   regulations   for   non­radioactive   hazardous   material   so
12   it   doesn't   include   radioactive   materials,   and   the   way
13   we   conducted   the   analysis   is   that   we   followed
14   guidelines   that   are   included   in   the   regulations   and
15   these   are   guidelines   that   are   published   and   available.
16   If   you   do     search,   you   can   find   them.
And   so   the
17   risk   analysis   is   actually     document   called   Guidelines
18   for   Applying   Criteria   to   Designate   Routes   for   the
19   Transport   of   Hazardous   Materials.
20     And   Tom   already   mentioned   that   the       the
21   regulations   there   are   factors   that   must   be   considered,
22   including   such   things   as   population   density,   type   of
23   highway,   emergency   response   capabilities   and   so   forth.
24   And   when   Battelle   did   their   analysis,   we   tried   to
25   obtain   the   best   quantitative   data   available   for   each
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1   of   these   13   particular   variables   or   attributes   or   as
2   they   call   it,   factors.
Battelle   sought   and   received
3   great   deal   of   cooperation   from     number   of
4   Massachusetts         number   of   agencies   in
5   Massachusetts   including   MassDOT,   the   state   police,
6   Mass.
GIS,   Geographic   Information   Systems,   the   CTPS,
7   which   is   Central   Transportation   Planning   Staff,   and
8   number   of   different   agencies   within   the   City   of   Boston
9   including   the   fire,   police   and   transportation
10   departments   among   others,   and   we   also   consulted   with
11   researchers   at   the   University   of   Massachusetts
12   specifically   in   their   U­Mass   Safe   program   which   is   an
13   inter­disciplinary   program   designed   to   do   research   on
14   transportation   safety.
And   they've   been   working   with
15   the       with   the   state   police   to   look   at
16   transportation   safety.
17     To   select   alternative   routes,   we   worked   with
18   number   of   groups   in   doing   this   including   there's
19   North   End   Task   Force,     Hazmat   Task   Force   in   North   End
20   in   Boston,   the   Massachusetts   Motor   Transport
21   Association,   and   also   of   course   many   governmental
22   agencies   as   well.
23     And   we   looked   at     total   of   18   routes.
In   order
24   to   conduct   our   risk   assessment,   we   had   to   get   some
25   particular   kinds   of   data,   information,   and   one   was
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1   truck   accident   rates.
Another   was   population
2   was   key         half   mile   of   either   side   of   the
3   route,   and     third   type   of   information   we   needed   was
4   actually   the   types   of   hazmat   truck   cargoes   that   were
5   coming   through   the   area.
6     In   order   to   get   the   accident   rates,   as
7   indicated,   we   went   to   U­Mass   Safe,   the   University   of
8   Massachusetts,   and   they   developed   accident   rates   for
9   us.
Battelle   supplied   the   actual   truck   flows   to   the
10   University   of   Massachusetts   so   they   could   develop   the
11   accident   rates,   and   they   supplied   accident   rates   by
12   what   I'll   call   road   functional   classes,   and   we   use
13   those   for   urbanized   areas.
14     For   population,   we   used   the   census   where   we   got
15   residential   and   employment   population.
We   estimated
16   populations   for   hotels,   hospitals,   nursing   homes,
17   schools   and   even   the   visitors   where   we   talked   with
18   the       got   information   from   the   National   Park
19   Service   because   that's     major   component   of   the
20   visitor   population   in   Boston   and   vicinity.
And   then
21   even   after     comment   from   the   State,   we   looked   at
22   visitors   or   shoppers   at   shopping   centers.
We   looked
23   at   that.
24     In   order   to   get   the       estimate   the   type   of
25   hazardous   material   that's   moving   in   the   area,   we
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1   looked   at     number   of   different   sources:    One   was
2   actually   hazardous   material   spills,   so   you   can   get   an
3   indication   of   what's   moving   through   an   area   by   what
4   happens   in   the   incident   or   accident.
We   looked   at
5   permits,   specifically   permit   applications   to   the
6   Boston   Fire   Department.
We   looked   at   Boston   Police
7   inspection   records,   when   they   inspected   hazardous
8   vehicles,   and   we   also   sent   out   quesionnaires,
9   something   like   1,200   quesionnaires   to   primarily
10   carriers   and   others   within   the   vicinity   of   Boston.
11   And   finally,   we   also   got   information   from   the   U.S.
12   Bureau   of   Census,   and   they   conduct     periodic
13   hazardous   material   commodity   flow,     census   for   the
14   United   States,   but   they   did     special   run   for   us   for
15   the   Boston   region   so   we   could   find   out   what   was   going
16   on.
And   as   probably   most   of   you   could   guess,   the
17   major   type   of   hazardous   material   in   the   Boston
18   vicinity   is   flammable   liquids   or   what's   in   the
19   you   follow   hazardous   material,   Class   3,   and   that's
20   primarily   things   like   gasoline   and   then   diesel   fuels,
21   that   sort   of   thing.
And   that's       estimated   that.
22   That   constitutes   great   than   90   percent   of   the
23   shipments.
24     So   the   routing   analysis   when   we   looked   at   risks,
25   we   looked   at   the   risk,   the   relative   risk   to   public
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1   safety   of   transporting   hazardous   materials.
And
2   guess   the   logic   is   you   look   at   the   probability   of   an
3   accident   or   incident   and   the   consequences   it   might
4   have   on   the   population.
And   the   actual       formula
5   we   used,   you   can   read   about   it   more   in   the   report,   was
6   risk   equals   accident   rate   times   number   of   people
7   adjacent   to   the   route.
So   that's   the   actual   formula
8   we   used   to   come   up   with   the   risk.
9   The   through­routing   criteria,   so   the   routing   material
10   that   we   followed   say   that   if   you're   comparing     route,
11   so   for   example,   the   route   through   Boston   with   another
12   route,   say   the   route   that   goes   around,   basically   128,
13   if   one   route   has   more       greater   than,   has   50
14   percent   or   more   greater   risk   than   the   other   route,   you
15   can   actually   select   the   route   with   the   lower   risk.
16   And   so   when   we       we   did   our   analysis   and   we
17   compared   the   routes   from       the   routes   from
18   Everett   to       there's   the   map   over   there   showing
19   the   route,   but   we   compared   it   from   Everett   down   to
20   Quincy   and   we   compared   that   with   Everett   all   the   way
21   up   and   around,   around   the   beltway   to   Quincy,   so
22   through   the   city   or   all   the   way   around.
We   found   that
23   the   risk   going   through   the   city   was   considerably
24   greater.
25     And   we   actually   did   our   analysis   for   both   day   and
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1   night,   we   separated   out   populations   by   day   and   night,
2   and   we   found   that   in   the       the   day   that   the
3   risk   was   something   like   really   four   times   as   great,
4   four   times   as   great.
That's   not   in   percentages,   but
5   four   times   as   great   as   if   you   were   actually   going
6   through   the   City   of   Boston   than   if   you   were   going
7   around.
And   at   night,   it   was   actually   something   like
8   two   times   as   great     risk   if   you're   going   through   the
9   city   as   going   around.
So   it   wasn't   as   much   during   the
10   day.
11     We   looked   at       addition   to   risk,   we
12   risk   for   population,   we   looked   at   emergency   response
13   capabilities,   we   looked   at   impacts,   potential   impacts
14   to   the   environment,   the   burden   on   commerce,   and   for
15   the   emergency   response   we   found   that   our   assessment
16   that   the   emergency   response   capabilities   not   only   in
17   Boston   itself   but   in   the   surrounding   communities   was
18   really   even   though   there   were       was     fair
19   amount   of   difference   and   variation,   that   the
20   capabilities   were   adequate   to   deal   with   hazardous
21   material   spills.
Environmental   risk   was   judged   to   be
22   secondary   to   population   risk,   and   therefore   not
23   differentiator   among   the   routes.
24     And   we   also       analysis   showed   that   the
25   burden   on   the   commerce   would   be   reasonable   if   the
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1   route   around   that   beltway   was   selected   as   opposed   to
2   going   right   through   the   City   of   Boston.
3     So   to   sum   that   up,   although   we're   not   discounting
4   the   significance   or   comparison   of   emergency   response
5   in   the   sense   of   environmental   areas,   burden   of
6   commerce,   all   those   things,   they   just       we
7   looked   at   them,   they   just   did   not   trump   the   risk   to
8   the   population   which   really   was   the   dominant   category
9   when   we   looked   at   the   selection   of   or   recommendation
10   for   routes,   and   so   our   conclusion   was   that   there   was
11   really       was   really   ample   justification   for
12   restricting   hazmat   shipments   through   downtown   Boston
13   during   the   day   because   there   was     much   greater   risk
14   of   shipping   during   the   day.
And   even   at   night,
15   although   the   difference   was   not   as   great,   in   other
16   words,   it   was   not   as       was   not   that   much   riskier
17   to   ship   through   Boston   as   going   around,   there   was
18   still   ample   justification   to   restrict   traffic   through
19   Boston   at   night   as   well.
20     I   might   just   add     note   that   there's   nothing   in
21   the   analysis       in   the   analysis   that   said   that
22   or   that   indicated   that   there   should   be   any
23   restrictions   in   the   delivery   of   hazardous   materials   to
24   local   communities.
Let   me   take   that   back.
There's
25   nothing   to   say   that   deliveries   of   hazardous   materials
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1   within   Boston   should       deliveries   within   Boston
2   should   be   restricted.
Nothing   other   than   the
3   restrictions   currently   in   place   based   on   the   Boston
4   permit   restrictions.
So   we   didn't   find   any
5   didn't   really   look   at   that   aspect   either   because   our
6   focus   was   the   through   routing.
Thank   you.
7     MR.
BRODERICK:    Thank   you,   Art.
I'd   like   to
8   introduce   Commissioner   Thomas   Tinlin   from   the   City   of
9   Boston   to   furnish   remarks   on   behalf   of   Mayor   Menino
10   and   the   various   city   departments   of   which   this   will   be
11   one   set   of   testimony   from   the   city.
They   will   be
12   representing   some   of   the   other   members   of   the   city
13   government   that   are   with   us   tonight,   Boston   Fire
14   Marshal   Frank   Kodzis,   Boston   Police   Deputy
15   Superintendent   Bill   Evans,   Director   of   Emergency
16   Preparedness   Bill   McGough,   BTB   Commissioner   Jim   Gileel
17   who   isn't   here   tonight,   corporation   counsel,   outside
18   counsel,   Charles   Dyer.
19     MR.
TINLIN:    Thank   you,   Tom,   Secretary   Mullen,
20   thank   you   for   MassDOT   for   putting   these   hearings   on.
21   I'd   also   like   to   thank   Mayor   Koch   for   providing   such
22   beautiful   venue   for   us   this   evening   as   well.
23     The   testimony   I'm   about   to   give   on   behalf   of
24   Mayor   Menino   is   the   same   testimony   which   was   heard
25   last   night,   which   will   be   heard   next   week   at   the   two
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1   remaining   hearings.
The   mayor   feels   it's   important
2   for   folks   to   understand,   especially   folks   from   outside
3   the   City   of   Boston   to   understand   how   we   got   to   where
4   we   are   in   the   process   that   has   led   to   this   hearing
5   process.
It's   important   for   us   to   let   our   colleagues
6   in   government   and   our   neighbors   know   that   this
7   undertaking   was   not   done   at   the   City's   choosing.
It
8   was   done   because   of   federal   mandate   which   in   order   to
9   control   our   own   destiny   and   to   create     safer   city,   it
10   was   mandated   to   us   to   follow   this   process.
11     So   again,     am   Commissioner   Tom   Tinlin,   I'm   here
12   to   give   testimony   on   behalf   of   Mayor   Menino   and     am
13   joined,   as   Tom   said,   Superintendent   Bill   Evans,   Boston
14   Police,   the   director   of   the   mayor's   Office   of
15   Emergency   Preparedness,   John   McGough,   Fire   Marshal
16   Frank   Kodzis,   outside   counsel   Charles   Dyer   and   Deputy
17   Fire   Chief   Bart   Shea.
18     This   testimony   will   lay   out   the   City   of   Boston's
19   public   safety   decisions   to   seek   and   propose   an
20   alternative   highway   route   for   the   transportation   of
21   hazardous   materials   to   bypass   the   downtown   portion   of
22   the   City   of   Boston   when   neither   the   pick­up   nor
23   drop­off   location   for   the   cargo   is   located   in   the
24   city.
25     We   all   remember   how   the   events   of   9/11   horrified
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1   and   shocked   the   world.
At   that   time   governments
2   around   the   globe   began     determined   effort   to   ensure
3   the   safest   environment   possible   for   all   to   live,   work
4   and   visit   their   cities.
As     massive   undertaking
5   began   to   harden   targets   of   opportunity   against
6   terrorist   attacks,   simultaneously   an   equally   important
7   effort   was   under   way   to   identify   and   mitigate   everyday
8   hazards   in   our   cities   that   also   posed     very   real
9   risk,     risk   to   life,   property   and   economic   vitality.
10     The   City   of   Boston   participated   in   the   self
11   review   along   with   almost   every   major   city   in   the
12   country.
One   issue   that   stood   out   immediately   was   the
13   transport   of   hazardous   materials   through   the   City   of
14   Boston   with   hazmat   cargo   trucks,   these   trucks   using
15   downtown   streets   as     shortcut   for   the   sake   of   the
16   profit   and   convenience   for   the   trucking   industry.
17     The   completion   of   the   Central   Artery   Tunnel
18   Project,   the   depression   of   the   John   Fitzgerald
19   Expressway   and   I­93   corridor   in   downtown   Boston   which
20   previously   served   as     designated   hazmat   route
21   transformed   this   roadway   into     tunnel   for   which
22   hazardous   materials   are   excluded.
As     result,   those
23   hazardous   material   trucks   that   were   once   confined   to
24   the   interstate   highway   system   were   now   rerouted   to
25   surface   streets   in   downtown   Boston   neighborhoods,
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1   bringing   these   hazmat   cargoes   into   much   closer
2   proximity   to   the   general   population   on   and   adjacent   to
3   the   public   ways.
4     For   many   years   the   Boston   Fire   Department   and   the
5   city   regulations   established   in   1980   had   regulated   the
6   transportation   of   certain   quantities   of   hazardous
7   materials   on   our   roadways   and   had   issued   what   we've
8   known   as   cut­through   permits   to   the   trucking   industry,
9   allowing   them   through   access   on   city   streets   where
10   there   was   neither     point   of   origin   nor   destination.
11   It   is   important   to   remember   that   these   permits   were
12   granted   by   the   city   purely   as     convenience   measure
13   for   the   trucking   industry,   not   as     right.
In   point
14   of   fact,   these   permits   were   granted   by   the   fire
15   commissioner   for   the   specific   purpose   of   authorizing
16   these   motor   carriers   to   operate   on   city   streets   in
17   exception   to   otherwise   applicable   restrictions
18   contained   in   the   city's   regulations   but   only   where
19   compelling   need   was   shown   by     company   and   where
20   transporting   the   hazardous   material   was   found   to   be   in
21   the   public   interest.
It   became   clear   that   these
22   carriers   were   not   dropping   off   or   picking   up   cargo   in
23   Boston   and   they   were   not   meeting   the   compelling   need
24   nor   the   public   interest   (inaudible).
The   risk   of
25   having   them   on   our   streets   and   in   the   densely
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1   populated   downtown   area   was   too   great.
2   We   welcome   and   continue   to   welcome   local   deliveries   by
3   trucks   carrying   hazardous   materials   necessary   for   the
4   daily   operation   of   the   multitude   of   public   and   private
5   buildings   located   within   Boston.
However,   continuing
6   to   accept   the   extra   burden   from   cut­through   vehicles
7   with   no   business   purpose   for   being   in   the   city   other
8   than   operating   convenience   presented   an   unreasonable
9   risk   to   the   general   public   when   safer   routing
10   alternatives   are   readily   available.
11     To   provide   the   industry   with   an   opportunity   to
12   present   its   case   on   this   issue,   in   2006   we   held
13   individual   hearings   with   all   hazardous   material
14   carriers   who   had   previously   been   issued   cut­through
15   permits   for   the   downtown   Boston   area.
It   should   be
16   noted   that   the   city   ordinance   authorizing   regulations
17   that   allow   these   permits   to   be   issued   clearly   states
18   that   economic   criteria   shall   not       should   not   ­­
19   but   shall   not   be     determinative   of   whether   or   not   an
20   alternative   route   outside   the   city   is   practical.
21   Similar   federal   regulations   state   that   operating
22   convenience   of   the   motor   carrier   is   not     basis   for
23   determining   whether   such   an   alternative   route   is
24   practical.
25     At   the   hearings,   companies   testified   before
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1   committee   made   up   the   representatives   from   Boston's
2   transportation,   police   and   fire   departments.
If   they
3   were   prohibited   from   cutting   through   the   city,   their
4   trips   would   be   longer,   would   become   longer   and   more
5   expensive.
This   translates   into   operating   convenience
6   and   economic   factors,   the   two   very   criteria   that   the
7   city's   permitting   process   clearly   states   the   fire
8   commissioner   shall   not   consider   when   deciding   whether
9   or   not   to   issue     permit.
10     We   also   heard   similar   statements   at   last   night's
11   hearing   held   in   Boston.
While   still   focused   on
12   enhancing   public   safety,   the   City   of   Boston   wanted   to
13   be   as   helpful   to   this   important   industry   as   possible.
14   Therefore,   rather   than   applying   the   city's   1980
15   regulations   strictly   to   impose   an   all­out   24­hour,
16   seven   day     week   ban   on   the   use   of   city   streets,   we
17   opted   in   2006   to   implement     daytime   ban.
This   would
18   prohibit   the   transport   of   hazardous   materials   through
19   the   city   during   the   period   when   our   population   almost
20   doubles   due   to   our   work   force,   commuters,   tourists,
21   students   and   others.
At   the   same   time,   it   would   allow
22   the   through   movement   of   hazardous   materials   between
23   the   hours   of   8:00   p.m.
and   6:00   a.m.
to   continue.
24   Although   this   provided   the   industry   with   10   hours   each
25   day   to   cut   through   downtown   Boston,   the   decision   did
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1   not   sit   well   with   some   folks   who   are   in   the   room
2   tonight.
Nevertheless,   it   was     good   faith   effort   to
3   balance   the   public   safety   meetings   with   the   city   with
4   the   demands   of   the   industry.
5     The   change   went   into   effect   on   July   third,   2006
6   and   lasted   for   about   four   years,   with   no   complaints
7   from   the   Commonwealth,   the   federal   government,   elected
8   federals   or   surrounding   communities.
At   the   same
9   time,   to   increase   public   safety   in   connection   with   the
10   transportation   of   hazardous   materials   within   the   city,
11   the   City   of   Boston   determined   that   it   was   in   the
12   public   interest   and   prudent   to   adjust   the   local   hazmat
13   route   shifting   hazmat   traffic   from   the   temporary   route
14   during   Central   Artery   construction   along   Commercial
15   Street   to   the   newly   improved   surface   roadway   and   cross
16   street   corridor   which   as     result   of   the   Central
17   Artery   project   now   encompassed   better   sight   distance,
18   geometry,   signalization   and   lighting   and   which   was
19   shorter,   more   direct   route   than   the   Commercial   Street
20   segment.
21     In   disagreement   with   these   two   changes,   the
22   American   Trucking   Association   and   the   then   Mass.
23   Highway   Department   requested   and   was   granted
24   preemption   determination   from   the   Federal   Motor
25   Carrier   Safety   Administration.
The   preemption
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1   decision   was   issued   on   November   sixteenth,   2009,   and
2   following   the   request   for   an   extension   became
3   effective   on   July   first,   2010.
In   the   decision   the
4   federal   government   indicated   that   they   did   not
5   necessarily   disagree   with   the   routing   decisions   that
6   had   been   made,   but   determined   that   the   City   of   Boston
7   did   not   follow   the   proper   process   under   federal
8   regulations   before   implementing   this   program.
Their
9   rationale   was   that   the   City's   actions   of   modifying   its
10   past   permitting   practice   in   downtown   route   was   taken
11   without   the   required   study   and   consultative   process
12   and   had   created     defacto   new   route   designation.
We
13   were   surprised   by   this.
The   City   did   not   intend   to
14   designate   an   entirely   new   route   but   to   simply   enforce
15   a   long­standing   local   regulation   which   allows   us   to
16   control   the   hours   that   these   vehicles   were   allowed   to
17   travel   on   the   route   which   now   has   been   realigned   to
18   take   advantage   of   improved   surface   roadways   within   the
19   same   central   transportation   corridor.
20     In   any   event,   the   federal   government   had   made   its
21   ruling   and   the   city   was   left   with   only   two   options:
22   One,   allow   trucks   carrying   hazardous   materials   to   cut
23   through   the   industry   every   day   of   the   week   both   date
24   and   night;   or   two,   go   through   this   process   as   laid   out
25   by   the   Federal   Motor   Carrier   Safety   Administration.
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1   The   city   chose   the   latter.
2     To   comply   with   this   request,   the   City   engaged   the
3   Battelle   Memorial   Institute,     501C­3   charitable   trust
4   headquartered   in   Columbus,   Ohio   that   you   heard   from
5   tonight.
Battelle   is   an   internationally   respected
6   consulting   firm   that   specializes   in   hazardous
7   materials   transportation   analysis,   risk   assessment   and
8   policy   support.
The   findings   of   this   federally
9   mandated   study   were   eye   opening.
10     As     said   earlier,   our   plan   was   simply   to
11   prohibit   hazardous   materials   from   cutting   through   the
12   city   during   the   day.
This   study,   however,   demanded   by
13   the   industry,   concluded   that   the   movement   of   hazardous
14   material   trucks   through   the   City   of   Boston   using   the
15   current   downtown   routing   presents   significantly   more
16   risk   to   the   general   public   during   both   the   daytime   and
17   the   nighttime   than   available   alternative   routes   that
18   bypass   the   densely   populated   downtown   area   of   Boston.
19   In   fact,   the   relative   difference   in   risk   to   the   public
20   between   the   routes   was   so   compelling   both   day   and
21   night   that   under   the   established   federal
22   through­routing   criteria,   the   length   of   the   deviation
23   on   the   proposed   alternative   route   did   not   have   to   be
24   taken   into   account.
The   proposed   bypass   route   is   that
25   much   safer.
Faced   with   conclusive   evidence   of
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1   unacceptable   risk,   the   City   now   had   no   choice   but   to
2   pursue     nighttime   restriction   on   hazardous
3   transportation   as   well.
4     The   City   of   Boston   has   carefully,   meticulously
5   completed   what   the   federal   and   state   government   as
6   well   as   the   industry   demanded   us.
It   was     long   and
7   arduous   process   but   the   city   of   Boston   got   the   job
8   done.
As   the   agent   responsible   for   designating
9   hazardous   cargo   routes,   it   is   now   time   for   the
10   Massachusetts   Department   of   Transportation   to   complete
11   its   job.
12   The   Commonwealth   has   invested   literally   billions   upon
13   billions   of   dollars   in   our   interstate   roadway   system
14   including   the   ongoing   current   widening   of   Route   128.
15   This   is   designed   to   promote   and   enhance   interstate   and
16   intrastate   commerce   and   enhance   highway   transportation
17   safety.
The   regional   through   transportation   of
18   hazardous   materials   falls   into   this   category.
This
19   industry   should   be   on   that   interstate   roadway,   pure
20   and   simple,   not   on   routes   that   go   through   or   near
21   heavily   populated   areas,   places   where   crowds   are
22   assembled   on   crowded   urban   streets,   especially   where
23   alternative   highway   routes   are   demonstrated   to   be
24   safer   and   present   significantly   lower   risk   to   the
25   general   public.
To   allow   this   practice   to   continue
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1   with   this   overwhelming   evidence   would   be   reckless   and
2   ill   advised.
3   The   industry   demanded   this   process   but   now   they   don't
4   like   the   results   and   they   want     do­over.
The
5   industry   will   tell   you   that   it   will   cost   them   too   much
6   time   and   money   when   in   fact,   we're   talking   about   an
7   estimated   22   minute   increased   travel   time   in   each
8   direction.
Imagine,   22   minutes   of   travel   as   opposed
9   to   thousands   of   lives   unnecessarily   put   at   increased
10   risk.
They   will   tell   you   it's   too   expensive.
They
11   will   tell   you   that   it's   too   expensive,   yet   Battelle's
12   report   estimates   the   cost   will   be   less   than   one   cent
13   per   gallon   of   product,   less   than     penny   as   opposed   to
14   putting   thousands   lives   at   risk   on     daily   basis.
15   The   industry   will   tell   you   that   Boston   is   better
16   equipped   in   the   event   of     disaster.
This   is   probably
17   the   most   insulting   argument   to   date.
When   you   cannot
18   make   your   case   based   on   fact,   make   it   through   fear.
19   Industry   figures   show   that   an   incident   involving
20   hazmat   transportation   occurs   on   average   once   for   every
21   one   million   vehicle   miles   traveled.
Despite   this
22   data,     single   crash   of     truck   transporting   hazmat   in
23   a   crowded   area   has     potential   for   deaths   and   injuries
24   far   beyond   that   of     truck   carrying   non­hazmat   cargo
25   which   is   why   we're   here.
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1     Recognizing   the   potential   for   severe   hazardous
2   material   incidents   underscored   the   need   for
3   designating   appropriate   routes   for   the   transportation
4   of   hazardous   materials   which   is     key   strategy   for
5   increasing   and   ensuring   public   safety.
An   incident   on
6   128   is   no   doubt     disaster,   but   the   same   incident   in
7   the   heart   of   downtown   Boston   is   nothing   short   of
8   catastrophe   that   will   exacerbate   exposures   and   have
9   far­reaching   effects   on   life,   property   and   the   very
10   economic   vitality   of   our   region.
11   Also,   as   you   know,   Boston   provides   more   emergency
12   response   local   aid   than   any   other   city   or   town   in   the
13   Commonwealth,   and   that   will   not   change.
In   2009,   we
14   were   on   scene   in   the   tanker   accident   in   Brown   Circle
15   in   Revere   and   in   Saugus   last   month.
So   the   argument
16   that   Boston   is   better   equipped   to   handle   an   event   is
17   insulting   on   too   many   levels   to   get   into   here.
It's
18   unfortunate   that   some   would   attempt   to   make   this
19   Boston   versus   its   outlying   communities   and   our
20   suburban       outlying   communities   and   our
21   suburban   neighbors,   when   nothing   could   be   further   from
22   the   truth.
23     The   primary   criterion   for     routing   designation
24   is   that   the   designated   route   significantly   reduces
25   public   risk.
The   federal   standards   for   the   highway
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1   routing   of   hazardous   materials   plays   central
2   importance   upon   enhancing   public   safety.
The   federal
3   routing   designation   provides   that   we   engage   in   an
4   expressively   designed       are   expressively   designed
5   to   identify   and   evaluate   roadway   and   community
6   characteristics   that   make   one   route   preferable   to
7   another   from   the   perspective   of   improving   the   overall
8   public   safety   associated   with   the   transportation   of
9   hazardous   materials.
Interstate   routes   that   avoid
10   populated   areas   minimize   these   risks   because   of   their
11   better   safety   records.
It's   really     matter   of
12   minimizing   unnecessary   risk   to   the   greatest   number   of
13   potentially   exposed   people   in   the   areas   most   likely   to
14   experience   an   accident   involving     hazardous   material
15   release.
16     In   closing,   Mayor   Menino   would   like   to   thank
17   MassDOT   for   holding   these   public   hearings,   for   working
18   so   closely   with   us   on   this   issue.
The   mayor   would
19   also   like   to   thank   our   elected   leaders,   Senators   Kerry
20   and   Brown,   Congressmen   Capuano   and   Lynch,   and   the
21   entire   Boston   delegation   at   the   Statehouse   led   by
22   Representative   Aaron   Michlewitz,   for   their   support   in
23   seeing   this   process   through   as   well   as   our   local
24   partner,   Boston   City   Councilor   Sal   Lamattina,   and   all
25   the   concerned   residents   and   businesses   of   people   of
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1   our   city   and   beyond   who   have   tirelessly   focused   on
2   this   danger.
3     The   City   of   Boston   public   safety   team   has   been
4   fully   engaged   on   this   issue   for   many   years   and   will
5   strive   to   keep   Boston   and   this   region   receive   every
6   day.
If   their   subject   matter   expertise   is   needed,
7   representatives   from   Boston   police   and   fire
8   departments   as   well   as   our   homeland   security   office
9   are   in   attendance   tonight   and   we   will   respond   to   any
10   and   all   questions   and   concerns   after   this   hearing
11   process   is   completed.
12   Again,   we   thank   you   and   we   look   forward   to   hearing   the
13   testimony   provided   by   others   here   this   evening.
Thank
14   you   very   much.
15   MR.
BRODERICK:    Thank   you,   Commissioner   Tinlin.
That
16   concludes   the   formal   part   of   our   presentations   tonight
17   as   to   how   we   got   here   and     little   background   and
18   history   of   what's   gone   on   that   gets   us   here   tonight
19   through   this   hearing   process.
20     I'm   going   to   open   it   up   for   the   hearing   portion
21   of   the   evening.
The   hearing   ground   rules:    All
22   speakers   must   sign   in   on   the   speakers   list   in   order   to
23   provide   testimony.
If   you   haven't   signed   in   and   you'd
24   like   to   speak,   there's   still   an   opportunity   to   sign   up
25   to   speak.
Comments   should   be   directed   to   the   hearing
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1   body,   they   should   be   relevant   to   the   topic   and   should
2   not   be   personal   in   nature.
Testimony   should   be   kept
3   to   three   minutes   or   less   to   provide   everyone   with   an
4   opportunity   to   speak.
Please   avoid   repetitive
5   comments.
If   your   comments   were   answered   during   the
6   introductory   remarks,   we   ask   you   to   defer   in   the
7   interest   of   time.
And   as   the   MassDOT   hearing
8   procedures,   we   will   open   from   any   comments   by   elected
9   officials   then   we'll   open   it   up   to   the   comments   as
10   people   signed   in   on   the   sign­in   sheets.
I'll   now   turn
11   to   over   to   our   emcee   Donnie   Daly   who   will   be   making
12   sure   that   everybody   who   signed   up   speaks   and   has   an
13   opportunity   to   comment.
14     MR.
DALY:    Thank   you   very   much,   Tom.
First   on
15   the   list   is   City   Councilor   at   Large   from   Braintree   Lee
16   Dingee.
17     MR.
DINGEE:    Good   evening.
Thank   you.
am   Lee
18   Dingee.
I'm   City   Councilor   at   Large   in   Braintree.
19   The   reason     came   here   tonight   is   to   learn   more   about
20   this   hearing,   about   is   transpiring   and   how   it   affects
21   Braintree.
We   do   have     letter   here   from   the   Mayor   of
22   Braintree,   Joseph   Sullivan.
just   received   it   this
23   evening.
We   will   have     speaker   representing   Mayor
24   Sullivan   this   evening   who   will   go   through   this   letter,
25   but   there   are     couple   points   that   we   want   to   bring   up
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1   regarding   this   letter.
2     The   Mayor's   primary   concern,     believe,   is   the
3   I­93   corridor.
And   Braintree,   Holbrook   and   Randolph,
4   our   water   supply   is     reservoir   in   those   areas,   and
5   it's   serviced   by   the   area   right   off   of   I­93.
An
6   accident   on   I­93   is   affecting   the   service   (inaudible)
7   can   certainly   do     great   deal   of   harm   to   all   three
8   communities,   not   just   to   its   residents   but   to   our
9   commercial   entities   in   Braintree   who   also   use   this
10   reservoir,   so   we'd   like   you   to   take   that   into
11   consideration.
12     I   won't   go   any   further   into   this   letter   because
13   Christine   Stickney   will   be   speaking   to   it,   but     will
14   sit   here   and   say   that   having   read   the   letter,
15   support   every   word   that   Mayor   Sullivan   has   put   in   it.
16   Thank   you.
17     MR.
DALY:    The   next   speaker   will   be   Hank   Joyce,
18   District   Four   Councilor.
19     MR.
JOYCE:    I'm   sorry,     didn't   realize   Christine
20   was   coming   tonight   so     will   not   be   speaking.
21     MR.
DALY:    Thank   you,   sir.
The   next   on   the   list
22   is   State   Representative   Tackey   Chan   from   the   City   of
23   Quincy.
24     MR.
CHAN:    Thank   you,   Mike.
want   to   thank
25   Mass.
Highway   department   for   the   opportunity   to
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1   testify   today   on   the   City   of   Boston   proposal   for
2   rerouting   its   hazmat.
My   standing   opposition   to   this
3   proposal,   the   proposal   here   by   City   of   Boston
4   described   quite   graciously   that   it   impacts   public
5   safety   and   (inaudible   phrase)   needs   to   take   also   into
6   account   the   regional   impact   of   the   rest   of   us   that
7   live   in   adjacent   communities.
11   miles   from   Everett
8   to   Quincy   versus   55   miles   from   Everett   to   Quincy   is
9   not   reasonable.
That's   five   times   as   much.
mean,
10   that's   just     fact.
Does   it   cost   more   money   to
11   people?
Yes,   because   you   have   transportation   things
12   further.
The   cost   of   gas   is   rising   so   you   add   those
13   extra   miles.
And   22   minutes   on   128,   I'd   like   to   see
14   someone   actually   try   to   do   that,   coming   out   of   the
15   north   part   of   the   city.
16     I   had   the   privilege   of   going   to     convention   in
17   Lowell   and   find   myself   run   amok   with   the   Medford
18   bridge   project,   turn   around,   head   back   down   128   and
19   then   (inaudible)   connection.
22   minute   addition   is
20   not   what   you   get   when   you   have     significant   amount   of
21   traffic   increase   in   areas   especially     route   that   has
22   24,   3,   90,   as   well   as   95   on   both   sides   connecting   into
23   it,   not   to   mention   the   little   side   streets   such   as
24   Route     and   others   that   also   feed   into   128   corridor.
25   So   the   traffic   on   128   is   very   significant.
It's   over
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1   150   percent   capacity   including   the   fact   you're   doing
2   all   the   bridge   work   there   now   which   is       is
3   very   necessary.
So   to   bring   in     presumption   that   the
4   industry   is   making     lot   of   money   because   (inaudible)
5   shorter   distance,   well,   the   customers   pay   the   cost   of
6   that   inconvenience   as   well   as   the   people   on   the   roads
7   that   have   to   (inaudible)   additional   traffic.
8     And   also   density   matters   are   important   to   me   as
9   State   Rep   from   Quincy   because   of   the   fact   that,   you
10   know,   3,   128   and   the   expressway   all   intersect   in   the
11   western   part   of   the   city   and   adjacent   to   Braintree   and
12   Randolph   as   well.
13     And   we   are   densely   populated,   too,   contrary   to
14   what   people   in   Boston   think.
We're   not   exactly   in   the
15   suburbs   where,   you   know,   we   can't   see   each   other.
16   can   reach   my   neighbor   next   door   by   hand   so   it's   not
17   like   I'm,   you   know,     quarter   of     mile   away   from
18   people.
So   it   is   impacting   dense   areas.
19     As     public   safety   matter,   he   is   correct.
20   mean,   the   City   of   Quincy   and   other   communities   have
21   worked   9/11   and   worked   in   cooperation   on   insuring
22   public   safety.
also   remind   people   that   when   you
23   have     hazardous   waste   incident,   you   do   need   foam   and
24   you   can't   push   water.
As   (inaudible)   talk   about,   the
25   impact   on   water   supply.
And   in   the   case   of   Saugus's
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1   fire,   one   of   my   colleagues   up   there   on   the   Saugus
2   incident   (inaudible)   from   Massport.
3     If   we   have   an   incident   in   Needham,   you
4   have   massive   traffic   on   128   because   of   the   nature   of
5   128,   all   the   construction,   all   of   the   feeder   roads
6   going   in,   I'd   like   to   see   how   quickly   again     Massport
7   truck   coming   up   to   Needham   or   Waltham   and   in   those
8   areas.
So   it   isn't     matter   or   (inaudible   phrase)   do
9   it,   there's   also   an   interest   of   try   to   actually   get
10   mutual   support   into   the   areas   as   quickly   as   possible
11   and   the   further   away   from   the   incident,   logically   it's
12   going   to   cause   some   problems.
13   So   to   say   that   this   is   not   an   issue   that   affects
14   communities   because,   you   know,   Boston   is   being     good
15   neighbor   to   all   us   by   giving   us   more   hazmat   traffic,
16   that's   wonderful,   but     would   also   like   to   suggest
17   down   the   road   that   this   proposal   is   taken   (inaudible
18   phrase).
I'd   be   very   actually   interested   in   working
19   with   my   other   neighbors   to   try   to   prohibit   hazmat
20   traffic   coming   through   my   city   and   other   cities   and
21   towns   as   well.
22     So   thank   you   very   much   for   your   time   and   I'll   be
23   submitting   some   written   testimony   later   on.
Thank
24   you.
25     MR.
DALY:    The   next   speaker   will   be   Alejandro
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1   Alves,   who   is   an   aid   to   State   Senator   John   Keenan.
2     MR.
ALVES:    Mr.
Broderick,   members   of   board,
3   thank   you   for   allowing   our   office     few   brief   moments
4   to   add   remarks   here.
Senator   Keenan   unfortunately   is
5   at     previously   scheduled   event   at   another   location   in
6   the   district   and   regrets   he   cannot   be   here.
He   does
7   wish   to   offer   these   remarks   which     will   read   on   his
8   behalf.
9     Although     understand   the   City   of   Boston's
10   interest   in   prohibited   hazmat   vehicles   from   its   local
11   roadways,     am   concerned   about   the   need   and
12   appropriateness   of   such     ban,   especially   considering
13   the   impact   it   will   have   on   traffic   and   nearby
14   communities.
For   example,     hazmat   vehicle   traveling
15   from   an   Everett   facility   to     customer   in   Quincy   would
16   see   its   trip   nearly   tripled   in   length   resulting   in
17   significant   increased   fuel   cost   for   transport
18   companies   as   well   as   for   their   customers.
In
19   addition,   the   detour   will   add   many   vehicles   into   an
20   already   severely   congested   roadway.
21     While   the   City   of   Boston   has   public   safety
22   concerns,   shifting   this   traffic   from   local   low   speed
23   roads   to     high­speed   highway   may   actually   increase
24   the   danger   posed   to   the   general   public.
25     We've   already   mentioned   the   local   responders   that
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1   are   perhaps   less   well­equipped   to   respond   along   Route
2   128   than   in   City   of   Boston,   and     understand   that   the
3   environmental   concerns   will   be   addressed   by   Braintree
4   representatives   here   shortly.
5   Locally   our   district   includes   the   Citgo   terminal   in
6   Braintree   as   well   as     smaller   facility   in   Quincy.
7   Both   communities   are   densely   settled   with     combined
8   population   of   approximately   135,000   as   well   as   tens   of
9   thousands   of   additional   people   who   work   and   shop
10   there.
Both   communities   also   struggle   already   with
11   increasing   number   of   hazmat   vehicles   that   use   local
12   roadways   to   visit   these   local   terminals.
would
13   therefore   oppose   any   traffic   change   that   may   result   in
14   an   even   greater   number   of   hazmat   vehicles   using   local
15   roadways.
16     Again,     can   appreciate   the   concerns   the   City   of
17   Boston   has   regarding   hazmat   vehicles   on   local
18   roadways.
However,   those   same   concerns   are   shared   and
19   applied   to   the   communities   that     represent,
20   communities   that   lack   emergency   response   resources
21   that   Boston   has   to   respond   to   any   potential   emergency.
22   Senator   Keenan   thanks   you   for   your   consideration   in
23   this   matter.
24     MR.
DALY:    Thank   you.
Christine   Stickney   will   be
25   testifying   on   behalf   of   Mayor   Joseph   Sullivan   of
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1   Braintree.
2     MS.
STICKNEY:    Good   evening,   gentlemen.
My   name
3   is   Christine   Stickney.
I'm   the   director   of   the
4   Planning   Community   Development   for   the   Town   of
5   Braintree.
I'm   here   tonight   on   behalf   of   Mayor   Joseph
6   Sullivan   who   sends   his   regrets.
He   had     personal
7   wake   that   he   had   to   attend   to   tonight.
He's   asked   me
8   to   read   this   letter   which   I've   given   you     few   copies
9   and   the   Boston   (inaudible)   as   well.
If   you   may   allow
10   me   the   few   minutes.
11     The   Town   of   Braintree   has   become   aware   of   the
12   public   comment   process   for   your   agency   to   review   and
13   consider   the   alternative   hazmat   being   proposed   by   the
14   City   of   Boston.
To   this   end,   the   Town   of   Braintree
15   would   register   our   protest   to   alternatives   being
16   proposed,   particularly   alternatives   two   through   four
17   that   involve   Route   I­93   to   Exit   12   through   the   Town   of
18   Braintree.
19     The   town's   objections   are   centered   on   two   major
20   issues:    Public   safety   and   protection   of   the   town's
21   water   supply   as   well   as   the   need   to   be   more
22   comprehensive   in   any   proposed   resolution   to   this
23   issue.
The   Town   of   Braintree   is   part   of   the   tri­town
24   water   district   with   the   neighbors   of   Randolph   and
25   Holbrook   and   relies   completely   on   surface   water
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1   supplies   that   lie   in   close   proximity   to   I­93   being
2   considered   under   alternatives   two   and   four.
3     Existing   drainage   from   I­93   flows   directly   into
4   the   areas   of   the   town's   watersheds   in   the   Blue   Hill
5   Reservation,     pristine   natural   habitat   supporting   of
6   recharge   of   these   towns'   water   supply.
Additional
7   hazardous   cargo   in   this   area   with   potential   fuel
8   spillage   would   jeopardize   the   water   supply   of   all
9   three   towns.
10     In   addition   to   our   focus   on   community's   water
11   supply,   we   are   concerned   with   the   emergency   response
12   via   public   safety   divisions.
While   we   have   great
13   public   safety   divisions   of   police   and   fire,   unlike
14   Boston   with   special   hazmat   operations   and   resources
15   from   Boston   Fire   Department,   Cambridge   and   the   Mass.
16   Department   of   Fire   Service,   our   communities   and
17   neighbors   along   I­93   are   not   equipped   with   special
18   services   comparable   to   Boston   in     critical   hazmat
19   situation.
Despite   our   recent   efforts   with   the   EPA   to
20   secure     hazmat   truck,   the   question   remains   that   if
21   alternative   routes   were   to   be   approved   would   the   City
22   of   Boston   provide   equipment,   personal   and   services   to
23   (inaudible)   the   communities?
24     To   underscore   just   how   serious   the   community's   ­­
25   excuse   me.
To   underscore   just   how   seriously   the
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1   communities   of   South   Shore   take   this   issue,   on
2   September   seventh     will   be   hosting   Mayor   Koch   of
3   Quincy,   Mayor   Kay   of   Weymouth   as   well   as
4   representatives   from   the   police,   planning,   public
5   works   and   engineering   departments   of   our   three
6   communities   for     strategic   planning   session   to
7   discuss   ways   in   which   we   can   minimize   the   impacts   that
8   these   hazmat   vehicles   have   on   residential
9   neighborhoods.
10     I   feel   that   the   proposals   of   City   of   Boston   that
11   are   being   discussed   here   tonight   would   only   make   our
12   task   more   difficult.
Every   city   and   town   struggles
13   with   the   issue   of   hazmat   vehicles   on   their   roads   thus
14   (inaudible)   solution   is   warranted   in   not   shifting   the
15   issue   from   one   community   to   the   next.
16     The   Town   of   Braintree   is   very   familiar   with   the
17   transportation   of   hazardous   materials   as     host
18   community   with   two   primary   operations:    Clean   Harbors
19   and   the   Citgo   petroleum   terminal   located   off   Quincy
20   Ave.
in   East   Braintree.
The   added   concern   of
21   proposed   alternative   route   along   I­93   is     major
22   concern   as   to   response   time   with   the   appropriate
23   apparatus.
The   Town   of   Braintree   questions   the
24   analysis   of   the   estimated   emergency   response   times
25   particularly   given   that   Braintree's   bisected   by   two
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1   major   highways,   I­93   and   Route     from   the   south.
2   Alternatives   two   and   four   are   worrisome   to   the   Town   of
3   Braintree.
The   add   the   25   miles   of   transporting
4   materials   over   I­93   to   areas   north   of   Boston   coupled
5   with   the   emergency   response   time   and   our   community's
6   water   supply   forced   the   town   to   stand   in   objection   of
7   these   alternative   routes   and   respectfully   request   they
8   not   be   considered   for   designation   by   the   Mass.
9   Department   of   Transportation.
10     In   short,     regional   comprehensive   solution   to
11   the   hazmat   carrier   issue   needs   to   be   accomplished   in
12   sensitive   and   thoughtful   manner.
Simply   allowing   that
13   henceforth   Boston   roads   will   no   longer   be   permitted
14   for   hazmat   trucking   reminds   me   of   my   favorite   quote   by
15   HL   Meckin.
There's   usually     simple   answer   to
16   complex   problem   and   it's   usually   wrong.
17     Respectfully   on   behalf   of   the   Town   of   Braintree,
18   Mayor   Joseph   Sullivan.
Thank   you,   gentlemen.
19     MR.
DALY:    The   next   speaker   will   be   Jack   Gillon.
20   Are   you   going?
Okay.
Thank   you   very   much.
The   next
21   speaker   on   the   list   is   Chris   Morrissey   from   599   Union
22   Street   in   Braintree.
23     MS.
MORRISSEY:    My   name   is   Chris   Morrissey   and
24   I       time   I've   been   to     hearing   like   this.
And
25   I   just   want   to   say     live   in   Braintree   and   my   street
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1   is       the   curve   is   where   my   house   is.
My   house   is
2   set   down     little   from   the   main   road.
I've   had   two
3   cars   in   my   front   yard.
I've   had   my       car   totaled
4   in   front   of   my   house.
My   neighbor   has   lost     car   in
5   front   of   her   house   and     car   out   of   her   driveway,
6   totaled.
I've   also   had   wires   ripped   off   my   house   by
7   large   truck.
8     So   I'm   just   mentioning,   you   know,   Union   Street,
9   we   have     lot   of   gas   trucks   go   up   there,   and   in   the
10   winter     can   watch   from   my   window   them   spinning   their
11   wheels   to   get   up   the   hill   because   I'm   on     hill   and
12   curve.
So   it   is   dangerous.
don't   want   an   oil   truck
13   in   my   front   yard   blowing   up   my   house.
You   know,   cars
14   are   bad   enough.
So     just   wanted   to   say   that.
Thank
15   you   very   much.
16     MR.
DALY:    Thank   you.
The   next   speaker   is   Paul
17   Holland   of   331   Union   Street   in   Braintree.
18   Mr.
Holland?
Ann   Moritz   of   63   Atlantic   Avenue   in
19   Boston.
20     MS.
MORITZ:    Thank   you,   everyone,   for   making   this
21   event   possible   and   for   allowing   us   to   speak   in   this
22   public   fashion.
think   this   is   important   and
23   appreciate   it.
24     I   spent   20   years   in   the   Town   of   Milton   raising   my
25   family.
Had     been   here   as     representative   and
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1   resident   of   Milton,     would   care   deeply   about   the
2   impact   of   what   is   being   proposed   on   the   Town   of
3   Milton.
would   have   had   no   clue   at   that   point   what
4   the   impact   would   have   been   on   the   City   of   Boston   which
5   is   where     live   now   and   where     have   lived   for   three
6   years.
have   looked   at   the   requirements,     have   been
7   involved   in   the   research   that   is   needed   to   take   an
8   intelligent   look   at   all   of   this   proposed   information
9   and   realized   that   at   the   top   of   the   list   far   ahead   of
10   distance   traveled,   far   ahead   of   cost,   far   ahead   of
11   convenience   was   something   that   had   been   mentioned
12   earlier   which   is   population   density.
didn't   know
13   what   that   meant   either   until     looked   more   closely.
14     I'd   like   to   share   my   perspective   of   what   the
15   Battelle   Institute   is   talking   about   when   they   talk
16   about   four   times   the   risk   of   any   other   suggestion,   and
17   I   will   do   it   briefly   because     have   20   or   30   items
18   with   citations   that     and   my   neighbors   prepared   to
19   help   us   become   more   knowledgeable.
20     There   are   85   tour   buses   and   vehicles   that   move
21   around   this   current   proposed       current   route
22   that   is   being   used,   with   20   or   so   people     day,   20   or
23   so   people   in   those   buses,   you   come   to   1,700   people
24   day   and   you   come   to   over   600,000   people     year   who   are
25   moving   around   on   tour   buses   only.
The   hotels   that   are
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1   along   this   route,   let's   take   two,   for   example:
2   Fairmont   Battery   Wharf   hotel,   over   54,000   guests
3   year;   Marriott   Long   Wharf   hotel,   300,000   guests
4   year.
Old   North   Church   just   went   back   over   600,000
5   visitors,   the   highest   amount   that   it's   had   since   9/11.
6   The   Freedom   Trail,   3,000,000   visitors.
7     This   hazmat   route   going   through   the   City   of
8   Boston   would   impact   six   of   the   significant   sites:
9   Faneuil   Hall,   Paul   Revere   House,   Old   North   Church,
10   Copps   Hill   Burial   Ground,   Bunker   Hill   Monument   and   the
11   USS   Constitution.
This   is   Boston,   our   world­class
12   city   being   impacted.
And   I'll   give   you   just   one   more.
13   And   I'm   happy   to   provide   all   of   these   for   citations
14   and   where   they   came   from.
15     The   Boston   Globe   has   given   us   our   most   recent
16   information   about   the   number   of   people   traveling   from
17   Faneuil   Hall   and   Quincy   Hill   Market   alone   every   year.
18   16,000,000   people.
1.3
million   of   those   people   walk
19   across   the   street   in   front   of   these   hazmat   trucks.
20   This   is   not   dirty   water.
This   is   not   inconvenience.
21   These   are   lives   on   feet.
That's   what   four   times   the
22   risk   meant   to   me.
Thank   you   very   much.
23     MR.
DALY:    Thank   you.
24     MS.
FARROW:    Ann   Devlin   Taglia   Farrow,   63
25   Atlantic   Avenue   in   Boston.
Actually,   I'm   going   to
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1   just   diddo   what   Ann   has   said,   but   my   actually
2   assessment   is   on   the   green   light.
We   created     Disney
3   World.
And   it's   like   taking   one   of   these   hazmat
4   trucks,   if   anybody   went   over   there   and   seen   the
5   carousel   and   the   baby   carriages   and   the   Segues,   and
6   have   personally   watched   these   hazmat   trucks   go   in
7   front   of       through     red   light   in   front   of   my
8   home.
So         lived   in   Hingham   for   over   25   years
9   and     would   never   have   realized   the   impact   that   I've
10   lived   for   the   past   14   years   on   Atlantic   Avenue   in
11   Boston   and     feel   as   if   this   is   really   not   even
12   consideration   to   having   these   trucks   go   through   there.
13   Thank   you.
14     MR.
DALY:    Ann   Meyers   of   535   Union   Street   in
15   Braintree.
16     MR.
LEERS:     Hi.
My   name   is   Al   Leers.
I'm
17   speaking   for   my   wife   and   myself   and   some   other   people
18   from   Braintree.
19   I   live   on   Union   Street   which   is   100   percent
20   residential   neighborhood   from   the   7/11   to   the   Sunoco
21   (inaudible)   station.
It's   not     commercial   business
22   zone   neighborhood.
It's   pure   residential.
23   Approximate   the   structure   of   house,   from   my   house   to
24   the   street   is   20   feet.
Gasoline   tankers   have   had   the
25   crash   in   Saugus,   they   had   the   Everett   crash,   they   had
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1   the   Cape   and   Circle   crash   30   years   ago,   they   had   the
2   Elm   Street   and   Heyward   Street   incidents,   Washington
3   Street   in   Braintree   and   High   Street   in   Quincy   cannot
4   be   used   by   the   gasoline   tankers.
5     My   suggestion   is   that   the   cargo   not   benefiting
6   the   Town   of   Braintree   should   stay   on   state   highways
7   because   of   whom   it   benefits.
Clean   Harbors   uses   state
8   highways   for   hazardous   materials   and   we   believe   that
9   the   gasoline   trucks   that   have   11,000   gallons   in   them
10   should   not   be   going   up   pure   residential   areas   and
11   should   be   on   state   highways.
Thank   you   very   much.
12   MR.
DALY:    The   next   speaker,   and     apologize   in
13   advance   on   pronunciation,   Zee   Wang.
14
15
MR.
WANG:    It's   me.
This   is   difficult   name.
MR.
DALY:      apologize,   sir.
From   22   Brunswick
16   Street   in   Brockton,   Massachusetts.
17     MR.
WANG:    Today     come   here,   actually     try   to
18   (inaudible   phrase).
was   (inaudible   phrase)   that
19   just   have   rarely   (inaudible)   story   tragic   being   most
20   of   the   (inaudible   phrase)   in   the   world.
21     First     say     wasn't   involved   (inaudible)   raising
22   a   few   years   from   2006     had   several   car   accident,
23   eventually   though     find   all   the   car   accident   of
24   people   (inaudible   phrase)   law   enforcement,   so     cannot
25   get   justice.
even   don't   get   one   penny.
was
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1   disabled   because   of   no   lawyer   to   come   help   me.
So
2   want   to   know   where     can   get   help.
3     Okay.
Besides   the   car   accident     also   get
4   (inaudible   phrase)   from   2006.
Never   stopped   until
5   today.
Based   on   my   best   (inaudible)   the   (inaudible
6   phrase)   was   controlled   by   U.S.
government.
7     Okay.
Basically   (inaudible   phrase)     gather
8   today   also   talk   about   (inaudible   phrase)   talk   about
9   radioactive   material   (inaudible)   human   being
10   (inaudible   phrase)   radiation.
My   family   and   me,
11   also   (inaudible   phrase).
get   radiation   from   sky   24
12   hours     day   until   today.
Never   stop.
13     Okay.
look   (inaudible   phrase)   okay,   (inaudible
14   phrase)     lot.
can   call   the   people   today,   okay?
15   (Inaudible   phrase)     was   the   one   person   in   the
16   (inaudible)   school   to   buy       (inaudible   phrase)
17   professional   medical   doctor   (inaudible   phrase)   okay.
18   Many   doctors   in   the   world,   even   some   medical   college
19   have   about     20,000   staff   (inaudible   phrase)   people
20   (inaudible)   school   to   professional   medical   (inaudible
21   phrase).
So   this   is   when     can   get     survive   because
22   I   have   (inaudible   phrase)   everybody   says   you   go   to
23   hospital,   you   (inaudible   phrase).
It   is   not   always
24   like   this,   okay?
25     MR.
BRODERICK:    Sir,     have   to   ask   you   to   keep
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1   your   comments   strictly   to   the   issue   at   hand.
2     MR.
WANG:    (inaudible   phrase)   interesting,   okay,
3   I   have     petition   say,   many   petition.
(Inaudible
4   phrase)   few   hundred   people   that   sign.
Okay.
5   (Inaudible   phrase)   also     want   to   write   out   how   many
6   (inaudible   phrase)   like   everybody   working   for   like
7   human   rights   organizing   (inaudible   phrase)     hope
8   people   can   stand   out.
9     Okay.
(Inaudible   phrase)   sky   weapon,   it's   more
10   worse   than   nuclear   weapon.
Yesterday   the   earthquake
11   was   out   of   Virginia.
Everybody   was
12   were       lot   of   people   were   scared.
13     MR.
BRODERICK:    Sir.
Sir.
I'm   going   to   have   to
14   ask   you   ­­
15     MR.
WANG:    Oh,   time's   up?
Okay.
16     MR.
DALY:    Thank   you   sir.
Mr.
Broderick,   that
17   concludes   the   list   of   public   speakers.
18     MR.
BRODERICK:      guess   that   concludes   the
19   official   hearing   portion   of   tonight's   hearing.
As
20   said,   we'll   accept   any   comments   on   the   written   things
21   or   any   mailings   by   September   twenty­third   and   then
22   anything   that's   postmarked   as   far   as   comments   will   be
23   accepted   10   business   days   after   the   twenty­third
24   provided   that   they   are   postmarked   prior   to   that   date,
25   so   written   comments   can   come   in   through   October
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1   seventh.
2     I'd   like   to   thank   you   for   coming   tonight,
3   participating   in   this   public   hearing   process.
And   our
4   next   hearing   is   Tuesday,   next   Tuesday   in   Waltham   at
5   the   Clark   Government   Center,   main   auditorium.
Thank
6   you   for   participating.
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15
16
17
18
11
12
13
14
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5   I,   Sharon   G.
Saalfield,
do   hereby   certify   that   the
6   foregoing   record   is     true   and   accurate   transcription   of   the   proceedings   in   the   above­captioned   matter   to   the   best   of   skill   and   ability.
19
20
Sharon   G.
Saalfield
21
22   **ALL   NAMES   NOT   PROVIDED   WERE   SPELLED   PHONETICALLY   TO
23   THE   BEST   OF   MY   ABILITY
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