BEACON HILL BEAT
SEPTEMBER 2005
MWRA HOLDS DEDICATION CEREMONY TO NAME THE NEW OZONE WATER
TREATMENT PLANT AFTER BOARD MEMBER JOHN CARROLL
On August 18th, the MWRA dedicated the new treatment plant
in Marlborough, MA the John J. Carroll Water Treatment Pant
in honor of its longest serving Board member. The $340 million
ozone water treatment plant was built by UCANE member Barletta
Heavy Construction and is the final major construction project
in the MWRA’s 10 year investment project costing nearly
$2 billion to upgrade the drinking water infrastructure for
2.3 million MWRA consumers. The 10 year modernization plan
included the construction of the 17.6 mile MetroWest Water
Supply Tunnel and the 115 million gallon Norumbega Covered
Storage tank in Weston, built by UCANE member J.F. White Contracting
Company.
The water treatment plant, which officially went on-line
on July 27th, uses ozone instead of chlorine for primary disinfection.
Ozone is a highly charged oxygen molecule and a powerful disinfection
agent. The cleaning process occurs when ozone is bubbled through
drinking water to destroy potentially harmful organisms and
also reduce unpleasant tastes and odors. With a peak capacity
of 405 million gallons a day the water treatment plant is
the largest of its kind in the country to use ozonation. Carbon
dioxide and sodium carbonate are added at the plant for corrosion
control to prevent copper and lead from being released from
home plumbing. Fluoride is also added to promote dental health.
John Carroll was appointed to the MWRA Advisory Board in
1985 and currently serves as the Board’s Vice Chairman.
He has been a dedicated public servant for the past 26 years
serving as Commissioner of Public Works for the Commonwealth,
Superintendent of Public Works and Town Engineer for Lexington,
and currently as Town Manager for Norwood.
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GOVERNOR ROMNEY APPOINTS STEPHEN BURRINGTON COMMISSIONER
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND RECREATION
On September 1st, Governor Mitt Romney appointed Stephen
Burrington the new Commissioner of the Department of Conservation
and Recreation (DCR). As Commissioner he will be in charge
of managing the public parks and recreational facilities throughout
the state. Governor Romney stated, "Throughout his career,
Steve Burrington has proven himself a passionate advocate
for the environment as well as a capable and effective manager.
He is the right person to move forward with the ambitious
program of reforms and improvements already underway across
the DCR system."
Burrington previously served as Undersecretary for the Office
of Commonwealth Development and prior to that he served as
Vice President and General Counsel for the Conservation Law
Foundation. Burrington replaces Stephen Prichard who was appointed
Secretary of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
(EOEA).
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REP. PATRICIA JEHLIN WINS DEMOCRAT PRIMARY
FOR STATE SENATE RACE
On August 30th, State Representative Patricia
Jehlen (D-Somerville) won the Democratic primary for the Second
Middlesex Senate District, representing the communities of
Medford, Somerville, Winchester, and Woburn. A special election
was held to fill the vacant seat left by the passing of State
Senator Charles Shannon (D-Winchester). Jehlen will face Republican
candidate William White, Jr., a Somerville Alderman, in the
September 27th general election.
~ ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL ~
PRESIDENT BUSH SUSPENDS DAVIS-BACON REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH ASSISTING THE DAMAGES
OF HURRICANE KATRINA
In response to the devastation left by hurricane Katrina,
President George Bush waived Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage requirements
on federal construction projects for the clean-up effort and
rebuilding of affected states. Contracts signed after September
8th in counties in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana
have had Davis-Beacon requirements waived. President Bush
termed the hurricane a national emergency and in a letter
to Congress stated that the suspension of the Davis-Bacon
provision, "will result in greater as! sistance to these
devastated communities and will permit the employment of thousands
of additional individuals."
The President’s proclamation suspending this law can
be found on the Internet at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050908-5.html
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