High School Reporters October 17, 2017

News that Stinks

Ayer Board of Selectmen Meeting
October 17, 2017
Writer: Nicole Patano, ASRHS Correspondent

During the October 17th Ayer Board of Selectmen meeting, the Department of Environmental Protection requested permission from the Ayer Board of Selectmen to give a consent order to the Nasoya company on November 23. No effective legal action can be taken immediately against the company. The residents surrounding Westford Road in Ayer will have to hold their breath for another month.

For more than a decade the soy factory located at One New England Way has received numerous complaints from residents of the Crabtree Heights development. Previously owned by VitaSoy, Nasoya gained control in 2015. Due to extensive action by the BOS and other agencies, including the Board of Health, Vitasoy installed two “scrubbers” in 2014 for the purpose of cleaning the air in the area.  However, verified odor complaints by neighbors of the factory were still being reported to the BOH.

Upon transfer of ownership of the company to Nasoya in 2015, technologies were utilized to capture and then destroy air pollutant contaminants.  Although officials of the company have been described as “responsive,” the BOH demanded “corrective action” as recent as May of 2017. Corrective action may include a “third party odor response protocol,” which is an independent engineering company that can be in the neighborhood quickly. Ongoing conversations about limited Saturday operations was also discussed.

Reports of Nasoya’s efforts were not met with enthusiasm by the BOS. Chairman Chris Hillman disputed the claim that the company has been proactive in addressing the concerns of residents. “ We are so far beyond corrective action,” stated Hillman. He then asked if Nasoya could be “ fined retroactively” and then asked: “Why not shut them down until the 23rd?” the date the DEP and Nasoya had agreed on to formulate the proposal. Mary Beth Pigsley, director of the DEP replied, “We can issue an order to shut them down… But appeals can keep them operational.” This means there will be no change for the residents near Westford Road.

Residents of the neighborhood in attendance were dismayed with the proceedings. “I’m disappointed—I thought we would have real action tonight. Hope is not a strategies, folks. You have ruined the neighborhood and nobody cares. The residents lose, not them. I’m done.” Hillman agreed, saying, “It doesn’t impact them [the company] to the degree it affects the people in the neighborhood.” Those affected by the odor are rightfully becoming impatient with the company, but the best next step is for the neighbors to provide the DEP or the BOH with the time they smelt the odor, a description of the smell, and its effect on their property.