By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
Although there is currently no definitive time frame for the removal of the mercury from the Somerville Depot, Rep. Leonard Lance, R-7th, announced today (Friday) that workers have begun binding the barrels for transport.
”I observed the barrels of mercury, and workers were binding it with metal,” he said, after taking his first tour of the depot since being sworn into office in January. “That is a helpful sign.”
Rep. Lance also said the federal government is currently drafting a request of proposal to transport the mercury, which is the first step in removing it from Hillsborough and bringing it to Nevada.
”That should be written in the next several weeks,” he said.
At this point, Rep. Lance said, officials have completed all the testing of the mercury required by Nevada officials, and the about 78,000 barrels are ready to be moved, so long as additional tests are not requested. The next step, he said, is to complete the request for transfer.
”Every barrel is accounted for and I am pleased the process is continuing with the binding,” he said. “I am positive and optimistic based on what I saw today.”
Mayor Frank DelCore said, after the press conference, that he is encouraged by the fact that the barrels have begun to be bound to make them ready for removal.
”I didn’t know they had been prepping it for transport,” he said. “That is one sign that is encouraging.”
Rep. Lance said he will be continuing to monitor the progress of the removal over the coming weeks.
”I was pleased to see (the binding happening),” he said. “It was consistent with the briefing I received from the Defense Logistics Agency that they’re at the end of the process.”
See Thursday’s Hillsborough Beacon for more details on the press conference.
