Public Meeting to Review Woods Pond Remediation Plans

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BOSTON — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has scheduled a virtual public meeting on the Reach 6 (Woods Pond area) Remedial Design/Remedial Action (RD/RA) at the GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site for Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, from 6:30 – 8:30 PM on Zoom.

The meeting will be completely virtual out of an abundance of caution for weather and any residual illnesses continuing from the holidays, and it will be recorded and posted to the website.

The link to the meeting is here and on the GE website:

https://usepa.zoomgov.com/j/1613982552?pwd=zlTgzqk0PpViqu6iHNHaEP9dSgPp0i.1

Meeting ID: 161 398 2552

Passcode: 30052177

GE will be presenting its remedial design for Reach 6 (including Woods Pond and Valley Mill Pond) followed by a question-and-answer period. GE will be removing sediment in Woods Pond up to 6 feet below the crest of Woods Pond Dam regardless of PCB levels, and an engineered cap comprised of an erosion protection layer, geotechnical filter layer, and chemical isolation layer will be placed to isolate any remaining contamination.

The primary human health risk drivers for the Rest of River cleanup are consumption of fish and direct contact with some floodplain soil along with ecological risk drivers. The proposed cleanup will also improve Woods Pond by increasing total water column depth allowing for greater community access and recreation.


Tags: Rest of the River,   

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Berkshire Health System Blood Program Helps Shield County From National Shortage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The American Red Cross declared its second national blood supply crisis in its history on Monday, but community members can breathe easy thanks to Berkshire Health System's blood donor program. 
 
Berkshire Medical System has always had a stationary donor center for autologous donations, which is no longer common practice, and had some O-negative blood on hand that it purchased from the Red Cross prior to having its own blood donor program, said Christine Amuso, blood donor coordinator.
 
Today, Berkshire Health System's blood donor program collects about 2,300 to 2,400 units of blood annually, all of which stays within Berkshire County to help keep local blood supplies stocked. 
 
In some years, the program has reached record collections of about 3,000 units.
 
"That [record has] only happened a couple of times since I've been employed with the program. So, we really have done wonders with the program," Amuso said. 
 
Donating blood through Berkshire Health System's program is accessible, with a donor center at the main campus and a mobile blood unit that travels throughout Berkshire County, including select Saturdays.
 
While appointments for blood donations are strongly encouraged, staff also intentionally leave scheduling gaps to accommodate additional donors who walk in without an appointment. 
 
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