Thursday, November 11, 1999 Older Editions

Local hearings completed

By Rebecca Lipchitz

Public hearings before the Dracut Board of Selectmen on whether to issue a special permit to Constellation Power Corporation to build the Nickel Hill Energy plant closed last week.

But that doesn't mean the issue is decided yet. Now the board members will discuss the matter at length.

According to a spokesperson for the Dracut selectmen's office, the board has scheduled four meetings -- on Nov. 16, 17, 22 and 29 -- to discuss the issue.

Laura Jordan, of the Andover-based Merrimack Valley Residents for the Environment (MVRE), a local group opposed to the plant, attended many of the public hearings.

MVRE's concerns about the plant include the noise level, use of formaldehyde, oil as a back-up fuel source, property tax protections, the use of SCONOx technology and visibility of plumes.

"We continue to press the same issues and questions," Jordan says.

MVRE's Sheryl Poole of Andover says she saw few Dracut residents attending the hearings.

"I think a lot of people think this is a foregone conclusion, or they are fatigued by the process. It's difficult to maintain that level of energy. There's a lot of burnout," Poole says.

Poole and Jordan agree that Dracut selectmen were receptive to comments from MVRE.

"We feel it's important for everyone in the community to be educated and participate," Poole says.

MVRE continues to testify as an intervenor at Energy Facilities Siting Board hearings with the state this month, Poole says.

The environmental group is planning a fund raiser in the near future, Jordan says. While many of the attorneys working with them are volunteering time, MVRE must pay expert witnesses and legal counsel with specialties in engineering and environmental issues to make their case.

"No matter how much research we do or time we spend working on understanding the issues or technology, our (testimony) doesn't have as much credibility without coming from someone with a degree in that field. We have to pay someone with a degree to argue what we already know," she says.

-- Rebecca Lipchitz