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Documents: LettersBGwT letter to BRA re: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Jan. 10, 2005 |
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January 10, 2005 Mr. Keith Craig, Project Manager
Subject: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Dear Mr. Craig: Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Supplemental Information Document for the Brigham and Women’s Hospital 70 Francis Street/Brigham Green Enhancement and Parking project. The Boston Groundwater Trust was established by the City Council to monitor groundwater levels in areas of the city where lowered groundwater levels endanger the foundations of wood piling supported structures and to make recommendations for overcoming the problem. As such, our comments are limited to groundwater related issues. We appreciate the commitment of the proponent in its response to comments from both the Boston redevelopment Authority and the Boston Environment Department to the installation of groundwater level monitoring wells at both excavations, as well as the commitment to turn those wells over to the Boston Groundwater Trust for continued monitoring after construction. We also appreciate the intention to use construction methods that are likely to prevent groundwater leakage into the site. In order to ensure that the design successfully meets this goal, we ask that the proponent be required, after completion of construction, to provide an annual certification by a registered professional engineer that no groundwater pumping from the below ground structure has occurred in the previous year. It would additionally be valuable for the proponent to conduct an inventory of nearby structures to determine which are supported on wood pilings. This would enable the City and the Trust to determine which areas nearby are most sensitive and may require additional monitoring to assure that foundations are not damaged. We look forward to working with the proponent as the project develops to best site the wells and to disseminate the information gathered. Very truly yours, Elliott Laffer
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