January 18, 2005
Mr. Ben Lynch, Program Chief
DEP Waterways Regulation Program
One Winter Street -- 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Subject: Boston Children's Museum, Waterways License Application W05-1502-N
Dear Mr. Lynch:
These comments expand upon those that I offered at the public hearing on January 5, 2006. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this application.
The Boston Groundwater Trust was established by the Boston City Council to monitor groundwater levels in sections of the City where building foundations are threatened by lowered groundwater and to make recommendations for solving the problem. As such, my comments are limited to groundwater related issues.
Subsequent to the hearing, I met, at his invitation, with Neil Gordon, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Museum. These comments reflect the understandings that I believe we reached in that meeting.
In my April comments to Secretary Herzfelder filed in response to the ENF, I suggested that the museum might be able to help mitigate the problem through recharge and might also be able to help educate young people on the problem and possible solutions. I believe that we have reached agreement on ways that we might pursue both goals.
I think it is important to note that Mr. Gordon confirmed that the museum itself is supported on a wood piling foundation, with the pilings in good shape because they have been kept wet by groundwater. I had talked about potential recharge from the museum's roof to the Sleeper Street side of the building; however, the distance between the building and property line does not allow any room for a recharge system to be installed. Mr. Gordon offered to study and, if feasible, to install a recharge system as part of the park area that they would be taking over along Sleeper Street as part of the open space match. I believe that this would be a solution that works for all of us.
In addition, Mr. Gordon agreed to work with the Trust to attempt to raise the funds to develop an exhibit that would explain, on both an adult and child level, the problem and potential solutions, and to install such an exhibit if funding is available. Once again, I believe that this is a solution that will be very useful in enhancing general understanding of this problem that is of such importance to Boston.
I want to commend Mr. Gordon and the Museum for reaching out and offering positive solutions. I look forward to working with them as these solutions are implemented.
Very truly yours,
Elliott Laffer
Executive Director
Cc: Neil Gordon, Boston Children's Museum
