1 Clear Falls Tire Dump 2000 BOARD OF HEALTH
MEMBERS
YNTHIA DOURMASHKIN,R.N.,Chair
ANNE BURES,M.D.
ROSEMARIE KARPARIS,R.N.,MPH
PETER J.McERLAIN,Health Agent
(413)587-1214
FAX(413)587-1221
August 2,2000
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
Thomas Martin, Chairman
Westhampton Board of Health
Town Hall
One South Rd.
Westhampton, MA 01027
MASSACHUSETTS 01060
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF HEALTH
Re: Tires washing downstream in the Manhan River
Dear Mr. Martin:
210 MAIN STREET,Room 8
NORTHAMPTON,MA 01060-3167
Every year for the past eight or ten years, there have been dozens of old tires washing down the
Manhan River into the Clear Falls Swimming Area in Loudville following heavy rains. Mr. Sam
Cresheoni, the owner of Clear Falls, indicates that the tires are washing out of old burial sites in
Westhampton. Besides being a source of pollution the tires pose a safety hazard and are a
disposal problem for Clear Falls. Recently Charles Clines, Solid Waste Engineer with DEP asked
me to look into this problem. Since I have no jurisdiction in Westhampton, I am writing on
behalf of the Northampton Board of Health, in the hopes that you and your Board will be able to
shed some light on a the source of those tires.
Reportedly, the tires are coming from a couple of sites (the former Norris Farm &the former
Lyman sawmill) located along the Manhan River upstream of Clear Falls.. However,we have no
way to confirm this. If the owners of the tire burial sites can be determined they can be made to
clean up the sites and/or be held responsible for the costs of removing and disposing the tires
which end up at Clear Falls.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or if I can be of any assistance in this matter.
Also, Mr. Cresheoni at Clear Fall can provide more background information.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Very trul yours
Peter J. McErlain, Health Agent