| The gushing and fawning by Boston columnists | | | | for specific chemicals contaminating the soil that |
| over how quickly Governor Mitt Romney | | | | are harmful to humans and wildlife. Of course, |
| mastered the nuts and bolts of Big Dig | | | | those employees at the state DEP who were |
| information is frightening. I think his new found | | | | “overseeing“ the process with the |
| leadership is a diversion. In a slick show of | | | | Big Dig were salaried by the Massachusetts |
| “control” over the Central Artery | | | | Highway Department and the Central Artery |
| Tunnel fiasco, Mitt commands respect with a flick | | | | Tunnel Project. We won’t even begin to |
| of his magic pointer. The media swoon. It looks | | | | examine that closet. Why? Because right now we |
| like a Boston rendition of Chicago; Bechtel as | | | | are trying to figure out the rabbit in the hat for |
| Roxie Hart kept safe and comfy in the lap of | | | | Mitt’s Magic Show about the anchor bolts. |
| master puppeteer Mitt Romney, playing Billy Flynn. | | | | (3) During construction, there seemed to be an |
| Nice guy, cute guy, downright lovable when he is | | | | ongoing safety process regarding the concrete. |
| home pretending he cares, great song and dance | | | | Footage in Big Dig IV: Still Working contained a |
| man, but there is more going on here than | | | | segment on the concrete testing process that |
| screwing in anchor bolts. Much harder questions | | | | was overseen by the Joint Venture of Bechtel |
| need to be asked and investigated by the local | | | | and the Massachusetts Highway Department. This |
| media and by independent safety engineers to | | | | footage will soon be available at our web site, |
| assure that no more 3-ton ceiling slabs land on | | | | where we will also uncover what we consider to |
| commuters or travelers. But, as with any good | | | | be the design change that is causing continuous |
| magic show, Mitt has all eyes trained on the | | | | leaks in the I-93 tunnel. |
| anchor bolts while he tries to convince the public | | | | This past winter, a small Big Dig contractor was |
| jury that the real fault lies with Matt Amarillo and | | | | accused and indicted for allegedly mixing too much |
| that Bechtel should be free to just walk out the | | | | old concrete in with new concrete to create a |
| door. | | | | substandard mix that may be contributing to |
| Just when we thought it was going to be safe to | | | | some leaks in the I-93 tunnel underneath Boston. |
| go back in the Central Artery Tunnels in Boston, | | | | This was a red flag that something may be NOT |
| the Governor let us know that more anchor bolts | | | | O.K. with at least some of the concrete but no |
| were faulty in several lanes of I-90 and perhaps in | | | | one really noticed. |
| more tunnels. One of the problems with listening | | | | (4) By looking carefully at the Memorandum of |
| to Governor Romney, Turnpike Chair Matt | | | | Agreement it is obvious that the chemical |
| Amarillo or most CA/T predecessors is that they | | | | contaminants in the DEP agreement are not the |
| are lawyers and businessmen, not engineers. So | | | | same chemical contaminants that can be harmful |
| take a minute during the Magic Mitt Show to visit | | | | to the strength of the concrete or to the |
| the CA/T with my tunnel vision because | | | | tendency of certain chemical contaminants to |
| something does not smell right. Even though the | | | | corrode embedded steel. When certain chemicals |
| laser light is dazzling and the hard hat adds such | | | | are present in the sand and soil used as the |
| charm. I’m not ready to clear the deck of | | | | “aggregate” or the mixing soil that is |
| the Super Scoop barge fora decisive victory | | | | added to cement to make concrete they can |
| photo-op. | | | | weaken or affect other properties of the |
| First, take a really close look at the failed epoxy | | | | concrete. These effects may happen over time |
| holding the anchor bolts that suspend the 3-ton | | | | and consequently may not be detected using |
| concrete ceiling panels. Here are some of the | | | | temperature and slump tests on the |
| easy to follow instructions for construction | | | | not-yet-hardened concrete. The Joint Venture |
| workers regarding epoxy- | | | | (the state and Bechtel) was required to sample |
| “Prior to application, all areas must be free | | | | portions of the concrete in all Big Dig contracts |
| of contamination such as waxes, oils, loose | | | | for strength. If the aggregate used to make this |
| concrete, dirt, curing compounds, etc. Acid etching, | | | | same concrete contained chemical contaminants |
| followed by proper neutralization and rinsing, is | | | | that do not affect concrete strength, but can |
| usually acceptable if the concrete is in excellent | | | | corrode steel fittings rapidly how would we know? |
| condition, not contaminated.” (emphasis | | | | Well, obviously we check the standards, right? |
| mine). | | | | That way we always mix in aggregate that does |
| Drum Roll-Mitt’s shines a laser light into the | | | | not contaminate the concrete in ways that can |
| dark tunnel and we hear the | | | | be disastrous. |
| “ooows” and “ahhhs” | | | | When I looked for national standards on chemical |
| over the new, shiny anchor bolts, and a slight of | | | | contaminants and concrete mix, I found only an |
| hand trick begins. Will the rabbit now stay in the | | | | early attempt in Australia (1994-1996) to develop |
| hole or pop out of the hard hat? | | | | such construction standards for recycled material |
| Wake up. Remove your gaze from the anchor | | | | used in concrete construction. Many more |
| bolts and focus on the other end of the | | | | Internet references attested to a lack of the |
| suspension rods within the ceiling panels | | | | type of precise testing over time that could lead |
| themselves. We see a concrete ceiling with newly | | | | to such standards. Perhaps the CA/T was |
| tightened anchor bolts on the top and steel cable | | | | following a set of engineering standards of which I |
| rods embedded in 3-ton concrete slabs suspended | | | | am not aware. Of greatest concern is for the |
| beneath on the other end of the cable. No steel | | | | public to be informed about which chemical |
| beams exist in the I-90 connector to create the | | | | contaminates can affect the strength and |
| desirable steel-bolted-to-steel infrastructure. So | | | | durability of the concrete and which were present |
| any suspended cable will only behave as well as | | | | in what percentages in the recycled fill used |
| the concrete on either end allows it to behave. If | | | | throughout the CA/T tunnels. It is particularly |
| I put an anchor bolt in a wad of silly putty and | | | | important that an independent evaluation team |
| hang a rod embedded in 5 lbs. of modeling clay | | | | makes a thorough investigation of the chemical |
| from it…well it’s hanging there with a | | | | properties of the recycled aggregate soil used |
| limited lifespan, I don’t care how new the | | | | throughout the project. This could help to identify |
| anchor bolt might be. | | | | areas that can be expected to have premature |
| Anchor bolts will mean very little if this | | | | corrosion of steel rods embedded in concrete or |
| construction mess in downtown Boston is the | | | | that cause the concrete to expand or crumble or |
| result of mixing contaminated dirt and fill into the | | | | leak. |
| composition of the concrete ceiling, walls or floor. | | | | So 12 years of Republican controlled reassurances |
| Here is how the trick might have been done: | | | | that the harmful soil was being disposed of |
| (1) While most eyes follow the light and focus on | | | | properly failed to explain to us that the tests |
| anchor bolts, our current investigation shows that | | | | were only for the chemicals and soil properties |
| there is a global demand for recycled construction | | | | directly dangerous to humans, for example, piles |
| products. This demand has increased substantially | | | | of dirt that contained mercury. The tests and |
| during the past two decades. The Big Dig | | | | press releases from the CA/T in 1991-1995 did |
| produced over 4,000 miles and over 11 million | | | | not describe the concentrations of chemical |
| cubic feet of dirt in the early digging stages. Most | | | | contaminants in fill that could cause premature |
| of this dirt and debris was processed for | | | | collapse of the tunnel ceiling or walls from faulty |
| contamination and recycled into the Big Dig as clay | | | | concrete. We are attempting to get those listed |
| landfill capping material, project backfill and as | | | | on our web site at [ . We would appreciate |
| aggregate (mix) for the tons and tons of | | | | hearing from any students, engineers or chemical |
| concrete needed for the project. The miles of | | | | engineers who can provide clarification on this |
| extra dirt came from the demolition at the | | | | matter. We will post your information and we will |
| airport, the dredging of the harbor floor by the | | | | post any established standards for contaminates |
| Super Scoop for the Ted Williams Tunnel, the | | | | used in concrete aggregates along with any |
| digging of the coffer dam, excavation of miles | | | | standards used by the CA/T in disposition of the |
| underneath downtown Boston for the Tip | | | | dirt back into the Artery construction. |
| O’Neil Tunnel, digging out tunnel entrances, | | | | While we will continue to investigate this potential |
| etc. | | | | concrete catastrophe and review the documents |
| In Big Dig II: Down Under, co-producer Arnie | | | | and tapes at our disposal, someone with far |
| Reisman and I investigated this dirt and decided to | | | | greater resources, like the mainstream media |
| follow the good news. The uncontaminated clay | | | | needs to examine the CA/T deals made with |
| portions of this fill were going to be used to cap | | | | contractors. How much of the previously used dirt |
| Spectacle Island and hundreds of Massachusetts | | | | and debris from demolition, dredged or excavated |
| landfills, an appropriate reuse of heavier clay | | | | material were each of these contractors required |
| materials. We were assured that there was a | | | | to reuse in their concrete? Was it tested for the |
| dirt-testing lab and that all of the contaminated soil | | | | road salts and other contaminants that may not |
| was being properly distributed and reviewed by | | | | be immediately harmful to people and therefore |
| the Department of Environmental Protection | | | | ruled usable by the DEP? Were those |
| (DEP). We were handed stacks of literature, | | | | contaminates in sufficient quantity to pose |
| interagency agreements regarding contaminated | | | | problems as a concrete aggregate? Does the |
| materials and many, many press releases about | | | | effort to get rid of over 4,000 miles of soil |
| the massive volume of dirt being tested and | | | | through recycling and to save money or make |
| processed. Occasionally there was other good | | | | money from disposal of the fill now threaten our |
| news on the disposition of the dirt. There were | | | | lives with weakened or corrosive concrete? Our |
| mountains of dirt and any disposition was cause | | | | future could depend upon understanding the |
| for celebration. After all, any unused dirt was | | | | nature of these man-made caverns before the |
| going to cost the project and the managers big | | | | Big Dig becomes the Big Tomb. Remember, look |
| money for disposal. | | | | beyond Mitt’s Magic Show to see how this |
| (2) Digging back through my Big Dig materials I | | | | rabbit was stuffed into the hole in the first place. |
| unearthed a 1992 Memorandum of Understanding | | | | Next we look at the design change that may be |
| between the Department of Environmental | | | | the primary cause of I-93 tunnel leaks.This one |
| Protection and the Massachusetts Highway | | | | change might have set in motion an on-going set |
| Department about the “contaminated | | | | of problems with downtown leaks in Boston's |
| materials” in the soil. This addressed the | | | | Central Artery/Tunnel. |
| process for oversight and inspections of the dirt | | | | |