EDEN, Vt. -
Shrouded in a coat of snow, the Belvidere Mountain Asbestos mine sits dormant. But controversy over what to do with the long-contaminated site is heating up. The state for years has been exploring getting the mine included on the federal Superfund cleanup list. That would require local approval from the towns of Eden and Lowell, which lie at the mountain's foot.
The Lamoille County Economic Development Corporation recently added an incentive. It is working with a developer on plans to use the site for a state-of-the art biomass electric generation plant. And the only way that can be accomplished is to clean up the area. At the urging of the development corporation, Eden and Lowell plan to put the Superfund question to voters on Town Meeting Day.
"The EPA requires it to be a Superfund site before they spend the significant amount of money that needs to be spent there. I mean this is a site we're looking at $200 million for cleanup. That's a large number. Not a number the local communities could carry, not a number the state could carry; it's really something the federal government would have to carry," said David Halquist of LEDC.
But many area residents and town leaders who have lived next to the mine for decades question the need for federal intervention. Former select board member Leslie White has spent the past several years researching the issue and says the lengthy disruption caused by such a massive cleanup is just not worth it.
"I just want people to know if they say yes to Superfund that it's a very long process and that there is going to be no immediate cleanup and the promise of jobs from a biomass plant are unrealistic," White said.
Critics also question the real health risks of the status quo and say the stigma of a Superfund designation could hurt property values.
"I would argue the damage has been done to the real estate values at this point. It's really looking at your long-term real estate values and saying, hey, if thing gets cleaned up, I would argue your real estate value will go up," Halquist said.
Opinion in both towns appears to be split, with residents and town leaders coming down on either side of the issue. If approved by voters in March, the governor would likely make a formal request to the Environmental Protection Agency to begin the Superfund process.
Residents can learn more about what a Superfund site is at some upcoming public meetings. LEDC will be hosting informational meetings in Eden on Feb. 22 and in Lowell on Feb. 23.
