TIVERTON -- The United States senator had never been in Gail Corvello's living room before.
While some of the state officials gathered on Corvello's brown leather couch yesterday had already visited the Judson Street residence that doubles as a day-care center, Democratic Sen. Jack Reed had not.
That's because the investigation into soil contamination in Corvello's neighborhood has been largely a state issue for the past two years. But Reed's visit yesterday marked a shift in the political landscape surrounding the Bay Street residents' struggle to learn the truth about their property.
Testing done by the company believed to be responsible for the contamination, New England Gas Co., revealed the presence of some toxic chemicals ---- including the known carcinogens benzopyrene and arsenic. But residents complained that after a quick start addressing the problem, the company has been dragging its feet and doing subpar work.
"People feel like their lives are on hold. They're worried. They believe they're at risk because they have nothing proving otherwise," Corvello told Reed yesterday The two of them were crowded on her large curved sofa along with three state lawmakers. "We want to live here. We want to live here safely."
From the other end of the couch Reed looked across the coffee table at her, a serious look on his face.
"You should live here. You should live here safely. And we'll see what we can do to make that happen," he said.
Reed said a federal agency will join the mix of Rhode Island regulatory agencies monitoring the situation, which include the state Department of Environmental Management and Department of Health.
Representatives from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ---- a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ---- will visit area residents tomorrow night to help assess health risks.
In her small rectangular living room Corvello presented the lawmakers and state officials with a brief PowerPoint demonstration outlining the history of the contamination scandal and the gas company's efforts to deal with the situation. She used a window shade as the projection screen.
Corvello and Reed shared the couch with state Reps. William Enos and Joseph Amaral and state Sen. Walter Felag.
Reed's policy director, Nancy Langrall, sat in an oversized recliner in the corner, while the health department's Robert Vanderslice and the DEM's Jeffrey Crawford sat across the room in wooden chairs borrowed from the kitchen table.
Corvello, who heads the neighborhood group ENACT, said that a lot has happened in her neighborhood since the first signs of contamination were detected in August 2002.
The Town Council initially implemented an excavation moratorium in the area that affected 151 properties, but reduced the area last month to include 132.
Health department officials initially warned residents to keep their children from playing in the dirt and told them not to eat vegetables grown in their gardens, but toned down such warnings following a study produced by a company hired by the gas company.
State officials believe the contamination consists largely of coal gasification waste produced by Fall River Gas Co. during the early part of the 20th century. The DEM sent a letter of responsibility to New England Gas Co., which purchased Fall River Gas in the mid-90s.
During the meeting there was some discussion about involving Massachusetts lawmakers, as many believe there is contamination in nearby neighborhoods across the border.
"I really think Massachusetts should be brought into this," Enos said. "It might help Jack [Reed] if he had some allies on the federal level like Kennedy and Kerry."
After the hourlong meeting Reed said he'd stay involved.
"I'll come back. If you think I should be here, I'll be here," Reed said. "Maybe not every day, but I'll be here. This is very serious."
To contact Steve Peoples phone (401)277-7459 or e-mail SPeoples [at] projo.com
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