Federal Investigators Now Probing Contamination at $410 Million 6/10 Project
Thursday, September 17, 2020
GoLocal has learned that agents from at least two federal agencies have been in Rhode Island investigating the now-confirmed contaminated soil at the 6/10 redevelopment project.
GoLocal first unveiled the dumping of contaminated soil 10 days ago.
The investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering & Fraud Investigation as well as from the Federal Highway Administration have begun interviewing key players in the contamination controversy relating to the $410 million project. Special Agent Susan Murphy of the Office of Inspector General has conducted interviews in Rhode Island this week.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTOf the total project cost, Barletta and its partners in the 6-10 Constructors Joint Venture's portion of the project is $247 million. The project was awarded to 6-10 Constructors Joint Venture after it was, the Barletta entities claim, the low bid by “more than 80 million dollars.”
This is not Murphy's first investigation in Rhode Island. She also led a 2018 insurance fraud case.
Murphy did not respond to requests for comment.
On Wednesday, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Rhode Island Department of Transportation announced that the two agencies had agreed that the contractor who brought the contaminated material to the site would remove the site and that one area on Plainfield Street in Providence would be remediated.
According to whistleblower James White President of Local 57 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Barletta Engineering of Canton, MA brought the material from two sites — the Jamaica Plain MBTA project and the Pawtucket/Central Fall Transportation Hub.
No Agreement Between RI DEM and RIDOT
After more than a dozen calls to RI DEM and RIDOT, GoLocal confirmed that there is no written agreement between the agencies regarding the acknowledgment -- and removal -- of the contamination.
In cases of contamination, RI DEM issues a Notice of Violation or a letter of deficiency notifying the violating entity.
According to Gail Mastrati, spokeswoman for the RIDEM, “There is nothing written.”
Related Articles
- EXCLUSIVE: Union Official Says RIDOT Allows Contractor to Illegally Dump Contaminates at 6/10 Site
- NEW: RIDOT Announces Removal of Contaminated Soil at 6/10 Project After GoLocal Investigation
- Questions Emerging About Investigation of Alleged Contamination at 6/10 Project
- RI State Police Open Criminal Investigation Into Alleged Contamination at 6/10 Project
- RIDOT Refuses to Allow Access to 6/10 Site for Independent Soil Samples
- Council President Matos Calls on DOT and DEM to Address “Preventable Danger” at 6/10 Project
