Tabor Academy’s synthetic turf athletic field does not pose a threat to water quality, according to a report from engineering firm Camp, Dresser, McKee and Smith, Inc.

Known as the G. Richard Duffy Athletic Field, it was installed three years ago amid controversy between school and town officials. Tabor built the fields after  receiving an order of conditions from the Conservation Commission. However, residents and officials at the time said the school should have more open about those plans.

Tabor argued that state law exempts an educational institution from local zoning bylaws.

A Land Court judge agreed with Tabor regarding the fields, however, additional improvements such as a baseball backstop and light towers had to be granted building permits from the Marion Zoning Board of Appeals.

Additionally, water tests were required as part of an agreement between the town and school.

“Based on the results of sampling effort, the athletic field is not a source of metal concentrations,” engineer Cindy Baumann wrote in a memo to Town Administrator Paul Dawson.

Water samples taken from the field in 2013 were tested for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and zinc.

Following storms water from the field is discharged to an on-site pond. From there, overflow is sent to a marsh adjacent to Front Street where a 12-inch culvert then diverts water to a wetland bordering Sippican Harbor.

Camp, Dresser, McKee and Smith, Inc. engineers also reviewed documents from the project’s construction firm, Marion’s CLE Engineering. Baumann said she found plans to replace a culvert beneath Front Street were not completed. The upgrade would have replaced a 12-inch culvert with a 24-inch one.

This was because town officials anticipated road and drain repairs in the area as part of a multi-million project to span a few years. Those repairs have begun in some areas of the Marion village.

“It was stated by both the Town and Tabor that these improvements were not required at the time of the field construction,” wrote Baumann. “No further action is required by Tabor.”

To read the full study, click below.