A Hamden, Conn. environmental consulting firm will pay a $23,212 fine for violating federal regulations covering the storage and handling of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
According to EPA, Facility Support Services, LLC (FSS), failed to conduct proper soil sampling, resulting in PCB contaminated soils being recycled and potentially released back into the environment rather then being treated or disposed of properly.
In 2007, FSS was hired to conduct soil sampling and to complete response at a property in Milford, CT., due to an earlier release of oil from an underground storage tank. As a result of their investigation, FSS was hired to oversee the excavation of the oil-contaminated spill area. FSS then hired a subcontractor to excavate the soils and to provide transportation of the excavated material to a facility to be used in asphalt batch treatment and recycling.
On February 12, 2008, the subcontractor accidently punctured an abandoned underground storage tank during the excavation, releasing about 20-30 gallons of oil. FSS directed that the soils impacted by the new petroleum release be placed in a stockpile and analyzed for PCBs. Sampling of the waste oil came back positive for PCBs at a concentration of 280 parts per million (ppm). FSS relied on analysis of a composite sample in deciding to ship the contaminated soil for recycling.
FSS failed to conduct "in situ" sampling of the soils. In situ sampling means samples collected of the impacted soils prior to excavation. If in situ sampling is not conducted, the PCB regulations require that the soils in question be treated as containing greater than or equal to 50 ppm PCB waste. Consequently, FSS illegally shipped about 24 cubic yards of the PCB regulated soils for recycling.
PCBs are persistent in the environment and are suspected carcinogens. Exposure to PCBs can cause liver problems and skin rashes.
The (Environmental Concerns Coalition) ECC Debate kicked off as scheduled at 6:P.M. all candidates in the running were present and questions were prepared in advance by the ECC moderator.
Candidates had 2 minutes to answer each question, and a rebuttal of their opponents of one Minute. This was the protocol for the first few questions, the next four questions were drawn randomly from a hat and were pre-written by the ECC and selected by each candidate. The audience was also permitted to openly ask questions at the end of the debate.
Of the initial questions asked, the issue of purchasing open land was agreed upon as a good idea by all candidates. The next question regarding Milford's deplorable record on Recycling sparked the most debate.
While the question formulated by the ECC corresponded with the 6% figure as reported in the CT Post Jim Richetelly took issue with the numbers as inaccurate. Richetelly alledged that the number was "under-reported... an error" and held up a copy of the DEP report that he claimed indicated Milford was recycling 12% of its renewable waste not 6%. Richetelli said that Milford is not "last in the state, but doing much better than people believed."
One public question came in regarding the funds to purchase open space, Richetelli exhausted nearly all the money in the open space fund in his latest Naugatuck land deal purchase. The issue of how to pay for this was best addressed by Peter Spalthoff who indicated he would make it a "budget item," and purchase land as part of the routine operations of the town. There was little disagreement to this, since all the candidates agreed that purchasing open space saves Miford's taxpayers money.
There was also debate on adding a paid commissioner to go out and manage the land purchases. Tim Chaucer said that the best candidate for this job would be an "outdoor enthusiast who really knows the town and its land very well."
Each candidate Praised, and addressed, the Clean Energy Roadmap approved by the Board of Aldermen last month. The plan lays out steps the city should take to become environmentally sound. The Roadmap was authored by a community task force and is a step by step plan for city officials to follow.
When it came time for the audience to ask questions, the first question was regarding public transportation. All candidates vowed to improve public transportation and do their part to make certain Milford has more bus stops and convenient locations to get people to and from their local destinations.
The next question from the audience got interesting because I do not think the moderator expected an off topic attack of Richetelli. The man who asked the question specifically addressed it to Jim. He started by saying he made several unanswered telephone calls to Jim, then followed up with more unanswered e-mails. Than after contacting his aide was able to get to talk to him.
Expressing disgust over his experience, he then charged that he did not get the tax decrease that Jim advertised in his "mail piece" that he held up to the audience. He said "I am an engineer, and I am very good with numbers. I looked at my old bill and compared it to my new one... where is my savings!" The moderator told the gentleman that this was an environmental forum not to get "off topic." she said that perhaps "the candidates could answer those types of questions after the debate."
The candidates nonetheless did answer the gentleman's question, and Richetelli stood up and told the gentleman "everyone in Milford received a 2.6% tax decrease plain and simple." Geneveve Salvatore reminded the man that the tax decrease was courtesy of the Democratic led Board of Alderman and that Richetelli's rejected budged actually would have raised his taxes.
The event lasted over an hour, and all the Candidates for Mayor remained long after the meeting and respectfully spoke to the public. However it is important to note, that what is mentioned above are just some notable highlights. MGAT Channel 79 on Cablevision did videotape the event and it will be made available to the public in its entirety in the next week or so and I recommend we all watch it. The more informed you are the better choice you will make come election day.
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Milford's local recycling group, The Environmental Concerns Coalition, will be hosting a Mayoral debate this evening at 6:00 P.M. The meeting will be held at the Milford Library located at 57 New Haven Ave. For anyone who wishes to call for directions their telephone number is (203) 783-3304.
The debate will arrive on the news that Milford's statewide recycling record is purported to be the worst in the state of Connecticut. The ECC set out some years ago to try and bring reform to our city and introduce innovative programs like single stream recycling to our community.
Currently Milford recycles about 6% of its renewable waste as compared to other towns that recycle as much as 35%. Milford is also met with environmental challenges from our current contractors such as RESCO, and Recycling Inc.
Recycling Inc. currently had Zoning and Planning deny their application to expand their recycling facility on Oronoque Road. Their permit became the subject of controversy when Recycling Inc. intended to import renewable waste by barge, train, truck along the Housatonic River.
Local residents in the area especially those living at Caswell Cove objected to the hardship the added commercial traffic would bring through their neighborhood. Caswell Cove residents also saw their taxes double in recent years and are already having difficulty maintaining their property values.
Residents in the area said "We have a power plant to our right, a sewage treatment center to our left, high voltage power lines over our heads and freight trains that produce seismic tremors in our homes behind us. But the tax assessor says we are Direct waterfront and that is true we have a beautiful view on one side, however expansion of a recycling facility may be the ad-infinitum to this development it would just firm up the belief that there is no place for homes in the middle of heavy industry. I am looking forward to this debate this evening to see where we end up on renewable waste management."
The ECC also runs an environmental Blog, with public events and activities, it can be accessed by clicking HERE. The main ECC website can be accessed by clicking HERE.
A Hamden, Conn. environmental consulting firm will pay a $23,212 fine for violating federal regulations covering the storage and handling of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
