By Monday afternoon, those opposed to the Housatonic Railroad’s transfer station application had their assurances. Congressman Chris Murphy heard the outcry and responded: “We’ll send a letter registering our opposition,” he said Monday. Wednesday morning his office confirmed a letter would go to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which is reviewing the railroad’s application regarding its transfer facility at 30 Hawleyville Road. “I wish there was a federal hammer here, but…” Mr Murphy’s thought was lost in a bustle of residents who hoped for a minute of his time during a Congress on Your Corner meeting outside the Stop & Shop Supermarket on South Main Street this week.

Amid the regular frenzy of shopping carts pushing in and out of the store’s automatic doors, passing cars, and fragments of conversation spilling from smaller groups of people, Mr Murphy listened to concerns about the railroad, health care reform, taxes, and saw a number of familiar political faces.

Stepping from the parking lot and afternoon heat, resident Margareta Kotch shook hands with the congressman. “I want the citizens of our country to have the same health care as our officials,” she said. As she turned to say hello to First Selectman Joe Borst, resident Paula Stephan looked at the crowd waiting for the congressman’s attention. “If only he had space on his plate,” she noted, overhearing an array of concerns.

Land Use Deputy Director Rob Sibley found a place to stand and accommodate the folders and paperwork he carried. What brought him to the congressman? “The railroad of course,” he said. Hoping to speak over splintered discussions, Mr Sibley caught a moment with Mr Murphy. “[The Housatonic Railroad] has applied to the DEP. Locally, the town and state interpret that we have some responsibility on our level,” he began. Per a new Clean Railroads Act of 2008, the DEP, which will consider town agencies’ recommendations, now reviews the railroad’s solid waste transfer facility proposals. The application has generated public concern about the volume and content of materials and hours of operation.

Mr Sibey continued, “They’ve taken an extreme step with the Clean Railroads Act.” The state and town can now be involved with the railroad’s operations, he said. “This is an interesting time at the DEP.”

What is the railroad’s timetable? Mr Murphy asked.

“That’s the $64,000 question,” Mr Sibley replied. Rather than wait to see what develops, Mr Sibley wants to “jumpstart” the process. He hopes the town agencies and state can “move forward in a cohesive manner.”

Soon Hawleyville Environmental Advocacy Team (HEAT) co-founders Ann Marie Mitchell and Dave Broughton moved toward Mr Murphy to listen. Mr Murphy was commenting that “the railroad company is going to need things going forward,” and would need to work cooperatively with officials. Turning her attention, Ms Mitchell said, “We feel very supported.” She admired his initiative “to be proactive.” Ms Mitchell said, “It’s who he is. He listens.”

Aiming for the first selectman’s seat in the coming November municipal elections, Pat Llodra had remarked, “I would think [the railroad] would want to be a good neighbor.” As she watched Mr Sibley and resident Jim Ruopp flip through aerial photographs of the railroad’s location, she added, “To me, the biggest issue is not having control over our own land use — that’s the bigger issue.” How could they hold the railroad accountable? Ms Llodra asked. His office is working on it, Mr Sibley said. He and Director George Benson are watching for wetlands and zoning violations on the property.

 

Increasing HEAT

Mr Broughton has heard complaints. “People call up and are wondering what is going on,” he said last week. “They think it’s a lumber yard and people are not aware it’s a transfer station.”

Already the onsite noise has spiked. “It sounds like machines working there. Not a pleasant situation,” Mr Broughton had said. He lives on a property neighboring the current transfer station. He has contacted the railroad regarding noise in the past, and was dismayed to learn they could expand. He contacted the town and will “keep my eye on the application process,” he said, adding the transfer station is “bad enough in the first place.” He worries about trucks carrying materials to the station, increased operations, and the wetlands. “What’s being done to protect it?” he asked.

Along with Mr Murphy, town agencies, the Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials, the Housatonic Resource Recovery Authority, and Board of Selectmen adding their voices of concern and opposition to possible increases in transfer station activity, the grassroots HEAT members and residents are watching closely. (See related story.)