Date: Fri 21-Jul-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

pollution-dump-Pootatuck-a6

Full Text:

DEP Determines Old Dump Near Pootatuck Is Not A Threat

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has completed its testing of

"a large 1950s industrial dump" located off Glen Road near the Pootatuck River

and found the site to pose "no immediate threats to human health and the

environment," according to Mike McDaniel of Site Discovery and Assessment

group. But the matter may be referred to Solid Waste division of the DEP to

decide if the area should be "closed and secured" or the debris removed.

The Shorewood Realty Limited Partnership currently owns the factory building

at 27 Glen Road and adjacent land between Black Bridge Road and the river.

Develop Mark Wheeler owns the strip of property bordered by Glen Road and

including Black Bridge Road. The affected area, covered with metal and molded

plastic electrical parts, was discovered last fall by Newtown Environmental

Action Team volunteers and brought to the attention of local health and zoning

officials. The state was asked to step in to determine if hazardous materials

were contaminating the soil or water in the area.

The state tests showed PCBs were non-detectable in surface waters, the

sediments, soils, and waste areas that were sampled. "Background" soil samples

- those taken off-site in an area that hasn't been recently disturbed - were

also tested for comparison, according to Mr McDaniel. "The well on site

checked out okay for volatile organic compounds, metals, general chemistry -

so it's potable," he added.

One sample included a material that tested positive for asbestos. "It's a

woven type of material that was located in the remnants of a drum - actually

just the rings were left of the drum - in the pile of plastic debris," said

the state worker. "But it didn't appear to be free and blowing in the wind."

Soil and sediments tested "a little high" for some semi-volatiles, compounds

that would remain stable in normal conditions - for instance, coal tars used

in the tarring of telephone poles, and railroad ties, he said. "We found Benzo

(A) Pyrene. You would find that in ash residue. They probably had an on-site

incinerator," said Mr McDaniel. Although these and some plastics were

detectable, "it's nothing we would call a three alarm fire."

Discovering The Dump

Last September, Newtown Environmental Action Team (NEAT) retrieved

approximately a ton of garbage from that area of the Pootatuck river banks. Of

the larger pieces they found - a couch, exercise bike, and refrigerator - they

removed what they could, but the molded plastic parts covered an area "too

massive" for the volunteer group to handle, according to member Judy Holmes.

So on behalf of the environmental group, Mrs Holmes sent a letter to Hubbell

officials in Newtown and at the corporate location in Orange because many of

the discarded parts bear Hubbell's imprint, but her letters went unanswered.

Hubbell had purchased the molded plastics factory around 1953 and continued to

operate it until the facility moved to its new location on Prospect Drive.

Newtown's Zoning Enforcement Officer Bill Nicholson and Senior Sanitarian

Martha Wright inspected the site and referred the matter to the state.

Although a few of the tests results "came in over our standards," Mike

McDaniel said there were "no immediate concerns for health impact." Therefore,

the Site Assessment group will meet to review the test results and determine

if the matter should be referred to the Solid Waste division. Referral is

likely, said Mr McDaniel.

If Solid Waste decided to act, it could require property owners to remove the

plastic debris. Or, said Mr McDaniel, the DEP division might determine the

area be identified as an industrial dump, the problem noted on land records so

the site wouldn't be disturbed, and the affected area "closed and secured."

Mr McDaniel said it was his understanding that the property owners, who are

trying to sell the parcel, have hired a consultant to do a "more comprehensive

environmental assessment." Representatives of Shorewood Realty did not respond

with a comment by press time.