Date: Fri 01-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Batchelder-Brownsfield

Full Text:

State May Aid In Rehabilitation Of Batchelder Property

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The pollution problems at the site of the former Charles Batchelder Company

have been a source of frustration for the town for several years. Now, a

recently-created state program may help put it back on the list of usable

business properties.

Last week, the state announced the creation of a program designed to help

towns and businesses address contamination problems and the reuse of

"Brownfield" sites. Once off the ground, the Special Contaminated Properties

Remediation and Insurance Fund (SCPRIF) will provide loans to help in the

redevelopment of commercial and industrial property that is vacant, abandoned

or underutilized due to possible site contamination.

This came as good news to First Selectman Herb Rosenthal who, since taking

office, has focused much of his attention toward resolving the Batchelder

headache.

The Board of Selectmen is scheduled to hear the results of a recent study done

by consultant Arthur Bogen at its next meeting in early May. According to Mr

Rosenthal, there has been a breakthrough, though he declined to comment

further. Mr Rosenthal did say, however, that SCPRIF might aid in the plan to

eventually free the site of contaminants.

"This legislation goes in line with what we're trying to do here with the

Batchelder site," Mr Rosenthal said.

In order for the program to take effect, there needs to be a plan in place to

transform the contaminated area back into a useful site. In the case of

Batchelder, an owner would have to come forward with an interest in cleaning

things up. Only then would the state lend a hand.

Finding a buyer for the Batchelder site could be a problem, however, since the

company was recently granted bankruptcy and because several financial claims

have been made against it by creditors.

The US Environmental Protection Agency did visit the site last year and

removed much of the toxic material on the site. However, some remains,

including petroleum-based ground water contamination, according to Health

District Director Mark Cooper.

Mr Rosenthal said the new program would be a great marketing tool for the town

if the state agrees it would help whomever purchases the contaminated

property.

Donna McCarthy, the town's director of environmental health, believes the

program will certainly help get the ball rolling, though the Batchelder site

will never fully recover from the environmental damage.

"It will never be pristine or totally clean. The idea is to make the property

usable, but not to put the town in bankruptcy in doing so," she said.