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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What types of contamination are there in the neighborhood and where did they come from?
Industrial and household wastes were placed in wetlands and other low-lying areas in the Newhall neighborhood from the late 1800s through the 1950s. A lot of the industrial waste came from the former Winchester Repeating Arms plant in New Haven and possibly from other nearby factories. Typical wastes found in different landfill areas in the neighborhood include scrap batteries, battery caps, scrap metal gun parts, shotgun shells, waste from metal smelting, ash, coal, slag, wood debris, newspaper, bottles, cans, pottery, and other decomposed household garbage. The main contaminants found in the waste include metals, like lead and arsenic, and compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are formed from burning things. Some of the contaminants may have been mixed with clean soil when the landfills were covered or when digging occurred to build houses. In addition, there is a narrow area of groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents that originates in deeper waste fill found on the former Hamden Middle School property. (back to top)
2. Where is the contamination?
Through review of historic aerial photos and documents and extensive soil and groundwater testing conducted between 2000 and 2008 by several parties (the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Town of Hamden, Olin Corporation and the Regional Water Authority), waste fill was found in the following locations:
- 18 Blocks of mostly residential properties: Extensive areas of waste fill extending to depths of more than 15 feet have been found in the Bryden Terrace area west of Wadsworth Street; along the east side of Newhall Street between and Goodrich Street, along the west side of Newhall Street between Augur, Remington, and Harris Streets; and between St. Mary Street, Edwards Street, Shelton Avenue and Butler Street. In addition, isolated areas of shallow fill (generally no more than 4 feet deep) have been found in other blocks. (see map) Some of this fill was present at the ground surface, but emergency measures were taken to either remove the shallow soil or cover it with woodchips to protect people until the final cleanup can occur.
- The Former Hamden Middle School Property and portions of the Newhall Community Center Property: An extensive area of waste fill up to 25 feet deep occupies most of the former middle school property.
- Rochford Field and Mill Rock Park, and the Winchester Avenue Sewage Pump Station: Waste fill up to 12 feet in depth covers most of these Town parks, and likely underlies the pump station.
Based on testing results a clean up plan was developed and approved by DEP in 2007
3. How do I know if there is contamination on my property?
Extensive testing was done in the Newhall neighborhood. The results are listed on pages 33-40 of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Remedy Selection Plan. Each property in the Newhall Remediation Site is listed by street address and it will say how much (if any) waste fill was found on the property.
4. Who is responsible to clean this up?
Parties responsible for dumping the waste, as well as current and former owners of the contaminated properties, are sharing the responsibility for cleaning up the Newhall Remediation project site. Precisely who is responsible for what part of the testing and cleanup, was decided by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the parties through something called a ‘Consent Order’ that was adopted in 2003. The parties responsible for the testing and clean up of different parts of the site are:
(Download areas of responsibilities image)
- Town of Hamden: Responsible for testing and cleaning up Rochford Field, Mill Rock Park, Hamden Community Center, and the sewer pump station. DEP will help the Town obtain state funding to clean up Rochford Field
- Regional Water Authority: Responsible for testing and cleaning up the former Hamden Middle School, part of the Hamden Community Center, and two adjacent residential properties. These are properties that the old New Haven Water Company used to own.
- Olin Corporation: Responsible for testing in the non-public properties (mainly residential) area surrounding the Middle School and parks. Olin and DEP will share the cost of the clean up in these areas.
5. What is the DEP’s role in the clean-up?
DEP is the state agency responsible for upholding environmental standards at the Newhall Remediation site and at contaminated sites throughout the state. Therefore, DEP will oversee all phases of the investigation and clean up of the site to insure that the clean up meets strict state standards. DEP is also responsible for a public involvement program to keep the public informed throughout the clean up process, and also is paying 50% of the cost of cleanup in residential areas. (back to top)
6. What are the possible health effects of the contamination in the Newhall neighborhood?
The primary substances found in the waste (lead, arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) can be harmful to health ONLY if people come into direct contact with the waste or contaminated soil. If you are not exposed to a chemical, it won’t make you sick. (See Health for more health information). (back to top)
7. Is my water safe to drink and use?
Yes. Water in the Newhall neighborhood is provided by the Regional Water Authority from reservoirs that are tested routinely for a long list of contaminants. The Regional Water Authority tested tap water at approximately 25 homes in the neighborhood that requested testing in 2002. No contaminants from the waste were found in the tap water. (back to top)
8. Is it safe to garden and dig in the yard?
Until cleanup is completed on a property, the Connecticut Department of Public Health recommends people be careful when gardening in the Newhall neighborhood and has written a fact sheet on what steps to follow to garden safely (download fact sheet, PDF file). Contact DEP or DPH to find out if your yard has previously been tested. (back to top)
9. Are the school fields and parks safe to play on?
Yes. The Connecticut Department of Health (DPH) has stated that the playing fields are safe. In the mid-1990s, a soil barrier was placed on the fields behind the former Hamden Middle School. The barrier keeps contact to a minimum between people and the lead that is present at high levels in the ground in several places on the field. In 1992, the DPH evaluated the data on lead in soil at the fields and determined that the fields were safe even without the barrier, provided that grass on the field was maintained and no digging occurred. Now that the barrier has been added as an extra precaution, you can be confident that the playing fields are safe. While no soil barrier has been placed over the ground at Rochford Field or Mill Rock Park, these areas are safe just the way they are for playing on, sitting on, and strolling. Temporary caps were placed on bare dirt areas at Rochford Field in 2001. (back to top)
10. When will the cleaning up of the contamination start?
Cleanup began in the summer of 2010 and will take 3-5 years to complete all sections of the Newhall neighborhood. Work will typically occur during the months of April through November, weather permitting. Cleanup in the year 2011 will include Blocks J, H, A and L. See map. (back to top)
11. Will damages to my home be fixed as part of the clean up?
No. DEP does not have the authority to require the repair of structurally damaged homes, and the Consent Order can only require the clean up of contaminated soil and groundwater. However, the Town of Hamden and the State Legislature has earmarked funds to deal with structural damage issues. At this time, it is unclear when the funding will be made available. (back to top)
12. Who can I contact if I have more questions?
There is a list of people to contact in the Contact Section of the website. Health questions should be directed to the Quinnipiack Valley Health District or the State Department of Public Health. Environmental and clean up questions should be directed to the Department of Environmental Protection. If you are unsure who the right person is to answer your question, please submit your question on the form found in the Contact Section and it will be directed to the person best able to help you. (back to top)
13. Will Olin or DEP buy my structurally damaged home?
No, neither DEP nor Olin will purchase houses. However, the Hamden Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) is administering a program that may facilitate the repair or purchase of homes in the neighborhood with severe structural damage due to underlying waste fill. HEDC will only assist owners of structurally damaged homes that participate in the cleanup. For more information on this program, contact Dale Kroop of HEDC at (203) 287‑7033. (back to top)
14. What if I allow Olin to cleanup my property and my neighbor doesn’t? Will my property still get the cleanup?
Yes. The cleanup will be conducted at every property where access is granted.
15. Will DEP change the cleanup plan to remove more than 4 feet of waste fill if enough people don’t grant Olin access to their properties?
No. The DEP’s Remedy Selection Plan issued in 2007 calls for the removal of up to four feet of waste fill. This is the only plan that will be implemented. (back to top)
16. I don’t want the cleanup on my property. What happens if I refuse to participate in the cleanup?
Taking advantage of the offer of FREE cleanup and restoration of shrubs, driveways, sidewalks, etc., is voluntary. Property owners are not required to participate in the cleanup. If, however, a property owner declines the free cleanup and chooses to keep waste fill on the property, the owner will be responsible for, or “own”, the waste fill on their property. The cleanup to be performed by Olin and approved by DEP is a one-time opportunity. (back to top)
As a result, property owners not allowing Olin access to their property for free cleanup accept sole responsibility to pay for future cleanup of waste fill on the property. Additionally, to protect against exposure to waste fill in the top 4 feet, DEP will issue an order to the property owner to prohibit digging in the area of waste fill. The order will also be filed on the Hamden land records for the property, in accordance with state law. (back to top)
17. Is there a deadline for accepting the free cleanup?
Yes. Each property owner will be informed what their deadline is. See page one of this bulletin for the deadlines for property owners on blocks N, R and S. Cleanup will be conducted on a block-by-block basis. Once cleanup is completed on a block, construction crews will move on to the next block in the schedule. Cleanup is a very complex and costly process, so “going back” to a property after cleanup is done on the block is not feasible. (back to top)
18. Why do we have to have a “Local Design District”?
The Town of Hamden expects to have as many as 11 local design districts, each with different criteria intended to enhance the character of different neighborhoods. The boundaries of the Local Design District for the Newhall Neighborhood extend well beyond the area that will be cleaned up. Once cleanup is completed, MOST of the properties in the Newhall Design District will not have ANY waste. For properties with deep waste fill remaining after cleanup, the Local Design District will notify current and future property owners that waste fill may exist below a depth of 4 feet on some of the properties in the neighborhood. This notification, through local zoning regulations, is intended to ensure that current and future property owners won’t be financially responsible for handling of deep waste fill that may be excavated in the future. A $2 million fund will be set aside to cover these future costs. (back to top)
19. I’ve told Olin and DEP to discuss access to my property for cleanup with the Newhall Trust. So why do Olin and DEP keep calling me?
Olin and DEP are contacting property owners of record to discuss access for the free cleanup and restoration since they retain the legal authority to grant or deny access to the property (unless the owner has granted power of attorney for another person to act on their behalf). Property owners may have the Newhall Trust, or any other personal advisor (attorneys, relatives, trusted friends, etc.), present during meetings with Olin or DEP. However, it is the property owner, or someone who has been granted power of attorney by the property owner, that must decide to grant or withhold access for the cleanup and restoration, and not a personal advisor. (back to top)