2000 - 2005 Newhall Timeline Important Dates

2000 - 2005 Timeline of Important Dates and Events

2000
November	NOVEMBER - Phase I Investigation of Hamden Middle School for planned school expansion reports historic landfill with waste. Report confirms waste and soil contamination.
December	DEP directs town to sample surface soil around Hamden Middle School buildings. Contamination identified in surface soils.
	Neighbors ask for testing - Wadsworth, Bryden Winchester, Mill Rock Streets
	Newhall Coalition formed
	Hamden Middle School closed 1 week beyond holiday break for interior cleaning and placement of temporary cap over soils near buildings
	Local resident reports landfill at Rochford Field
	DEP begins testing at Rochford Field and Mill Rock Park
2001
January	Air tests at Hamden Middle School find school safe
	DEP begins to investigate who may be liable for contamination
	DEP test soils along streets in Bryden Terrace area.
	Teachers' Union seeks second opinion on indoor air data. Yale evaluates report.
	DEP evaluates test results Rochford Field, Mill Rock Park, Right-of-Ways on area streets
March	DEP tests surface soil on soccer field at Hamden Middle School and determines it is safe for use
	DEP finds elevated levels of arsenic in surface soils at Rochford Field in follow-up testing
	DEP asks Federal Environmental Protection Agency to do residential soil testing
April	EPA begins soil sampling - 76 properties participated
	Cinders found near bleachers, dugout, fenceline at Rochford Field. Local and State Health Departments recommend closing Rochford Field
	DEP does more tests at Rochford Field
	NAACP is asked for help
	DEP reports to public on sampling results of Rochford Field, Right-of-Ways, Mill Rock Park, Hamden Middle School soccer field
June	Regional Water Authority (RWA) offers to pay 1/2 of $300,000 to conduct investigation at Hamden Middle School
	Public Meeting on sampling update is held to explain interim remedial steps
	Environmental Protection Agency finds more soil contamination in area of Morse Street, Community Center
	EPA issues final report "Site Investigation & Extent of Surface Soil Contamination, Hamden Site" - 3 volumes
July	DEP orders Town of Hamden, Regional Water Authority, State Board of Education, and Olin Corporation to clean polluted soil
	All parties appeal order
	Patches of exposed soil at Rochford Field are covered over by the Town of Hamden at direction of DEP and DPH. Rochford Field is reopened.
August	Waste (batteries, shell casings) from Winchester Repeating Arms found in test pits in rear of Hamden Middle School, near tennis courts, Newhall Community Center by Town
	EPA begins limited soil removal on 13 residential properties
October	Olin commits to pay for soil, groundwater tests in neighborhood (not Hamden Middle School)
	Olin offers to establish CAP (Community Advisory Panel); welcomed by community who eagerly participate.
November	Community information session held with Olin, Town of Hamden, DEP - Nov. 15, 2001
2002
March	Regional Water Authority claims no contamination of drainage to Lake Whitney found in testing wells
	Public Meeting on March 18, 2002 - Updates on soil removal at residences (EPA) - environmental site assessment (Town), and on testing, settlement problems (DEP)
April	CAP (Community Advisory Panel) is organized by Olin
June	Proposal to build new middle school at Meadowbrook Golf Course is opposed by Meadowbrook neighbors and by Newhall community
July	NAACP, Green Party, Newhall Coalition demand town move residents out of neighborhood.
	EPA completes removal of contamination on residential properties
August	Olin begins testing residential properties
	RWA establishes groundwater monitoring wells and conducts soil tests at HMS
	Town begins testing on public parks
October	Public Meeting October 1, 2002 - RWA presents results of soil & groundwater investigation at HMS; Town presents results of tests at Mill Rock Park, Rochford Field
	Tests done by Town show soil at Rochford Field/Mill Rock Park is contaminated, groundwater is safe
	Yale students begin health survey on residents
November	RWA offers Town $4,000,000 to clean up middle school site, control property
December	DEP and parties prepare for hearing on appealed order
	Town, Olin and RWA submit initial investigation reports for different parts of the site
2003
January	DEP encourages Olin, Town of Hamden, Regional Water Authority and State Board of Education to negotiate a settlement to speed up clean-up. Hearing is postponed
February	Consent order signed by all parties, town council needed to approve. Reaction mixed. Residents accuse town of having no vision for neighborhood. Residents dislike: 1. disposal of waste from neighborhood on middle school property; 2. DEP is serving two ends - as an enforcement & funding agency; 3. moving middle school from Newhall neighborhood.
	Public meeting to explain consent order February 19, 2003
March	Community wants proposed consent order amended
April	Many residents oppose town approval of consent order. Residents ask: 1. No dumping on HMS; 2. government to buy homes; 3. lifetime medical benefits; 4. damages of 75% of homes' Fair Market Value; 5. guaranteed mortgages, low interest rate; 6. moving expenses; 7. tax relief
	DEP Commissioner promises to provide a facilitator to represent community interests
	Town approves consent agreement
May	Law suit filed by residents against Olin and Town of Hamden
June	Residents upset about moving HMS Meadowbrook. Neighbors sue to block school - "SOS" - Save Open Space
	DEP completes review of Olin's initial testing report and requests plan for more testing
	DEP continues surface soil testing on properties outside of consent order boundary including site of proposed Islamic Center
July	Olin submits supplemental testing plan for residential areas to DEP for review
August	Residents protest lack of action since settlement signed
November	DEP disapproves Olin's testing plan, requires more detail
	DEP anounces formation of Public Involvement Team to assist with remediation project
2004
January	Olin will submit revised workplan for residential properties
	Public meeting 1/22/04 to present revised workplan
February	DEP holds open house for public to ask questions, make comments on Olin’s proposed Work Plan to investigate contamination at residential properties. Sampling equipment to be used in testing is on display.
April	DEP approves Olin’s Work Plan to investigate contamination at residential properties, with additional conditions.
	Olin seeks written access agreements to test 302 properties within consent order (over 90% of properties grant permission by September).
	Regional Water Authority presents Work Plan at a public meeting to investigate contamination at Hamden Middle School.
May	DEP holds open house for public to ask questions, make comments on Work Plan to investigate contamination at Hamden Middle School.
	Testing begins at residential properties and continues through September.
June	Health forum is held on what living on a landfill means to residents. Program is a collaborative effort of the State Department of Public Health, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Newhall Coalition. Sixteen people attending program were tested for elevated levels of lead. None tested had blood levels exceeding public health standards.
July	Town of Hamden presents Work Plan to investigate contamination at Rochford Field, Mill Rock Park and the Winchester Avenue Sewer Pump Station at a public meeting.
	DEP approves Regional Water Authority’s Work Plan to investigate contamination at Hamden Middle School, with additional conditions.
August	Monitoring wells are installed; soil testing conducted on grounds of Hamden Middle School.
	DEP begins discussions with Newhall residents about forming an advisory committee to assist the department in evaluating cleanup options.
September	DEP hold open house meeting on Town’s Work Plan to investigate contamination at Rochford Field, Mill Rock Park and the Winchester Avenue Sewer Pump Station.
October	DEP approves the Town of Hamden’s Work Plan to investigate contamination at Rochford Field, Mill Rock Park and the Winchester Avenue Sewer Pump Station, with additional conditions.
November	The Newhall Advisory Committee, a stakeholders group comprised of residents, elected and town officials, area business and church representatives is formed. The majority of members live in the area affected by the consent order.
	Olin presents its preliminary findings of its investigation of residential properties at a public meeting.
December	The Newhall Advisory Committee holds its first meeting and sets a regular monthly meeting schedule for the coming year.
	DEP’s contractor begins assessing the structural condition and air quality at 42 homes built on fill materials in the Consent Order area
2005
January	According to its Work Plan, Olin does a second round of testing at residential properties based on its findings from testing done during the summer.
February	DEP’s contractor, Loureiro Engineering Associates, Inc., begins testing at residential properties outside the boundary of the original Consent Order to determine if contamination extends beyond the boundary of the Consent Order.
March	Olin submits a final report of its investigation of contamination of residential properties within the Newhall project area. Olin inspected and/or tested 289 properties, installed 29 new monitoring wells and had 839 soil samples tested for contaminants. DEP review begins immediately.
	The Regional Water Authority submits its final report on investigation of the Hamden Middle School part of the site (March 31).
April	The final report for investigation of Rochford Field, Mill Rock Park and the Winchester Avenue Sewer Pump Station is submitted to DEP.
May	A public meeting is held on May 17 at the Keefe Community Center to discuss Olin’s final report and identified cleanup alternatives for residential properties.
June	A public meeting to discuss final reports and identified cleanup alternatives for town properties (Hamden Middle School, Rochford Field, Mill Rock Park and the Winchester Avenue Sewer Pump Station) is held June 21 at the Keefe Community Center.
December	A public meeting is held on December 13 at the Keefe Community Center to discuss findings of DEP's investigation of properties outside the Consent Order boundary.