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Report of Public Meeting
– November 9, 2004
The Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) held its November quarterly meeting
at the Keefe Community Center on November 9, 2004.
The agenda included:
- A presentation by Andrew Danzig,
a consultant from the firm of Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.
hired by the Olin Corporation to perform testing
on non-public (mostly residential) properties in
the project area;
- An update from DEP’s Elsie
Patton on other parts of the investigation at Rochfold
Field, Mill Rock Park and the Hamden Middle School;
- An update by DEP the formation
of the Newhall Advisory Committee; and
- An announcement for expanding
the hours for the community office at the Keefe
Center. Officials from DEP, Olin, and Malcolm Pirnie
were available to answer questions from individual
property owners about testing results that were
mailed the previous week.
Sixty-five people attended the information
meeting. Jill Barrett from Fitzgerald
& Halliday welcomed those in attendance. She recapped
the meetings that have been held this year and encouraged
those in attendance to visit the project website and
to ask questions at any opportunity. Elsie
Patton provided a brief overview of the project.
Andrew Danzig presented a slide show
summarizing Olin’s work to date on residential
properties. He reported that 280 access agreements
have been received of the 303 (92%) needed to complete
the work plan. Property owners received a copy of
their test results in the past week. All results have
been shared with the CT DEP and the Department of
Public Health.
- Contiguous Fill Bare Spot Characterization:
The ground surface of properties located in areas
of known fill was inspected to look for bare soil
where contamination may be present. X-ray type equipment
was used to scan for metals at 160 properties. Some
soil samples were also sent to a state certified
laboratory and tested for metals and polynuclear
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Slides showed a photograph
and a typical property map with bare spots that
was included in the property owner reports.
- Contiguous Fill Extent Delineation:
Data collection has been completed for this aspect
of testing and a map was shown for the known extent
of filling at 104 properties.
- Isolated Fill Bare Spot Assessment
Inspections: These inspections were completed at
120 properties to look for evidence of fill at the
ground surface. A typical property map was shown
with site observations recorded.
- Isolated Fill Assessment Drilling:
Data collection has also been completed at 50 properties
for this aspect of testing and a map was shown for
the known extent of filling.
- Groundwater Investigation / Supplemental
Fill Characterization: 25 of the 29 needed monitoring
wells have been installed.
To review the slide presentation
by Olin’s consultant, please select one of the
following two options: download
PDF file | view
Web-version of slideshow (Please note that several
slides may take several minutes to load, due to the
complexity of the images. Please be patient...the
slide image will appear!)
(back to top)
Questions/Comments during
the Presentation
| Q. Can you explain how samples
taken during the bare spot assessment were chosen
to send to a lab? |
| A. When samples were taken,
an XRF (X-Ray Florescence) device was used to
screen the soil samples. Samples showing high
lead content were sent to an independent laboratory
for analysis. |
| Q. I got a report in the mail
for my property. Without a degree in environmental
science, how can I tell if my property is clean
or not? |
| A. Representatives from Olin
and its consultant, Malcolm Pirnie, as well as
DEP personnel, will be glad to explain and assist
in interpreting results. |
| Q. What does that mean if I want
to sell my property? |
| A. Shannon Pociu, the DEP Project
Manager, offered to speak with the individual
posing the question and will ask Olin to provide
an explanatory report. |
| Q. What does my report mean?
Can I tell from this report how close I am to
contaminated fill? |
| A. Shannon Pociu, the DEP Project
Manager and representatives from Olin and their
consultant Malcolm Pirnie would be available after
the presentation to help any residents understand
the report that they received about their property.
DEP will answer questions and concerns by phone,
mail or in person. Information is also available
on the project website, at Town libraries and
at the project’s community office at the
Keefe Center. |
| Q. If I had a bare spot and I
fixed it before my property was inspected, did
I negate the purpose of testing and would that
area have been missed for testing? |
| A. No. The bare spot investigation
relied not only on the visual inspection of every
property where access was granted, but also on
questionnaires that were sent out to every resident
within the study area. Bare spots that were noted
by the residents in their response to the questionnaire
were investigated. (Also note, the Department
of Public Health is more concerned about people
coming into contact with contamination that might
be found in bare soil spots; grass provides a
good barrier to help reduce exposure.) |
| Q. What was done to determine
the extent of isolated fill? |
| A. Visual inspections and some
deep soil samples were taken on properties. Olin
will submit an interim report of their findings
to DEP. If DEP determines more testing is needed
to fully determine the extent of isolated fill
areas, it will ask Olin to do more testing. |
| Q. Were all the soil samples
tested for 20 metals or just for lead? |
| A. Lead and arsenic are the
primary metals of concern in the fill that has
been identified in the Newhall area. The x-ray
fluorescence (XRF) device that was used to field
analyze soil samples detects a “suite”
of 20 metals, including lead. Samples with the
highest levels of lead were sent to the lab for
full analyses. |
| Q. For native soil, what is the
expected level of titanium and other elements?
My results show high titanium levels, is this
harmful? |
| A. (Olin’s representative
did not have the information to respond to this
question.) However, Elsie Patton assured the audience
that all questions would be answered by either
Malcolm Pirnie or DEP. She said the results of
the residential testing had just become available
within the past week and the DEP has identified
10 properties with elevated levels of lead where
steps need to be taken while the investigation
is ongoing to prevent contact with contamination.
DEP is contacting those owners to follow up immediately.
|
| Q. Are all 10 of these properties
in the same area? |
| A. No, but most are in the
vicinity of St. Mary, Edwards and Shelton Streets.
|
| Q. Is it necessary to relocate
the residents of the properties considered “Hotspots”? |
| No. None of the contamination
levels found to date on any of the properties
were at a level that would necessitate the immediate
relocation of the residents. |
| Q. When borings were taken, how
was it decided which one to send to a lab? |
A. The sample with the highest
XRF lead screening was sent to the lab. Sampling
and analysis was conducted using the protocols
outlined in the approved work plan. The Geoprobe
used a direct push methodology and the drilling
was conducted using split spoon sampling.
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Elsie Patton continued the presentation
with an update of other parts of the investigation.
DEP issued a Conditional
Approval to the Town on October 14, 2004 for a
Work Plan for Rochford Field and Mill Rock Park. Conditions
included:
- Testing will be conducted for
more substances in certain samples (dioxins/furans,
leachable metals, volatiles in soils; other substances
in groundwater)
- Smaller grid spacing will be
used for geophysical testing
- Additional surface soil sampling
will be done at Mill Rock Park
- One deep groundwater test well
will be installed at Rochford Field
- Off-site disposal of excess
waste dug from test pits will be required. Soil
will be replaced by certified clean soil
- Quality Assurance Project Plan
needed to be revised
- An Interim Report is due by
January 31, 2005
- The Final Report is due
by April 30, 2005
Rochford Field / Mill Rock Park
Testing Schedule:
- Parks must be closed during testing.
Should reopen around Thanksgiving.
- Most testing at Mill Rock Park
was completed November 1
- Testing at Rochford Field began
November 3
- Borings and well installations
should be done by November 12
- Test pits will be excavated,
sample groundwater monitoring wells installed by
end of November.
- Wells will be re-sampled in February
2005.
Hamden Middle School Schedule
Update:
- Most testing was completed during
summer.
- Some contamination was found
in surface soil north of tennis court and in woods.
This area was covered with gravel or fenced off.
- Additional soil sampling is
planned when field use ends for season (after Thanksgiving).
- Additional well installation
is needed southwest of school.
- Groundwater sampling will be
done in December.
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DEP Testing and Activities
Structural Assessment
47 of 103 property owners of homes
built on known landfill area responded to DEP’s
letter recommending structural testing.
- Heller and Johnsen is
structural engineering firm who will be doing testing.
Larry Johnsen will call owners to schedule visits
and conduct inspections.
- Inspections can begin as early
as next week (week of Nov 15).
- Each owner will get results
of structural testing.
- Structural testing will be finished
by end of year.
Soil Testing Outside of Consent
Order Boundary
- Areas next to consent order boundary
where DEP suspects fill extends will be tested
- Property owners will be contacted
by DEP and its consultant, Loureiro Engineering
Associates.
- Testing can start after Thanksgiving,
depending on access.
- Other areas may be included depending
on results of testing by Olin, the Regional Water
Authority and the Town.
Temporary Clean-up of Some Properties
- Interim clean up actions are
planned at 10 properties where Olin testing found
high levels of lead in bare soil spots.
- DEP is notifying property owners.
- Bare soil with topsoil, mulch,
or gravel will be covered up.
- Not a substitute for the permanent
clean up.
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Newhall Advisory Committee
DEP has been meeting with residents
almost weekly since late August to plan for a Newhall
Advisory Committee. The purpose of the NAC will be
to provide information to community on contamination
and clean up options, to provide DEP with input/recommendations
regarding clean up of the neighborhood, and to provide
a forum for discussion and information exchange among
stakeholders.
The Newhall Advisory Committee
stakeholders are:
- People who are affected by the
contamination and clean up (residents, property
owners, churches, businesses)
- People who are responsible for
the clean up
- People who have influence over
how the community will look after the clean up
- People with oversight and decision
making authority over the contamination and clean
up
Newhall Advisory Committee Members:
- Residents – will make up
majority of members (15 of 24 slots).
- Other members – will include
churches, business representatives, the Town, and
state and local legislators.
- DEP, local health department
and responsible parties will attend meetings but
not participate unless asked.
For more information, please visit
"Newhall
Advisory Committee Members" (web page) and
"Committee
Framework" (PDF document)
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Community Office Expands
Hours
Elsie Patton announced that starting
the week of November 15, the Community Office at the
Keefe Center will be open for expanded hours so that
residents can get information and be directed to the
correct person to have any questions answered. The
community office is located at rear of the Keefe Center,
and will be open. DEP advertised a position and has
hired Newhall resident Pam Moore to provide staff
assistance at the office.
- Monday thru Friday: 1:30 pm –
7:30 pm.
- Some Saturdays by appointment
- Office Phone: 498-0190
To review the slide presentation
by the DEP, please select one of the following two
options: download
PDF file | view
Web-version of slideshow
(back to top)
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