Newhall Neighborhood Remediation Winter 2013 C O N N E C T I C U T E N E R G Y E N V I R O N M E N T The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Town of Hamden received the Community Development Award from the CT Chapter of the American Planning Association. DEEP’s Ray Frigon (left) and Hamden’s Leslie Creane, Director of Planning (right) accepted the award at a December luncheon in Middletown. Ten years after Olin Corporation signed an agreement to remove waste fill from private properties in Newhall neigh- borhood of Hamden, the cleanup is over. It took years to test over 300 properties for contamination, devise a neighborhood-wide cleanup plan, create individual cleanup plans for 240 properties, remove the waste fill and restore people’s yards, patios, driveways and sidewalks. The result has been remarkable. On some blocks every property has been renewed. Cleanup began in late summer 2010. Only 26 properties were done that year. The pace picked up in 2011, when 114 properties were cleaned up. By spring 2012 some 80 work- ers, most of them local contractors supervised by Olin’s contractor, Sevenson, were hired to complete the cleanup. While the most complex part of the Newhall Remediation Project is finished, there is more left to do. In 2013, DEEP anticipates that the Town of Hamden will initiate cleanup at Rochford Field and Mill Rock Park. There will be a lot fewer trucks needed to do this work. Trucks will mostly bring topsoil into the neighborhood to cover a new impermeable liner placed over deep fill at the town parks. Residential cleanup program completed Shelton Street, one year after cleanup flowers line the new sidewalks. A LARGE-SCALE CONSTRUCTION EFFORT Items removed & replaced Total Fill Removed 8,700 Truck Loads (131,700 cubic yards) Structures Replaced 80 (37 Sheds, 37 Decks, 2 Handicapped Ramps, 2 Pools, 2 Carports, 6,330 square feet of Retaining Wall) Shrubs/Plants/ Trees Replaced 4,700 Driveways/Parking Areas Replaced 210,700 square feet (almost 4 football fields) Sidewalks Replaced 20,350 lineal feet (3.8 miles) Cleanup of the former middle school property on Newhall Street will be initiated after cleanup in the parks. There are still a few residential properties in the St. Mary Street area that were not covered by the 2002 Consent Order that need to be cleaned up. The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will take care of these properties. Residents who have questions should call Ray Frigon at 860-424-3797. C O N N E C T I C U T E N E R G Y E N V I R O N M E N T CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION REMEDIATION DIVISION 79 Elm Street Hartford, CT 06106-5127 We’re on the web! www.newhallinfo.org Contact Info: Dept. of Environmental Protection 79 Elm Street Hartford, CT 06106-5127 Raymond Frigon Environmental Analyst, Project Mgr. (860) 424-3797 [email protected]Shannon W. Pociu Environmental Analyst Mon - Wed - Thurs only Telephone: (860) 424-3546 [email protected]Hamden Economic Development Corporation 2750 Dixwell Ave. Hamden, CT, 06518 Dale Kroop Executive Director (203) 287-7033 [email protected]Richard Pearce Community Liaison (203) 248-3677 [email protected]CT Department of Public Health P.O. Box 340308 410 Capitol Ave. MS#11CHA Hartford, CT 06134-0308 Meg Harvey (860) 509-7748 [email protected]Civic leaders praise project In early January, state, local and community leaders gathered to celebrate the comple- tion of the cleanup of residential properties in the Newhall neighborhood. Some 30 people, including TV, radio and newspaper reporters, were on hand at Founders Hall, Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church, to talk about the extraordinary part- nership that made cleanup possible. Ham- den Mayor Scott Jackson noted “a project of this scope needs partnership and we had it.” State Senate Majority Leader Martin Loo- ney who represents the neighborhood said the Newhall Remediation Project was “a model project for the nation. It was a chal- lenge. The project was massive. In so many ways the project could have gone off the rails throughout but did not.” Reverend Keith King said he was pleased with the efforts of DEEP and the Town, “I can’t say enough about how they worked with the surrounding community and the church, the quality of the work, the attitudes of the workers and how they addressed concerns.” Retiring State Representative Peter Villano was praised for shepherding state funding for the project. Other speakers at the event were DEEP Commissioner Daniel Esty, Deputy DEEP Commissioner Macky McCleary, State Sen- ator Joseph Crisco, State Representative Gary Holder-Winfield, and Hamden Eco- nomic Development Corp. Executive Direc- tor Dale Kroop. DEEP Commissioner Esty spoke about the extraordinary outcome of the project, re- turning the neighborhood to a “vibrant, eco- nomically viable community.” From left: Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, Deputy Commissioner Macky McCleary, Mayor Scott Jackson, Commissioner Dan Esty.
The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Town of Hamden received the Community Development Award from the CT Chapter of the American Planning Association. DEEP’s Ray Frigon (left) and Hamden’s Leslie Creane, Director of Planning (right) accepted the award at a December luncheon in Middletown.
Ten years after Olin Corporation signed an agreement to remove waste fill from private properties in Newhall neigh-borhood of Hamden, the cleanup is over.
It took years to test over 300 properties for contamination, devise a neighborhood-wide cleanup plan, create individual cleanup plans for 240 properties, remove the waste fill and restore people’s yards, patios, driveways and sidewalks.
The result has been remarkable. On some blocks every property has been renewed.
Cleanup began in late summer 2010. Only 26 properties were done that year. The pace picked up in 2011, when 114 properties were cleaned up. By spring 2012 some 80 work-ers, most of them local contractors supervised by Olin’s contractor, Sevenson, were hired to complete the cleanup.
While the most complex part of the Newhall Remediation Project is finished, there is more left to do.
In 2013, DEEP anticipates that the Town of Hamden will initiate cleanup at Rochford Field and Mill Rock Park. There will be a lot fewer trucks needed to do this work. Trucks will mostly bring topsoil into the neighborhood to cover a new impermeable liner placed over deep fill at the town parks.
Residential cleanup program completed
Shelton Street, one year after cleanup fl owers line the new sidewalks.
A LARGE-SCALE CONSTRUCTION EFFORT
Items removed & replaced Total
Fill Removed 8,700 Truck Loads(131,700 cubic yards)
Structures Replaced 80(37 Sheds, 37 Decks,
2 Handicapped Ramps, 2 Pools, 2 Carports,
6,330 square feet of Retaining Wall)
Shrubs/Plants/Trees Replaced 4,700
Driveways/Parking Areas Replaced
210,700 square feet(almost 4 football fi elds)
Sidewalks Replaced 20,350 lineal feet(3.8 miles)
Cleanup of the former middle school property on Newhall Street will be initiated after cleanup in the parks.
There are still a few residential properties in the St. Mary Street area that were not covered by the 2002 Consent Order that need to be cleaned up. The CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will take care of these properties. Residents who have questions should call Ray Frigon at 860-424-3797.
CONNECTICUT
EN
ER
GY
E N V I R ON
ME
NT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
REMEDIATION DIVISION
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
We’re on the web!www.newhallinfo.org
Contact Info:Dept. of Environmental Protection79 Elm StreetHartford, CT 06106-5127
Raymond FrigonEnvironmental Analyst, Project Mgr.(860) [email protected]
Civic leaders praise projectIn early January, state, local and community leaders gathered to celebrate the comple-tion of the cleanup of residential properties in the Newhall neighborhood.
Some 30 people, including TV, radio and newspaper reporters, were on hand at Founders Hall, Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church, to talk about the extraordinary part-nership that made cleanup possible. Ham-den Mayor Scott Jackson noted “a project of this scope needs partnership and we had it.”
State Senate Majority Leader Martin Loo-ney who represents the neighborhood said the Newhall Remediation Project was “a model project for the nation. It was a chal-lenge. The project was massive. In so many ways the project could have gone off the rails throughout but did not.”
Reverend Keith King said he was pleased with the efforts of DEEP and the Town, “I can’t say enough about how they worked with the surrounding community and the church, the quality
of the work, the attitudes of the workers and how they addressed concerns.”
Retiring State Representative Peter Villano was praised for shepherding state funding for the project.
Other speakers at the event were DEEP Commissioner Daniel Esty, Deputy DEEP Commissioner Macky McCleary, State Sen-ator Joseph Crisco, State Representative Gary Holder-Winfi eld, and Hamden Eco-nomic Development Corp. Executive Direc-tor Dale Kroop.
DEEP Commissioner Esty spoke about the extraordinary outcome of the project, re-turning the neighborhood to a “vibrant, eco-nomically viable community.”
ney who represents the neighborhood said the Newhall Remediation Project was “a model project for the nation. It was a chal-lenge. The project was massive. In so many ways the project could have gone off the
Reverend Keith King said he was
DEEP Commissioner Esty spoke about the extraordinary outcome of the project, re-turning the neighborhood to a “vibrant, eco-nomically viable community.”
From left: Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, Deputy Commissioner Macky McCleary, Mayor Scott Jackson, Commissioner Dan Esty.
2000 2001-02 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Soil contamination is discovered at Hamden
Middle School during planning for expansion.
Soil sampling begins at school, town parks and
residences. Groundwater
monitoring wells are installed.
Consent Order is signed by Olin Corporation, Town of Hamden, Regional
Water Authority and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as
Responsible Parties, charged with cleanup of the Newhall neighborhood.
Workplans to test 300+ private properties, Mill Rock Park, Rochford Field and Hamden Middle School are developed.
CT Department of Public Health and DEP hold public forums and print materials to educate residents on the contamination and how to reduce the risk of exposure to it.
Soil testing on all properties is completed. Three Responsible Parties (Olin, Town, and Water
Authority) propose cleanup remedies.
DEP develops a Remedy Selection Plan that defines how the cleanup will be carried out. Cleanup will begin at the non-public, mostly residential properties.
Olin develops a Final Generic Remedial Action
Plan for residential cleanup.
Newhall Remediation Project Timeline
Newhall Neighborhood Remediation Construction Update Winter 2013
Lumber, windows and the front door from1067 Winchester Street were salvaged and used to build a garden shed in nearby Woodbridge. To right, Joe DiRisi of Urbanminers is putting a fi nish on the shed’s wood.
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
DEP develops a Remedy Selection Plan that defines how the cleanup will be carried out. Cleanup will begin at the non-public, mostly residential properties.
Cleanup proceeds at a faster-than expected pace. 114 properties are cleaned up.
Residential cleanup is completed bringing the total to 240 individual properties. Only 2 owners chose not to
participate.
Plans are underway to place a permanent cap on Rochford Field and
Mill Rock Park. DEEP will continue the environmental investigation at about 12 homes in the St. Mary Street area
not covered by the Consent Order.
Olin develops a Final Generic Remedial Action
Plan for residential cleanup.
In August, cleanup begins on first 26 properties. Renewal of properties (new sod,
shrubs, fences, sidewalks) is evident and encourages reluctant property owners to
participate. Town begins evaluating homes for structural damages caused by being built
over unstable soil.
Olin begins developing first Specific Remedial Action Plans for each of 240 properties where waste fill is removed. It provides detail on excavating and removing fill located within the top four feet, backfilling with clean soil and restoring pre-existing features (vegetation, driveways, patios, etc.) disturbed by construction.
The former Hamden Middle School on Newhall Street will be cleaned up, marking the end of the project.
Newhall Neighborhood Remediation Construction Update Winter 2013
New life for older homesBuilding homes over a former landfill did not provide a good foundation for many homes built in the Newhall neighborhood.
While DEEP worked to remove con-tamination, the Hamden Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) was busy fixing structural damage at homes caused by settling soils. Eighty homes were evaluated for structural damage and repairs were made to over 60. Another 30 properties are in the pipeline to be repaired.
Fifteen properties with severe struc-tural damage will be purchased and
taken down. Some of the homes were “deconstructed” or taken apart piece by piece, allowing the salvaged building materials to be recycled. The deconstruction is being overseen by the company Urbanminers. Materials reused from homes include cabinets, oak floors, lumber (framing and trim), wiring, stone, railing and shingles.
HEDC helped relocate the residents whose homes were purchased for demolition, and also offered financial counseling to homeowners staying in the neighborhood but in need of re-financing or other housing assistance.
HEDC Director Dale Kroop expects his work to be finished by fall 2013. He estimates over $2 million will be invested into small businesses through contractors, almost all of them Hamden-based.
