On Railroad Waste Station Issues—

Town Officials To Huddle With Blumenthal

By Kendra Bobowick

The reply arrived via email Wednesday evening.

Yes, the state’s attorney general will meet with town officials next week regarding the Housatonic Railroad’s plans for the future of its transfer facility in Hawleyville, “that may be beyond the scope of past accepted operation,” on the site, wrote Attorney General Richard Blumenthal in a letter replying to First Selectman Joe Borst’s correspondence dated September 2.

“If there are violations of environmental laws, I will take vigorous and prompt action,” he wrote. Confirming a meeting scheduled for “next week,” Mr Blumenthal stated, “I am prepared to provide additional details as to our legal options and strategy,” and concludes his letter by thanking town staff for “combating inappropriate use of the Newtown transfer station.”

At issue is the Housatonic Railroad Company’s application — required per the Clean Railroads Act of 2008 — before the DEP for construction and operation of a solid waste transfer facility. Language regarding materials handled, volume, possible expansions, and hours of operation prompted an outcry to protect public health and safety and the environment. The town has also sought a foothold to enforce the state’s wetlands regulations and most recently demanded that the railroad executives file a wetlands application. Operating for several years, a grassroots group and town staff took notice recently of the facility and its plans to expand.

 “This is a step in the right direction,” Mr Borst said after receiving the letter. “We have a lot of strategy to talk about and figure how to handle this between the [attorney general’s] office, the DEP and the town.” Mr Borst wants a collective and coordinated effort, he indicated. “It’s a positive indication that [Mr Blumenthal] will do what he can to get this resolved.”

The fact that the attorney general responded is “big,” Land Use Director George Benson said, glad for the response, and also anticipating a pending meeting.

Both Mr Borst and Mr Benson are eager to “discuss strategy,” Mr Borst said. He hopes the meeting will also clarify “how [Attorney General Richard Blumenthal] fits in, and how we can keep him on top of things.”

Like Mr Benson and Mr Borst, residents also are appealing to officials. One week ago the Hawleyville Environmental Action Team, (HEAT) posted a petition accessible through its website at DontWasteHawleyville.com. (See related story). The petition will eventually go to politicians, including Mr Blumenthal and members of the DEP.

Comments accompanying online signatures tell a similar story: Wrote Cheryl Edelyn of Newtown beside her name, “There is No excuse for anyone to pollute aquifers, and there is No excuse for any legal entity to disregard the law and its courts.” Land Use Agency members struggled for the railroads’ compliance with the wetlands permit process.

From Dorothy Dwyer, “I believe that by signing this petition the State of Connecticut will enforce the environmental laws and protect our Pond Brook aquifer from damage that is being done by the Housatonic Railroad.”