Free Exhibit - District Court of Connecticut - Connecticut

I g Case 3:03-cv-00945-CFD Document 211-30 Filed 05/10/2007 Page 1 of 2
D · _ New Haven Register U Page l of 2
. . . DEFENDANT’S
More soil testing slated in Hamden Exp"?
Rebecca Baker, Register Staff February 09, 2001 5
. 0 +< ‘ r
HAMDEN — Environmental experts had few answers
Thursday for concerned residents eager to know if
contamination exists in their neighborhood, but urged
residents to help them in their search.
Mayor Carl Amento brought in officials from the state Department of Public
Health, state Department of Enviromental Protection and Quinniplack Valley
Health District to update residents who live around Hamden Middle School
about recent tests of Rochford Field and "planting stripe" along the streets of
their neighborhood.
Tests of 15 spots in Rochford Field found levels of lead, arsenic, mercury
and carcinogens - the same materials found at the middle school- but at
much lower levels than were found in the schoclyard.
However, the soil was taken from 4 feet deep, mixed up with topsoil, and
then tested for contaminants.
That means officials do not know if higher concentrations of toxins exist at
the surface or below the ground.
"We’re still encouraged that the surface soil does not pose an immediate
risk, but we don’t have all the data so we can’t say for sure," DEP official
Mike Harder said.
Ash materials were found in several of the planting strips, but no further
results were available. Harder said he would have the complete results from
topsoil tests in Rochford Field and the planting strips in about two weeks.
The DEP also plans to test soil inthe soccer field behind Morse Street next
week, he said.
Department of Public Health ofhcial Meg Harvey said the contamination
found in Rochford Field should not pose any negative health effects, but
resident Kathleen Gibson — one of about 100 neighbors at the meeting »-
accused Harvey of "discounting" the toxins that were found there. ‘
"lt’s a hazardous waste dump that impacts the spirit of the community,"
Gibson said.
Hanzey asked the residents to report problems and health concerns to her 1
agency or to the Quinnipiack Valley Health District.
"We have some of the answers but we don't have all of the answers. We’re
going to collect the information we need to answer those questions," Harvey
said.
Representatives from the New England branch of the federal Environmental
Protection Agency were at the meeting. The state requested that the EPA _ .
take over further testing, specifically in neighbors' back yards.
An aerial map showed the tive—block targeted area for backyard testing. The
areas were chosen based on soil tests taken from "planting strips" along the
streets in the neighborhood.
Those homes include about two dozen houses that border the soccer field
on Morse Street and about 100 homes on Newhall Street, Newberry Street,
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Case 3:03-cv-00945-CFD Document 211-30 Filed 05/10/2007 Page 2 of 2
i " New Haven Register Page 2 o1°2
= ¤ry¤en terrace, vvaciswortn Street, vvincnester Avenue anu ivranporo
Street.
The EPA will collect data from state and local officials over the next six
weeks, which will determine how many soil samples will be conducted in the
neighborhood, EPA officials urged residents to report any unusual materials
found in their back yards at any time.
"lt's not an imminent threat if it‘s buried, but it could be an imminent threat if
its on the surface," EPA on-scene coordinator Gilberto "Tito" lrizarry said.
Although the area is not technically a Superfund site, the EPA may be able `
to use Superfund monies to remove any contaminated soil found in the
neighborhood.
Ofhcials also couldn’t answer questions about property values, flooding
problems and sinking houses in the neighborhood, but urged residents to
put their complaints in writing and give them to local officials.
"We will need your help as we continue to scope out the next part of the .
investigation," DEP environmental analyst Tom RisCassi said.
©New Haven Register 2001
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