Mr. Kurtz noted that Combustion Engineering has
filed for bankruptcy to cap the liability
associated with the lawsuits on asbestos.
Combustion Engineering’s (CE) work includes
remediation of chemical contamination onsite. The
investigation is complete and 27 areas of concern
were identified, with ten of them requiring no
chemical cleanup. The other areas are in various
stages of cleanup. This work is still expected to
be completed in 2005. CE is also remediating Low
Enriched Uranium material remaining onsite from
the production of commercial nuclear fuel. Three
buildings are 75% complete and will be torn down
after the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and
the Connecticut Department of Environmental
Protection certifies them clean. CE excavated
underground utilities in 2003.
Councilor Pacino asked if the buildings were
checked for radiation levels. Mr. Conant responded
yes. Building 3 housed a nuclear operation for
five years and Building 4 housed fossil fuel for
35 years.
Deputy Mayor Curtis asked just how clean the
area is and if redevelopment is possible after
cleanup is completed. Mr. Kurtz responded there
have been discussions on redevelopment, but
nothing has been decided. It will be explored
further in the future. The cleanup will meet state
and federal requirements to allow re-use or
redevelopment of the property.
Councilor Jepsen questioned if there is a lower
requirement for monitoring. Ms. Hammick said there
is not, but they will continue monitoring until
the levels meet state and federal requirements.
Councilor Broxterman asked about the cleaning
of the contaminated soils. He asked if it was
cleaned on site or if it was encapsulated and
buried. Ms. Hammick said that any radiological
waste has to be sent to a facility out of state.
Nothing is being buried on site and it is either
being cleaned on site or being trucked out.
Moved by Councilor Simon, seconded by Councilor
Jepsen that the Town Council of the Town of
Windsor adopt the provisions of subsection (A) and
subsection (B) of Connecticut General Statutes
§12-146 such that:
- Any delinquent property taxes applicable
with respect to a motor vehicle shall be paid
only in cash or by certified check or money
order, and
- Any person who is delinquent in the payment
of any property tax or installment on any motor
vehicle and whose town has notified the
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of such
delinquency under the provisions of
Connecticut General Statutes §12-143 shall
pay a fee of five dollars.
Mr. Gregg Pavitt, Director of Finance, gave an
overview of the new service charge. The new
service charge for filing the delinquent list with
the State Department of Motor Vehicles is
estimated to be $4,600 for FY 2004. It is
projected that if 20% of the outstanding accounts
are paid, approximately $6,825 in delinquent fees
will be collected.
Based on past history of filings with the
Department of Motor Vehicles, the annual operating
budget will need to be increased by an estimated
$5,500 to meet the new state service charge. This
amount would likely be recovered in revenues
generated from the delinquent fees.
Motion Passed 8-0-0 (Councilor Pacino not
present)
- Authorization for Methane Collection System
at Landfill
Moved by Deputy Mayor Curtis, seconded by
Councilor Broxterman, that the Town Council,
pursuant to Section 5-2(d) of the Town Charter
authorize the waiving of bids for the design-build
of a landfill gas collection system at the
Windsor-Bloomfield Landfill
and
Move that the Town Manager be authorized to
contract with SCS Engineers, PC and SCS Field
Services for the design-build of a landfill gas
collection system at the Windsor-Bloomfield
Landfill. Further, that funds be expended from the
Landfill Enterprise Fund for this purpose.
Mr. Brian Funk, Director of Public Works; Mr.
Mark Goossens, Solid Waste Manager; and Dr.
Charles Petrillo, Director of Health, gave a
presentation to the Council. Over the course of
the past 6 weeks, odors have been emitted from the
Windsor-Bloomfield Landfill that can be
characterized as an odor similar to rotten eggs.
The source of this odor has been identified and a
gas collection system is being recommended to
resolve the problem.
The estimated cost for this design-build
project is $132,620. This includes the provision
and installation of the gas wells, along with the
piping from the wells to the blower and flare. The
town will rent the blower/flare at a cost of
$2,000 per month.
The Town Planning and Zoning Commission
reviewed and approved the gas collection system
per CGS §8-24 on October 14, 2003.
Dr. Petrillo updated the Council on air quality
testing results. Samples were collected at three
locations along the eastern location of the
property line. A fourth sample was taken south of
the landfill, just east of Huckleberry Road. Fuss
& O’Neill concluded that there were no exceedences.
The concentrations of constituents do not pose a
significant risk to human health or safety. Dr.
Petrillo said that this is just a snapshot over a
12-hour period with 26 constituents tested. They
are looking at re-examining the sampling
locations, constituents that were sampled, and the
length of time for sampling.
Councilor Mulligan asked if the piping is all
ready on site and at what times did the testing
take place. Dr. Petrillo said that the testing
took place between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m. Mr. Funk
confirmed this and stated a portion of the piping
has been delivered to the site.
Councilor Simon asked if there is an ability to
add onto this system and create a collection
system for the entire landfill. Mr. Funk said yes,
we knew that we would have to have a collection
system in place for the landfill closure. Town
Manager Churchill added that we received a DEP
permit for a passive system and believe that it
can be used for an active system. Councilor Simon
asked what degree of confidence we have that this
will solve the problem. Mr. Funk said that we are
very confident. Other landfills with greater odor
problems have used similar installation systems,
which have been very effective.
Councilor Mulligan asked if this were to
someday be a passive system, would the proposed
wells be appropriate for that system. Mr. Funk
answered that if an active collection system were
put in place in the future, the wells would be
very effective. Mr. Goossens said that for a
passive collection system, a charcoal filter would
be installed and would be very effective as well.
Councilor Mulligan asked if we have stopped
accepting gypsum board until the problem is under
control. Mr. Funk said that we have not--the
material causing the problem now is over two years
old. Any newly added material will be handled by
the gas collection system that is installed.
Councilor Broxterman asked what the contingency
plan is if this doesn’t work. Mr. Funk said that
the town is very confident that this will work.
Councilor Broxterman asked if there is an
example of a landfill that did this and if they
had to use an alternative solution. Mr. Goossens
responded that if problems continued, it would be
more operational, and would be addressed primarily
by adding more wells, along with analyzing and
adjusting the system components.
Councilor Broxterman inquired how we determine
if an active or passive system is needed in the
future. Mr. Funk said that will be determined in
conjunction with the DEP. Dr. Petrillo added that
we are approaching the issue from two angles--the
engineering aspects and the air monitoring. We are
teaming those two up to see if there is anything
we might be missing.
Councilor Broxterman asked if things can be
more strict than what federal regulations
stipulate. Dr. Petrillo said that either the DEP
or town can decide if a gas collection system is
needed. Councilor Broxterman asked in the future,
if we are required to install a synthetic cap
material versus clay, would that prevent the
drilling of additional wells. Mr. Funk responded
that they are still working with the DEP on the
actual capping material which will be either clay
or the geo-membrane. During the process of
finalizing a closure plan with DEP, it would be
determined if further gas collection wells would
be needed.
Deputy Mayor Curtis asked how soon the
residents would notice an improvement in the odor
once the system is up and running. Mr. Funk said
that it is going to take some balancing of the
wells. Different wells will generate different
amounts of gas. Mr. Goossens added that there
should be immediate improvement; however, some
balancing and fine-tuning will need to be made.
Councilor Jepsen asked how much of a threat the
wells will be to the trucks coming in. Mr. Funk
said there will be barriers protecting the wells.
Dr. Petrillo said it is similar to the process of
what is done to the monitoring wells. Councilor
Jepsen asked what the result will be when the
hydrogen sulfite, which causes the rotten egg
smell, is burned and is it dangerous in any way.
Mr. Funk said that he would have to get back to
the Council regarding this inquiry.
Councilor Mulligan asked why hydrogen sulfite
was not picked up in the samples. Dr. Petrillo
stated he was told the odor may be coming from
other sulfites and that is why he wants to test
for other constituents.
Councilor Walker asked what prevents us from
refusing to take gypsum. Town Manager Churchill
said that gypsum board is intermingled with bulky
waste. If we eliminated gypsum, we would also
eliminate bulky waste, which generates revenue.
The gas collection system will eliminate the odor
from the gypsum and it takes 1-2 years for the
gypsum to cause odor.
Councilor Walker asked how carefully trucks are
screened. Mr. Goossens said the scale operator
asks the truck driver what type of waste they are
hauling, then they uncover the load and inspect
it. It is also screened when it gets dumped in the
landfill. Councilor Walker asked if there may be
unidentified objects that may be causing these
odors. Mr. Funk stated they are very strict about
what is brought in.
Councilor Pacino asked if the skids have
footings for when the ground gets wet and soft.
Mr. Goossens replied that it is a metal frame and
typically it can go just about anywhere. There are
allowances for flexibility of components which are
connected to the equipment on the skid.
Councilor Simon asked if we are certain that
gypsum is causing this problem and how long we
have been accepting it. Mr. Funk said that the
construction waste is no longer being mixed with
the municipal solid waste, it has its own area.
The concentration of it in one area is causing the
problem at this time.
Mayor Trinks asked if we are replacing an odor
problem with a noise problem from the equipment
and how long it will run. Mr. Goossens said that
it is a 20-hp motor and is expected to be a 24/7
operation. Typically with a small motor this size,
noise is not a problem. Mayor Trinks asked if the
town or the landfill enterprise fund will be
renting the equipment. Mr. Funk said that the
landfill enterprise fund will be absorbing the
cost of renting the equipment. Mayor Trinks asked
if snow and ice provides a natural cap. Mr. Funk
said that ice may, but not the snow.
Mayor Trinks expressed his appreciation that
the Health Department is involved. He asked if the
town will be replacing one health problem with
another with the burning of these gasses. Dr.
Petrillo said that it will not. Mayor Trinks asked
for clarification on the "no significant risk" and
its benchmark. Dr. Petrillo replied that OSHA and
the EPA set the health risk standards. They will
be running additional tests to be sure that
nothing is missed.
Mayor Trinks asked if we are permitted a
certain amount of bulky waste and MSW or is it our
call. Mr. Funk answered that for the bulky waste
cell, only bulky waste can be deposited in that
location. However, bulky waste can be deposited in
other areas in the landfill. The primary parameter
on the amount of waste that can be deposited is
the permitted height.
Mayor Trinks asked if stopping the bulky waste
would stop the odor problem now. Mr. Funk said
that stopping now would not resolve the odor;
however, they believe the recommended solution to
extract the gasses and combust them will eliminate
the odor.
Motion Passed 9-0-0