ALERT! Public hearing tonight on South Norwalk pollution cleanup

By Diane Lauricella, NNEJ

NORWALK, Conn. – While I know that this time of year is so busy, and many of you are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy and the Snow Storm Nemo,  life marches on and we have an important opportunity for you to help keep the Meadow Street area clean and healthy and improve your quality of life!

Public hearing concerning 8-18, 30B, 30-32, 120, and 36 Meadow Street pollution cleanup plans: Thursday, April 4th at 6 p.m. sharp; The Maritime Aquarium Cafeteria, 10 North Water St., North entrance facing I-95.  Parking is available in the municipal parking lot (Maritime Garage), on street and in the small staff lot.

There will be a brief presentation by Connecticut DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection) about the cleanup process, then the applicant will present its cleanup proposal, then we can ask questions, make comments.

This concerns land currently occupied by City Carting. DEEP and former site owner Waste Management, Inc. (WM) will make a presentation to explain plans for cleaning up historic and existing pollution and their plans to request that certain pollution remain onsite, both under buildings and in the ground.  We will also be given until April 11th to submit written feedback.

We need to let the DEEP know that the neighborhoods around the Meadow Street area want to improve the quality of life, enhance economic development potential, and ensure that our air, soil and water are clean and healthy!

Late last year, many of you signed a petition to request a public hearing about a proposal for pollution cleanup of several properties along Meadow Street formerly owned by Waste Management, Inc. and now owned by Meadow Street Partners, LLC, whose principal owners also own City Carting, Inc. You voiced your support about our efforts to make sure that the Meadow Street area businesses respect the neighborhood’s quality of life and health concerns. There now seems to be a true light at the end of the tunnel … and Spring may actually arrive any day!

The public can read the actual reports about the Meadow Street cleanup plans at the reference section of the Main Public Library at 1 Belden Ave. during library hours.  I have attached  an overview about each of the addresses and I am happy to answer any of your questions by email or by phone between now and the meeting … and beyond.  This effort is the first in a series of plans to engage each of the businesses along this street in order to assure that they respect the public’s right to a decent quality of life and all can live in harmony!

Diane Lauricella, Norwalk Neighbors for Environmental Justice coordinator

NNEJ WM Meadow Street FandO Remedial Summary

NNEJ Waste Management 36 Meadow Street Legal Notice Hour 122112