| A good solution for Stratford waste | | Print | |
| Monday, 12 May 2008 | |
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Despite its "Do-Nothing" budget compromise, the state Legislature did get a few things accomplished in its recently concluded session, including passing a measure that the town of Stratford has sought for years. Gov. M Jodi Rell should sign the bill, which would prevent the federal Environmental Protection Agency from digging up hazardous waste in that town and disposing of it near residential neighborhoods. The fight over waste from the former Raymark plant stretches back for decades. The federal government's plan, for which about $21 million has been budgeted, entails moving more than 100,000 cubic yards from about 20 scattered sites and consolidating the waste in as many as three sites on the south side of town. Neighbors don't like the idea of disturbing whatever waste is in the ground and moving it, and would prefer not to have it trucked through their neighborhoods. For 70 years, the factory produced clutch and brake parts, all the while depositing toxins like lead, asbestos, PCBs and dioxins into the soil. There's no good way to deal with it, but digging it up in one part of town just to put it back in the ground in another part of town is a particularly bad way, or so town residents think, overwhelmingly. The state legislation would limit the federal agency to either cap the waste in place, under two feet of fill or more, or transfer it to a certified disposal area. Either option is better than the plan under consideration now. Issues like this lay plain why we need environmental regulations to begin with, and why companies should be expected to clean up the messes they make. It's not a competitive disadvantage, it's a sign to neighbors that a business is not putting their health at risk, now and in the future. When voters see politicians and bureaucrats gutting environmental standards, situations like this are the inevitable response. But Stratford is long past that point now. The best course of action is to remove the waste from town completely and deal with it at a location far removed from residential neighborhoods. Barring that, it should be sealed off as well as possible where it currently lies. The state legislation will help ensure one of these options happens. And in the meantime, Stratford residents, along with the rest of us, can help make sure the government prevents future toxic waste sites in residential neighborhoods. Article Last Updated: 05/09/2008 08:28:47 PM EDT The Connecticut Post |
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