By Richard Weizel

CT Post 03/03/09

STRATFORD -- Cleanup of toxic Raymark waste at one of the nation's largest Superfund sites will resume over the next few months, with capping planned at one of the most contaminated locations on East Broadway.

Eight months after Gov. M. Jodi Rell came to Stratford to sign a bill derailing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's plans to dig up hazardous waste around town and deposit the material in dumps in residential neighborhoods, the EPA and state Department of Environmental Protection plan to move ahead with short-term plans this year.

The Raymark Superfund Team, which includes representatives from the Raymark Advisory Committee, the grassroots group Save-Stratford, the EPA and DEP, has been meeting for seven months to reach agreement on both short- and long-term remediation of the remaining 26 sites contaminated by Raymark waste.

The waste, including asbestos, lead and PCBs, was generated by Raymark Industries, which over the span of about seven decades manufactured brakes, clutches and other automotive parts at its East Main Street plant.

The business used a system of lagoons in the area to dispose of waste, much of which seeped into the soil and contaminated it with various chemicals.

"This a very good first step, but we still have a long way to go before there is a final plan in place that we can all feel good about," said Tom Smith, co-founder of SaveStratford and a member of the Superfund Team. "We are still far apart from the EPA on how much of the more than 100,000 cubic yards of Raymark waste should be capped, moved out of town or placed at a local site such as the Raybestos ballfield."

State Sen. Dan Debicella, R-Shelton, and state Rep. John Harkins, R-Stratford, co-authors of the bill signed by Rell last July, both support the new plan by the EPA.

"This creates a plan for capping some of the most contaminated sites in place, interim solutions on less contaminated properties, and new vapor intrusion mitigation systems that will detect and warn people of toxic vapors if they are getting into buildings," Harkins said.

Debicella added: "Not only will Stratford have some Raymark sites cleaned up the right way, but we will be able to reclaim land for economic development."

The cleanup plan includes:

l The Morgan Francis properties at 576/600 East Broadway will be capped in place with 4 feet of clean soil, making them safe for commercial development.

l Interim safeguards such as fencing, signs, administrative controls and other access restrictions will be in place at all non-treated Raymark-tainted properties.

l All new construction on or near Raymark properties will be required to have vapor intrusion mitigation systems, which the EPA or DEP will help provide. Additionally, full disclosure of Raymark waste will be required before any sale of contaminated properties in the future.

l New conceptual plans and reuse options for the Raybestos ballfield will be developed in the next 60 days.

EPA officials, however, concede the partial plans are not a permanent solution to cleaning up all the remaining contamination.

"While these steps are important and necessary, they do not advance a permanent resolution for the extensive Raymark waste deposits and contamination found at many public and private properties in Stratford," Ira W. Leighton, the EPA's acting regional administrator for Region I, wrote in a Feb. 20 letter to the Raymark Superfund Team.

"This serious situation demands a permanent resolution that is comprehensive and consistent with national policy to ensure the protection of public health and the environment for the long-term."

Officials said the long-term plan is at least a year or two away.