Has SaveStratford.org Actually SAVED Stratford?

On Monday May 14th at Town Hall, the Town Council plans to take up a resolution that could be the start of the final chapter in the seemingly never ending saga involving the EPA, Town officials and SaveStratford.org to remediate the Raymark toxic waste disaster.

Our district Councilman, the Honorable Matthew P. Catalano, together with SaveStratford.org Director Tom Smith have sponsored a resolution that puts forth a REAL solution of what to do with the toxic waste that Raymark spread over our entire town. The resolution asks the Town Council to officially state and agree that it will:

• Work with "Federal, State and Local agencies (namely the EPA) ... to provide the Town of Stratford with a fully funded, comprehensive clean-up plan that uses technology, specifically thermo-chemical processing, to remediate all affected properties and permanently eliminate toxic waste from Stratford.
• NOT endorse any plan put forth by the EPA or other parties that attempts to consolidate the Raymark toxic waste in or near residential zones.

Thanks to Matt and Tom Smith, the thermo-chemical processing solution is now on the table after over 6 months of resistance, due diligence and wranglings with the EPA and Town officials. 

If you care about the safety of your families and neighbors you will come to Town Hall Monday May14th at 6:30 pm and lend your voice to support this resolution. Its time for Town officials and the EPA to DO THE RIGHT THING and approve this resolution to finally clean up the mess we have lived with for decades.

If you wish to speak during the Public Forum time, contact the Council Clerk no later than 6:30pm on Monday the 14th at (203) 385-4035 or via email at councilclerk@townofstratford.com. Each person will be allowed 5 minutes starting at 6:45 pm. 

Here are some important facts to remember:

• In 2008, the Connecticut State Legislature passed House Bill 5606 that prohibits the storage and disposal of toxic waste near residential properties. The former Governor Jodi Rell came to Stratford to sign the bill into law.
• The proposed thermo-chemical processing technology and company ARI Technologies was approved by the EPA in the late 90's to do exactly what needs to be done to the Raymark toxic waste here in Stratford. 
• This technology and the company have remediated sites managed by the EPA since that time, HOWEVER, the regional and local EPA agencies had no knowledge of this option or the prior EPA approvals until brought to the EPA's attention late 2011 by Matt and Tom Smith.
• The EPA has conducted 3 months of due diligence with ARI Technologies to verify that this remediation option and ARI can do what they say and have already proven at other EPA managed sites with the same toxic waste materials.
• Our congressional delegates - Rosa DeLaura, Joe Lieberman and Dick Blumenthal have been briefed on this approach and are ready to support what the Town wants to do.
• This remediation option would also be able to eliminate the toxic wastes found at the Army Engine Plant (SAEP). 
• The EPA remediation fund for Stratford has the money (over $20mm) to get started now.
• To understand the full extent of the Raymark superfund site, read the EPA Bulletin #44.

It is unconscionable that the EPA and some local officials have dragged their feet in pursuing options that would solve the toxic waste disaster that exists in virtually every neighborhood in our town. This option is the ONLY one that has been put forth in the 34+ years of this environmental nightmare that will solve the problem. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent over that time with little or no results. 

We now have a viable solution and the money to get started. It's time for Town officials to DO THE RIGHT THING and pass this resolution and get the REAL remediation project started ASAP.

Join me and other neighbors to  Town Hall May 14th at 6:30pm to tell Town Council to take action now.

- Henry Bruce, OSNA President