Politics & Government

Are There Additional Raymark Remediation Funds Out There?

Stratford legislator seeking state help in identifying more public and private funds to clean up contamination throughout town.

A Stratford legislator offered testimony this past week to the state's Environment Committee in support of a bill she has co-sponsored that requires the state to explore all public and private funding sources for the remediation of the Raymark Superfund sites in Stratford.

In addition, the legislation would require the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to submit a report to the General Assembly on those sources, the means by which they may be obtained and a timeline for achieving them.  The report would be due no later than February of 2012.

State Rep. Laura Hoydick, R-120, testified on the situation involving Raymark Industries (Raymark), which manufactured automotive friction components including brake parts on its 34-acre parcel at 75 East Main Street in Stratford from 1919 until 1989 when its operations ceased.

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The East Main Street facility has been demolished, capped, and redeveloped into what is now known as the Stratford Crossing Shopping Center - which includes Home Depot, Shoprite, and Walmart.

However, over time contaminated fill was also disposed at a minimum of 46 residential properties, and at numerous other commercial, recreational and municipal properties in Stratford.

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In addition, several wetland areas in close proximity to the Housatonic River were also filled in with Raymark's manufacturing waste.

The contaminants in the waste primarily consisted of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), asbestos, lead, and copper; however, extensive VOC soil contamination also exists at the former Raymark facility.

Extensive testing of soil, groundwater, soil gas, indoor air, and sediments throughout the Stratford community has been conducted by the EPA and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEP).

“Believe it or not, this is the good news,” said Rep. Hoydick in her testimony.  “The bad news is the EPA is managing approximately a $22 million superfund to expedite the remediation for the remaining eight Operable Units but $22 million is not nearly enough to remove the waste from the 46 residential properties and the commercial, recreational and municipal parcels.

"Though Stratford is working with the EPA, DEP and community action groups such as SaveStratford, all parties agree the remaining dollars in the super fund need to be increased in order to remove the toxic waste.”

Hoydick said that this bill will prioritizes the research for viable funding sources, which will provide the means to facilitate the removal of the Raymark waste from Stratford.  


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