Governor Won't Commit to Law Helping Milford

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
bmccready@nhregister.com
HARTFORD—A spokesman for Gov. Dannel P. Malloy declined to say late Wednesday whether the governor will sign into law a bill approved by the General Assembly Wednesday allowing local municipalities to regulate solid waste facilities.
The bill is especially important to Milford where a controversial recycling center hopes to secure an expanded permit from the state Department of Environmental and Energy Protection despite numerous concerns by local officials. If Malloy does not sign the legislation into law it would be much easier for the recycling facility to open.
The State Senate voted 22 to 12 Wednesday in support of the legislation restoring municipal oversight over solid waste facilities. After the senate’s vote Malloy’s spokesman Andrew R. Doba released the following statement, “The Governor’s been focused on his legislative priorities, specifically his landmark bill to reform education in our state. He’ll review the proposal once it gets to his desk.”
Doba said it will take about two weeks for the bill to come before Malloy for his approval.
In 2006 the General Assembly made a significant error when it accidentally removed municipal oversight over solid waste facilities, which went unnoticed until a proposed controversial Milford based recycling center recently exposed the loophole.
The legislation will require Recycling Inc. at 990 Naugatuck Avenue and other proposed transfer stations around the state to comply with local regulations. Currently, local municipalities are powerless to regulate solid waste facilities.
If the legislation wasn’t approved Recycling Inc. would only need state approval, and would not have to conform to local regulations.
The city’s state delegation including state Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, state Rep. Kim Rose, D-Milford, state Rep. Richard Roy, D-Milford, and state Rep. Paul Davis, D-Orange, pushed for approval of the bill.
“This bill closes a major loophole in a law that took that power away from local authorities and unintentionally put people and natural resources in harm’s way. The law and the policy of our state has always been that municipalities have the authority to regulate solid waste facilities through local zoning regulations. Today’s action reaffirms that authority,” Slossberg said in a prepared statement Wednesday.
There are 22 transfer stations affected by the proposed legislation including the Ansonia Transfer Station, Circles of Life, of New Haven, Murphy Road Recycling, of New Haven, Ciro Associates LLC, of North Branford, and Dainty Rubbish Services Inc., of Middletown.
Milford residents say they are concerned about the pollution, depreciating property values, noise, and truck traffic that would originate from Recycling Inc. The DEEP gave tentative approval last month to allow Recycling Inc. to greatly expand its permit.
If Recycling Inc. Owner Darlene Chapdelaine receives final approval she will be able to collect up to 700 tons a day including waste from construction and demolition activities, and municipal solid waste from commercial and industrial activities. Chapdelaine has been operating under a limited permit for months to recycle papers, cardboard and metals. She paid $3 million for the property last year.
Call Brian McCready at 203-789-5719 and follow him on Twitter @nhrbmccready. To receive breaking news first, simply text the word nhnews to 22700. *Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Milford's Unsolved Murders

Milford Police Blotter | Sept. 25

Milford Police Nab Two for Prostitution