Recognized Environmental Conditions
Based on the information evaluated during this investigation, de minimus environmental conditions have been identified within the study area and include:
The presence of unlabeled pole-mounted and pad-mounted
transformers throughout the area.
Based on the information evaluated during this investigation, current and/or historical uses/operations that are considered recognized environmental conditions (RECs) that would warrant additional environmental investigation have been identified within the study area and include:
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The presence of an automotive repair facility and a former gasoline service station located at 213 Colony Street. This facility is listed as a Suspected State Hazardous Waste Site for which a Connecticut Transfer Act Form III was filed in 1991. This indicates that a release or releases have occurred at the site and that the site will be subject to the requirements under the Connecticut Transfer Act. In addition, gasoline and waste oil USTs were formerly present and the site is listed on the Leaking Undgerground Storage Tank (LUST) list and State Spills List.
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The presence of 11 heating oil USTs within the Parkside Apartments premises. These USTs were installed in January of 1965 with the exception of one, which was installed in June of 1982. The USTs installed in 1965 have exceeded their life expectancy.
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The presence of USTs and fill pipes at 198-210 State Street. Three USTs are listed within CTDEP documents as present at the facility and include two 1,000-gallon gasoline USTs and one 2,000-gallon UST of unidentified contents. These USTs were installed in 1945 and 1989 respectively.
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The presence of a gasoline pumping island and ground water monitoring wells at 164-194 State Street.
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The presence of USTs at the Mills Memorial Apartments, listed as two permanently out-of-use 7,500-gallon gasoline
USTs, and one in-use 10,000-gallon heating oil UST. The 7,500-gallon USTs were reportedly removed in April 1987. The 10,000-gallon heating oil UST is listed as installed in October 1987.
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The removal of a 1,000-gallon fuel oil UST and the removal or installation of a 2,000-gallon UST from 82 Camp Street.
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The former and/or current presence of heating oil USTs at 213 Colony Street, 18-20 Camp Street, 24 Camp Street, and 30 Camp Street.
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The former and/or current presence of heating oil USTs at 60 and 72-86 East Main Street and the presence of vent and fill pipes most likely associated with a UST at 66 East Main Street. In addition, a petroleum odor was detected by BL Companies in the vicinity of the vent/fill pipes at 66 East Main Street during the site visit.
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The listing of 88 State Street on the State Spills List for the release of an unidentified quantity of motor oil on December 16, 1992. The release is listed as having a “closed” status by the
CTDEP.
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The former and/or current presence of heating oil USTs at 9 Gold Street.
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The former use of coal as a heating source at 8 Gold Street.
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The listing of 23 Saint Casimer Street on the LUST list and the previous removal of approximately 100-tons of impacted soil from the site.
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The historical use of portions of the study areas SA-1 and SA-2 for industrial purposes including the International Silver Company and the Meriden Britannia Company since at least 1884.
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The existence of a railroad adjacent to the west of the study area.
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The identification of several upgradient and/or adjacent facilities on the
CERCLIS, RCRA TSD, RCRA COR, RCRA GEN, SHWS, State Spills, Registered
USTs, and/or LUSTs Lists.
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Business environmental risks (BERs) associated with commercial real estate are not typically included in the scope of a Phase I ESA. The following is a list of BERs that were assessed during this PEA: the presence of hazardous building materials including lead-based paint (LBP), asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); the potential for radon; and the presence of wetlands. Based on the information evaluated during this investigation, business environmental risks exist within the study area. These include:
The suspected presence of LBP
The suspected presence of ACMs
The suspected presence of PCB-containing light
ballasts
Ranking of properties was undertaken to classify each property on the basis of current and past land use as it pertains to environmental risk. Examples of properties with a risk rating of “Low” include existing residential and retail development. “Moderate” risk ranking is consistent with properties that had a high-risk historical use for a short period of time (5 to 10 years). Examples of properties that are assigned a “High” risk rating include industrial and manufacturing sites, gasoline stations, rail yards, properties that are regulated under the Connecticut Tranfer Act (CTA), State Sites, RCRA Generators.
Several properties were classified as high risk including 213 Colony Street, the Parkside Apartments, the Mills Memorial Apartments, 164-194 State Street, 198 State Street, 30 East Main Street, 50 East Main Street, 60 State Street, and 88 State Street. Properties identified as moderate risk included 30 Camp Street, 23 Saint Casimer Street, 82 Camp Street, and 66 East Main Street. The remaining properties are considered low risk and include 18 Camp Street, 24 Camp Street, 158 State Street, 43 East Main Street, 60 East Main Street, 64 East Main Street, 70-74 East Main Street, 76-80 East Main Street, 8 Gold Street, 9 Gold Street, and 78 South Colony Street.
Based on the scope of work completed to date, all twenty-five properties within the study area require additional investigation. At a minimum, all properties, even those that are classified as low risk, will require a full Phase I ESA and Hazardous Building Materials Inspection (HBMI). Moderate and high-risk properties will likely require a Phase II Site Investigation (SI), and if releases are found, a Phase III Site Characterization and possibly Remedial Action. Most properties will also likely require some form of Hazardous Building Materials Abatement. Preliminary cost estimates, based on a set of defined assumptions, have been developed to bring each site to closure.
