The operator of a controversial Middletown Avenue transfer station promises to clean up its act and pay an $18,700 fine under a consent order with the state.
Andrew Anastasio owner of Circle of Life LLC, signed the order with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). DEEP Deputy Commissioner Robert E. Kaliszewski approved the final order on April 12.
DEEP has been after Circle of Life since an April 2014 inspections at 158 and 158R Middletown Ave., where Anastasio’s company obtained a permit in 2005 to operate a storage and procession facility for construction and demolition waste. (It’s one of three businesses he has there, which have generated local controversy as well.)
The 2014 inspection found that Circle of Life had failed to submit required quarterly summaries, updates, compliance audits, and lead and asbestos monitoring, according to the consent order. It subsequently issued notices of violations of state status.
The two sides negotiated about the violations for four years before coming to agreement on the consent order. In addition to paying the $18,700 fine, Anastasio agrees to bring previous violations into compliance; to submit a plan for future compliance within 60 days; and “conduct a comprehensive recycling review … to evaluate compliance with Connecticut’s recycling laws” within 90 days. He agrees to pay the $18,700 in four $4,675 installments over 300 days.
From 2014? COL has been out of compliance practically since the beginning. Located on the shores of both the Quinnipiac River and the Little River, the community was concerned about lead waste in the moving of unknown construction debris into rail cars at the facility. We were assured that "onion dome" building (made with PLASTIC sheeting that regularly is ripped, allowing rainwater in and pollutants out) operated by having the doors go up, the trucks go in, the doors go down, and the trucks unload thus assuring nothing is done outside of the facility. We we're assured that sensors inside the facility detected lead dust, due to the nature of construction debris in general and not being able to ascertain pollutants in such debris at all times. This is done by sampling the air inside the facility when the doors are down and done to ensure that contaminated material would not leach into the environment outside the facility. Well, the doors are rarely closed. The air inside can't possibly be measured for particulates, as outside air skews those measurements. Furthermore, we were assured that trash would never be piled up outside. Has anyone driven up 91 recently? COL has placed 3 white trailers on the ramp adjacent to the facility, so it's a little difficult to see, BUT, you can't miss the open dumping on the far side of the trailers, outside the facility. I hope the fine folks operating this facility know exactly what's in that debris, as there's no way to tell via a scientific instrument. Since COL was a novel type of business at its inception, there was no historical data on this type of operation as to issues with operation, and thus the neighborhood was forced to take a wait and see approach. Well, see for yourself. I suggest you don't try to drive and look, you may have an accident, but bring along a friend so one of you can see this environmental debacle between exit 8 and 9 on I-91.