Remediation Begun At English Station

A shiny new asphalt ​“clean road” is being constructed from Grand Avenue to the iconic English Station power plant and the 1890s-era building fronting the avenue, itself an old coal-powered electricity generating station, is also being remediated.

Those are the first features passersby will notice of the $30 million clean-up of long mothballed English Station on Ball Island in the Mill River.

The work, being conducted by United Illuminating-hired environmental consultants TRC Environmental Corporation, was brokered by the state and Mayor Toni Harp as part of the deal permitting the plant’s former owner, United Illuminating, to be sold to the Spanish conglomerate Iberdola.

According to UI’s website, which comes with a timeline of developments at English Station, English Station, with its tall stacks that loom over Fair Haven, is known on maps as Station A while the building on the avenue is known as Station B:

“Station B consists of the northern portion of a former power plant constructed circa 1890 and is a two-story structure that occupies a footprint of approximately 25,000 square feet. Station B is immediately adjacent to Grand Avenue, which runs along the Site’s northern property boundary. Station B was a coal fired generating facility that ceased operation in 1903.

“The boiler portion of Station B was demolished in the late 1930’s. “

In June officials met at the John Martinez School with Fair Haven residents about the remediation plan and expressed concerns over whether the remediation efforts themselves might kick up toxins that could float over to the nearby school and other areas in Fair Haven.

At that meeting, UI officials explained that the clean road or corridor would enable vehicles to truck contaminated materials out of the English Station site without cross contamination. At that time, they also reported on next steps, including taking borings and presenting the findings to state environmental officials for review.

Other concerns expressed included the stability of the bulkhead around English Station in the Mill River.

Edward Crowder, senior communication specialist for Avangrid Inc., said in an email that Station B is still undergoing soil and groundwater investigations through September. The interim cleanup of English Station, which includes the removal of asbestos and an existing debris pile is also underway and will continue through the end of the year, he said.

“Remediation, slated to begin later this year, will ultimately address any concrete that is found to be contaminated with PCBs, as well as paint and caulking potentially contaminated with lead, PCBs or other contaminants,” Crowder said.

The ​“clean road” being installed is an asphalt roadway separated from the ground by a protective barrier, which prevents vehicles from moving contaminants from the site when they leave, he said.

Markeshia Ricks contributed to this story.