Clinton WPCC History (before 2008)

The following Chronology was prepared for a Water pollution Control Commission (WPCC) public informational meeting in 2007, but remains a good historical reference.

Clinton WPCC Special Meeting, Public Informational Meeting, 10/30/07

The following Chronology captures the key facts/events/documents that helped to formulate the current WPCC Plan to minimize sewers, wastewater collection and the subsequent expenses required to construct, operate and maintain these facilities. A land based wastewater disposal site (ie the Schrempp & Sciongay properties) remains the keystone to this plan and the most cost effective way to ensure that genuine problem areas can be remedied with an offsite solution, where required.

60’s Clinton wastewater problems began (per reference in 7/28/86 letter)
65-66 Clinton establishes Planning & Zoning regulations (per 7/28/86 letter)
60’s to 70’s Clinton loses court decisions to limit Long Hill area density (per 7/28/86 letter)
4/72 Maquire & Associates, Inc. recommends development of multi-town large scale wastewater treatment plant
1/73 Flaherty & Giavara & Associates study identified the Long Hill area as “in immediate need of sewage collection and treatment”
75-76 Malcolm Pirnie hired by DEP to study regional wastewater treatment, but residents and officials believed problems could be solved with community systems
10/82 Malcolm Pirnie reports describe Long Hill area as “having severe disposal problems requiring an immediate structural solution”
84-86 Fuss & O’Neill reports identified 2 areas (within the current Sciongay/Schrempp properties) and included borings, baseline groundwater quality analyses, hydrogeologic investigations concluding that either conventional subsurface disposal or rapid infiltration would be “capable of solving the identified problems in the Long Hill area”
7/28/86 Letter from Mr. Lustig, Dir. of Health to Mr. Huggins, WPCC Chairman, whereby WPCC and Economic Development Commission select the subsurface groundwater discharge option at the current Sciongay/Schrempp properties
6/90 DEP Tri-town plan to have regional plant in Old Saybrook
7/22/97 McCusker signs DEP consent order, which remains pending until Clinton implements a solution. Fines of up to $25,000/day can be recommended by DEP and ordered by the CT Attorney General
5/8/02 WPCC Minutes, CDM, Clinton Consulting Engineers, reports on 63 potential discharge sites, reduced to 12 whereby the Elliot School ball fields were again rejected
3/19/03 DEP issues conceptual approval of CDM & WPCC de-centralized Plan
8/3/03 Long Hill Rd area study of 351 homes completed by CDM
11/7/03 Letter from Mr. Staunton to DEP Commissioner Rocque requesting that Unilever implement an onsite solution for their wastewater deficiencies rather than introduce a new discharge to the Hammonasset River as supported by DEP officials
2/10/04 WPCC Minutes motion to acquire Schempp/Sciongay properties after months of discussion
4/23/04 After BOS vote, McCusker issues letter supporting WPCC efforts to acquire the properties and requests that Attorney Bennett pursue access to the properties for testing
Also, Soil-Air vendor reports unsuccessful attempts to remedy excessive groundwater and poor soil conditions at Jefferson Circle property
4/14/04 Isaccson moved to authorize First Selectman to proceed with counsel and to instruct counsel to take necessary action for the town to enter Sciongay property for testing and possible acquisition by eminent domain.
4/23/04 Nash addressed the Selectman's meeting that land acquitsition was the most important item now. McCusker is presently moving forward on this issue with Town Attorney. It was noted that if this plan proceeds and is successful, the property in question would be Open Space with no indication that there was a wastewater treatment in use.
7/12/05 Attorney Bennett advises Mr. Staunton, WPCC, that Wallingford v Werbiski case will be a substantial help as it provides that Towns can enter property before a taking to do responsible planning.
9/6/05 Mr. Dupuis, CDM advises WPCC of discussion with Mr. Greci, DEP, who thought the site had some promise, following his participation in the site visits
9/13/05 CDM Memorandum documents successful non-invasive site visits (Sciongay/Schrempp) with DEP as encouraging and recommend invasive tests as next step.
9/22/05 Attorney Bennett advises Mr. Staunton, WPCC, that Ms. Scully, CT Attorney General’s office, suggests eminent domain rather than access and testing to expedite the schedule and avoid AG action against Town. Ms Scully further stated that the Sciongay property could not be removed from consideration.
11/22/05 Fritz took office
12/7/05 Fritz advised that Dennis Greci of the DEP had called him to review the WPCC & sewers. The new DEP commissioner is in favor of decentralized sewers, and it is possible that this could be done in Clinton. It is also possible that the "grey water" could be used as it is at Foxwood Casino.
12/14/05 Isaacson resigned as liaison to WPCC; Townsend accepted appointment.
There is no notation of any discussion or motion by the BOS re Sciongay property & WPCC.
There are also no executive sessions prior to the month of January that the WPCC fact sheet designates as time of Willie's announcement that the Sciongay property is off limits to the WPCC.
1/17/06 Via press release in Courant Mr. Fritz announces that he was removing Sciongay/Schrempp properties from consideration for the WPCC Plan without consulting with the WPCC
2/1/06 Townsend asked about getting some updated info from the WPCC & was advised that the WPCC chairman will be attending the next meeting with the Director of Health to be invited."
2/8/06 James Staunton noted that members of the WPCC have felt for some years that Clinton's waste water problems could be managed with on-site systems & where this could not be done, piped to an offsite location. He explained that some residential density in some parts of town does not permit proper systems.
2/14/06 WPCC Minutes Mr. Staunton advises WPCC that Mr. Fritz and Townsend are in negotiations, Chamberlain, WPCC, states that BOS have taken over acquisitions process
3/14/06 WPCC Minutes Mr. Townsend advises WPCC that many properties were being discussed but could not reveal specifics, WPCC motions to request BOS to update the WPCC on how they are proceeding with potential properties for off-site location of wastewater
4/11/06 WPCC Minutes Mr. Staunton, WPCC, reminds Townsend that there is still no site to discharge, Mr. Townsend, advises that BOS are in discussions with “other” property owners.
4/17/06 WPCC letter to Mr. Greci, DEP, documents town adoption of decentralized wastewater management districts
7/10/07 Open Space Advisory Committee Minutes indicate Sciongay land is in negotiations by the Trust for Public Lands on behalf of BOS
9/6/07 Mr.Fritz letter to Staunton requesting resignations of WPCC unless 2 meetings per month are held
9/11/07 Open Space advisory Committee Minutes agree that wastewater takes precedence over open space
9/11/07 WPCC Minutes motion for BOS to continue pursuit of the properties, Mr. Townsend stated that in a recent meeting with DEP he remembered the DEP higher ups stating that the Sciongay/Schrempp property was not suitable. DEP Officials have refused to confirm Townsend’s assertions. D. Townsend stated that BOS & BOF had agreed to allow negotiations to be initiated between the Sciongay property owners and Trust for Public Land for Open Space (not WPCC remediation and Long Hill ).
10/9/07 Fritz fails to have regular meeting agenda properly posted, WPCC cannot vote
10/15/07 WPCC Special Meeting Minutes motion to direct BOS to acquire 3 properties
10/30/07 WPCC Special Meeting held to provide the facts to residents of Long Hill area

In summary, the Town of Clinton has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars studying and documenting the problems that have been known to exist for over 40 years. The relatively simple solution (groundwater discharge on land with better soil conditions) was developed in 1984 and independently re-established by a new engineering firm and WPCC in 2003. Once the land and solution are secured, the WPCC can work with the Health Director to refine the site by site evaluations necessary to determine if properties require the offsite solution. Homeowner’s can then be assured that their solution is genuinely available. Without public support for the WPCC plan, the leaders of our Town will continue to prevent the solution from being implemented and the wastewater problems will be allowed to persist in your community. What is presented is a Long Hill area solution. The results of WPCC efforts in this area will potentially be the model for other Community system installations in Town where needed.