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ENFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
acting in its official capacity as
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
APRIL 8, 2002
A meeting of the Enfield Town Council, acting in its official capacity as Water Pollution Control Authority, was called to order by Acting Chairman Tallarita in the Enfield Room of the Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Monday, April 8, 2002 at 6:41 p.m.
ROLL-CALL Present were Commissioners Edgar, Falk, Fiore, Mangini, Strom, Tait and Tallarita. Commissioner Hall entered at 6:42 p.m. and Commissioner Egan entered at 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Kaupin and Vayda were absent. Also present were Assistant Town Manager, Daniel Vindigni; Director of Public Works, John Kazmarski; Deputy Director of Public Works, Geoffrey McAlmond; Superintendent of Water Pollution Control, Marvin Serra
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION #970 by Commissioner Falk, seconded by Commissioner Tait to accept the minutes from the May 23, 2000 meeting.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #970 adopted 8-0-0.
DISCUSSION RE: DENITRIFICATION COMPLIANCE, TIMELINES, COSTS AND IMPACTS
Present for this discussion was William Hardy of SEA Consultants.
Mr. Hardy referred to a handout, which outlines this project, what has been found, and the costs.
He explained the wastewater coming from the wastewater treatment plant contains nitrogen, and in order to protect Long Island Sound that nitrogen has to be removed from the wastewater.
Mr. Hardy stated SEA Consultants has been working with Mr. Serra regarding the evaluation of Enfields treatment plant to determine the best way to handle denitrification. He noted theyve evaluated various alternatives for denitrification.
He stated Enfields plant is currently working at about half capacity, which means this plant is running just over 5 ½ million gallons per day on average.
Mr. Hardy stated its a question of whether Enfield modifies the plant, or takes the no action alternative. He noted a no action alternative relates to a credit program developed by the State. He explained the State requires a certain total amount of nitrogen removed from the Sound. He noted if a certain plant were to remove above and beyond what they needed to remove per their permit, that excess amount of nitrogen removed could be sold to another community. He stated there is a nitrogen credit bank being developed by DEP whereby communities that are removing extra nitrogen will bank those credits, and those credits will then be sold to other communities.
Mr. Hardy stated around the Year 2014, there will be a minimal amount of credits remaining, or perhaps no credits available for sale.
He stated the town is currently eligible for grants from DEP and Northeast Utilities totaling $873,000, which is about 36 ½% of the overall project cost.
Mr. Hardy stated the states of Connecticut and New York have entered into an agreement to reduce the nitrogen within the Sound, and theyve worked directly with EPA on this agreement. He noted Connecticut is moving forward with this.
He then used an illustration showing how denitrification can be handled in Enfields treatment plant. He pointed out that because the changes to the plant would result in less energy being used, theyre eligible for a grant from Northeast Utilities, and this amounts to approximately $330,000.
Mr. Hardy stated these changes would lower the maximum capacity of Enfields treatment plant from 10 million gallons per day to 8 million gallons per day. He pointed out Enfield is actually in a very good position. He noted many communities do not have this capability at this time.
He stated this modification should not cause any increase in odor at the plant.
Mr. Hardy stated the cost for modification is estimated at $2.93 million. He noted with the $346,000 Northeast Utilities grant and a 12% share from the prison as part of the prison agreement and a 30% DEP grant, the Towns share is $1.23 million. He stated the $1.23 million is available in the current fund.
Commissioner Strom questioned if the Town would still have to do this work in the Year 2014 if the work is not done now. Mr. McAlmond stated yes. Mr. Hardy pointed out construction costs would be higher in 2014, and the Town would lose out on the grants.
Commissioner Fiore questioned if theres a way to measure the main trunk line to see where a majority of the nitrogen is coming from. Mr. Hardy responded yes.
Commissioner Fiore questioned if this project could be delayed for one year. Mr. Hardy stated if this project is delayed, the Town will lose the CL&P grant. He pointed out construction would have to be done this year in order to get that grant.
Commissioner Fiore questioned if the Town is in a position to proceed immediately if it was decided to go forward with this work. Mr. McAlmond stated as soon as DEP approves the report, they are in a position to move forward immediately. Mr. Kazmarski added one factor in their favor is that they have two spare aeration tanks, and they can work on this project without interrupting the plant operation.
Commissioner Mangini referred to the 12% prison share and questioned whether its possible to increase that share since theres the possibility of a prison expansion. Mr. McAlmond stated the 12% is reflective of the current agreement in place at this time. He added an increase in the prison share is a possibility.
Commissioner Tait questioned if the prison share is a negotiable item, and Mr. Kazmarski responded yes.
Commissioner Tait questioned whats being required of other river towns. Mr. Hardy stated Massachusetts hasnt decided what they will be doing. He noted in Connecticut there was a blanket statement in that all treatment plants are equal and all have to meet the same limits. He stated in Massachusetts they may be focusing on just some of the larger plants so that they can get the most bang for their buck.
Commissioner Tait questioned if this is a federal or state DEP requirement. Mr. McAlmond stated this basically comes from the EPA, a federally negotiated agreement between the states of Connecticut and New York. He noted it was determined the greatest impact on the Sound was coming from New York and Connecticut. Mr. Hardy pointed out theres a dilution factor further from the Sound.
Mr. Kazmarski pointed out this whole issue started at the federal EPA level as a spin off or adjunct to the Clean Water Act, and Long Island Sound was targeted as needing attention. He noted the State DEP has been very proactive in this.
Commissioner Falk questioned how much of the $1.23 million dollars of the Towns share is existing money. Mr. McAlmond stated this funding already exists.
Commissioner Mangini questioned if theres any way they can measure the trunk line coming from the prison. Messrs. McAlmond and Serra agreed they could do a sampling next week.
Acting Chairman Tallarita questioned if theres any advantage to doing this as a phase in project. Mr. Hardy stated the project would have to be done all in one shot in order to get the grants from the DEP and Northeast Utilities.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION #971 by Commissioner Falk, seconded by Commissioner Mangini to adjourn.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #971 adopted 9-0-0, and the meeting stood adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
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