Voice concerns over Exide’s Mill River plan
The leadership of Nutmeg TU 217 is urging members to send letters to state, local and federal officials expressing concerns about Exide’s plan to remove lead from the Mill River.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly included the word “oppose.”
TU has joined other residents and conservationists in raising questions about a plan they say has too few specifics and too many risks.
The letter can be copied in its entirety from nutmegtrout.org, pasted into an email and email to officials. Email addresses are provide with the online story.
Links to articles about the plan can be found HERE.
After a subsequent meeting of the Fairfield Conservation Commission, the Fairfield Citizen reported that the commission focused on “Exide’s proposal to discharge sediment-cleansed water back into Mill River during the dredging operation — because the deadline for public comment on that application is Feb. 7.”
The letter appears below, with email addresses for state officials. Copy the text, paste it into an email, personalize it and send it to those officials.
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Dear ______________,
I am writing to ask your consideration, in your position as ___________________, of my concerns about the proposed Exide Mill River Remediation Action Plan and its significant deficiencies as an adequate restoration program for the damage this river has suffered. As a member of Trout Unlimited’s local Nutmeg Chapter in whose geographic area the Mill River flows, please allow me to express my views by reiterating below our Chapter’s position, representing our almost four hundred members residing in Fairfield and surrounding towns, which succinctly reflects the serious shortfalls of the Plan, and therefore my strong concerns about it.
Trout Unlimited’s mission is to conserve, protect and restore coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. As such, we have been following Exide’s reme diati on effort with great interest for many years. We are encouraged to see a Remedial Action Plan come together, but we do have some substantial concerns that echo those expressed by the Town of Fairfield’s Conservation Department among others.
First, we question the wisdom of any Remedial Action Plan for lead impacted river sediment that does not include a comparable action plan for chromium impacted river sediment. Second, we do not believe Exide has done enough to evaluate and explain the environmental risks potentially associated with in-water dredging activity during the spawning season. Third, this plan does not address the need for a fish passage as an essential component of remediation. Fourth, no provision of public access is addressed. Lastly, we have yet to see any plan to restore the river to its natural state once the dredging is complete. A true remediation effort would include re-filling the dredged holes with clean soil, restoring the river bottom with structural habitat including rocks and logs and finally, re-planting the river banks with native plant species.
Related to these concerns and warranting specific attention is the issue of the river herring run (alewives and blueback.) NOAA is considering these species for endangered species status. Exide is saying that their dredging process poses no issue to the spawning of these fish because the slurry will be contained and therefore they should be allowed to dredge during the spring spawning season. However, based on the technique used in 1983 — cutterhead dredge and floating silt curtain — which seems to be much the same as the one proposed now, there was plenty of spillover which moved lead all over the river. Certainly this will seriously jeopardize successful river herring spawning.
Ms./Mr. ____________, the Mill River is one of Fairfield County’s natural treasures. It is one of only a handful of specially designated Class One Wild Trout Streams in Connecticut. It’s estuarial confluence with Long Island Sound could, with an adequate restoration plan, once again be a healthy environment for our unique natural treasures (and economic resources) such as sea-run brown trout, and for safe use and enjoyment by residents of Fairfield and adjacent towns. This is finally the moment for a prudent plan to correct the damage to the Mill and restore its health and value to all of us.
Thank you for considering my views on this very important issue.
Sincerely,
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The letter should be sent to:
DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty
State Rep. Kim Fawcett
State Sen. John McKinney
State Rep. Tony Hwang
State Rep. Brenda Kupchick
brenda.kupchick@housegop.ct.gov
Those in other towns may also send to their legislators.