Connecticut Attorney General's Office
Press Release
Attorney General Announces Agreement To Begin Immediate Clean Up Of North Branford Junkyard
August 4, 2009
The interim agreement, on behalf of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), follows recent court action by Blumenthal seeking imprisonment of junkyard owner Joseph Salg if he refuses to clean up his nuisance property.
In 2003, Salg signed an agreement with Blumenthal's office and the DEP to remove debris and waste from his junkyard at 743 Forest Road and pay an $8,000 fine. Salg made some efforts to comply with the 2003 agreement, but junk and waste again began accumulating at the junkyard.
Under today's interim agreement, Salg is required to immediately begin to transport solid and hazardous waste to an approved facility; cease bringing or allowing any new waste onto the site; and test ground water at the site within six weeks.
"Beginning right away, waste removal is a strong step toward stopping a recurring environmental nightmare of stumps, tires, junk vehicles, scrap metal and potentially hazardous debris," Blumenthal said. "We will closely scrutinize compliance and cleanup, working with other environmental officials. A failure to fulfill this agreement promptly will mean stronger steps, including possible steep monetary penalties and imprisonment.
"This sea of debris must end -- cleanup neighbors deserve and law demands. Today's action is the beginning of the end to this junk-heap eyesore. If the agreement is violated, we will fight for stiff penalties."
DEP Commissioner Amey Marrella said, "All materials at junkyards must be properly managed to protect our environment and to prevent risks to neighboring properties. If junkyard owners fail to follow accepted management practices, as is the case here, DEP will take enforcement active which can include court action and monetary penalties. The type of business that they are in requires that they act responsibly to prevent adverse impacts to our environment."
Marrella also said that DEP has already sent a team to the Salg site to inventory containers holding liquids to help make certain they are handled and disposed of properly as called for under terms of the interim agreement.
Today's agreement also requires that Salg:
- provide the state with a complete inventory of any waste on the site;
- submit a schedule for completing the removal of all waste that remains after 60 days; and
- submit to Blumenthal's office recent tax returns and bank statements, demonstrating his ability to comply with this agreement and to prevent the cleanup from becoming a burden on taxpayers.
Blumenthal's office will pursue further court action, when appropriate, if the agreement is violated.