1. Record of Decision for Naugatuck Valley Regional Wastewater Study
Municipalities where proposed action is to be located: Ansonia, Derby, Seymour
Project Description: The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), together with the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), evaluated potential wastewater treatment consolidation alternatives for five municipalities in the Naugatuck Valley. The purpose and need of this study are to identify and evaluate feasible and cost-effective options for reducing the number of treatment facilities while addressing the wastewater treatment challenges faced by the participating municipalities. This is being done to evaluate future wastewater treatment costs and enhance treatment capacity, reliability, and environmental quality.
The NVCOG received a grant award from the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to conduct a study of regional wastewater treatment alternatives for several communities that are burdened by deficient treatment facilities, regulatory compliance citations, and/or the high cost of upgrading or maintaining individual wastewater treatment facilities.
Phase 1 of the study analyzed existing conditions and capacities at facilities in the participating towns and included community outreach to each of the participating municipalities. Phase 1 was completed in spring 2019 and resulted in a broad list of potential alternatives that required more thorough evaluation.
Phase 2 of the study narrowed down the list of alternatives, only those alternatives considered to be prudent and feasible were the subject of a more extensive technical and engineering analysis.
While the Phase 1 evaluation included the municipalities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck and Seymour, the final most cost effective and technically feasible recommendation is for a regional wastewater utility providing service to Ansonia, Derby, and Seymour. The wastewater treatment plants in Derby and Seymour would be converted to Pump Stations and flows from these two communities would be conveyed to Ansonia for treatment. The treatment plant in Ansonia would be upgraded to accept flows from Derby and Seymour. As part of the recommended plan, fully treated plant effluent will be conveyed south to discharge to the Housatonic River near the existing Derby wastewater plant.
Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) Determination: On October 5, 2021, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection published a Notice of Availability of an Environmental Impact Evaluation, in accordance with Section 22a-1d of CEPA, in the Environmental Monitor.
A comment was received from the general public and from the Council of Environmental Quality. DEEP has prepared responses to the substantive issues raised in the comments on the EIE and on supplemental materials or amendments. The comments and DEEP's responses to comments and conclusion are documented in the Record of Decision for the proposed action, as well as in the Supplement to the Record of Decision Project Information, and Supplement to the Record of Decision Natural Diversity Database Consultation.
Agency contact:
Name: Carlos Esguerra
Agency: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Address: 79 Elm Street
Phone: 860-424-3756
E-Mail: Carlos.Esguessra@ct.gov
Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to the sponsoring state agency.
What happens next: DEEP has submitted the Record of Decision to the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) for review. OPM's determination regarding the Record of Decision will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.