Yale University Laboratory, New Haven
Waste Engineering and Enforcement Division
Public Notice
Yale University (Former Wright Nuclear Structures Laboratory)
268 Whitney Avenue, New Haven Connecticut 06520
EPA ID No. CTD983870593
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (Department) hereby gives notice of its receipt from Yale University (Yale) of plans for final closure of two (2) container storage areas of hazardous (S01) waste formerly located at 268 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06520. These regulated units were operated under “interim status” and the plan was submitted in accordance with Section 22a-449(c)-105(a)(1) of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, incorporating by reference Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 265.112, and Section 3005 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
The site is located on the Science Hill Campus owned by Yale located in the southern portion of the former Wright Nuclear Structures Laboratory building (WNSL), where it has been used as a science laboratory since its construction in 1955. Yale formally notified the Department in 1989 concerning the university’s potential to generate small volumes of RCRA hazardous waste (D, P, or U listed waste) and radioactive material utilized as part of Yale’s biology, microbiology, biochemistry and geology research facilities.
The regulated hazardous waste storage area was based in two areas within Room 318 located on the ground floor of the WNSL building, in the northeast corner. Dimensions of Room 318 are approximately 10ft by 15ft area on concrete flooring. While not formally regulated as a RCRA unit, Yale includes an additional area in its investigation where a mercury-contaminated wooden countertop had been stored in adjacent Room 320a, measuring approximately 2.5ft x 5ft.
The documented hazardous wastes stored in the regulated area include ignitable solutions, ketones, formaldehyde and/or aromatic volatile organic compounds, chlorinated volatile organic compounds, and corrosive liquids. Historically and on limited occasion, wastes generated contained radionuclides such as tritium, carbon-14, uranium [1]238 among others. Storage in this area occurred from 1989 and ceased in 2012. The former RCRA hazardous waste storage areas are currently being remediated for redevelopment.
The Closure Plan consists of Closure Plan Part I: Facility Characterization Work Plan, prepared by SLR International Corporation (SLR), dated August 4, 2023; Closure Plan Part I (Revised): Facility Characterization Work Plan, prepared by SLR, dated January 17th, 2024; Closure Work Plan Part 2: Results of Site Characterization Program and Proposed Closure Approach, prepared by SLR, dated October 23, 2024; and Closure Plan Part 3 – Remediation Verification, QA/QC, Certification, prepared by SLR, dated February 7th, 2025.
SLR’s investigation and analytical results as outlined in the plan describes closing the regulated units in a manner that will result in all waste and contaminated structures and soil being removed and disposed of offsite so that remaining structures and soil will pose no risk to human health and the environment.
The plans describe the closure of these regulated units in a manner that will result in the removal of all waste and contaminated material and/or soil for disposal at an offsite facility, and the decontamination of any contaminated structure so that it will be protective of human health and the environment.
This public announcement does not imply approval by the Department of Yale’s closure plans. The purpose of this public notice announcement is to solicit comments concerning the plans.
The closure plans may be viewed by appointment at the Records Center, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut. An interested person who wishes to make an appointment can email the File Room at DEEP.RecordsCenter@ct.gov. And/or by visiting the online document portal: https://filings.deep.ct.gov/DEEPDocumentSearchPortal/
Copies of the closure plans are also available by contacting the Environmental Consultant: Jason Fernet, PE, LEP Senior Principal Consultant SLR International Corporation 45 Glastonbury Boulevard Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860) 604-4372, jfernet@slrconsulting.com
Comments on the closure plans and requests for a public hearing are invited from interested persons and can be submitted to the Department’s case manager: Evelyn Silva, Environmental Analyst Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Waste Engineering and Enforcement Division 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 (860) 424-3209, evelyn.silva@ct.gov
Written comments on or requesting modification to the closure plans must be submitted to the Department no later than thirty (30) days from the publication date of this notice. Any person may submit a request in writing to the Department for a public hearing to consider the closure plan. Such requests shall state the nature of the issues proposed to be raised in the hearing. A public hearing may be held whenever the Department finds that response to this notice indicates significant public interest. All comments received within the public notice period will be considered in the final decision regarding approval or disapproval of the closure plans.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act. Please contact Evelyn Silva at evelyn.silva@ct.gov if you are seeking a communication aid or service, have limited proficiency in English, or require some other type of accommodation. If you wish to file and ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint, you may submit your complaint to the Department’s Office of Diversity and Equity at (860) 418-5910 or deep.acomodations@ct.gov. In order to facilitate efforts to provide an accommodation, please request all accommodations as soon as possible following the notice of any agency hearing, meeting, program, or event.
El Departamento de Energía y Protección Ambiental de Connecticut es un Empleador de Acción Afirmativa/Igualdad de Oportunidades comprometido a cumplir con los requisitos de la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades. Por favor, contáctenos al (860) 418-5910 o deep.accommodations@ct.gov si: tiene una discapacidad y necesita una ayuda o servicio de comunicación; tiene un dominio limitado del inglés y puede necesitar información en otro idioma; o si desea presentar una queja por discriminación ADA o Título VI. Cualquier persona que necesite una adaptación auditiva puede llamar al número de relé del Estado de Connecticut: 711. Las solicitudes de adaptaciones deben hacerse al menos dos semanas antes de cualquier audiencia, programa o evento de la agencia.
/s/ Gabrielle Frigon, Director
Waste Engineering and Enforcement Division
Bureau of Materials Management and Compliance Assurance
Published in The New Haven Register on July 9, 2025