Environmental review underway for wastewater plant

CORNWALL — Members of the West Cornwall Wastewater Management Project Construction Committee gathered via Zoom on April 11 to discuss recent updates. Project Engineer Steve McDonnell opened the meeting with results from underground boring that took place last week.

“We were able to get down to about 16 feet. We hit ground water at 13 feet deep but no interesting or funny materials,” said McDonnell. “Overall, it went well.”

McDonnell said the results gave no reason for concern and the plot seemed to be a viable option for the treatment plant. He estimated that the tanks would be no more than 14 feet deep once installed.

“We didn’t hit rock in that depth,” said McDonnell. “We did hit refusal at about 16 feet.”

With the boring complete, plans to complete the environmental review of the land have been scheduled. McDonnell contracted Eagle Environmental for the review, who provided a timeline of approximately two months. The cost for the work will be under $5,000.

“They want to have a meeting with us to kick-off the project,” said McDonnell regarding plans to meet with Eagle Environmental onsite.

“He’s more or less looking for Native American remains, things of that nature,” said First Selectman Gordon Ridgway.

Ridgway also informed the committee that new owners have purchased the property at 406 Sharon Goshen Turnpike. This lot contains the land being considered for the treatment plant.

“We have been working with them,” said Ridgway. “There is a mutual interest there in trying to get something located and up and running.”

Ridgway said the new owners are in need of new wells and septic for the recently purchased buildings.

“We have had some talks about sharing a well,” said Ridgway. “We want to have well and septic for all three buildings: their two buildings plus the plant. I get the sense they’re willing to be very reasonable with things.”

Ridgway said a number of arrangements are being considered at this time. One such option included entering into a long-term lease of the plot from the landowners and allowing them to buy into the treatment plant’s services at a preferential rate.

“Until we get the environmental report we can’t even pursue any kind of negotiations,” said Ridgway.

Upon completion of the environmental report, the committee will review the findings before sending them on to Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Following HUD’s approval, the design phase can begin.

“We need to get that information back so we can lock up the grant,” said McDonnell. “How long that takes, I don’t know.”