Future Redevelopment in South Meadows

 

Part of the new mission of the MIRA Dissolution Authority is to identify the immediate environmental needs and knowledge necessary for future redevelopment of the Authority’s properties located at 300 Maxim Road in Hartford and 100 Reserve Road in Hartford.  The Authority is further charged with engaging representatives of the city of Hartford and other stakeholders, as appropriate, with respect to the future of these properties which comprise the site of the Authority’s now closed Resource Recovery Facility and Jet Turbine Facility.

 

Site Description

Approximately 80 acres bound by Maxim Road, the Connecticut River, the Charter Oak Bridge and Reserve Road and including the now closed Resource Recovery Facility and Jet Turbine Facility including switchyard and supporting areas under easement to CL&P.

Environmental History and Remediation

The South Meadows Site is an “Establishment” under Connecticut’s “Transfer Act” which stems from its original development and operation as a coal fired electric plant in the 1920s.  It was converted to petroleum fuels by the 1940s and then to its Resource Recovery operation in the early 1980s.  The site was purchased by the then “Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority” in 2001 which triggered the requirement to investigate and remediate prior environmental contamination.  There were 44 areas of concern identified through thousands of soil samples taken, and the site went through 12 years of active remediation work including removal of 60,000 tons of impacted soil, pumping and treatment of ground water, installation of engineered controls, imposition of deed restrictions and environmental land use restrictions.  A Verification Report (that the required remediation was complete) was initially submitted to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on June 26, 2018.  However, additional contaminants were discovered in January 2019 causing rejection of the Verification Report.  The necessary additional remediation work was completed in October 2023 and the MIRA Dissolution Authority is presently finalizing Environmental Land Use Restrictions and documentation of Engineered Controls needed for resubmission of the Verification Report.  The Verification Report is anticipated to be resubmitted in the Spring of 2024.

 

Facility Shutdown

The Resource Recovery Facility stopped receiving waste deliveries, and processing waste into “refuse derived fuel”, on July 11, 2022.  Combustion of waste stopped on July 19, 2022 and the final shipment of ash left the facility on August 5, 2022.  Since then, waste, refuse derived fuel and ash residue has been broom cleaned, equipment oils, fuels and lubricants have been properly removed, radioactive measuring devices have been removed, remaining energy consumption minimized, explosive blast cleaning of the boilers was undertaken and bag house filter bags removed.  All contractor personnel engaged in the Resource Recovery Facility operation have been laid off, actively used rolling stock has been secured and stored, additional security patrols and measures instituted.  MIRA personnel relocated to the site in March 2023.  The Jet Turbine Facility was then shut down effective May 31, 2023.  The facility was physically disabled from starting and associated operating permits surrendered.  All contractor personnel engaged in the Jet Turbine Facility operation were laid off effective June 30, 2023.  Surplus jet fuel has been sold to market and removed from the site.

 

Facility Closure Plan

In addition to the steps already taken to properly shut down the Resource Recovery Facility, a formal “closure plan” is required by regulation to be submitted to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for its approval and then implemented.  MIRA submitted its formal closure plan to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection in May 2022.  The major elements of work primarily represented additional removal of commercial chemical products, draining and sealing of tanks and vessels, more extensive cleaning of equipment and building surfaces and storm water drainage systems, sealing floor drains, cleaning the coal pond, cleaning and dismantling the duct work that joins the waste processing and power block components of the facility, sealing the cooling water intakes and discharges and removing lamps, batteries and smoke detectors.  The work was estimated and funded at $3.3 million.  Comments on the closure plan were received from DEEP on October 14, 2022, which MIRA responded to on January 5, 2023.  As part of its reply, MIRA agreed to additional work involving non accessible storm drain and floor drain systems, removal of coal, coordination with the US Army Corps, Greater Hartford Flood Commission, Hartford and DEEP, oversight by an independent engineer, and removal of PCBs from the former NU Admin Building.  Additional comments on the closure plan were received from DEEP on January 17, 2024, which the MIRA Dissolution Authority responded to on February 16, 2024.  As part of its reply, the MIRA Dissolution Authority agreed to dismantle and remove equipment used in the operation of the Resource Recovery Facility and to undertake additional measures as part of its South Meadows Redevelopment Considerations Study noted below.  The full closure plan and record of comments and responses can be found here.

 

Future Development

Completion of remediation, shutdown and closure activities enables a redevelopment of the South Meadows site for industrial / commercial uses within existing building footprints without significant additional soil or groundwater remediation.  Industrial / commercial uses would include any activity related to the commercial production, distribution, manufacture or sale of goods, services, or any other activity which is not a residential activity.  Redevelopment for residential uses would require additional potentially significant measures.  Residential uses would include a residence, dwelling, house, apartment, condo, nursing home, dorm, school, day care, outdoor recreation or hospital.  The MIRA Dissolution Authority is examining these options through its South Meadows Redevelopment Considerations Study.  This study will document existing environmental conditions, conceptual site considerations, potential future uses and the environmental needs and knowledge necessary for potential future uses.  The MIRA Dissolution Authority has completed the request for proposals process for this study and expects it to commence in June 2024 and be completed in February 2025.

Check back here for updates and see our business links for plans and processes for additional shut down, remediation or closure business opportunities.