News & Updates - Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority

Questions and Answers About the Proposed Franklin Ash Landfill

1. How large is the landfill?
The size of the ash landfill will be determined after on-site engineering and environmental investigations are complete, but it will likely be between 100 and 150 acres. It is CRRA’s intent to develop a landfill that will operate for approximately 30 years. The ash landfill will be entirely in Franklin.

2. How large is the parcel of land?
While the landfill itself will probably be between 100 and 150 acres, the area that will be investigated and that, if the site is finally selected, CRRA will have to control is approximately 350 acres. This includes land in Franklin and Windham. DEP regulations require that CRRA control the land between the ash landfill and the Shetucket River. Most of this land is in Windham and, if the site is selected, CRRA would have to acquire the land. However, the ash landfill, the area where the ash will be deposited, will be entirely in Franklin.

3. What is ash?
The ash is the residue that is left after trash is burned at CRRA’s trash-to-energy plants, the plants that turn garbage into electricity and help to power our homes, schools and offices.

4. What is contained in ash? What is it comprised of?
The ash is moist and has the consistency of damp cement. It consists primarily of the non-combustible materials contained in household garbage such as dirt, glass and metal. It also contains lime and activated carbon that are used in the pollution control equipment of the trash-to-energy facilities.

5. Does the ash contain hazardous substances?
The ash contains small amounts of heavy metals that are trapped in the ash itself and are not readily leaked from the ash. Your cell phone may contain some of these same heavy metals.

6. How much ash will be delivered each year?
Approximately 300,000 tons of ash will be delivered annually to the new ash landfill.

7. How many trucks per day does it take to deliver this much ash?
It will take approximately 60 trucks per day to deliver the ash. Ash will be delivered five days per week.

8. What route will trucks take to the site?
Most of the transportation to the site will be on Interstate highways and limited-access state highways. Ash from all three of the trash-to-energy plants in Preston, Wallingford and Hartford will use Interstate highways and limited access state highways to get to the Route 2 interchange with state Route 32. The trucks will proceed north on Route 32 to the site. None of the ash will be transported on Route 6 through eastern Connecticut, nor will any of it go through Windham/Willimantic.

9. Will the ash fall off the trucks onto our roads?
No. The ash must be transported in trucks designed to prevent any leakage or spillage of ash. The ash landfill will be equipped with a wheel-wash station so that ash is not tracked out of the facility.

10. Will the town receive any benefits?
Yes. State law requires CRRA pay the host community $5.00 per ton of ash disposed in the landfill. CRRA also will provide financial resources for the town to independently hire its own engineering/environmental consultant to monitor CRRA’s activities.

11. Will CRRA have a public meeting?
Yes. CRRA will conduct a public informational meeting within a couple of months after the announcement. The exact date and place for the public meeting will be determined after the announcement and in consultation with town officials.

12. Will the development of an ash landfill at the Franklin site negatively impact the prospects for further development of the Franklin Farms property?
The development of an ash landfill on the Franklin site should not have negative impacts on the prospects for the development of the Franklin Farms property. CRRA anticipates that it will use the access road on the Franklin Farms property to access the site, just as the current sand and gravel operation in the area uses the access road. CRRA believes that this limited impact on the Franklin Farms property will not negatively affect the site.

13. When will the trucks be moving ash to the landfill?
If CRRA determines that the site is appropriate for an ash landfill, and CRRA receives all the necessary permits, the facility could be constructed and operational by 2011. That is when trucks would begin moving ash to the ash landfill.

14. Will the landfill contaminate the groundwater? The river? The air?
DEP will not issue a permit for an ash landfill that would contaminate the groundwater, the river or the air.

15. What happens after the landfill is full? Will the town still receive money?
When the landfill is full, CRRA will close it and undertake at least 30 years of post-closure monitoring and maintenance. CRRA will accrue the money for this post-closure monitoring and maintenance while the facility is in operation. While CRRA does not anticipate that the host community will receive any additional funds from the ash landfill after it closes, the town will have available a major recreational asset. CRRA will work with the town to attract new sources of revenue.

16. Can residents visit CRRA’s operating ash landfill in Hartford?
Yes. CRRA will accommodate any requests to visit its landfill in Hartford, or any of its other facilities.

17. CRRA has said it is committed to allowing the public to use the portions of the land outside the landfill footprint.

(a) Will the public have unrestricted access to that land?
No, there will be some restrictions on which parts of the land can be accessed.

(b) Will we be able to access the river for fishing or boating?
Yes, CRRA anticipates that there will be access to the river for fishing and boating.

(c) Will CRRA pay the cost of maintaining the access/trails?
Yes, CRRA will pay the cost of maintaining the access and trails.

(d) Will CRRA pay for or allow the town to operate any athletic fields on the other land?   CRRA is committed to allowing the public to use the portions of the land outside of the landfill footprint.
CRRA welcomes the opportunity to work with the town to develop other responsible recreational uses for parts of the land.

18. Will my property value decrease because of the landfill?
CRRA does not believe that property values in Franklin, even for those properties close to the site, will decrease because of the ash landfill. In fact CRRA anticipates that property values may increase because the landfill will help produce a more diverse and healthy tax base for the town.

19. How do I get on my town’s advisory board?
The membership of the town’s advisory board will be determined by the town itself. You should contact your first selectman to find out how your town will organize the board and how you can get on it.

20. CRRA recently increased its tipping fees, the fee it charges its member towns for converting their trash to energy, then safely depositing the ash that remains from this process in an ash landfill. The reason CRRA gave for this increase is that it will have to transport the ash either to an out-of-state ash landfill or to a private ash landfill once the Hartford ash landfill stops taking waste in late 2008. Does this mean that if a new ash landfill is constructed in Franklin, CRRA will reduce its tipping fees to their previous levels?
Yes. The increased tipping fee we announced in February 2008 was only intended to be a temporary measure. We are proposing the construction of a new ash landfill in Franklin for two reasons. One reason is that it is the better financial option for our member towns. Transporting ash long distances adds to the trash-to-energy cost. If these long transportation costs are eliminated we will be able to reduce our tipping fees. The other reason we are proposing the construction of a new ash landfill is that it is the environmentally responsible thing to do. It will assure the people of Connecticut that the ash is being safely landfilled while also significantly reducing the vehicle emissions that would be created from the much longer transportation of the ash.

21. What will be the hours of operation? Will the ash landfill be operating at night?
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection will approve the operating hours and they will be prescribed in the DEP solid waste permit. They will likely be typical work day hours: in the range of 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. However, CRRA will consult with the town before establishing the actual hours of operation.

22. When will construction begin and then once it begins, how long will it take before the ash landfill begins operations?
If CRRA determines that the site is appropriate for an ash landfill, and CRRA receives all the necessary permits, construction could begin late in 2010 and operations could begin in 2011.

23. Will the public have access to the Shetucket River for swimming, fishing and boating?
There is a hunting and fishing club located on the opposite bank of the Shetucket River from the ash landfill. The club members will be able to continue pursuing the fish in the Shetucket as they do now. The fish will not be impacted and fishermen will be able to continue to consume them if that is their desire.



	Questions and Answers About the Proposed Franklin Ash Landfill 1. How large is the landfill? The size of the ash landfill will be determined after on-site engineering and environmental investigations are complete, but it will likely be between 100 and 150 acres. It is CRRA’s intent to develop a landfill that will operate for approximately 30 years. The ash landfill will be entirely in Franklin. 2. How large is the parcel of land? While the landfill itself will probably be between 100 and 150 acres, the area that will be investigated and that, if the site is finally selected, CRRA will have to control is approximately 350 acres. This includes land in Franklin and Windham. DEP regulations require that CRRA control the land between the ash landfill and the Shetucket River. Most of this land is in Windham and, if the site is selected, CRRA would have to acquire the land. However, the ash landfill, the area where the ash will be deposited, will be entirely in Franklin. 3. What is ash? The ash is the residue that is left after trash is burned at CRRA’s trash-to-energy plants, the plants that turn garbage into electricity and help to power our homes, schools and offices. 4. What is contained in ash? What is it comprised of? The ash is moist and has the consistency of damp cement. It consists primarily of the non-combustible materials contained in household garbage such as dirt, glass and metal. It also contains lime and activated carbon that are used in the pollution control equipment of the trash-to-energy facilities. 5. Does the ash contain hazardous substances? The ash contains small amounts of heavy metals that are trapped in the ash itself and are not readily leaked from the ash. Your cell phone may contain some of these same heavy metals. 6. How much ash will be delivered each year? Approximately 300,000 tons of ash will be delivered annually to the new ash landfill. 7. How many trucks per day does it take to deliver this much ash? It will take approximately 60 trucks per day to deliver the ash. Ash will be delivered five days per week. 8. What route will trucks take to the site? Most of the transportation to the site will be on Interstate highways and limited-access state highways. Ash from all three of the trash-to-energy plants in Preston, Wallingford and Hartford will use Interstate highways and limited access state highways to get to the Route 2 interchange with state Route 32. The trucks will proceed north on Route 32 to the site. None of the ash will be transported on Route 6 through eastern Connecticut, nor will any of it go through Windham/Willimantic. 9. Will the ash fall off the trucks onto our roads? No. The ash must be transported in trucks designed to prevent any leakage or spillage of ash. The ash landfill will be equipped with a wheel-wash station so that ash is not tracked out of the facility. 10. Will the town receive any benefits? Yes. State law requires CRRA pay the host community $5.00 per ton of ash disposed in the landfill. CRRA also will provide financial resources for the town to independently hire its own engineering/environmental consultant to monitor CRRA’s activities. 11. Will CRRA have a public meeting? Yes. CRRA will conduct a public informational meeting within a couple of months after the announcement. The exact date and place for the public meeting will be determined after the announcement and in consultation with town officials. 12. Will the development of an ash landfill at the Franklin site negatively impact the prospects for further development of the Franklin Farms property? The development of an ash landfill on the Franklin site should not have negative impacts on the prospects for the development of the Franklin Farms property. CRRA anticipates that it will use the access road on the Franklin Farms property to access the site, just as the current sand and gravel operation in the area uses the access road. CRRA believes that this limited impact on the Franklin Farms property will not negatively affect the site. 13. When will the trucks be moving ash to the landfill? If CRRA determines that the site is appropriate for an ash landfill, and CRRA receives all the necessary permits, the facility could be constructed and operational by 2011. That is when trucks would begin moving ash to the ash landfill. 14. Will the landfill contaminate the groundwater? The river? The air? DEP will not issue a permit for an ash landfill that would contaminate the groundwater, the river or the air. 15. What happens after the landfill is full? Will the town still receive money? When the landfill is full, CRRA will close it and undertake at least 30 years of post-closure monitoring and maintenance. CRRA will accrue the money for this post-closure monitoring and maintenance while the facility is in operation. While CRRA does not anticipate that the host community will receive any additional funds from the ash landfill after it closes, the town will have available a major recreational asset. CRRA will work with the town to attract new sources of revenue. 16. Can residents visit CRRA’s operating ash landfill in Hartford? Yes. CRRA will accommodate any requests to visit its landfill in Hartford, or any of its other facilities. 17. CRRA has said it is committed to allowing the public to use the portions of the land outside the landfill footprint. (a) Will the public have unrestricted access to that land? No, there will be some restrictions on which parts of the land can be accessed. (b) Will we be able to access the river for fishing or boating? Yes, CRRA anticipates that there will be access to the river for fishing and boating. (c) Will CRRA pay the cost of maintaining the access/trails? Yes, CRRA will pay the cost of maintaining the access and trails. (d) Will CRRA pay for or allow the town to operate any athletic fields on the other land? CRRA is committed to allowing the public to use the portions of the land outside of the landfill footprint. CRRA welcomes the opportunity to work with the town to develop other responsible recreational uses for parts of the land. 18. Will my property value decrease because of the landfill? CRRA does not believe that property values in Franklin, even for those properties close to the site, will decrease because of the ash landfill. In fact CRRA anticipates that property values may increase because the landfill will help produce a more diverse and healthy tax base for the town. 19. How do I get on my town’s advisory board? The membership of the town’s advisory board will be determined by the town itself. You should contact your first selectman to find out how your town will organize the board and how you can get on it. 20. CRRA recently increased its tipping fees, the fee it charges its member towns for converting their trash to energy, then safely depositing the ash that remains from this process in an ash landfill. The reason CRRA gave for this increase is that it will have to transport the ash either to an out-of-state ash landfill or to a private ash landfill once the Hartford ash landfill stops taking waste in late 2008. Does this mean that if a new ash landfill is constructed in Franklin, CRRA will reduce its tipping fees to their previous levels? Yes. The increased tipping fee we announced in February 2008 was only intended to be a temporary measure. We are proposing the construction of a new ash landfill in Franklin for two reasons. One reason is that it is the better financial option for our member towns. Transporting ash long distances adds to the trash-to-energy cost. If these long transportation costs are eliminated we will be able to reduce our tipping fees. The other reason we are proposing the construction of a new ash landfill is that it is the environmentally responsible thing to do. It will assure the people of Connecticut that the ash is being safely landfilled while also significantly reducing the vehicle emissions that would be created from the much longer transportation of the ash. 21. What will be the hours of operation? Will the ash landfill be operating at night? The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection will approve the operating hours and they will be prescribed in the DEP solid waste permit. They will likely be typical work day hours: in the range of 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. However, CRRA will consult with the town before establishing the actual hours of operation. 22. When will construction begin and then once it begins, how long will it take before the ash landfill begins operations? If CRRA determines that the site is appropriate for an ash landfill, and CRRA receives all the necessary permits, construction could begin late in 2010 and operations could begin in 2011. 23. Will the public have access to the Shetucket River for swimming, fishing and boating? There is a hunting and fishing club located on the opposite bank of the Shetucket River from the ash landfill. The club members will be able to continue pursuing the fish in the Shetucket as they do now. The fish will not be impacted and fishermen will be able to continue to consume them if that is their desire.