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12/09/2016 10:11 AMOver 370 residents of Branford signed petitions that were delivered this morning in support of a ordinance to prohibit the use of fracking waste in the town.
If the resolution is approved at the Representative Town Meeting next Wednesday [December 14, 8 p.m. at Branford Fire Headquarters, 45 North Main St.], Branford would be the eighth municipality in the state to pass a ban on oil and gas drilling waste.
"Branford community members are sending a strong message today: They want town leaders to protect public health and property values from toxic, radioactive fracking waste," said Food & Water Watch Local Coordinator Jen Siskind. "The chemicals in fracking waste are linked to cancers, multiple organ damage, neurological impairment, birth defects, sterility and developmental health problems. Radioactive radium226, commonly found in this waste, is known to cause breast, bone and liver cancer, and is linked to adult and childhood leukemia. It has a radioactive half-life of 1,600 years, so any run-off or leaching that may impact sediment, aquifers, surface waters and fisheries, is going to be causing contamination for a very long time."
No Frack Waste Branford, a grassroots group including six Branford residents, collected the signatures over several days within the past two months.
"I've spoken to over 100 people so far and I've heard the words 'no brainer' more times than I can count," said local resident and WPKN radio host Richard Hill. "The more people hear about this ordinance, the more people support it. It would be welcomed if both parties of the RTM were able to come together to protect our health and welfare."
Towns in Litchfield, Middlesex, Tolland and Windham Counties have passed local waste bans, including Washington, Coventry, Mansfield, Portland, Andover, Ashford and Windham, which includes the City of Willimantic. These proactive measures are being taken in anticipation of the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) releasing future regulations for review, possibly as early as next summer. Several sections of CT Statute 7-148 give towns the authority to prohibit this waste.
"Residents know that any future regulations from CTDEEP will not protect against spills, leaks, inadequate treatment and testing procedures, and illegal discharges," said Siskind. "Branford residents only have to look across the Sound to be reminded that all of Long Island, all five boroughs of New York City and Westchester County are just a fraction of the areas in New York State protected by locally passed fracking waste bans. More than 400 municipalities in New York are now protected, showing the efforts of strong, bi-partisan leadership. Branford residents expect no less for their town."
Reporters Note: In October, 2016, supporters of the proposed ordinance held a public information session in Branford, ahead of an anticipated Oct. 12 RTM vote on this matter, upon coming out of RTM Rules & Ordinances committee with a unanimous recommendation for approval. On Oct. 12, the full RTM voted voted to re-refer the matter. See more information on the public information session here