The diesel-fired power plant on River Road appeared before the Inland Wetland and Watercourses Agency tonight, to argue that about 2.5 acres of land near the eastern border of their 65 acre lot was incorrectly designated as wetlands on the city maps. The Agency was not completely satisfied with their evidence and asked for more information to be brought to the June meeting.Bob Spooner, with Middletown Power, explained that the area they wished to remove the wetlands designation from was used until the late 1960s as a dumping ground for ash from the former coal burning power generator. He estimated that the ash was as much as 30 feet deep. He said the land was currently used for putting dredgings from the river when they clear the barge docking area.
Andrea Steele, a consultant for Shaw Environmental, hired by Middletown Power, said
that the test bores done by their soil scientist showed no evidence of wetlands soils, and no hydrological evidence of wetlands. "We're here to correct the wetlands map within the site." Bruce Driska, the city's Zoning Enforcement Officer, told the Agency's members, "I've been out to the site and we've accepted that this is a solid application."However, the members of Inland Wetlands were not satisfied with the information that was provided. They specifically requested that the soil scientist hired by Middletown Power be present at next month's meeting, to answer their questions.
In other business, the Agency approved the redirection of a stream near Julia Terrace (southwest of the intersection of Randolph Road and Route 9). They also ruled that no permit was needed for a slight change to a septic leach field being installed on a previously approved site plan on Sachem Drive.
Driska reported on a fish kill on Atkins Street. He said that his investigation found one fish part, "about the size of a small child's hand," in the vicinity of several geese on the property. The Agency members accepted his speculation that the piscatory demise was a fowl act.
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