Connecticut AG, DEP Seek Court Order Against Company Discharging Pollutants Into Bridgeport Harbor

April 14, 2008 -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Gina McCarthy announced today that they are seeking an order against two disputing companies whose inaction and ongoing dispute is allowing PCB contamination to jeopardize Bridgeport Harbor and Long Island Sound.

Long Island Sound sunset: Photo by Paul Aloe (CC)

The state has requested a temporary injunction against The Sergy Company LLC and Magnetek, Inc.

Sergy is the current owner, and Magnetek the successor to a company that formerly manufactured capacitors at the property located at 902 Crescent Ave., Bridgeport. For many years, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were stored and used at the property. The property is now vacant, but heavily contaminated with PCBs from years of industrial use.

The dispute between the parties concerns the operation of a groundwater treatment system on the property. Both parties are responsible for ongoing contamination remediation at the site.

Blumenthal said, "A dirty corporate dispute is discharging dirty water - demanding an immediate court order to end their environmental law breaking. These two companies -- Sergy and Magnetek -- have illegally abandoned their duty to decontaminate the Bridgeport property. We cannot accept their suspending a vital groundwater treatment system and allowing PCB-contaminated water to spew into Bridgeport Harbor and Long Island Sound. No matter who wins the corporate wrangle, the public loses - because water is contaminated with PCBs illegally."

DEP Commissioner McCarthy said, "These companies need to get their act together and get this situation resolved now. Allowing the discharge of PCB-contaminated water into Bridgeport Harbor and Long Island Sound is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Whatever the disputes, we are requiring immediate action."

Sergy and Magnetek have been embroiled in a weeks-long dispute over who is responsible for paying the electric costs of operating a pump and treatment system necessary to remove and contain groundwater severely contaminated by PCBs and other toxic substances.

The unresolved dispute and suspended treatment system has allowed PCB-contaminated ground water to discharge into the Yellow Mill Channel, which is part of Bridgeport Harbor, and then into Long Island Sound, jeopardizing areas of considerable fishing.

Source: Connecticut Attorney General

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •