Questions About Norwalk Power LLC

What is the brief history of the plant? 

CL&P acquired the property in 1953, built the plant in the late 1950’s and commissioned the plant in 1960. The plant burned coal from 1960-1972, then oil until 2013. NRG acquired the property from CL&P in 1999 and ran it as a peaker plant. NRG de-commissioned and mothballed the plant in June, 2013. The site was originally an island, known as Manresa, and is still known locally as Manresa Island.

Where is the property, how large is it and what are the property taxes? 

The property sits directly on Long Island Sound and Norwalk Harbor in Norwalk, Connecticut. The property is 125 acres. NRG had been paying $675,000 annually in property taxes but is currently negotiating with the City of Norwalk to lower their taxes on the Manresa property.

What are NRG’s public statements on the future of the property? 

In a June, 2016 phone conversation with the Manresa Association President, NRG executives stated that “the property is not being actively marketed and that NRG is focused on keeping the site secure, safe, and working with the DEEP to develop remediation plans.” When asked about the potential future use of the property, the NRG executives said that “this is to be determined”.

Are any citizens groups working on the future of the property? 

The Manresa Association, representing more than 900 Norwalk households, was established in October, 2013. The Manresa Association FAQ’s are attached.

Does the site impact any wildlife of significant value? 

State Endangered Species Act Species

Among the 148 species of birds documented to occur on or adjacent to Manresa Island, 20 are listed by the State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as Special Concern (SC), Threatened (T), or Endangered (E) under Connecticut’s Endangered Species Act. These “state-listed species” are listed as follows with their respective designations: Common Loon (SC), American Bittern (E), Great Egret (T), Snowy Egret (T), Little Blue Heron (SC), Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (SC), Glossy Ibis (SC), Bald Eagle (T), Northern Harrier (E), Sharp-shinned Hawk (E), American Kestrel (T), Peregrine Falcon (T), American Oystercatcher (T), Common Tern (SC), Common Nighthawk (E), Purple Martin (T), Brown Thrasher (SC), Northern Parula (SC), Savannah Sparrow (SC), and Eastern Meadowlark (SC).

What remediation programs are in place? 

The CT DEEP is supervising two remediation programs:

• State Property Transfer Program (started in 1999)
• Federal Resource Conservation & Recovery Act (started the 1980’s)

What is the remediation status of the property? (DEEP map attached) 

Based on research of the DEEP files, the following twelve Areas of Concern (AOC) are noted. The following recap was prepared by the Manresa Association, and reviewed by DEEP’s Amanda Killeen in February, 2014.

Area of Concern (AOC) 1: Former Ash Disposal Area (55 acres)

• 67 cubic yards removed from 3 Hot Spots to lower concentrations of nickel, selenium and vanadium.
• Additional terrestrial and aquatic eco-risk evaluation necessary.
• In light of undetermined future use of AOC-I, the estimated human exposure value may no longer be valid. The DEEP is placing this request (Engineered Control Request Part 1 and 11) on hold pending submittal of information regarding future use of the site. (Jan 15, 2014 DEEP memo)

AOC 2: Former Gasoline Underground Storage Tank

• Both soil and water media reported to be in compliance with Remediation Standard Regulations (RSRs)

AOC 3: Fuel Oil Tank Farm

• Encompassed within AOC 4
• Fuel residues in compliance with RSRs
• Metals to be addressed as part of AOC 4

AOC 4: Former Coal Storage Area

• Trace coal and coal ash present from surface grade to 8 feet below grade
• Engineering Control Design under review, must address impact of coastal storms

AOC 5: Former Fuel Oil Underground Storage Tanks (UST)

• In compliance with RSRs

AOC 6: Internal Combustion Unit/Blow Down UST

• In compliance with RSRs

AOC 7: Existing Septic Leach Field

• In compliance with RSRs

AOC 8: Former Septic Leach Field

• In compliance with RSRs

AOC 9: Electrical Equipment

• In compliance with RSRs

AOC 10: Former Equalization Basin EB-2 (boiler maintenance discharge water)

• Encompassed within AOC 1, closed in 1988
• Existing cap functioning as designed

AOC 11: Long Island Sound Sediments

• Agreement: Sediment removal or remediation not necessary

AOC 12: Container Storage Area

• The former container storage area was decommissioned and remediated in the winter of 2011.  The certification of clean closure was submitted to the CTDEEP on June 6, 2012.  The approval of the certification of clean closure was received from the CTDEEP on October 2, 2012.  Both of these documents are publically available at the CTDEEP.  This means that AOC-12 has been completely addressed and is no longer an “area of concern”.

CT DEEP noted additional remediation efforts to address the following:

WETLANDS

• The wetlands sediment RAP (remedial action plan) has been completed – meaning all sampling has been completed and analyzed – and was submitted to the CTDEEP on October 21, 2014.  It is currently under review by the CTDEEP project manager.

Semi-annual Ground Water and Surface Water Monitoring

• Required by both the State Property Transfer Program and the Federal RCRA program.

Manresa Island Map