Event details pertaining to Covanta Bristol, Inc., which is seeking a CT DEEP Bureau of Air Management Title V Operating Permit to burn medical waste at the Bristol MSW incinerator, CT DEEP, and the City of Bristol. Links were accessed 10/29/21.
March 14, 2018 – Covanta Environmental Solutions Presentation to the City of Bristol titled CES Healthcare Solutions – Regulated Medical Waste. See http://www.bristolct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16403/BDA-VE-326—City-of-Bristol—CES-RMW-Presentation?bidId=.
March 20, 2018 – City of Bristol Board of Water Commissioners reviewed an informational package from Covanta Bristol at Mayor Zoppo-Sassu’s request. See page 5-18/18 at https://bristolwaterdept.org/Board/03%2020%2018%20APPROVED%20MINUTES.pdf.
March 26, 2018 – Bristol Development Authority Meeting. In the minutes of the meeting which was called to order by Mayor Zoppo-Sassu, see Item E, page 2/4 athttp://www.bristolct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16681/BDA-March-26-2018-minutes-regular-mtg?bidId=: E. Covanta Special Permit Modification Request: Medical Waste
Mayor Zoppo-Sassu said this was an information item. Covanta is looking to change their business model. She explained how it works and the advantage to Covanta and to Bristol. She will negotiate the additional tipping fee. She wants the commissioners to be aware of issues that our major companies deal with on a regular basis. This will also go to the Fire Board tonight. She then answered questions.
March 26, 2018 – Captured March 22, 2018 Notice Agenda Section for a City of Bristol Fire Board Meeting from the City of Bristol website, search term “Covanta”, page 15, accessed 10/29/21 at http://www.bristolct.gov/Search?searchPhrase=covanta&pageNumber=5&perPage=10&departmentId=-1:
Regular Fire Board Meeting Mar 22, 2018http://www.bristolct.gov/agendacenter/board-of-fire-commissioners-6/?#03262018-2850, 2018 4. COMMUNICATIONS 5. APPROVAL OF THE VARIOUS REPORTS 6. APPROVAL OF THE INCIDENT SUMMARY REPORT 7. APPROVAL OF THE CHIEF’S REPORT 8. COMMITTEE REPORTS 9. COVANTA BRISTOL PERMIT MODIFICATION REQUEST: SPECIAL WASTE 10. OLD BUSINESS 11. NEW BUSINESS 12. ADJOURN PER ORDER OF THE CHAIRWOMAN, JO-ANN BARRETT, ADMIN…
April 25, 2018 – City of Bristol Board of Park Commissioners Meeting. In the agenda for the meeting see Item E3) titled Covanta Bristol Permit Modification Request: Special Waste at http://www.bristolct.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04252018-2922.
June [no day] 2018 – Notice is dated June 2018 but links to a March 20, 2018 Agenda for a City of Bristol Police Board Regular Meeting from the City of Bristol website, search term “Covanta”, page 15, accessed 10/29/21 at http://www.bristolct.gov/Search?searchPhrase=covanta&pageNumber=5&perPage=10&departmentId=-1:
Regular Police Board Meeting Jun 4, 2018http://www.bristolct.gov/agendacenter/board-of-police-commissioners-7/?#03202018-2836Community Program e. Any Other New Business 11.2 Police Commissionersa. Covanta Bristol Permit Modification Request: Special Waste 12. ADJOURN Sheet1
Meeting agenda at http://www.bristolct.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03202018-2836 contains this item, see page 2/3, Item 11.2 Police Commissioners a. Covanta Bristol Permit Modification Request: Special Waste
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Within these lines are dates and quotations from the Covanta Bristol Environmental Justice Participation Plan. See Covanta Bristol, Inc. February 25, 2021 CT DEEP permit application, Attachment E , pages Attachment G, pages 221-231/368 at https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/4944195/Permit%20Application%20-%20Covanta%20 Bristol%20BMW%20(final%2C%202021.02.26).pdf. Additional documentation for these events listed are found in Appendixes A, B, and C of the linked permit application.
August 23, 2018 – Tighe and Bond submitted the EJ Public Participation Plan (EJPP Plan) to CT DEEP for review and approval.
September 14, 2018 – Edith Pestana of CT DEEP issued a letter of approval for Covanta’s EJPP Plan. See also attached screenshot of the letter.
October 10, 2018 – Covanta informed CT DEEP that the EJPP meeting was “rescheduled from the tentative date until similar outreach meetings were first held with the Covanta facility employees and various city [of Bristol] officials.” From 3.0 of Attachment G, Covanta Bristol, Inc. states that “Outreach meetings on the Project were held with Bristol Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu and her staff. Subsequently, Mayor Zoppo-Sassu held meetings regarding the project with all her departments.**
December [no day] 2018 – The City of Bristol City Council approved a community agreement between the city and Covanta for the project.**
January 10, 2019 – Covanta provided CT DEEP with a revised EJPP Plan. The revision was subsequently approved by CT DEEP.
January 22, 2019 – City of Bristol posted a public announcement about the Covanta project and the public participation meeting on their website.
January 28, 2019 – City of Bristol posts a public announcement on the City Hall bulletin board announcing the Covanta EJ PP meeting.
February 4, 2019 – An advertisement in English of the Covanta EJ PP meeting was published in The Bristol Press.
From February 6-8, 2019 – Written notices about the meeting were delivered by UPS to local and state officials, property abutters, and sensitive receptors identified in the EJ PP Plan.
February 8, 2019 – A sign announcing the EJ PP meeting was installed at the Covanta Bristol facility entrance.
February 19, 2019 – Covanta Bristol, Inc. publicly presented their permit application information to the City of Bristol in the City Council Chambers. See also http://www.bristolct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20482/Covanta-Bristol-Public-Meeting-2-19-19?bidId=. According to Covanta, approximately 11 people attended the meeting including members of the public, company representatives, and city officials.
April 14, 2020 – Mayor Sassu Letter of Support #1 to CT DEEP.
Out of sequence with the date below to include it as a document found in the permit application is October 14, 2020 – Mayor Zoppo-Sassu Letter of Support #2 to CT DEEP.
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October 13, 2020 – City of Bristol City Council. Authorization for Mayor to Reaffirm Letter of Support, asking CT DEEP to Expedit. See page 38/43 at https://www.bristolct.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10132020-4470
17. AUTHORIZATION FOR MAYOR TO REAFFIRM LETTER TO CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION REQUESTING THEY EXPEDITE PERMIT TO ALLOW COVANTA TO PROCESS MEDICAL WASTE, APPROVED. On motion of Council Member Hahn and seconded, it was unanimously voted: To bring on the table a matter concerning COVANTA and a medical waste permit.
Mayor Zoppo-Sassu explained that COVANTA has waited almost two years for approval of a permit allowing the receipt and processing of medical waste. The City sent a letter in April, 2020, but COVANTA requested the City of Bristol send another letter to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to expedite execution of this permit.
Repeated date to include correctly in the timeline is October 14, 2020 – Mayor Zoppo-Sassu Letter of Support #2 to CT DEEP.
September 27, 2021 – Special Revenue Report issued by the City of Bristol. Chairperson of the Economic and Community Development Board is Mayor Zoppo-Sassu. In the report section titled Solid Waste Disposal Fund, see this item under Fiscal Year 2021 Goals and Accomplishments – “Supported of Covanta DEEP permit to process medical waste will potentially increase host fee payments to the City.” See page 17/26 at http://www.bristolct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/33075/21-22-14-Special-Revenue?bidId=
March 30, 2021 – Covanta Bristol, Inc.’s Title V Permit Application is submitted to CT DEEP. See https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/air/permits/TitleV/Covanta_Bristol/P-026-0055-TV.pd.
*Also found in Covanta Bristol, Inc. February 25, 2021 CT DEEP permit application, Appendix E, pages 197-202/368 at https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/4944195/Permit%20Application%20-%20Covanta%20Bristol%20BMW%20(final%2C%202021.02.26).pdf, accessed 10/29/21.
**Minutes of these meetings are not available in the City of Bristol Public Record at http://www.ci.bristol.ct.us/, accessed 10/29/21.
Here also is Covanta’s timeline in the slide deck from their July 14, 2021 presentation. See #17 page 31/40 at https://www.covanta.com/where-we-are/our-facilities/bristol. The screenshot below is also attached:
