News – Page 3 – NVCOG CT – Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments

PRESS RELEASE: Public Meeting to Discuss Active Transportation Plan for the Naugatuck Valley

For Immediate Release: February 5, 2024

Contact:
Desira Blanchard
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
203-489-0353
dblanchard@nvcogct.gov

Public Meeting to Discuss Active Transportation Plan for the Naugatuck Valley

(Waterbury, CT) – The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) will be hosting a public meeting and charrette to gather input for the development of the Naugatuck Valley Active Transportation Plan (NVATP). NVCOG invites residents, business owners, transportation advocates, and local officials to participate in this interactive event set to take place on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 6 PM in Waterbury City Hall’s Veterans Memorial Hall (235 Grand Street, Waterbury, CT). This marks the first of several meetings throughout the NVCOG region.

The purpose of the Naugatuck Valley Active Transportation Plan is to create a multi-modal framework that encourages and accommodates various forms of non-motorized transportation, including walking, rolling, cycling and other active modes. Once completed, the Plan will serve as a comprehensive roadmap to help guide future infrastructure investments that improve the access, comfort and safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

The charrette is an interactive workshop that allows participants to collaborate with professionals, share ideas, and explore innovative solutions for the development of an efficient and interconnected transportation system. During the session, NVCOG staff will provide an overview of the NVATP, and participants will have the chance to actively participate and contribute their ideas, suggestions, and concerns to help shape the Plan. Pizza and refreshments will be available.

For those unable to attend in-person, a zoom option is available at https://bit.ly/47U4RJ2 for virtual participation. Individuals with limited internet access can listen to the meeting by calling +1 929 205 6099 and entering the Participant Code when prompted: 814 8576 6007.

Language assistance is available to the public at no cost. For language assistance requests contact Desira Blanchard, Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator with the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments, at dblanchard@nvcogct.gov or at 203-757-0535. Requests should be made at least 5 business days prior to the meeting.

The NVCOG has released an online survey to examine habits, preferences, and challenges to walking/rolling and cycling in the community at https://arcg.is/yKyKW. Residents of the Naugatuck Valley planning region are strongly encouraged to participate.

To learn more about the Naugatuck Valley Active Transportation Plan and stay engaged in the process, visit https://bit.ly/NVActiveTransportationPlan.

active transportation

PRESS RELEASE: Woodbury, CT Approves Trash Reduction Program for Transfer Station

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 2, 2024

Contact:
Christine O’Neill
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments
203-489-0351
coneill@nvcogct.gov

Woodbury, CT Approves Trash Reduction Program for Transfer Station

WOODBURY, CT – Following a successful yearlong pilot funded by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), the Woodbury Board of Selectmen has voted to implement a permanent trash reduction program at their transfer station that includes separation of food scraps and unit-based pricing. By combining these strategies, this groundbreaking initiative aims to cut waste by 50%, offering a sustainable solution to mitigate rising disposal fees and alleviate the waste capacity crisis in Connecticut.

Starting July 1, transfer station users must purchase designated waste bags from local retailers, with distinct colors for trash and food scraps. Only these bags will be accepted, although residents can dispose of food waste without a bag if they prefer. A complete list of retailers and more details on the program will be posted at https://woodburyct.org/waste.

The transfer station permit fee, currently $25, will be reduced to $0.

Bag Sizes and Pricing

The Board of Selectmen has established bag sizes and prices based on recommendations from the ad hoc Waste Advisory Committee. For trash, 8-gallon bags will cost $0.75, 13-gallon bags will be $1.00, and 33-gallon bags will be $1.65. Food scrap bags will include 4-gallon bags at $0.15 and 8-gallon bags at $0.25.

These prices are designed to cover bag manufacturing, hauling, and waste disposal costs, with no additional revenue for the Town.

According to estimates from the Waste Advisory Committee, the average household using one 33-gallon trash bag and one 8-gallon food scrap bag per week will spend approximately $99 annually. This represents significant savings compared to the $480 annual cost of contracting with a private hauler in Woodbury.

Transition from Pilot to Permanent

Woodbury residents have had the benefit of a yearlong pilot program, funded through a CT DEEP Sustainable Materials Management grant, to build the habit of using special bags and separating food waste. Throughout the pilot, contractor Waste Zero and the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) engaged the community through tabling at the transfer station, hosting listening sessions, presenting to key stakeholder groups, and sharing information on social media. Building consensus and support among stakeholders was critical to passing the program.

The ad hoc Waste Advisory Committee, composed of Woodbury citizens, recommended the permanent plan after eight meetings where they delved into pilot concepts, financial modeling, and potential paths forward. Community suggestions, including offering five bag sizes, an equity program to ensure disadvantaged households have access to bags, and a switch to a rearview mirror hanging tag for the transfer station permit, were all incorporated. The recommendation was delivered to the Board Selectmen at their January 25^th meeting, and the vote took place on January 29^th. The Committee’s recommendation, with slight tweaks for clarity, passed unanimously.

Core Strategies of the New Program

The new program focuses on food scrap diversion and unit-based pricing. Separating organic waste into its own container enables the Town to send it to an anaerobic digestor that will transform the food scraps into renewable energy – rather than a landfill, where it will emit greenhouse gases, or a waste-to-energy plant, where the wet material causes inefficient incineration. Unit-based pricing involves shifting the cost of waste from a flat fee in taxes into a per-bag charge. Connecting how much trash a household produces to how much they pay inspires increased recycling, better consumer choices, and an overall reduction in waste at the point of generation.

Both strategies are prevalent throughout the U.S.: in New England alone, over 500 communities use some form of unit-based pricing, while 10 million households across the country have municipal food scrap collection.

“I am proud that Woodbury has been recognized as a forerunner in this area in reducing our trash,” says First Selectwoman Barbara Perkinson. “The Ad Hoc committee is to be commended for all their hard work in the development of this plan, which not only benefit the residents, but also our environment.”

“Thanks to a yearlong pilot and direct engagement with participants to figure out what works in the community,” says CT DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes, “Woodbury residents have the opportunity to reduce trash, better manage household costs, and can divert valuable food scraps right at the transfer station. I applaud the Town for its leadership and for providing an example that other municipalities can look to when considering sustainable waste management options.”

Seated, left to right: Selectman George W Hale III, First Selectwoman Barbara Perkinson, Selectwoman Karen Reddington-Hughes. Standing: Jennifer Weymouth, CT DEEP. On 1/25/24, the Woodbury Board of Selectmen held a public meeting regarding the proposal for a permanent waste reduction program.

Tom Dougherty, Environmental Planner with NVCOG, tables at the Woodbury Transfer Station to raise awareness about the pilot program.

Save the Sound & NVCOG Hiring Kinneytown Dam Removal Project Community Liaisons

Are you a resident of Waterbury, Ansonia, or Seymour? Are you passionate about community organizing and outreach?

We’re teaming up with Save the Sound to hire various community leaders and liaisons. Learn more about the positions and how to apply at website.

Download the flyer (JPG)

¿Es usted residente de Waterbury, Ansonia, o Seymour? ¿Te apasiona la organización comunitaria y la divulgación?

Nos estamos asociando con Save the Sound para contratar varios líderes y enlaces comunitarios. Obtén más información sobre los puestos y cómo presentar tu candidatura en el sitio web.

Descarga el folleto (JPG)

NVCOG Represented at 2024 Environmental Summit in Hartford

The NVCOG was represented at the 2024 Environmental Summit in Hartford, organized by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. The event convened citizen advocates, environmental leaders, lawmakers, and policy experts to discuss pressing environmental issues.

This year’s summit, a precursor to the upcoming CT General Assembly session starting on February 7, emphasized critical environmental priorities. Discussions included climate and energy solutions, nature-based solutions, PFAS, environmental rights, pesticides, vehicle emission reduction, offshore wind, and food waste prevention.

These priorities stem from the growing challenges of climate change, biodiversity protection, toxin reduction, and sustainable waste management, as highlighted by environmental leaders in Connecticut.

The NVCOG, committed to steering the region towards a greener and more resilient future, engages in a multifaceted approach. The agency advocates for informed land use policies in a variety of ways, including promoting solar energy, hosting environmental sustainability forums, addressing dam safety, municipal stormwater, waste management, and reducing vehicle miles traveled. The NVCOG remains dedicated to rectifying past environmental damage and mitigating the environmental footprint of future development growth by utilizing grant monies for critical projects and actively participating in state-level programs.

“It is exciting to know that I am currently providing meaningful work on projects that are solving Connecticut’s top environmental concerns,” says Environmental Planner, Thomas Dougherty.

Anthony Leiserowitz, Ph.D., Director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and a Senior Research Scientist at the Yale School of the Environment

Panel discussion on climate and energy solutions in CT

Panel discussion on food waste prevention

PRESS RELEASE: Virtual Public Feedback Session on Draft Climate Action Plan for New Haven County Scheduled for February 6th

For Immediate Release: January 23, 2024

Contact:   
Christine O’Neill
Environmental Planner II
203-489-0351
coneill@nvcogct.gov

(Waterbury, CT) – The Southern Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) and the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) invite professionals and residents in New Haven County to participate in a public feedback session on the draft Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP). The public feedback session is scheduled for February 6, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Zoom. Participants must register at bit.ly/3u1eOXi.

The PCAP, available for review at cprgct.org, outlines goals and recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across 27 communities, including 12 towns in the Naugatuck Valley COG region: Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Cheshire, Derby, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Seymour, Southbury, Waterbury, and Wolcott.

Public comments on the PCAP can either be submitted through a questionnaire accessible at https://forms.office.com/r/h0BW88ar8v, or by sending an email to smcamp@scrcog.org. The comment period closes February 8th at 11:59 p.m. More information on New Haven County’s CPRG project is available at https://www.cprgct.org/.

Winter Quarterly Newsletter

NVCOG’s winter newsletter is here! The quarterly publication has news, project updates, and events for the Region.

Newsletter Highlights

Waterbury Rail Line Future Vision Informational Video

Photo collage of SMM outreach and education efforts

PRESS RELEASE: New Haven County Releases Draft Priority Climate Action Plan for Public Comment

For Immediate Release: January 18, 2024

Contact:
Christine O’Neill
Environmental Planner II
203-489-0351
coneill@nvcogct.gov

A draft Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) has been released for New Haven County as part of the national Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program (CPRG). The draft PCAP is accessible at https://www.cprgct.org/ and public comment will be accepted until February 8th at 11:59 p.m.

The goal of the CPRG program is to help states, regions, and tribes plan for and implement actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is funded through the Inflation Reduction Act and administered by the U.S. EPA.

Earlier this year, the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG), with support from the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), received one million dollars in a noncompetitive planning grant through the CPRG. Their planning area encompasses the entirely of New Haven County, which covers 27 municipalities from New Haven in the south to Waterbury in the north.

In order to execute the first deliverable of the PCAP, SCRCOG hired UMass Amherst’s Regional Planning Studio and NARSLAB. Throughout the summer and fall, SCRCOG, NVCOG, and UMass developed the PCAP with considerable input from the community. Engagement efforts included tabling at farmers markets and a housing expo, holding hybrid meetings with interactive polling, and maintaining a dynamic website with information and resources.

The group also released and promoted a survey to capture specific feedback from residents, which is still live and can be taken at https://umassamherst.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4TmgsqGfnjVQEke

The draft PCAP strives to cover the foundational elements of a climate plan while incorporating perspectives from the community and centering environmental justice. The plan includes:

An inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in New Haven County by sector (transportation, buildings, electricity, industry, and waste).
An examination of the low-income and disadvantaged communities within the region, including benefits to these areas as a result of climate action.
A list of potential mitigation strategies, ranked for both emissions reduction potential and co-benefits such as workforce development and air pollution reduction.
A communications and outreach toolkit to be implemented during the next grant deliverable: the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan.

“The Priority Climate Action Plan is the first of three regional Climate Action Plans that will establish clear goals and recommendations on how to improve air quality across the planning region,” says Project Manager Ben Lovejoy. “The funding from this grant program has created an unprecedented opportunity to develop real solutions for how the region can address the impacts of climate change.”

Public comment on the PCAP can either be submitted through a questionnaire accessible at https://forms.office.com/r/h0BW88ar8v, or by sending an email to smcamp@scrcog.org. The three week comment period closes February 8th at 11:59 p.m. More information on New Haven County’s CPRG project is available at https://www.cprgct.org/.

PRESS RELEASE: Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments Designated “SolSmart Silver” for Solar Energy Leadership

For Immediate Release: January 17, 2024

Contact:
Desira Blanchard
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments   
203-489-0353
dblanchard@nvcogct.org

(Waterbury, CT) – The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) received a Silver designation from the national SolSmart program for encouraging the growth of clean, affordable solar energy in their region.

As a SolSmart Silver designee, NVCOG has adopted nationally recognized best practices to advance solar market growth. The region worked with SolSmart’s no-cost technical assistance team to increase local knowledge of and access to resources on solar energy for the benefit of the 19 communities they serve.

SolSmart is led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. Over 500 cities, towns, counties, and regional organizations have achieved SolSmart designation since the program launched in 2016.

NVCOG first achieved SolSmart Bronze designation last year and has now advanced to Silver designation by achieving additional SolSmart criteria.

“Paving the way for clean energy in our region is one of the many ways we’re working to build sustainable communities throughout the Valley,” says Environmental Planning Director Aaron Budris. “By providing training and resources for our municipalities, we increase their capacity to handle the influx of solar development without putting unnecessary burdens on developers and residents.”

To achieve SolSmart Silver designation, NVCOG has trained permitting and inspection staff on best practices for permitting solar energy and solar-plus storage systems. Their most recent training on solar inspections welcomed over 100 attendees from throughout the state, including stakeholders from private firms, academia, and tribal nations. NVCOG has also created a robust online solar hub with resources for municipalities, developers, and residents. It can be reached at nvcogct.gov/solar. These and other actions taken will make it faster, easier, and more affordable for local residents, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to install solar in this community. 

Regional and local governments achieve Solsmart designation by meeting established criteria that are based on national best practices for building solar-friendly communities. The SolSmart team of experts offers no-cost technical assistance and resources to help communities put these practices into action. Those that meet the criteria are designated SolSmart Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze. Any city, town, county, and regional organization is eligible to join the program. Interested communities can learn more at SolSmart.org.

NEWS RELEASE: Governor Lamont Announces $7.2 Million in State Grants To Support the Remediation and Assessment of Blighted Properties in Nine Municipalities

Seal for the Office of the Connecticut Governor

Click here to access the press release from the office of Governor Ned Lamont

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that he has approved the release of $7.2 million in state grants that will be used to support the remediation and assessment of blighted properties in nine municipalities across Connecticut, consisting of 713 acres of land. The funds will support these communities with investigating and cleaning up these properties so they can be redeveloped and put back into productive use to support economic growth.

The grants, which are being released through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Brownfield Remediation and Development Program, will leverage $228,981,747 in private investments and are expected to create approximately 853 jobs. The overwhelming majority of the funds – 94% – are being directed to distressed municipalities, where developable land is often scarce and economic revitalization efforts take on added importance.

“Nobody wants to live in a community that has old, polluted, blighted properties that sit vacant for decades when this land could be used for productive purposes, such as business growth and new housing,” Governor Lamont said. “By partnering with municipalities and developers, we can clean up these lifeless properties and bring them back from the dead.”

“DECD’s brownfields program is critical to building vibrancy in our communities,” DECD Interim Commissioner Dan O’Keefe said. “We continue to invest in remediation and assessment activities because they are the linchpin to opening up new opportunities for private investment and economic growth at the local level.”

The grants announced today under this round include:

Remediation

Ansonia: $3,800,000 grant to dispose of existing demolition debris pile and remediate the 8.56-acre property located at 31-165 Olsen Drive to prepare the property for redevelopment. Remediation will consist of the excavation and off-site disposal of approximately 9,000 tons of contaminated fill and implementation of an engineered control. Following remediation, a new multi-sport indoor/outdoor complex will be constructed that will include a 49,000-square foot all-sports training building, a 39,000-square foot indoor soccer facility and a FIFA league size soccer field with bleachers, lighting, and parking facilities. The multi-facility complex will have a total private investment of $16,400,000.
New Haven: $990,000 grant to perform soil remediation, excavation, and disposal of impacted soils on the 0.8-acre parcel located at 265 South Orange Street (formerly home to the New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum). This will enable the construction of a 277,435 sq. ft. Class A life sciences and tech office building.
New Haven: $995,600 grant to abate and demolish the four vacant and dilapidated buildings on the 1.73-acre site located at 10 Liberty Street. The cleanup work will enable the construction of a five-story, 150-unit affordable housing complex.

Assessment

Ansonia: $200,000 grant to further the investigation of the environmental issues at the Former Ansonia Copper and Brass properties located at 75 Liberty Street and 7 Riverside Drive.
Danbury: $200,000 grant to perform an assessment on the adjoining properties at 72-80 Maple Avenue and East Franklin Street, former home to warehouse operations for Amphenol, which will help determine possible future use for the property.
East Hartford: $178,800 grant to perform various site assessments at a former industrial paper mill site at 87 Church Street. Redevelopment plans include constructing the country’s first hydro-powered liquor distillery accompanied with a tasting room.
Griswold: $110,000 grant to conduct investigations of the former repair garage and gas station located at 1554-1560 Voluntown Road to determine the type and extent of subsurface contaminants on the site.
Lisbon: $120,000 grant to conduct assessments of the former Lisbon Textile Prints company site located at 99 River Road. This will allow the town to rezone the property and enable future mixed-use and commercial uses. Funds will also be used to develop a remedial action plan.
New Milford: $200,000 grant for the assessment of three properties, including the buildings located at 6 Youngs Field Road, 20 Youngs Field Road, and 72 Housatonic Avenue (currently used by the town’s Department of Public Works) to determine a remediation strategy that will allow for future remediation and development of the properties as a whole. The Department of Public Works is preparing to relocate to a new site.
Putnam: $200,000 grant to update and complete the environmental assessment of the former Putnam Foundry site located at 2 Furnace Street and the John M. Dean Company located at 20 Mechanics Street to determine a remediation plan that will accommodate future mixed-use housing and commercial space.
Sprague: $200,000 grant to conduct additional site investigations of the former Paper Manufacturing site located at 130 Inland Road in Baltic. The assessments will determine the extent of subsurface contaminants on the site to allow for future remediation and current waste treatment expansion and other potential uses.

For more information on the Brownfield Remediation and Development program, visit www.ctbrownfields.gov.

Twitter: @GovNedLamont

Facebook: Office of Governor Ned Lamont

NVCOG Engineers Take on Transportation Resilience International Conference on Extreme Weather and Climate Change in Washington, D.C.

In November, NVCOG Transportation Engineers Karen Svetz and Kevin Ellis attended the Transportation Resilience International Conference on Extreme Weather and Climate Change Challenges held at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, D.C.

Attendees learned about emerging best practices and state-of-the-art research results on how to adapt transportation networks to the potential impacts of climate change and extreme weather events that are becoming increasingly prevalent in our country and around the world.

During the conference, presenters from the Federal Highway Administration, other states, as well as other countries, shared how they conduct research, collect data, analyze the data, quantify the risk, and prepare resilience plans. The objective of the planning is to identify resilience needs, develop specific strategies to anticipate, prepare for and mitigate events that put the transportation network at risk of disruption and damage.

Climate-related events can damage roads, bridges, railways, ports, and other transportation assets. These events include river and stream flooding, changes in sea level, drought, excessive rainfall, wildfires, changes in temperature, and the like.

With the likelihood of these events increasing in frequency, it is important to create plans and strategies with the expectation that the damages, deaths, and disruption to the affected communities can be better anticipated and reduced.

The sign of the National Academy of Sciences

Speakers take the stage during the Plenary Session on Advancing Resilience in Surface Transportation - Roads, Rail, Port, and Transit

Presentation slide of Natural System Management Practices

transportation

Section: News

Newsletter Highlights

Click here to access the press release from the office of Governor Ned Lamont