January 22, 2013
Hartford - State Senator Andrea L. Stillman (D-Waterford) and Representatives Kevin Ryan and Betsy Ritter (D-Waterford) today welcomed news about the imminent release of state funding to help underwrite improvements and upgrades at the wastewater treatment facility in Montville. The overhaul is necessarily primarily because of wastewater outflow from the Rand Whitney Containerboard plant in town.
The lawmakers said the item is included on the agenda for Friday morning's meeting of the State Bond Commission and the grant - valued at $5 million - is expected to be approved at that time.
"Effective and efficient wastewater treatment is essential to protect the integrity of groundwater supplies and local streams and rivers, and is particularly important given our proximity to Long Island Sound," Senator Stillman said. "I'm pleased by the prospects for this state investment in our local infrastructure because it supports additional economic development going forward - I'm grateful to Governor Malloy for including it on Friday's agenda and encourage favorable consideration by the other members of the bond commission."
The lawmakers said the project to upgrade Montville's wastewater treatment plant will be administered by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
"It is right that Montville’s taxpayers will get some help with the economic burden of this upgrade," said Rep. Ryan. "It will help with the future expansion of businesses and homes in Montville allowing the town to grow."
"The upgrading of Montville's wastewater treatment plant is critically important, and the cost of it would be extremely burdensome, if not impossible, for town taxpayers alone to bear," Rep. Ritter said. "I'm very grateful that we've been able to secure state funding for this vital project."
The Rand Whitney Containerboard facility is on Route 163 in Montville and the company has had a 20-year presence in town. It manufactures flexible packaging materials, and is also known for its dry laminate and film lamination products.