GNHWPCA

"The smell will drive you crazy..."
Uretek, a polyurethane manufacturing factory that is surrounded by residential homes and schools, consistently produces noxious chemical smells - especially at night. Driving or walking by, the foul odor can be overwhelming, and even blocks away, the fumes invade. The potential "danger" of these emissions is a serious concern, compounded by the billowing black smoke recently seen billowing from the factory, as well as the company's disturbing history of air pollution.

“’The smell would drive you crazy,’ said Louis Lopez, a 44-year-old mechanic who has worked for Uretek since 1984.” In December 1986, The New York Times covered a controversial employee strike at Uretek Inc. Uretek workers walked off the job due to health and safety concerns, specifically regarding the solvent dimethylformamide, or DMF, which is used at the plant. They claimed that fumes sickened half of the 66 workers at the plant. Later, testing by Yale confirmed the damage: 36 of the tested employees had ''significant liver-function abnormalities,'' and ten were diagnosed with toxic hepatitis, findings that, according to the doctor, were ''overwhelmingly'' linked to DMF*

The workers’ health problems in 1986 were “not the first time that Uretek has been accused of wrongdoing,” according to the Times article. In 1984, the Uretek vice president John Andrews was convicted on felony charges of illegally storing and disposing of hazardous waste – making it “the first time a corporation in Connecticut had been convicted of such a criminal offense in a trial.”

The article also noted that Uretek has been cited by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection on air pollution.

Although this was many years ago, Uretek's emissions and its potential impact on the environment and people remain a very significant concern.

The DEP was notified a few years back (when the odors seemed particularly strong and noxious even blocks away). Despite Uretek’s pollution history, DEP’s response seemed disinterested. As far as we know, no air quality testing was conducted, nor any follow-up.

A health issue as serious and dangerous as this requires more than discussions or assurances from factory management. It would seem logical and imperative that thorough air quality testing be conducted (especially after hours/at night when the odors are often strongest) and that the results be made publicly available.

Does DEP receive notification of SeeClickFix concerns?

There is a noxious smell that occurs only at night in New Haven. The smell is reminiscent of a skunk, but occurs almost daily after 9 or 10pm. What is the odor, and can it be eliminated?

If you are going to speed anonymously through New Haven, don't do it with your employers name plastered on your bright yellow bus. I've been home for 3 weeks now and have watched First Student Buses speeding well over 25mph posted limit both north and south on Front Street. 8:55-9:20 heading North, 1:30 ish, heading South, late afternoonish heading north. Our houses are built on SAND. Speeding over potholes and manhole covers causes them to BOUNCE and SHIFT. Craziness. I'll get video this week.

Rats have taken over the trash can and recycling can on the corner of Church and Chapel, right outside the Starbucks. They are out as early as 8pm at night, running between the two sewers and the trash cans.

A toxic smell intermittently between exit 8 and 9 on I-91.
Smells like some form of acetate.
Been reported to both state and town. No response. Somebody is dumping or venting some toxin.

The recent paving project left a patch of road, approximately 15 feet long, unpaved, with raised manholes exposed. This road hazard has been present for about three weeks now. When will it be fixed?

There is a curb over a sewer drain at the entrance to the medical office at 199 Whitney Ave. The curb is damaged and chipped. Patients turning right into the parking lot run the risk of having their tires slashed or blown out. It happens several times a year, recently just this week.

when it rains this drain over flows in the side walk and driveway...public works has not done nothing when i haved call in the past and now that the heat is coming raw seweage smell is coming out

There are very often homeless, drug addicts and/or drunks loitering in the shelter on Temple St at Kelly House. I always feel unsafe walking by. Also, there is a very strong urine odor, always. I feel badly for those who need to legitimately use the bus shelter while waiting for the bus. We need more police on foot patrolling. Something must be done to clean up this issue.

The street drain at this corner smell strongly of sewage. Could there be a backup in the sewer system here? If so can it be cleared to reduce the odor and probability of bio hazardous waste laying stagnant in our neighborhood?

Manhole cover in the middle of the street is improperly installed. The cover makes a very loud noise every time a vehicle drives over it, and it is impossible to sleep at night. Problem started only a couple of days ago. Please fix!!!

On April 3rd, the city sewer line was pressurized and flooded my basement and first floor bathroom. 100's of gallons of gray water and feces flooded out from my washing machine drain & bathroom drains. My sewer line was snaked and the problem originates at the manhole & city sewer line on the main street outside my house.

Please clean this manhole and ensure there are no line blockages further down the sewer line. The city must take responsibility to ensure the city lines are free of blockages and will not fill and flood homes. I have taken action, at extreme expense, to install check valves in my lines to safeguard my house. Please take action to do due diligence and check sewer traps and lines to ensure there are no blockages. This will only occur again further up the street.

Thank you.