DEEP to Review J.J. Sullivan's Proposed Propane Facility in North Branford

The proposal for the 60,000 gallon propane facility in North Branford will be heard by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the New Haven Register reports.

During last week’s Conservation and Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency meeting, two members recused themselves from voting on J.J. Sullivan Fuel Oil’s proposed propane facility while one member recently resigned leaving just one member on the agency, the paper reports.

With the lack of enough members to make a decision, the agency cancelled a special meeting that was to be held Wednesday night on the proposed facility.

According to the paper, J.J. Sullivan will now fill out the necessary paperwork to have DEEP review the matter.

The North Branford Planning and Zoning Commission amended zoning regulations in August allowing bulk propane storage in certain parts of towns. Since then residents have not had the opportunity to publicly comment on the issue.

At their October meeting, the P&Z decided to table its decision on the proposed propane facility till the commission’s Nov. 6 meeting. North Branford residents presented a petition to the Town Council demanding a halt to the proposed construction of the facility, however an opinion written by Town Attorney John Gesmonde stated that the Town Council did not have the authority to request a referendum that would overrule the P&Z’s decision. The North Branford Citizens Against Propane have since hired New Haven attorney Keith Ainsworth to represent them in a legal battle against J.J. Sullivan.

Residents opposed to the facility have cited safety reasons as their main opposition to the propane storage.

The DEEP’s legal counsel will review the paperwork to determine whether the department can review the application following which DEEP will issue a recommended decision on the facility, the Register reports. The town will have the option to accept or challenge the DEEP’s decision at a hearing.

North Branford residents have set up a website, “Protect North Branford” to provide updates about the proposed facility and have also set up a Go Fund Me page to pay for Ainsworth’s legal fees.

Read the full story at the New Haven Register.

Image via Chesmont Engineering

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