Old factories in Waterbury closed for decades are just some of the brownfields in Connecticut that could see cleanup, after Gov. Dannel Malloy signed into law reforms to liability laws enacted by the state legislature.
"Waterbury will see 27 brownfield sites cleaned up and come into use again," said Malloy, during a heavy rain at the Waterbury public works department's future home.
Most of MacDermid's old buildings along Huntingdon Avenue will be torn down over the next two years with the change in liability law. It makes getting just part of the pollution cleaned up sufficient to land a loan to clean up the rest.
"It gives private investors a higher level of comfort, recognizing that they don't have to be saddled with all the past sins of the sites," said Mayor Neil O'Leary. "Now it's a new day moving forward."
Other sites in the city O'Leary says is "loaded with brownfields" include the Municipal Stadium where lead and asbestos were buried, and the Nova Paint and Dye factory on Mill Street. It burned down in April 2012. Removing the remains will enable development nearby along the Mad River.
