Soil Contamination At Former Site
In January 2001, the school remained closed for nearly two weeks after the end of the winter vacation when the DEP found high concentrations of lead, carcinogens and other toxins in the soil surrounding the building, as well as at the sports field across the street. It was soon revealed that the building had been constructed on the site of a previous toxic waste disposal ground in the 1950s. This was followed by claims that the school had seen unusually high rate of death among faculty members in their 50s due to cancer.
Crews took action to make the building as safe an environment as possible as classes commenced. However, residents voiced concern led to plans for the construction of a new building on a Dixwell Avenue site. The project began in September 2004 and the new Hamden Middle School was completed in time for the start of the 2006 school-year.
Read more about this topic: Hamden Middle School
Famous quotes containing the words soil and/or site:
“Let none admire
That riches grow in hell; that soil may best
Deserve the precious bane.”
—John Milton (1608–1674)
“The site of the true bottomless financial pit is the toy store. It’s amazing how much a few pieces of plastic and paper will sell for if the purchasers are parents or grandparent, especially when the manufacturers claim their product improves a child’s intellectual or physical development.”
—Lawrence Kutner (20th century)