Oswegatchie Hills Coalition Update - April 2018

Sewer Appeals to be Heard April 10

Next Tuesday, Connecticut Fund for the Environment will argue in front of the Connecticut Appellate Court to uphold the Town of East Lyme Sewer Commission’s decision to allocate a limited amount of the town’s sewer capacity for development in the Oswegatchie Hills. The proposed development would destroy much of this coastal forest and replace it with 36 acres of paved and hard surfaces. 

CFE is the legal representative of the two grassroots environmental organizations that started the Save Oswegatchie Hills effort over fifteen years ago. The Friends of the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve (FOHNP) and Save the River-Save the Hills (STR-STH) are legal intervenors in two ongoing legal battles to stop the destruction of the Oswegatchie Hills and the pollution that would entail.

“We will argue that in overturning the Sewer Commission’s decision to limit the amount of sewage capacity granted to Landmark, the Superior Court judge improperly usurped East Lyme’s authority to make decisions on allocation of this scarce and environmentally important resource.” - Roger Reynolds, CFE chief legal director

While Coalition members are not part of the ongoing legal battles, you are welcome to attend and watch the proceedings with FOHNP, STR-STH, and CFE members. (Please note that clapping, etc., are not allowed—but don’t worry, we’ll know you’re there and supportive anyway!)

The two appeals are the second and third cases in the morning session, which starts at 10:00 a.m. Arguments take place at the Appellate Court at 75 Elm Street in Hartford and are open to the public. The cases are A.C. 39804 and 39806.

Directions to the Appellate Court can be found here.

If you will be attending this hearing, let Melissa know at mschlag@ctevironment.org.

If you haven’t seen the Oswegatchie Hills video yet, check it out here, and encourage your friends and neighbors to watch and sign on to the coalition!

Photo: Roger Reynolds, Fred Grimsey, and DEEP Commissioner Rob Klee discuss Oswegatchie Hills preservation.