Remember the annoying noises that plague residents in Bristol and the surrounding areas?
Our NBC CT Responds team was the first to report on this incident and listened to local complaints.
This week we saw local health officials take action.
The Bristol-Burlington Health Department said it issued ReWorld a notice of violation and an order to reduce noise levels to meet state standards and reduce public nuisance.
Kevin Ainsworth, an attorney for the district, said the two sides have been in discussions since the district began pressuring the company to address noise concerns three months ago.
But the district wasn’t satisfied with the results.
Reworld, formerly known as Covanta, converts waste into energy at its Bristol facility.
Earlier this year, residents living near the plant began contacting NBC CT Responds about frequent, disturbing noises coming from the plant.
Local authorities were also investigating the complaints.
An independent noise expert hired by Covanta at the time reported that the “unusual noise” may have been coming from two induced draft fans.
The health department said it has already appealed the order requiring Reworld to reduce noise levels.
NBC Connecticut has reached out to the company for comment.
Meanwhile, the local health department supported the consultant’s study, saying it “believes Reworld should focus its efforts on exploring ways to reduce noise levels rather than wasting time and money fighting a problem it admits it has already created.”
Ainsworth explained that Reworld has appealed the decision, and both sides will now present their cases before a hearing officer through the Department of Public Health.
See the full statement from Bristol Burlington Health District attorney Keith Ainsworth below.
“Following our investigation and the findings of the acoustic engineering consultant, BBHD issued ReWorld a Notice of Violation (two, in fact) and an order to reduce noise levels to meet state standards and mitigate public nuisance. Unfortunately, we were informed yesterday that ReWorld has appealed our order, arguing that there is no noise outside the boundaries that violates ‘applicable regulations and ordinances.’ This appeal process will impose additional and unnecessary costs on already burdened taxpayers. BBHD supports the consultant’s findings and believes ReWorld should focus on considering ways to reduce noise levels rather than wasting time and money on a problem that they admit already exists.”
