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March 9, 2016
Synthetic Turf Field Permits Obtained

Ann M. Catino, Chair of the Environmental and Land Use Practice Group, secured a special permit issued by the Town of Hamden Planning and Zoning Commission for the conversion of a natural grass baseball field to a multi-purpose synthetic turf crumb rubber field, which will serve baseball, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey. The new field was approved after several days of public hearings and amidst staunch opposition groups who decried the proposal to install a crumb rubber field. Ann worked closely with the design engineers and ultimately involved one of the foremost toxicologists in the country to present testimony and evidence on whether the studies and evidence indicate crumb rubber fields pose environmental or health risks to the athletes and public. Placing the issue squarely in the context of science, the 29 peer-reviewed studies conducted by states, universities and foreign governments and with uniformly consistent conclusions, Ann and the team were able to navigate the emotionally charged outcries presented by well-organized opposition groups. When the groups only presented raw data regarding the presence of constituents in crumb rubber, the applicant team presented evidence not only as to the methodological flaws associated with the data generation, but also that the data (even if accurate) reported constituents that exist in synthetic turf at levels below background soils or applicable standards. In the end, the evidence in favor of a multi-purpose crumb rubber field was obviously compelling. Against the backdrop of proposed new studies to be conducted by the EPA, the intense media scrutiny associated with these fields, and legislative initiatives calling for a moratorium on such fields, the Town spent considerable time carefully evaluating and considering the merits of all claims. During the deliberations, it was acknowledged that there was no peer-reviewed study supporting the arguments presented by the opponents. In the end, the science prevailed and was underscored by a unanimous vote of the Commission. Several weeks prior, Ann also successfully lead the permitting team to obtain a wetlands permit for the field. Again, countering opposition and an intervention under the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act, the commission granted the permit.

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Ann M. Catino
Environmental & Land Use