The Danbury City Council recently approved funding to buy two parcels of blighted land in the flight path of Danbury Airport.  There was a lengthy discussion over how much money the FAA would pay in reimbursement since there are many unknowns at this stage in the process. 

City Attorney Les Pinter acknowledged that they don't know the level of environmental contamination at 25 Miry Brook Road and 89 Wooster Heights Road.  There's been a Phase One study and a recommendation for Phase 2, which will determine the remediation costs.  Pinter says those studies are the point of seeking this $815,000 in City funding.  The Wooster property does have more problems than the other, so they've built in a certain level of contamination in the FAA grant application.  While it's an estimate, Pinter says it's a best estimate. 

Pinter says he and a consultant at the FAA have had discussions on covering all costs. 

Assistant Airport Administrator Mike Safranek says Danbury went through the same process in 2006 with what is now the dog park.  Even though the City was going to knock down the house, the FAA reimbursed Danbury for the cost of environmental abatement and cleaned up everything.