Connecticut to Clean Up Waste Dump

State officials reached an agreement Friday to put up $500,000 to help the city of Bridgeport, Conn., remove a smoldering illegal dump site known as “Mt. Trashmore,” Lt. Gov. Eunice Groark said.

The state has been in and out of court for months trying to force brothers Russell and Geno Capozziello to remove the 30,000 tons of debris from their wrecking company lot in Bridgeport’s east end.

Protesters had marched at the site for 30 consecutive weeks and brought a load of the trash to the state Capitol.

“We are so grateful that this terrible eyesore will be removed from our community,” said the Rev. Vernon Thompson, pastor of Bridgeport’s East End Baptist Church. He led community demonstrations to get the rat-infested trash pile cleaned up.

State Environmental Commissioner Timothy R. E. Keeney said he freed up the $500,000 at Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr.’s request. The city will provide the balance of the estimated $1.3-million cleanup cost, Mayor Joseph Ganim said. The city will select a contractor to haul the trash to landfills, a job that is expected to take eight weeks.

State Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal promised to seek financial redress from the Capozziellos. They have yet to pay $868,000 in state fines assessed last August.