RRG sets public roundtable on hazardous waste issues

by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, March 18, 2006

Continuing on news involving the Lake Ontario Ordnance Works site in northern Niagara County and in planning for future action, the non-partisan, local citizens group Residents for Responsible Government has announced it will be hosting a “Public Roundtable on Hazardous Waste” issues today at noon in the Youngstown Red Brick Village Hall, 240 Lockport St.

The session comes just days after U.S. Rep Louise Slaughter committed $100,000 in federal funds towards the Community LOOW Project, a comprehensive data collection effort of the LOOW site facilitated by the Niagara County Health Department, which when complete will see the creation of a Geographical Information Database and set the stage for future LOOW remediation efforts.

Area residents are invited to attend the RRG session, which is expected to see attendance by state Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, D-138th District, state Sen. George Maziarz, R-62nd District, as well as various local county, town and village officials. Expected to be a main topic of discussion will be the operations at Chemical Waste Management, which occupies 700-plus acres on the northern part of the LOOW site, as well its long-term future in northern Niagara.

As reported previously in these pages, both state legislators have been very proactive on LOOW issues, particularly as they relate to CWM in past years. Last summer saw their successful finalizing of legislation in Albany that led to Gov. Pataki’s signing of a new Siting Plan, which targets the future placement of hazardous waste facilities in the state.

“We are pleased to have the authors of the bill which recently became law join us for such an important discussion,” said RRG President Vince Agnello. “After the large public turnouts when Lois Gibbs and Ralph Nader explained the need for strong community action, we’ve achieved some key steps but need renewed citizen input.”

New Siting Plan

Long pursued locally, the new Siting Plan dates from late 1980s-era legislative efforts and a 1994 state Supreme Court order directing the state Department of Environmental Conservation to compile a list of alternative locations in the state for placement of hazardous wastes. Its enactment has been viewed as means by many to alleviate the town of Porter, home to CWM Chemical Services, from having to remain as the only location in the state for the long-term storage of hazardous wastes.

“That legislation specifically limits new permit decisions on hazardous waste disposal by the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation until that agency produces an acceptable state-wide plan,” DelMonte said.

“We have been waiting (for the state-wide plan) since 1987 legislation requested that the DEC produce a plan to assure more equitable distribution of such waste,” added Maziarz.

Both are expected to participate in a public dialogue on this as well as other toxic waste issues concerning the CWM facility.

DEC Silent

Agnello observed that the DEC has been unusually quiet of late on the Siting Plan issue, particularly from its earlier public forums that saw heated discussion and demands by area residents for a more equitable distribution of hazardous waste facilities in the state.

Heightening RRG’s worries is the fact that CWM, which has been operating on a series of extended five-year permits, first issued by DEC in 1994 and renewed since, is now entering the application process phase with DEC to obtain a long-term operating permit for its Balmer Road facilities. Its current permit expires in 2010.

Such an application would be expected to fall under the new stipulations of the Siting Plan signed last year. How the DEC ultimately moves on the permit request is open to speculation, he adds.

“No further DEC action on the topic has occurred for nearly two years,” Agnello said. “And we’re concerned that the DEC may intending to blind-side the community again.”

Other issues concerning CWM involve its ongoing discussions with the Town of Lewiston and officials of the Tri-Community board, which operate the Lewiston Water Pollution Control Center. The company is seeking to utilize the WPCC to handle its pre-treated outflows, which currently under DEC permit are discharged directly into the lower Niagara River annually in the fall months. CWM had been stating that its primary purpose of utilizing WPCC was to provide for another step in the discharge process for wastewater discharges. However, recent revelations, notably documents furnished last month by Amy Witryol of the Niagara-Health Science Report to the Porter Town Board, revealed CWM was intending on utilizing the Lewiston plant as part of its long-term plans toward expansion, namely its pursuing of RMU-2 permit approval for development of a new landfill area on the southwestern side of its Balmer Road facility.

CWM officials have stated the permit issue for the WPCC is part of ongoing open discussions the company conducts with DEC as part of its 10-year plan update with the agency and doesn’t have any link to RMU-2.

RRG encourages community participation at this forum on the LOOW site and invites county residents to attend. The roundtable and legislative brainstorming session is expected to provide for expanded public input for not only Maziarz and DelMonte, but for other area officials as they plan legislative initiatives over the coming year.

For further information, contact RRG at 745-3462 or visit its Web site at www.rrg-wny.org.