About 75,000 tons of PCB wastes from Queensbury are headed to CWM in Porter, despite the original state DEC decision to destroy them on-site with safe technology.
The DEC was prohibited by law from accepting the one bid it received for full on-site remediation because that bid exceeded the DEC engineer’s estimate.
While it is disappointing that the second round of DEC bidding did not deter land disposal, the fact remains, bad New York policy for the past 15 years limited DEC’s choices.
Prices at hazardous waste landfills have dropped dramatically for more than 15 years because of overcapacity in the market. That drove away healthy competition and made the existing, safer technology more expensive to use on site.
There are reportedly only three owners of the equipment in the market that would take care of the more concentrated contamination on site. We were told one had equipment under repair, another was working on an EPA project, and the third probably knew he was the only bidder.
Three newspapers reported that the DEC had already awarded a bid when news of this latest shipment broke. Presumably CWM does not expect DEC to break a contract under law.
CWM stood by and let the Town of Porter Board violate its CAC Agreement with a resolution that divides us against the rest of the state over a sliver of the hazardous wastes dumped here we can do nothing to stop. If we did, what we would get instead is as bad or worse, and the people of Queensbury would be the victims.
Fighting a done deal and one that pits us against the rest of the state weakens our ability to win the war on the upcoming Hazardous Waste Siting Plan, to finally move state policy toward safer and permanent cleanups, and put us out of our toxic landfill misery.
A Porter Town Board member quoted in last week suggested the state landfill the PCBs somewhere else in New York. Ironically, that would help CWM expand, because CWM could then meet the DEC’s geographic distribution test. Today, CWM flunks that test because it is the only hazardous waste landfill. A second landfill in NY would not stop CWM expansion, but instead would help it — and maker safer alternatives even less cost-effective.
Last week the Erie County Legislature called for an end to hazardous waste landfill operations anywhere in New York.
In response, CWM told the papers it took in 116,000 tons of waste from Erie County in “recent years.” But that’s more hazardous waste than the entire State of New York shipped to CWM the past two years, according to DEC.
Division and myths will help only CWM in the upcoming statewide Hazardous Waste Siting Plan hearings.
Undoubtedly with Sen. Maziarz’s blessing, former Gov. Pataki appointed CWM’s district manager to the New York State Great Lakes Commission and reappointed him late in 2006 after vetoing our hazardous waste bill. Let’s hope we get better notice and help from Maziarz in the future.
After Queensbury, we are told there are no other such PCB cleanups planned in the state, because the biggest and most toxic sites have been cleaned up. The Hudson River PCBs are not coming here.
Most CWM waste comes from outside the state and is just as dangerous as the PCBs headed here. We can expect much more unless we stop CWM’s pending application to expand when its current landfill reaches capacity in five years.
Governor Paterson, we implore you to break from the flawed policy of your two predecessors, and make safe alternatives more available. Governor, adopt a policy that the state will discourage more hazardous waste landfill capacity.
Amy Witryol is a Lewiston resident.
Columns
GUEST VIEW: State needs to get hazardous waste policy
- Columns
-
-
GLYNN: VFW post keeps spirit alive
At one time, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars-Post 313 would march down Main Street in Youngstown on Memorial Day to the 1812 Cemetery near Old Fort Niagara. That same scenario out of the past occurred for decades in cities, towns and villages across the U.S.
-
HAMILTON: Dandelions, parades, broken poles and people
There are still those remnants of the fading bouquets of floral tributes that still hang at that base of a tree on city hall’s lawn. It is near where, last year, from his shiny silvery cart, Melvin Johnson sold hot dogs and sausages to both city employees and passerbys while his tiny white dog excitingly yelped at anyone that came near.
- No Headline Provided
-
GLYNN: Gillibrand seeks help for prime bread-winners
A recent report shows that working mothers across the Empire State earn nearly 15 percent lower pay for the same work as men.
-
BRADBERRY: There really are spirits in the water
Over the centuries since it was “discovered” hundreds of millions of people have traveled from every corner of the world to visit Niagara Falls making it the most visited of the great waterfalls on the planet.
-
CONFER: The reality of rationed health care
The ongoing debate over Obamacare has brought to light the concept of rationed healthcare. Opponents of health care reform keenly point out that while the bill never explicitly calls out rationing, it features certain provisions that will lead the markets to adjust to strict federal demands and, therefore, dispense certain procedures in smaller amounts or not at all. Because of it being the first time that the subject has really come up in public circles, most people, especially on the right, believe that rationing is something new. It’s not. The free markets have been practicing that for quite some time. I should know; with a 4-inch long, 1-inch wide scar running south of my belly button – and a couple of related scars around my groin – I could be the poster child for rationed health care.
-
CITY DESK: A regrettable error
We owe Carol Sensabough an apology.
Several weeks ago, the long-time reader and Niagara Falls resident sent a letter to the editor explaining that she took offense to some of the things written by a syndicated columnist, Stephen Dick. -
HIGGS: Niagara Falls' own West Side story
Trusello’s Bakery was on Elmwood behind the family home at 840 19th St. The family, Richard, William (Billy) and Sam along with two sisters, lived in the house.
-
GLYNN: Falls, Ont., rolls out red carpet for Wallenda
Before Nik Wallenda even started practicing his high-wire routine in downtown Niagara Falls, state Sen.George D. Maziarz, R-Newfane, had noted the warm welcome the tightrope walker received across the river.
-
HAMILTON: Civic ‘ParticipAction’ can work too
Back in the 1970s, our Neighbors to the North ran a national campaign called ParticipAction to encourage Canadians to get off their butts and do things for the sakes of their bodies.
- More Columns Headlines
-
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
