RRG on CWM: No need to call Gov. Hochul

On Thursday, Niagara County Public Information Office shared a message from Legislator Irene Myers, suggesting the public “contact Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office and urge her to accept the hearing judge’s decision that recommends denying (Chemical Waste Management’s) bid to site a new landfill in the Town of Porter.” This followed the Niagara County Legislature passing its own resolution last week.

In response, Residents for Responsible Government said the message was well-intentioned, but asked residents to reconsider.

“First, the CWM State Hazardous Waste Siting Board must render its decision on CWM’s application within 60 days after final briefs are filed,” RRG stated Friday. “Final briefs are due on July 25 from approved participants, which include CWM, RRG, Niagara County, the Town and Village of Lewiston, the Village of Youngstown, the Lew-Port Central School District, the Niagara County Farm Bureau, the Tuscarora Nation, Buffalo-Niagara Waterkeeper and resident Amy Witryol.

“Second, the suggestion that the governor would improperly interfere with the State Hazardous Waste Siting Board would seem an insult. It would be inappropriate and improper to contact the governor at this juncture.

“Third, and most importantly, the public should have every confidence that the Siting Board will agree with RRG and the hearing officer’s recommendation that a new commercial hazardous waste landfill should not be approved. The last CWM hazardous waste landfill operation closed 10 years ago.

“RRG is extremely confident in the outcome and urges the public to refrain from contacting the governor’s office on this matter for the reasons noted above. RRG may have more comments after the July 25 final briefs are submitted by the parties.”

The Niagara County Public Information Office noted, “The hearing judge issued a 220-page decision that recommends all permits for the proposal be denied. Before it can built, two state agencies must approve the new landfill. The commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation must issue several permits, and the state Hazardous Waste Facility Siting Board must approve the site. CWM first applied for the state approvals it needs in 2003. CWM also needs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to approve a permit under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act.

“The hearing judge is recommending that the state Siting Board deny approval, and that the DEC commissioner decline to issue any permits, since a denial by the Siting Board would mean that the proposal is not viable. …

“In his decision, the hearing judge said there is a lack of need for another hazardous waste landfill in New York, it is unfair to continue to make Niagara County home for the state’s only hazardous waste landfill, and there is an absence of any other public interest in building the project.”

Myers said, “The hearing judge’s recommendation marks a major victory for the health and welfare of our community. Our region has been a dumping ground for way too long, to the detriment of our residents, and it’s time to stop it.”