ACAL News
Recent Documents...
| date | title | description |
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| 08/12/11 | Managing Solid Waste Facilities to Prevent Odor | Paper by written by The National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) - a trade association representing for-profit companies in North America that provide solid, hazardous and medical waste collection, recycling and disposal services.
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| 06/21/10 | NYSDEC New Solid Waste Plan Draft | Entitled Beyond Solid Waste - A Sustainable Materials Management Strategy for New York, the NYSDEC has drafted a 480-page plan to reduce solid waste through increases in reuse, recycling and composting in local communities. Further, the plan calls for a reduction in packaging by manufacturers and a reduction in climate and environmental impacts caused by transporting waste and harmful emissions coming from incinerators and landfills.
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| 06/17/10 | New Yorkers for Zero Waste Platform 2010 | Local, regional, state and federal organizations join with NY Zero Waste Alliance, a project of Citizens Environmental Coalition, to support the reduction of waste through increase in reuse, recycling and composting.
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| 10/24/06 | 11 August 2006 DEC Letter | Region 6 Water Engineer Steven Botsford's letter to OHSWA Executive Director Hans Arnold stating OHSWA's environmental responsibility for clean water quality compliance associated with the Ava Landfill site.
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| 06/08/06 | ACAL vs. OHSWA | ACAL filed a lawsuit against OHSWA for polluting the trout spawing stream of Moose Creek for over a year. The ongoing pollution to the creek violates State environmental law and the Clean Water Act.
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| 04/20/06 | Letter to Ava from OHSWA | Lengthy letter from OHSWA Executive Director Hans Arnold to the Ava Town Board regarding a "host community benefit package". The Ava board refuses to negotiate with OHSWA for a 1000+/- acre landfill that is being forced into their rural community.
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| 03/31/06 | DEC response to Ava | DEC Region 6 Director Sandra LeBarron's letter to Town of Ava regarding Ava's request to rescind the March 2006 DEC Consent Order and take "appropriate enforcement action". Ms. LeBarron states the DEC's response must be "somewhat restrained" since ACAL has filed a notice of intent to file a citizen's suit against OHSWA.
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| 03/21/06 | Notice of Intent to Sue | Pursuant to the Clean Water Act, against the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Management Authority (OHSWA) and Rifenberg Construction, Inc. by Adirondack Communtities Advisory League (ACAL)
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| 03/20/06 | Ava Complaint to DEC | The Town of Ava sends a letter to Region 6 DEC requesting their Consent Order be rescinded. The town board and the citizens they represent are genuinely concerned about the environment in Ava. They are extremely distressed that OHSWA and Rifenburg have been given permission by the DEC to allow excessive sediment to enter Moose Creek - "a provision that is contrary to the basic mission of the DEC."
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| 02/13/06 | NYSDEC Consent Order | NYSDEC is giving OHSWA permission to discharge excessive sediment and water into nearby Moose Creek, a federally protected trout spawning stream in Ava, NY.
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| 09/10/05 | DEC Complaint | August 2005
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News Updates...Assemblyman Dave Townnsend has been appointed to the Legislative Commission
on Solid Waste Management by Assembly Leader Charles Nesbitt for the 2005-06
term.
The commission deals with a variety of issues including solid waste
disposal, recycling, and brownfield redevelopment which reclaims
contaminated sites, usually abandoned and found in urban areas, that have
the potential of being developed for commercial, recreational or residential
use.
As reported in the February 15, 2005 edition of the Rome Daily Sentinel,
Townsend hopes to study solid waste options for the Oneida-Herkimer region.
"I have real concerns regarding the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority",
said Townsend. "We will find new options, as this is an issue that we will
continue to deal with ..."
Assemblymen Townsend has opposed the Ava landfill issue from the very
beginning. Last year, Assemblymen Townsend and Aubertine requested an audit
of the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (OHSWA) by the New York State
Comptroller's Office when executive director Hans Arnold stated that
transporting Oneida-Herkimer garbage to Rodman would cost more than building
a multi-million dollar landfill in Ava.
The proposed Ava landfill has already cost over 12 million dollars just to
site. A process which Adirondack Communities Advisory League has been
questioning for years.
During 1988-1990, OHSWA identified a number of potential landfill sites in
Oneida and Herkimer counties, and then eliminated them. In early 1992,
OHSWA ran an ad in the local papers asking for private landowners who would
be willing to sell their property to OHSWA for a landfill. Of the 42
individuals and thousands of acres that were offered, OHSWA turned them all
down.
In early 1993, OHSWA identified 79 potential landfill sites for further
evaluation. Instead of allowing an independent source to evaluate each of
the 79 sites using criteria that had been statistically created for the sole
purpose of sorting and identifying sample sites, OHSWA created their own
ranking system and proceeded to rank all 79 sites themselves. Certainly not
a scientific method of ranking, but a totally biased one!
A few months later, OHSWA announced their top 10 list of potential landfill
sites and guess which one was on the top of the list? Ava. But not the Ava
site as it is today. Their top choice for a landfill was the Ava site plus
418 acres of the Veterans Memorial Forest.
In 1993, OHSWA exercised all the power they could muster and insisted the
Veterans Memorial Forest must be included in the Ava landfill site. OHSWA
took private landowners to court and continued to pressure then County
Executive Ray Meier to change County Law 219 which does not allow landfills
to be built on public lands.
But this wasn't news to Hans Arnold. In 1989, 4 years before OHSWA wanted
the Veterans Memorial Forest for their landfill, Hans Arnold wrote to Joseph
Dziedzic from the Herkimer County Conservation Alliance and stated that
"there are state laws which prohibit the use of state and county
reforestation properties for anything except reforestation purposes."
So my question is this: If Hans Arnold knew full well the Veterans Memorial
Forest was off limits to the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority, then why
did he continue to pursue the forest as the locationfor their landfill? Why
would he write letters to Assemblyman Dave Townsend and County Exexcutive
Ray Meier asking for county reforestation land as the home of the their
landfill, knowing the land was not available for anything but reforestation?
I will tell you why.
Last week I included a map of the original landfill site. You will remember
that almost the entire site was covered with wetlands and unfavorable
hydrogeology (too wet to build on). The only area which was free from
excessive water was the footprint - the location of where the garbage will
be dumped. What I neglected to mention was that approximately half of the
original footprint was located in the Veterans Memorial Forest! When County
Law 219 forbade OHSWA to use the forest, they had to shrink the size of the
footprint and move it.
So where did OHWSA move the footprint? They moved it to the location of the
former Paluck farm which is located in: UNFAVORABLE HYDROGEOLOGY or "too
wet to build on."
No wonder the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife were concerned
about the Ava landfill site and suggested OHSWA look into other
alternatives. How could former New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation Commissioner Erin Crotty, in clear conscience, grant a landfill
permit in an area that will cause irreparable environmental damage?
How can the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation finance a 15
million dollar loan to OHSWA for the purpose of building a mega landfill in
wetlands? Especially when the corporation's mission is to "promote
environmental quality", and when its purpose is to "help public and private
entities comply with federal and State environmental requirements." Since
when does a 600-acre landfill promote environmental quality?
New York State Authorities are not held accountable by any person, office,
agency or entity except the New York State Controller's Office. We can only
hope and pray that the Comptroller's Office is able to hold the
Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority accountable for their actions. The
Ava landfill is an injustice to the people of this area. We must never
falter in our opposition to it. For if we do, we sacrifice our most
important right - our freedom.
03/16/12 - NEW SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
08/07/11 - Can Landfill Odors Be Prevented?
07/27/11 - Don't Give Up the Ship
12/21/10 - AUTHORITY SETTLES LAWSUIT WITH ACAL
10/11/10 - Black River Trash Bash
07/02/10 - Burning household trash is illegal in New York
06/17/10 - New Yorkers for Zero Waste Platform
07/13/09 - ACAL - Alive and well
04/13/08 - ACAL 2008 Update - Part 2
03/18/08 - ACAL Continues Environmental Mission in 2008
11/09/07 - Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
10/26/07 - A good read - The Adirondack Atlas
10/12/07 - New York State Opening Meeting Law
09/28/07 - ACAL Fall Foliage Auction Oct. 5
09/21/07 - Integrity found in the Town of Ava
09/14/07 - Tug Hill resources have been targeted
08/19/07 - Fair and straighforward journalism?
08/10/07 - A Needed Appreciation for Nature
08/03/07 - New York State Municipal Home Rule Law
07/27/07 - Boonville Village Litter/Debris Local Law
07/19/07 - Black River Landing Subdivision Issues
07/13/07 - WTE vs. Landfills
06/29/07 - Too many impaired waters - Black River Watershed
06/22/07 - Protecting our drinking water starts at home
06/15/07 - ACAL Joins Northern Forest Alliance
06/07/07 - ACAL Holds 200/20 Drawing & Picnic, Annual Meeting
06/07/07 - ACAL AWARDED GRANT
06/01/07 - Be a solution - get involved
05/25/07 - American flags do not belong in landfills
05/24/07 - PRESS RELEASE - ACAL Signs Stolen & Vandalized
05/18/07 - Reality check for the DEC
05/04/07 - All citizens are called to act responsibly
04/27/07 - "An Inconvenient Truth"
04/13/07 - Citizens Deserve the Whole Truth ...
04/06/07 - Great Lakes United & Citizen Resources
03/30/07 - "What is the future of local government?"
03/23/07 - Citizens Expect More From Local Government
03/16/07 - Plastic Grocery Bags Harm Wildlife
03/09/07 - The Precious Gift of Water
03/02/07 - Working Together to Protect the Environment
02/26/07 - Grassroots groups are citizens who care!
02/16/07 - Local Citizens Want Environment Protected
02/09/07 - Open Letter to Boonville Town/Village Officials
02/02/07 - Ava Landfill Story Told in Chicago
01/26/07 - It's time for New Yorkers to reclaim their rights!
01/12/07 - CITIZENS' RIGHTS ARE NOT FOR SALE!
01/05/07 - "DO NOT LITTER" Applies to Everyone
12/15/06 - "March of the Penguins"
12/08/06 - Be "good news" in the community
12/01/06 - Moose Creek Prediction - 12 years ago!
11/22/06 - United Haulers v. OHSWA
11/17/06 - A Citizen's Rights
11/03/06 - EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE
11/01/06 - ACAL statement regarding opening of landfill
10/24/06 - OHSWA Opens Landfill Without Required DEC Permit
10/20/06 - OHSWA required by DEC to have proper permit
10/13/06 - Dr. Bob Johnson Speaks at Public Forum
10/06/06 - OHSWA Fails to Deliver
10/04/06 - PRESS RELEASE - Court Denies OHSWA Motions
09/26/06 - PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
09/21/06 - If OHSWA knew what they were doing ...
09/08/06 - Joint Board Resolution Revisited
08/28/06 - A Special Message
08/11/06 - Who will save the Town of Ava?
07/21/06 - The Emperor isn't wearing any clothes!
06/10/06 - Honoring Flag Day
05/19/06 - Local Residents Demand Protection for Environment
05/12/06 - The Foundation for a Better Life
05/05/06 - ACAL will pursue justice
04/28/06 - "Tug Hill, A Threatened Paradise"
04/21/06 - NYS environmental law contradicts State action
04/13/06 - The Tug Hill Plateau is worth protecting!
03/22/06 - Press Release - OHSWA & Rifenburg Being Sued
02/24/06 - ACAL Finds NYSDEC Consent Out of Order
02/03/06 - ACAL Defends the Truth
01/02/06 - PRESS RELEASE
12/15/05 - ACAL Continues with its Mission
12/01/05 - Tug Hill Heritage
11/23/05 - Boonville Breaks Resolution
11/06/05 - October 2005 OHSWA meeting
10/28/05 - NYS Waste Disposal Policies Not Enforced
10/21/05 - Environmental Conservation Laws
10/12/05 - Response to Village Trustee
09/23/05 - OHSWA Permit Violations
09/16/05 - ACAL Misinformation
09/07/05 - Press Release: DEC Enforcement Action
08/24/05 - ACAL Misinformation
08/05/05 - It's never too late
07/22/05 - Citizens, stand strong - DO NOT NEGOTIATE!
07/15/05 - PRESS RELEASE - Problems on Ava Landfill Site
07/08/05 - The truth must be told
07/07/05 - WBRV Statement #5 - DANGER to our drinking water
07/06/05 - WBRV Statement #4 - Polluting landfills kill
07/05/05 - WBRV STATEMENT #3 - Boonville Poll Not Official
06/29/05 - WBRV Statement #2 - Landfills provide NO benefits
06/27/05 - WBRV Statement #1 -Towns must stick together
06/24/05 - Waste to energy facilities better alternative
06/17/05 - Boonville boards break agreement
06/17/05 - Slope failure sends mud into Moose Creek AGAIN!
06/12/05 - Environmentally safe alternatives to landfills
05/27/05 - Town of Ava will file an appeal
05/22/05 - Dynamite blasting on landfill site?
05/15/05 - Oneida County in Trouble
05/08/05 - FACTS and What You Can Do
05/01/05 - Community Gathers for Prayer Service
04/24/05 - Personal Letter to NYS Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi
04/17/05 - Power of Prayer
04/03/05 - The Waste Authority Must Be Stopped!
03/27/05 - Letter to NYS Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi
03/20/05 - OHSWA Propaganda
03/13/05 - Letter to Griffo - Put Words into Action!
03/06/05 - Get involved in your community
02/27/05 - Assemblyman Townsend Has Concerns Re: OHSWA
02/06/05 - Power of the Press
01/24/05 - Legislator Pam Mandryck Opposes SWA Reappointment
01/02/05 - Weeks of 1/2 - 1/16/05
12/22/04 - Response to letter
12/12/04 - Senator Ray Meier Favors Ava Landfill
11/28/04 - Proud Heritage
11/14/04 - Oneida County chooses - for the people, or not?
11/07/04 - Letters sent to Governor and NYS Senators
10/31/04 - Ava/Boonville future - NO DUMP!
10/28/04 - Letter to Governor Pataki
10/24/04 - Environment Justice All the Way!
10/22/04 - Press Release
10/17/04 - No Civil Rights for Ava Residents
10/10/04 - Article 78 Lawsuit Against DEC Commissioner Crotty
10/03/04 - 400+ Days and Still Fighting!
09/27/04 - Family Home Threatened
09/26/04 - Important Facts to Know About the Ava Landfill
09/19/04 - Letter from Concerned Citizen
09/12/04 - Small Town of Ava Dragged into Court by OHSWA
08/29/04 - Where Do Your Loyalities Lie?
08/22/04 - Beaver Dam Incident Still a Mystery
08/15/04 - Ava-Boonville-Lewis Joint Boards Resolution
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