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I joined ACAL in the fall of 2004, following Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (OHSWA) Executive Director Hans Arnold’s refusal to consider the Development Authority of the North Country’s offer to accept Oneida and Herkimer solid waste for the next 50 years at the Rodman facility.

OHSWA’s refusal to consider Rodman sent up a red flag to me, as it should have to everyone. OHSWA talked about liability issues and increased transportation costs required to truck waste to Rodman. It’s clearly evident OHSWA doesn’t give a hoot about transportation costs considering the site is at the farthest reach of the county and their truck schedule sends more than half of the trucks the longest route through Lyons Falls and Constableville back to Ava. This route adds approximately 38 miles roundtrip and is conceivably the most treacherous winter driving in all of New York State (NYS). It’s no surprise the State Controller’s audit of OHSWA didn’t perform the requested Rodman comparison. If OHSWA is willing to pay additional costs to send trucks traveling in circles around Lewis and Northern Oneida counties, they may as well send the trucks to Rodman.

In light of negative press that ACAL gets from OHSWA, and local residents as well, I thought people might like to know what a former “outsider” sees when they look inside ACAL. A finer group of people I’ve yet to meet in my life.

Being a person that needs to see things for myself, I have devoted nearly every free minute of my time in studying documents and learning as much as I could about the landfill siting process. Truth and honor are words I would use to describe the actions of ACAL. As one board member put it, telling the truth has always been the most important thing to ACAL.

When ACAL says the Ava landfill site is located in an area that receives some of the heaviest precipitation in NYS, they are telling the truth. This data is provided by a professor of geology for the State University of New York. When ACAL says the landfill footprint is located in an area marked as unfavorable hydrogeology, they are telling the truth. The Waste Authority’s map confirms this data. Unfavorable hydrogeology combined with heavy precipitation is a recipe for environmental disaster, considering the fact that protective measures will eventually fail.

It’s very troubling when local residents question the motives of ACAL. I see honorable people who have worked tirelessly to protect this beautiful place we call home. Their love for our communities and the environment is indisputable! Their work has been exhausting and often times thankless.

Why are OHSWA’s actions not being questioned with the same vigor? OHSWA is a very powerful NYS Public Authority. Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Chair of the Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions, introduced a constitutional amendment that would eliminate public authorities and move their functions back to NYS government agencies. This legislative action was in response to abuses uncovered by the work of his committee. The fundamental problem identified in these investigations was that “they [public authorities] have public missions but are isolated from traditional democratic pressure, and therefore lack accountability to the people.”

While the constitutional amendment did not move forward, the Governor did sign new legislation that became effective January 2006. The public authority reform will include the appointment of an Independent Inspector General, Independent Budget Office, and new laws governing the sale of land and conflict of interest. The desired results will be increased transparency and responsiveness of the 750 authorities operating in NYS.

ACAL continues to fight to protect and preserve our environment because it is the right thing to do. ACAL knew from the beginning, the landfill siting process wasn’t going to be fair, and they were right. To condemn ACAL now because their efforts have not succeeded is shameful. After speaking with dozens of people across the state and country, I have been told not to count on right winning out over wrong. Having the best lawyer to defend the law is no guarantee of success; not when politics is involved.

For those who might think the landfill will be the first and last assault on our Tug Hill homes, you need to think again. Look at a map of NYS. The Hudson River Corridor is currently being monitored by powerful environmental groups working to safeguard New York City’s water supply. Western New York is riddled with landfills, and citizen groups working to stop the pollution are succeeding in defeating new landfills and landfill expansions. The Adirondack Park is off limits for development, including landfills. What’s left? Us! One of the most important things I learned from the people I’ve spoken with over the last 18 months, THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME.

Kathy Crofoot

ACAL Communications Coordinator