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ACAL News
Recent Documents...
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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...ACAL News – Week of May 19, 2006
Last week’s Herald contained an informative report compiled by the Tug Hill Commission last December 2005.
As many of you will recall, the town and village of Boonville sent a “Community Planning Survey” to random households in the area last year.
As an active member of the local environmental group called Adirondack Communities Advisory League (ACAL), I was pleased, but not surprised, to see that a vast majority of survey respondents “felt strongly about protecting the following:
• quality of our wildlife habitat (94%)
• water quality of our streams and rivers (94%)
• opportunities for fishing and hunting (93%)
• air quality (91%)
• opportunities for wildlife viewing and nature walks (91%)
• diversity and abundance of our wildlife population (89%)
Over the course of the next five years, 85% of the respondents strongly agreed that Boonville should protect environmental quality.
On Thursday, May 25, 2006, the public is invited to attend the Boonville Joint Planning Committee open session to discuss the committee’s “action items”: residential housing, commercial properties and uses, industrial, environmental planning, and quality of life issues. It is essential for all village and town residents to attend this very important meeting. This is a chance for residents to express their thoughts and concerns, and ask questions regarding the committee’s future action. The public meeting will be held at the Boonville Village/Town Offices on Route 12. Although the time was not mentioned in the Herald, a quick phone call to Elaine or Judy will inform residents of the meeting time.
ACAL is particularly interested in Boonville’s future action regarding the environment. According to the article in the Herald, “The survey was very clear in the respondents desire to protect our local environment – a critical need to include environmental safeguards was voiced.”
On March 21, 2006, the environmental law firm representing ACAL filed a Notice of Intent to Sue The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (OHSWA) and Rifenberg Construction Company for failure to comply with State and Federal permits while building a landfill in Ava, and for repeatedly polluting the trout spawning stream of Moose Creek. Their negligence is an obvious violation of the Clear Water Act. No person or entity is allowed to blatantly pollute the waters of the United State.
One month earlier, in February 2006, The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Region 6 Office in Watertown, created an illegal Consent Order allowing OHSWA and Rifenberg permission to pollute Moose Creek while the landfill continues to be constructed. The NYSDEC is the “environmental governing body” of the lands of New York State. Why they would allow pollution to jeopardize the ecosystem and fish habitat of a federally protected stream is unthinkable. The DEC is violating environmental law and they must be held accountable.
Extensive detailed video, photographic, and documented proof of OHSWA and Rifenberg’s negligence forced ACAL into action earlier this spring. What ACAL finds most appalling is that the excessive sediment entering Moose Creek from the landfill site has continued during the 60 day time period since the Notice of Intent to Sue was presented to both polluters.
ACAL is doing its part to preserve and protect the environment. Sadly, over the past few years, the town and village of Boonville have cared more about negotiating with OHSWA for “something”, then about protecting the environment of its citizens. But it’s not too late. Now is the time for the local boards to do the right thing and refuse to allow OHSWA, Rifenberg, and any other sources to harm the environment.
If 85% of area residents feel the town and village of Boonville should protect the environmental quality of the area, then the boards need to fully support ACAL’s persistent efforts to keep our water pure, our air clean, our wildlife protected, and our land respected.
Please attend the May 25 public meeting at the Boonville Offices located on Route 12 and insist your boards protect the environment in this wonderful area – a place you call home.
Jacki Chamberlain
Communications Chairperson
Adirondack Communities Advisory League
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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