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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 17 November 2006
I heard one of the best quotes the other day, from a very nice man affiliated with The Academy for Character Education at The Sage Colleges in the Albany area.
“You hold an office … an office of citizen.”
We live in a country where citizens have a voice. Unlike oppressed countries where personal opinions and beliefs are suppressed and discouraged, the United States supports the Constitution, which clearly states, every citizen has rights: a right to one’s opinion and beliefs, a right to vote for the best candidate, a right to live as one sees fit, and a right to defend one’s homeland – country, state and township.
The Ava Landfill was a project that was financially supported and encouraged by the State of New York. The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (OHSWA) is a public authority created by the state. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is the agency responsible for protecting and preserving state waters, lands, air and wildlife. The Attorney General’s Office is the defender of the DEC. And the Governor is the official state leader.
The above-mentioned state affiliated agencies and individuals are all responsible for the Ava Landfill, in addition to the Oneida County Legislature, and many state and local politicians who refused to represent the people of Ava and Boonville.
To my knowledge, OHSWA is presently involved in two lawsuits; one with Adirondack Communities Advisory League (ACAL) for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act by polluting Moose Creek, and the other with Waste Management concerning OHSWA’s use of flow control. Citizens need to keep a close eye on both cases. Should the courts find flow control illegal, OHSWA will no longer be able to force Oneida and Herkimer County garbage haulers to bring garbage to the Ava Landfill. As a result, OHSWA will begin to lose money, which will set the stage for the sale of the permit. As soon as the permit is sold, the so-called regional landfill would likely become a state facility overnight; a landfill that could suddenly start accepting garbage from all over the state, including New York City.
OHSWA is thrilled and delighted to be dumping garbage in Ava. They don’t care about forcing a landfill into a small town that didn’t want it. They don’t care about desecrating the Veterans’ Memorial Forest. They don’t care about the tandem trailers of garbage that pass two schools and endanger the lives of our children and citizens. They don’t care about heavy-laden garbage trucks driving through the Village of Boonville, vibrating the streets on which these old historic buildings sit. They don’t care about the rights of citizens who fought for over 13 years to keep this potential environmental disaster out of Ava. OHSWA just doesn’t care. Period.
Many local citizens are very upset with what is happening to their communities since the landfill opened on October 24 and want to know what can be done.
For over 13 years, ACAL has consistently worked to right a wrong: to stop the unfair siting and construction of the Ava Landfill. Although ACAL has worn the “white hats” of justice, the landfill project was more powerful that anyone ever imagined it would be. Now that the landfill is open, it is even more important that citizens stand with ACAL to ensure our waters, land, and air is not polluted by a landfill that was forced into the Town of Ava. The health, safety and rights of local citizens are definitely worth fighting for.
Although ACAL has always suspected the landfill was politically fueled, the proof didn’t begin to surface until DEC Commissioner Erin Crotty granted the landfill permit in 2004. Since that time, the DEC has repeatedly failed to hold OHSWA accountable for violating conditions of their construction permit and for obtaining the necessary permits to operate the landfill.
In February 2006, the DEC wrote an unprecedented Consent Order giving OHSWA permission to pollute Moose Creek. On November 9, ACAL’s attorney and a few members met with representatives of Region 6 DEC. The meeting was attended by Steven Botsford, the DEC water engineer who wrote the very detailed letter to Hans Arnold on August 11, 2006 stating that OHSWA would need to apply for a State Pollutant Elimination System (SPDES) permit and also stop the sediment from entering Moose Creek. What ACAL discovered at the meeting was that Mr. Botsford had retracted his August 11 letter a few weeks after writing it, but did not explain a reason for doing so.
ACAL is extremely concerned the Waste Authority has not been held accountable for their obvious flippant attitude and irresponsible behavior concerning the Town of Ava, the people living in the region, and their duty to comply with all state and federal environmental laws. A Public Authority must not be allowed free-reign over any township in New York State, especially when towns are unable to protect the health and safety of its citizens.
It is the responsibility of the DEC and Attorney General’s Office to work together to ensure that the water, land, air and wildlife in New York State is preserved and protected for future generations. Failing to take appropriate action against the Waste Authority is negligent and weakens the credibility of the DEC and Attorney General’s Office. The citizens of Northern Oneida and Southern Lewis Counties deserve fair and equal consideration from the state’s governing agencies. ACAL is working very hard to make sure the DEC and Attorney General’s Office will do what is right and just on behalf of the citizens of New York State.
“You hold an office … an office of citizen.”
Together, we can hold the State of New York accountable for violating our rights to live as free citizens.
Jacki Chamberlain, ACAL Communications Chair
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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