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ACAL NewsRecent Documents...
News Updates...ACAL News – Week of 23 February 2007 (Revised)Over the next few months, I will celebrate three years of involvement with Adirondack Communities Advisory League (ACAL), most of that time, as communications chairperson. I became involved with ACAL after the organization received a horrible blow in 2004 – the issuance of the permit by Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin Crotty to allow the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (OHSWA) to build a landfill in the small rural Town of Ava. This one single action abruptly ended the eleven years of hard work to keep OHSWA’s landfill out of the community. However, the work didn’t end here. With the support of the community following a public meeting in April 2004, ACAL regrouped and continued to hold a state-appointed public authority accountable for siting a landfill in one of the worse and wettest locations in Upstate New York. Nearly three years have passed since the issuance of the landfill permit and the problems with this potential disaster have not ended. During the construction phase of the landfill, OHSWA allowed excessive sediment to enter the trout-spawning stream of Moose Creek. ACAL could have ignored the alleged violations of state and federal environmental law, but we didn’t. ACAL documented the pollution, and made formal complaints to the DEC, the United Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Region 2 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We could have thrown our hands up in the air when Region 6 DEC issued what has been referred to as an illegal consent order in February 2006, allowing OHSWA to continue polluting Moose Creek. Instead, we decided to take on a powerful public authority for abusing the environment by filing a Clean Water Act citizens’ lawsuit against OHSWA. When some people prefer not to get involved and to just go about their every day business, ACAL stands with the thousands of grassroots organizations throughout the United States; private citizens standing up for their rights by taking on big business, and state and federal government. Why? Because big business and state and federal government are not always right and do not always behave in ethical ways. I recently viewed the 2006 documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” The General Motors (GM) EV1 electric car that was popular in California in the mid 1990’s were taken off the road less than 10 years later, and the cars suddenly disappeared. EV1 owners, including celebrities and private individuals, couldn’t understand why GM decided to end the life of this obviously green, zero emissions, environmental friendly vehicle of the future. So they formed a grassroots organization and traced the location of the cars that were picked up by car dealerships and taken from the owners when their leases expired. What the coalition found was shocking. All of the cars, except for one disabled model located in an automobile museum, were all destroyed. After interviewing government officials from the state level all the way to the White House, viewers of this documentary will likely agree the demise of the electric car was due to government and oil company control, money motivation (GM decided to sell the money-making Hummer instead), oil dependency, and the fault of consumers who didn’t really pay much attention to what was going on. Indifference is as dangerous as those who deliberately deceive. Former electric car owners have since formed a grassroots group to educate the American public on new electric car technology. Last month, GM unveiled their new all-electric drive Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid, which will be available for purchase in 2010. "With lithium-ion batteries, electric-only drive, plug-in capability and a 1 liter gasoline engine for range extension, the Volt plug-in hybrid is charging the auto industry." For more information, visit http://www.PlugInAmerica.com. To stand up for what is right and just is not what other people are called to do. It is what we are all called to do. It takes time and commitment, plenty of effort and dedication, patience and determination. ACAL is a unique organization located in a very small rural area. We refuse to allow OHSWA or the DEC or state officials to strip its citizens of their rights to protect a beautiful area and its precious resources. In order for ACAL to remain effective, we need the spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial support of local citizens who believe in our mission – to preserve and protect the environment in the Northern Oneida and Southern Lewis County Region of the Tug Hill Plateau. Together, we can make informed and educated decisions regarding the future of the North Country’s environment. Jacki Chamberlain Communications Chairperson Adirondack Communities Advisory League (ACAL) P.O. Box 202, Boonville, NY 13309 ACALnews@gmail.com 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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