WM Legal Responds to Knauf Shaw Notice of Intent

/ Fresh Air for the Eastside/
WM Legal Responds to Knauf Shaw Notice of Intent

Waste Management's Legal Team, Harris Beach, PLLC, has released a formal response to the Knauf Shaw LLC's Notice of Intent Letter.

Over eight weeks have now passed since Linda Shaw's January 19th letter to Basil Seggos, Commissioner of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). In this letter, Ms. Shaw notified NYSDEC, that Waste Management (WM) is in noncompliance with the department’s regulations on odors at its High Acres Landfill facility. Ms. Shaw recommended that the NYSDEC require immediate community air monitoring and that the NYSDEC revoke or suspend the WM’s Part 360 Permit (“Landfill Permit”) in three weeks, if odors and/or tremors did not permanently cease...

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A Promise of Real-time data

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On March 9, Supervisor Mike Barker and the Town of Perinton released a statement to the media to provide an update on Waste Management and the ongoing issues at High Acres Landfill. In the release, the town states the Waste Management's original work plan for mitigating odors at the landfill was examined by the town's consultant, and deemed inadequate.

However, on March 6, Waste Management submitted a revised work plan that has now been approved by both the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the Town of Perinton.

This revised plan contains additional steps recommended by the Town. Steps include:

  1. Further examination of geo-synthetic cover at well sites
  2. Plans to "provide the community, the Perinton Conservation Board and NYSDEC with real-time data needed to evaluate whether these measures are effectively addressing the odor problems."

This statement was picked up by local new station 13WHAM. The station has posted an article with, what FAFE believes may be, misleading statements around resolution and real-time data. 

FAFE continues to express concerns that data is not being streamed in real time to the community and, to date, has not received any information on how to access this data. 

Video 4/4: Understanding the Concern for Local Businesses

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One of the biggest concerns of our members, is what this issue with High Acres could mean for the health of their families. 

It’s time for those in our community to take a stand. But, that’s not just limited to our homes. Business owners need to understand the effects this could have on their customers. Our community is looking for resolution before businesses are impacted.

So where do we go from here? Are you impacted by the issue? Let us know. Reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter. Share your thoughts and concerns. It's time for the real story to be told. 

Video 3/4: Understanding the Concern for our Health

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One of the biggest concerns of our members, is what this issue with High Acres could mean for the health of their families. 

While we know that the gas/rotten-egg smell coming from the landfill is hydrogen-sulfide (H2S), there's very little research on the health impact of low level H2S exposure over a long period of time.

Our community deserves to know if our health is at risk.