Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Subscriber Login
My Profile
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home Towns Colonie

PFOA found near Colonie landfill

Jim Franco by Jim Franco
November 23, 2017
in Colonie, Government, News, Towns
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A shot of workers at the Colonie landfill from June, 2017. (Jim Franco/Spotlight News)

A shot of workers at the Colonie landfill from June, 2017. (Jim Franco/Spotlight News)

COLONIE — Water samples taken from storm water discharge into the Mohawk River show levels of PFOA, but they are below the 70 parts per trillion that triggers a health advisory by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Town of Waterford commissioned the study, performed by Sterling Environmental, which found the water near the landfill contained 68 PPT.

Waterford Supervisor Jack Lawler submitted the results to the state Department of Environmental Conservation in his ongoing protest of a plan by the Town of Colonie to expand the landfill.

“The Town has no desire to ‘sensationalize’ this issue, nor do we wish to create dread and panic in our constituents or the public,” according to a letter by attorney Mark Schachner to DEC Deputy Regional Permit Administrator Angelo Marcuccio. “However, at the same time, we are fervent supporters of transparency in open government and the Department and the Town have not only a legal obligation, but also a moral obligation, to make this information public. Therefore, we are also providing this information to local media in fulfillment of these obligations.”

The Town of Halfmoon joined with Waterford in formal opposition to expanding the landfill, which opened in the 1960s and sits on 144 acres off Route 9 along the Mohawk River. Without the expansion the landfill would likely reach capacity sometime in 2018 depending on how – or if – the amount of waste going into the landfill is limited.

In 2014, Colonie asked the DEC for permission to expand the landfill that would extend its life by some 20 years.

The public comment period on the town’s application closed months ago and was re-opened in July to address three topics of concern: how the expansion would impact hazardous waste site at the north end of the landfill site, how or if air quality would be effected by plans to trap leachate in containers rather than a lagoon, and how the expansion would impact sand deposits if there is an earthquake.

Waterford, in the letter to the DEC, acknowledged the information it presented to the DEC was after the public comment period closed. If the expansion is allowed, though, the additional “12 million tons of waste will cause an increased release of pollutants from the unlined areas of the Landfill which are saturated in groundwater and in direct contact with bedrock.”

“If the Department allows this to occur and additional PFOAs are released, then the applicant will be facing enormous legal claims for environmental contamination,” Schachner wrote. “These claims will obviously also be accompanied by substantial legal challenges to the Department’s approval decision.”

Waterford is requesting the DEC require a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement analyzing potential PFOA contamination; the DEC reconvene the legislative public hearing; the test results be included in the administrative record and made a analyze the data to determine if more testing should be done – specifically to determine PFOA levels in groundwater around the landfill site.

The landfill became a campaign issue this year and Supervisor Paula Mahan repeatedly said the town will follow whatever directive the DEC hands down about the application to expand.

PFOAs made national news when excessive levels were found in the Hoosick Falls drinking water. It is a chemical commonly used to make pans and other items non-stick. Small levels of PFOA are likely found in every living creature on the planet.

Studies have found prolonged exposure to PFOA can cause cancer in animals and suggest high levels of PFOA could cause health problems in humans.

Tags: Colonie landfillHalfmoonWaterford
ShareTweetShareShare
Previous Post

FITNESS: Tackle success this Thanksgiving

Next Post

Theatre Review: ‘Redwood Curtain’ worthy of praise

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

Recent News

Video: Man kicks out patrol car window, spits in face of ADA

February 6, 2023

Colonie Area Weekly Police Blotter January 31st – February 1st

February 5, 2023

Bethlehem Area Weekly Police Blotter January 31st – February 1st

February 4, 2023
Spotlight News lists calls from Delmar, Elsmere, North Bethlehem, Slingerlands and Selkirk fire companies. These department are comprised of local volunteers. Please consider serving your neighbors as a volunteer firefighter. This data is compiled from the Town of Bethlehem Communications Center.

Bethlehem Volunteer Fire Log Jan. 20 – Jan. 27

February 4, 2023

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Fear to Storm Cheerleading Competition at Saratoga High School on Saturday, Jan. 28.

SPOTTED: Cheer from Bethlehem and Colonie at Fear the Storm Competition

January 31, 2023
Bethlhem, Guilderland and Shaker Gymnastics travelled to Saratoga on Friday, Jan. 13.

SPOTTED: Bethlehem, Guilderland, Shaker and Saratoga compete at qualifying meet

January 16, 2023

SPOTTED: Colonie wrestlers fall to Saratoga 49-18 

January 24, 2023

Colonie Area Weekly Police Blotter January 31st – February 1st

February 5, 2023

Video: Man kicks out patrol car window, spits in face of ADA

February 6, 2023

Colonie Area Weekly Police Blotter January 31st – February 1st

February 5, 2023

Bethlehem Area Weekly Police Blotter January 31st – February 1st

February 4, 2023
Spotlight News lists calls from Delmar, Elsmere, North Bethlehem, Slingerlands and Selkirk fire companies. These department are comprised of local volunteers. Please consider serving your neighbors as a volunteer firefighter. This data is compiled from the Town of Bethlehem Communications Center.

Bethlehem Volunteer Fire Log Jan. 20 – Jan. 27

February 4, 2023
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Election 2022
  • News
    • Crime and Police
    • Fire Departments
    • Milestones
    • Real Estate and Housing
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Theatre
    • Music
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Fitness
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login
    • Service Directory
    • Hire Power – Employer Spotlight
  • Capital District Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
  • Log In
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949