Elected Officials, Environmental and Community Leaders Announce Opposition to Sludge Incinerator in the City of Rensselaer
Rensselaer, NY – Today, elected officials, city residents and environmental leaders gathered on the banks of the Hudson River near the BASF toxic waste site, to express strong opposition to a new incinerator project. The New Jersey company called Harbor Rock is eyeing the property to incinerate river sediment from the bottom of the Hudson River and possibly other rivers and New York Harbor. The sediment, which may contain PFAS chemicals, PCBs and toxic chemicals would be burned in this small riverfront community and emit toxic air pollution into the community when incinerated from a high temperature kiln.
The former BASF property has 5 toxic waste sites next to a residential area and public housing.
Rensselaer is a city of approximately 9,300 people, with several of its communities designated by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as environmental justice areas. The city also meets the criteria of a disadvantaged community, a program to ensure underserved communities benefit from the state’s transition to reduced pollution, cleaner air, and economic opportunities. This project is the opposite of what is needed.
The city is overburdened with toxic pollution, as it is home to the Dunn construction and demolition dump – the largest such dump in NYS and taking waste from six states – a fracked gas powered plant, and up to 16 known or suspected toxic waste sites in the City of Rensselaer. The combined effects of this pollution is an ongoing and overwhelming assault on the health of residents and the environment. Although an application has not yet been received by the city, this project is the second incineration facility proposed at this site in the recent past.
The former BASF property is in the midst of a very slow partial cleanup of toxic waste, such as lead, phenols, mercury and benzene. The 45 acre property contains a remediated brownfield site, three State Superfund Sites, one of which is in the process of being remediated, and a Voluntary Cleanup site left with significant arsenic contamination after remediation. Dyes and pharmaceuticals were also manufactured at the site since the 1890’s, and closed in 2000.
“As the mayor, I am opposed to any and all trash, garbage, recycling and use of an incinerator in the City of Rensselaer that would have the potential to impact the quality life of our residents and our neighbors. We are changing the image of Rensselaer every day and these types of facilities don’t mesh with our long-term goals for the city.” – Mayor Mike Stammel, City of Rensselaer
“As Supervisor of the neighboring Town of East Greenbush, we are already trying to mitigate the dangerous effects of the Dunn Landfill on our residents. That project should never have been approved by DEC and the permit should not be renewed because we weren’t made aware of the deleterious effect of the chemicals emanating from the landfill until after it was in operation. Let’s not make the same mistake again. Projects like this must be stopped before they are approved. And that requires elected officials who listen to their constituents. I’m listening and all I hear are cries of “please stop bringing toxic materials into our neighborhoods.” This project is a terrible idea, made worse by the cumulative effects of the Dunn Landfill, and should be strenuously opposed before it even gets off the ground.”
– Supervisor Jack Conway, Town of East Greenbush
“This is a terrible proposal that should be roundly rejected. Burning sediment from the bottom of rivers and harbors will create air pollution that will impact the entire Capital District. High temperatures do not necessarily destroy the PCBs, PFAS chemicals and heavy metals that are known to be in sediment. I am opposed to this project in the already overburdened City of Rensselaer and anywhere else this company attempts to get a foothold.” – Judith Enck, former EPA Regional Administrator
“Harbor Point and the Port of Albany think a class 2 inactive hazardous waste site in an environmental justice zone is a good location for a river sludge incineration which brings air pollution, water contamination and ecosystem disruption. They need to have another think.” – Bob Welton, Rensselaer Environmental Coalition
“We cannot allow a Norlite 2.0 to be allowed to operate in our community. In Cohoes we have seen children playing in black snow, breathing in cancerous silica dust and families being uprooted and moved due to the hazards the Norlite incinerator inflicts on its residents. Let us not repeat the failed policies of the past and reject this facility for the residents of Rennssaeler and surrounding communities.” – Joe Ritchie Chair Lights Out Norlite