COHOES, N.Y. (NEWS10) — On Monday, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) held a public hearing regarding Norlite and its waste dealing with. And it was a divided hearing between those that assist Norlite and people involved concerning the surroundings. Anthony Luisi, Regional Director for DEC, mentioned the replace will carry the corporate’s permit up to date with altering laws on a state stage.
“Specifically, a couple of years ago, and before, there were certain provisions under the regulations that allowed them to use the residues of hazardous waste under our regulations without any additional requirements.”
Many residents assist the extra necessities so long as the hazardous waste will not be blended into industrial merchandise like cement for reuse.
One resident requested, “If the toxic material is made into building products or installed and then demolished for removal, how many people will be exposed to the toxic dust?”
Norlite supporters shared that nobody has been sick from working on the plant for years and even many years. Gary Lopez, a mechanic/loader operator at Norlite, made it clear that the corporate most definitely follows division laws.
“We already showed them everything,” Lopez mentioned. “We’ve been working on anything they ask. We just follow the rules just like the DEC asks us.”
There is fear amongst union leaders like Stanley Koniszewski from Teamster Local 294 concerning the plant presumably having to shut or get rid of jobs due to lawsuits or additional laws.
“I got guys right now who have been working in that plant. Someone got laid off because of all this going on right now,” he mentioned. “But you wanna know what? It’s almost Christmas time. These guys want the same paycheck their father got 50 years ago.”
Christopher Briggs, Cohoes Councilmember for the third Ward, hopes for a compromise.
“I’m sure that somewhere along the lines, we could make some adjustments and not use that dust and still stay in business,” he mentioned. “So these hyperboles about how everyone is going to lose their job and so forth and so on- I’m sure something can be worked out.”
DEC officers say the hearing has nothing to do with the pending litigations with Norlite and that it’ll take a number of weeks earlier than a choice is made about scheduling one other public hearing.
