ALBANY: The City of Albany has applied for a permit to expand the landfill in the Pine Bush. The battle has begun!

On Wednesday, February 21 at 7:00 PM at the Polish Community Center (255 Washington Avenue Extension, corner of Rapp Road), the NYS Department of Environmental Conversation will hold a Public Scoping Session on the proposed expansion. The purpose of the hearing is to allow the public to submit comments on the scope of issues to be covered in the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement that the City of Albany will prepare.

A copy of the Draft Scope – City of Albany Rapp Road Landfill Eastern Expansion Fourth Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) can be obtained at the Albany Public Library, the Colonie Town Library or on the web at http://www.capitalregionlandfill.com/documents/DraftScope-Final-1-2-07.PDF.
More documents relating to the proposed expansion can be found at http://www.capitalregionlandfill.com/documents.

The proposed eastern expansion of the landfill will take 15 acres of Pine Bush. The City is confusing the issue by saying the land is not in the Pine Bush Preserve. Don’t believe the City’s nonsense – this proposal will eat up 15 acres of precious Pine Bush ecosystem. Whether land has been dedicated to the Preserve or not, the these 15 acres are Pine Bush and must be protected from becoming a dump.

Perhaps the most ridiculous statement in the Draft Scope document is “Odor control has been an issue for residents in the past . . .[emphasis added]” as if the stink is not still a problem. Talk to anyone in the neighborhood, the landfill stinks to high heaven!

In the expansion application, the City is proposing habitat restoration of the former Fox Run Mobile Home Park. Remember, until Save the Pine Bush sued the City last year, the City was proposing to expand the landfill onto Fox Run.

The City of Albany needs to adopt a rational solid waste policy that does not include importing garbage to balance the City budget.

Zero waste is the ultimate answer. Only 9% of the garbage comes from City of Albany households and that 9% can be brought down to almost zero by reduction, reuse, and recycling. The City refuses to listen to the citizens. Its time now for Citizens to take action!

Wednesday, February 21, 7:00 PM, Polish Community Center – Attend the public hearing, whether you wish to speak or not. Copy the poster inside this newsletter and give to friends. Read about the expansion at http://www.capitalregion landfill.com. Prepare a statement about your concerns about the landfill expansion. Come a few minutes early and talk to Save the Pine Bush volunteers. If you do not wish to speak, please come and support the opponents of the landfill.

Wednesday, March 14, 7:00 PM, Village of Colonie Family Recreation Center, 2 Thunder Road, Albany – Save the Pine Bush will have a “Call to Action” Public Meeting. Meet members of Save the Pine Bush, and hear a Save the Pine Bush lawyer speak about legal actions available to local residents who live with the stink. Copy the poster inside this newsletter and give to friends.