|
|
|||||||||||
Home / News / Press Releases
/ Testimony
/ Legislation
/ On the Issues
/ Newsletter
/ Resources /
|
|||||||||||
|
|
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 2nd, 2005 Contact: Jordan Isenstadt (c) 516.991.3842 (w) 212.490.9535 (f) 212.490.2151 ***PRESS
RELEASE*** State Senator Liz Krueger
Submits Testimony Opposing 91st Street Marine Transfer Station New York, NY – State Senator Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan) submitted testimony yesterday before the New York City Council criticizing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Department of Sanitation’s Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan, and more specifically, opposing the proposed 91st Street marine transfer station. “I have chosen to testify today because I oppose operating a marine transfer station in any of New York City’s residential neighborhoods,” stated Senator Krueger. “Before continuing, I would like to make clear that I support incorporating marine transfer stations into the City’s waste disposal solutions, and I believe that we all must be responsible for our own garbage. However, when placed in or immediately adjacent to primarily residential zones, transfer stations are, in effect, non-conforming facilities that unfairly burden the host community, and placing an marine transfer station at the proposed 91st Street site would be irresponsible and myopic.” Specific negative effects that the proposed transfer station will produce in the area include increased traffic, foul odor, noise, poor air quality, decreased public health, and a permanent alteration to the character of the neighborhood. The DEIS ignores the reality of most of these issues and is completely inadequate and arguably illegal. “The mere presence of so many seemingly demonstrable legal transgressions would argue against approval of the proposed Solid Waste Management Plan because the City and State of New York would be inviting a protracted and expensive lawsuit,” continued Krueger. “Taxpayers should not be asked to foot the bill for the preventable errors of their government.” The Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has also acted duplicitously throughout the entire siting process, especially with regard to the public. “At a Community Board 8 meeting, Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty presented a revised marine transfer station plan for 91st Street that included never-before-seen figures,” remarked Senator Krueger. “Contradicting his department’s own DEIS, Commissioner Doherty assured the audience that the 91st Street marine transfer station would receive no more than 1,500 tons of waste per day. He also dismissed the idea that an adequate DEIS would have also accounted for a worst-case, 4,290-ton per day scenario. Commissioner Doherty responded to inquiries about how the 91st Street site was selected with the scientific, ‘Quite frankly, we haven’t looked at much else’.” “Overall, the plan to build a transfer station at 91st Street is riddled with flaws. There are a number of alternatives to be explored, and while the specifics may be a cause for disagreement, a consensus has emerged that the Solid Waste Management Plan and its DEIS are inadequate, disingenuous, and likely illegal,” concluded Senator Krueger. “Our communities would be better served if DSNY delayed implementation of a new plan and went back to the drawing board to reexamine and alter its proposals.” -30- |
|||||||||
