Residents for Responsible Government, Inc.
From 1972 – 2015, Niagara County, New York hosted one of the largest PCB and toxic waste landfill operations in the U.S. The CWM landfill was forced to close in 2015 due to the support and efforts of the community. CWM has applied for a massive new 6 million-ton PCB and toxic waste landfill, referred to as RMU-2, which state and federal agencies conclude is not needed. RMU-1 closed nearly nine years ago, so there is definitely not a local need for another toxic landfill.
The 710-acre proposed site is owned by CWM Chemical Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc., a $20 billion corporation. CWM is located in the Towns of Lewiston and Porter, NY; one mile from all public schools and roughly three miles from the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. There are 17 commercial hazardous waste landfills in the U.S., which supervising agencies deem adequate to handle the nation’s need for decades to come, without CWM.
The CWM proposal, if approved, would send more than a half-million PCB and toxic waste laden trucks past the front of all public schools for decades. In 2003, CWM predicted its application would be approved by 2005, however, the application in 2023 is only now entering the final phase of decision-making.
The nuclear waste, including the k-65 uranium from the WW II Manhattan Project, will soon be removed from the Niagara Falls Storage Site. Congress has begun allocating money towards that project, and plans are to remove it within the next few years. The U.S. Government has heard our concerns about health and safety of our community and has taken action. Now it is time for the State of New York to do the same. Now more than ever, we need to make sure our community is not saddled with another toxic landfill. Save our environment and our community.
CWM Adjudicatory Hearings
The first in a series of adjudicatory hearings on issues requested by a New York State Hazardous Waste Siting Board was held April 11-12, 2022 on whether CWM applications would deter more preferable economic development in the Towns of Lewiston and Porter. The second virtual hearing was held July 6-8 and Aug. 31 – Sept. 2nd, 2022 addressing geology and hydrogeology risks related to the direction and speed of contaminated groundwater. A third adjudicatory hearing was held Sept. 14-16, 2022 regarding Public Interest, consisting primarily of CWM’s version of transportation costs, carbon footprint and economic impacts. A fourth hearing regarding CWM impacts to area real estate values was held Dec. 19-20, 2022. A fifth hearing on CWM impacts to marketing agricultural products was held on May 11, 2023. A sixth hearing on noise and traffic issues was held on September 6-8, 2023. The seventh adjudicatory hearing was held on October 16-27, 2023 regarding radiation issues that would occur from massive hazardous waste landfill operations proposed by CWM.
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The eight hearing is scheduled for April 15-19, 2024 and will cover predicted impacts to air quality from the proposed RMU-2 hazardous waste and PCB landfill project on property contaminated with radiological soils. HEARING STARTS AT 10:00 AM EACH DAY
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Adjudicatory Hearing: An adjudicatory hearing will be held pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 624 at 10:00 a.m. on April 15, 2024, and continue as necessary at the same time through April 19, 2024. The hearing will be held virtually using the Webex audiovisual conference platform. Participation in the adjudicatory hearing is limited to the designated parties. Members of the public may attend the hearing via the internet or listen via telephone.
Instructions to attend the April 15 through 19, 2024, Adjudicatory Hearing: To join the April 15, 2024, hearing through the internet, visit www.webex.com and click “Join a meeting.” input the appropriate event number for the hearing.
Event Number: 161 788 2364
Password: 15April2024
To join by phone only:
Dial: 1-518-549-0500
Access Code: 161 788 2364
Password: 15277452
If necessary, the adjudicatory hearing will continue on April 16, 2024. To join the April 16, 2024, hearing through the internet, visit www.webex.com and click “Join a meeting.” input the appropriate event number for the hearing.
Event Number: 161 057 5493
Password: 16April2024
To join by phone only:
Dial: 1-518-549-0500
Access Code: 161 057 5493
Password: 16277452
If necessary, the adjudicatory hearing will continue on April 17, 2024. To join the April 17, 2024, hearing through the internet, visit www.webex.com and click “Join a meeting.” input the appropriate event number for the hearing.
Event Number: 161 484 4771
Password: 17April2024
To join by phone only:
Dial: 1-518-549-0500
Access Code: 161 484 4771
Password: 17277452
If necessary, the adjudicatory hearing will continue on April 18, 2024. To join the April 18, 2024, hearing through the internet, visit www.webex.com and click “Join a meeting.” input the appropriate event number for the hearing.
Event Number: 161 986 6648
Password: 18April2024
To join by phone only:
Dial: 1-518-549-0500
Access Code: 161 986 6648
Password: 18277452
If necessary, the adjudicatory hearing will continue on April 19, 2024. To join the April 19, 2024, hearing through the internet, visit www.webex.com and click “Join a meeting.” input the appropriate event number for the hearing.
Event Number: 161 826 3713
Password: 19April2024
To join by phone only:
Dial: 1-518-549-0500
Access Code: 161 826 3713
Password: 19277452
For problems joinging the Hearing Contact: Daniel P. O’Connell Administrative Law Judge, Office of Hearings and Mediation Services, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, 1st Floor, Albany, New York 12233-1550. Telephone: 518-402-9003. Email: OHMS@dec.ny.gov
Instructions for public dial-in access by phone or webex video are posted, below.
A final decision date cannot be predicted at this time.
Our work is almost done, but we still need you.
Help RRG fund its representation to end PCB and toxic waste landfilling here, forever!
DONATE: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=C79XHXXUXTYR2&source=url
About RRG
RRG is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization formed in 2002 in response to a 3-to-2 approval by Porter Town Board members to re-zone land for the commercial landfilling of PCBs and hazardous wastes imported from throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. RRG is dedicated to informing and empowering residents in the Towns of Porter and Lewiston and Niagara County, NY.
Contact Us:
Residents for Responsible Government, Inc.
P.O. Box 262
Youngstown, NY 14174
You can email us using the form below.