Letter to Lieutenant Colonel Adams - Schumer, Gillibrand Urge Army Corps Of Engineers To Evaluate Environmental Risks Of Proposed Waste Transfer Facility Near Seneca Lake

Letter

Dear Lieutenant Colonel Adams:

We write to express concerns regarding a proposed materials recovery and solid waste transfer facility in the Town of Cayuta, Schuyler County, New York. We have heard community concerns that the facility has the potential to pose significant negative environmental impacts, including water quality concerns, through the construction of the facility on and/ or adjacent to wetlands in Schuyler County. To address these concerns, we request a full evaluation of the project's potential impacts to nearby wetlands by the regulatory division of the Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District.

It is our understanding that the proposed County Line Materials Recovery Facility would process not just recyclables, as implied by the project name, but would also accept municipal solid waste as well as construction and demolition debris. It would store and then ultimately transfer the solid waste to another facility such as the nearby Seneca Meadows Landfill.

However, the location of the proposed facility could have an outsized adverse impact on nearby pristine environments as it abuts the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area and is not far from the popular Watkins Glen State Park, Newfield State Forest, and Seneca Lake. These popular tourist and recreation areas are key to the economic vibrancy of other small towns in Schuyler County. More to the point, the project could negatively impact wetlands that sit atop or adjacent to the proposed site and flow into the larger Susquehanna River Basin watershed. For that reason, we strongly request that you conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the project to determine the possible impact to nearby wetlands. The residents of Schuyler County must know any potential risks the proposed materials recovery and waste transfer facility will have on local water quality.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff.

Sincerely,

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