A controversial decision by the Chemung County Legislature in upstate NY may lead to an increase in the amount of radioactive natural gas drilling waste their landfill accepts from Pennsylvania. The landfill already receives up to 2,000 tons per week. Among residents' concern is the possible contamination of the Chemung River, which is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Despite protests from residents and environmental groups, the county voted 11-3 to approve the modifications to its agreement with Casella Waste Systems.
Among residents' concerns are possible health and environmental impacts to the towns of Ashland, Southport and Chemung. Although Casella Waste says it conducts frequent testing of the groundwater for contamination and insists the amount of radiation is not harmful, the results of an independent study to check for runoff will not be out for 2 weeks. The Committee to Preserve the Finger Lakes plans on taking legal action against the county to stop it from importing natural gas waste. For more on the landfill controversy, check out articles from the Binghamton Press and the Elmira Star-Gazette.
***Please sign the petition to ban hydrofracture drilling in New York State (and ask others to sign as well!) We must protect the watershed that supplies water to NYC/NYS.***
photo courtesy of Nadine Kaplan
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