Environment DEC
From the October 2008 issue
DEC Sets Hearings on Draft Hazardous Waste Facility Siting Plan
DEC has announced 10 dates for hearings in October and November on the state's draft Hazardous Waste Facility Siting Plan and draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS). The draft siting plan assesses the state's capacity for managing hazardous waste in accordance with state and federal law in order to ensure adequate availability of industrial hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facilities into the future. The final adoption of a siting plan is a prerequisite for the siting or significant expansion of certain new hazardous waste management facilities in New York. The draft GEIS is the document that evaluates and addresses any potential impacts the siting plan may have on the environment. The GEIS, however, does not replace the need for a separate and distinct site-specific environmental review for the siting or expansion of any hazardous waste management facility. See the Draft Hazardous Waste Facility Siting Plan and Supporting DGEIS for the text of both drafts.
Public Encouraged to Attend/Comment
Each hazardous waste facility must have a site-specific environmental review that is separate from the draft GEIS.
The hearings will provide an opportunity for the public to comment on the siting plan. All persons, organizations, corporations, government agencies, and others that wish to comment on the proposed siting plan are invited to attend the hearings and to submit either written or oral statements. Hearings locations are accessible to people with impaired mobility. Upon request to DEC within a reasonable period prior to the hearings, interpreter services can be made available at no charge to people with hearing impairments. Time limits may be set for each speaker in order to afford everyone an opportunity to be heard. Lengthy statements should be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. Written statements received prior to the close of the public comment period and oral statements made at each hearing session will be given equal weight when DEC reviews the comments and determines if changes may be necessary to the draft plan.
Following this round of hearings, DEC will respond to the comments, make any changes needed to the document, and schedule a second round of hearings throughout the state. The timeline for the second round and the comment period will be largely dependent on issues raised in the first round and the resulting need for further analysis and revision.
More Information
See the complete press release on which this story is based for the times and locations of the hearings. The deadline for the submission of written comments is the close of business on November 26, 2008. Comments can be sent to John Iannotti, NYSDEC, Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-7250. They can also be e-mailed to hwsiting@gw.dec.state.ny.us or faxed to 518-402-9024.
