For Release: Thursday, October 2, 2008
DEC Meets with Quebec Officials Regarding Franklin County Landfill
Representatives of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) met recently with Quebec environmental officials of Région of Montérégie from the Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs (Ministère) at their request to discuss the Franklin County Landfill, given the public interest in the project on the Canadian side of the border.
"The meeting was a valuable exchange between our two agencies about our respective environmental review processes and programs," said Elizabeth M. Lowe, DEC Region 5 Director. "We also discussed the public involvement opportunities for new landfill activities in New York State."
Located about 1.5 miles from the border, the Franklin County landfill is owned and operated by the Franklin County Solid Waste Management Authority (Authority).
DEC provided the Ministère with an overview of the regulatory process for the Authority's proposal to expand the landfill. The project, which is still in the early stages of review, falls under the jurisdiction of the State's Solid Waste Facility Permit Regulations (6NYCRR Part 360), the State's Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR), and the Uniform Procedures Act (UPA).
The overview included information regarding technical review criteria, project time frames, and opportunities for public involvement. DEC also described the operation, technical design, and DEC's regulatory oversight of the existing landfill. The meeting ended at the landfill with a tour of the facility, including cell four now under construction.
Overview of Existing Landfill and Proposed Expansion:
The existing Franklin County Landfill, located in the Towns of Westville and Constable, operates under a Solid Waste Management Facility permit issued by DEC. The current permit is for a 20-acre landfill consisting of four cells for disposal of municipal solid waste. The landfill began accepting solid waste in August 1994 and the fourth cell is currently under construction.
The Authority is proposing to expand the landfill to a potential maximum footprint of 325 acres to the west of the existing landfill. Information regarding the proposal is available at the Franklin County website. The project is in the early stages of SEQR review and applications have not yet been submitted for the required DEC permits.
SEQR and Opportunity for Public Comment:
Currently, the proposal is undergoing environmental review pursuant to SEQR. The Authority, as SEQR Lead Agency, determined that the project may have a significant environmental impact and therefore an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. The EIS process provides a means for agencies, project sponsors, and the public to consider impacts, alternatives and mitigation.
A public scoping meeting to focus the issues was held on May 22, 2008. The final scoping document, released in June 2008, is available on the Authority's website referenced above. The Authority is now preparing a Draft EIS, based on content of the final scoping document.
Once the Draft EIS is complete, the Authority will make the document accessible and available for public review. A public comment period must be provided and the Authority will determine whether or not to hold a public hearing, prior to preparing the Final EIS.
Information regarding the current status of the SEQR review may be obtained from: Mr. George Eades, Executive Director, County of Franklin Solid Waste Management Authority, 828 County Route 20, Constable, NY 12926.
DEC Regulatory Requirements and Associated Public Comment opportunities:
The Authority's proposal to expand the landfill will require several permits from DEC, including those pursuant to Solid Waste Facility Management, State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Air Emissions, and Water Quality Certification. No permit applications have been received to date. Upon receipt of applications, DEC will proceed with rigorous technical review, which is separate from the environmental review under SEQR. Acceptance of a project under SEQR does not mean that permit applications will necessarily be approved.
Permit applications require detailed information, including an engineering report and hydrogeologic investigation report, sufficient to ascertain environmental impacts. The information must demonstrate that the design, construction, operation, closure and post-closure monitoring and maintenance complies with state regulations.
Once applications are deemed complete, there will be opportunity for public comment and DEC will determine whether or not to hold a public hearing. This may be a separate hearing from the public hearing for the Draft EIS.
DEC's final permitting decision will be based on environmental and technical review. Project design must avoid and mitigate impacts and must meet strict regulatory criteria for protection of natural resources, human health and the environment.
