More Info Needed

I've got some concerns about where this landfill deal is headed. Let me preface this by saying, I haven't followed the situation closely from the start, but I have read what's our there including several on-the-spot posts by Gillian Swart plus whatever is in the Daily News, including today's article.

Apparently, New Ventures wants to haul even more junk to the landfill. The apparent goal is capping the landfill this year, which I suspect would be welcome by the folks who live in stench nearby. In order to do this, however, the City Council and Mayor have to sign off on the plan.

Okay, the vindictive part of me is screaming for city officials to take advantage of this leverage. But doing so apparently would delay the capping, which doesn't help anyone. (Someone please correct me on this if I'm wrong.)

But here's my problem. New Ventures has been negotiating with DEP and the Attorney General's office. Unfortunately, the city has no part in those talks. Even worse, apparently the public isn't worthy enough to know the details of the talks at this point.

From the News:

Refuse at the site must reach a specified capacity before a sealing membrane can be placed and other capping operations can be carried out. Increasing the incoming volume of waste would speed reaching that target.

[Ward 5 Councilor Brian] Derrivan, who said he couldn't provide too many details because the city is in negotiations regarding the site, said the request from New Ventures comes at a time when the company also is negotiating with the state's attorney general and Department of Environmental Protection to develop a plan for capping the landfill.

City officials are not involved in those negotiations, and a deal between the company and the two state agencies — if one has been struck — is not yet public information.

Derrivan, whose ward includes the landfill, said the city is not privy to much of what is going on at that level. But city officials, including Mayor John Moak, have said an agreement between the parties is due at any time.

In the end, though, Derrivan said whatever the two state groups decide with New Ventures, the city has the last say on volume amount and also "we have the luxury, if need be, to issue a cease and desist order.

"But we don't want to go there if we don't have to," Derrivan said.

Derrivan said New Ventures is likely coming to the city before signing a deal with the state.

I hope the negotiations Derrivan mentioned means the city is getting details of any agreement between New Ventures and the state. I can't see how any councilor could give a thumbs up or thumbs down to increasing the loads coming to the landfill without knowing what the long-term plan is.

Incidentally, the meeting will be Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., not Monday--aka Memorial Day--as the article suggests.


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