Town moves closer to landfill cleanup


AMENIA — The Town Board took an important step forward at its meeting March 22 by hiring a remediation consultation firm to aid with cleanup of the former Amenia Landfill.


How the landfill was closed


Early last decade, a department investigation showed that the landfill, which has been in operation since the 1950s, held toxic materials. The organization closed the landfill in the late 1990s because of the dangerous waste.

This February, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) held a landfill public hearing at Town Hall. All comments, whether verbal or written, were compiled into a record of decision (ROD), or a plan of attack, for remediation.

The DEC’s recommendation, which the town said it would follow, is to dredge the site’s pond and wetland, placing toxic sediment on the ground and capping it with an impermeable layer.

The DEC settlement states that the Amenia Landfill Group, an organization of 10 companies and municipalities that once used the landfill, and the state of New York will provide funds for cleanup.

The board, along with the help of their landfill attorney, Kimberlea Rea, distributed a request for proposal, or RFP, in order to hire a remediation firm.

The town of Sharon, Conn., one of the 10 members of the group, will be responsible for the yearly monitoring and maintenance of the impermeable cap.

When hired, the remediation firm will have a very close relationship with the DEC, which will cover roughly three-quarters of the remediation costs.


Town Board makes its move


 

Last Thursday night, Rea said she had settled on a remediation consultation firm and advised the board to seek its services.

The firm, C.T. Male Associates P.C., of Latham, N.Y., was also highly recommended by Malcolm Brown, the town of Sharon’s first selectman.

"I would, in the interest of time, ask for your authorization to go forward with contractual negotiations with C.T. Male," Rea said before the board.

Janet Reagon, the town of Amenia’s supervisor, made a motion to thaat effect, which was seconded by Wayne Euvrard, councilman.

"This was a very hard decision," Reagon said to the crowd, adding that she thinks the firm out of Latham is the best one for Amenia.

Rea said she’s never seen such a high quality proposal.

Reagon’s motion was accepted unanimously.

The Town Board meets next on Thursday, April 5, at 7 p.m.

 

Last Thursday night, Rea said she had settled on a remediation consultation firm and advised the board to seek its services.

The firm, C.T. Male Associates P.C., of Latham, N.Y., was also highly recommended by Malcolm Brown, the town of Sharon’s first selectman.

"I would, in the interest of time, ask for your authorization to go forward with contractual negotiations with C.T. Male," Rea said before the board.

Janet Reagon, the town of Amenia’s supervisor, made a motion to thaat effect, which was seconded by Wayne Euvrard, councilman.

"This was a very hard decision," Reagon said to the crowd, adding that she thinks the firm out of Latham is the best one for Amenia.

Rea said she’s never seen such a high quality proposal.

Reagon’s motion was accepted unanimously.

The Town Board meets next on Thursday, April 5, at 7 p.m.

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