Listen:

“The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is reviewing an application for an expansion of the Colonie Landfill. But officials from neighboring communities and environmental advocates say more research is needed before any expansion plan is approved.

The Colonie Landfill sits beside the Mohawk River in northern Albany County and is running out of space.

In a process that began in 2014, the Town of Colonie and the landfill operator are seeking an expansion. To do that, they need to obtain the necessary permits to keep the roughly 200-acre landfill open. The current permits expired at the end of 2017.

On Wednesday, the town submitted its environmental impact statement for the project to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Colonie Public Works Engineer Matt McGarry said public comments have been taken into consideration…

Lawler and Halfmoon Town Supervisor Kevin Tollisen have raised environmental concerns and have partnered with environmental group Riverkeeper to test for toxic chemicals that may be leaking from the landfill into the river.

Waterford enlisted an environmental engineering firm to analyze water samples taken from the Mohawk and two storm drains between the landfill and the river. They discovered the presence of the chemical PFOA, the same believed-to-be cancer-causing compound at the center of remediation efforts in Hoosick Falls and other upstate communities. Concentrations at storm drains were reported at up to 68.3 parts per trillion, while Mohawk River samples were significantly lower at 1 to 2 ppt.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory level for PFOA in drinking water is 70 parts per trillion.

The town of Colonie and another firm then took their own samples and found PFOA concentrations at similarly low levels in the river, at 2 to 3 ppt.

This week, as Colonie submitted its environmental impact statement for consideration, Riverkeeper released results of samples taken from outfalls and seeps adjacent to the landfill. The samples were analyzed at Cornell University, with PFOA concentrations reading as high as 519 parts per trillion.

Officials with New York state say they will continue to investigate.”

Read the full article by Lucas Willard.