Albany landfill discussion extended 2 weeks
The Times Union
ALBANY, NY - The public comment period on the proposed expansion of the Rapp Road landfill was extended by two weeks Friday at the requests of several residents.
The new deadline for public comment is March 10.
The deadline was extended after several people at a packed session Wednesday said residents needed more time to speak on the issue, said Maureen Wren, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
More than 200 people showed up at the session, the majority of whom were against the expansion. Many complained about the foul odors wafting out of the dump and the possibly harmful health effects.
They also demanded the city make changes -- from implementing recycling guidelines to denying commercial haulers' dumping -- to reduce the amount of trash going into the landfill.
The city wants to enlarge the landfill by 15 acres because, at its current rate, it will be full by 2009. The expansion is expected to extend the dump's life by about 10 years.
The comment period will shape what issues are addressed by the city in the environmental impact statement needed to get a DEC permit to expand the dump.
View related articles:
Landfill neighbors denounce plan for expansion
Dump hearing to target vile odor
