A local mining company is looking to expand its site and use it as a landfill. Residents in Rensselaer and North Greenbush weighed in on the proposed project Monday night. Innae Park has the story.

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RENSSELAER COUNTY, N.Y. -- It's a proposal that many residents of the City of Rensselaer and Town of North Greenbush refuse to let pass. They made their opposition known at the New York Department of Environmental Conservation public hearing on the possible conversion of the Dunn Gravel Mine into a landfill on Monday night.

"I'm a demolition contractor. I use landfills everyday and I understand the need for them and their importance in functioning society," said Rensselaer County Legislator Michael Cristo. "It's a question of whether it is proven to be right to put in this particular location."

S A Dunn Sand and Gravel Company has applied for two permits to allow for the reclaiming of its mine on Partition Street, solely by construction and demolition debris, not municipal solid waste.

Company president Mike Dunn said, "Landfilling today can be done so much more efficient, cleaner and with respect with all environmental concerns. It is a safe industry."

Even so, many are worried that toxic items will find their way in.

"There's no such thing as clean construction fill. I'm a demolition contractor and everything and anything goes into those dumpsters," said Rensselaer resident Dave Gardner.

Health fears have been raised by the public since the mine is adjacent to city schools. Others are angry about the impact on life with trucks being noisy, dirty and damaging roads.

"There are people who want to develop, put new houses in over there," said Gardner. "Nobody's going to want to put new houses in when you've got 100 trucks a day, rumbling up and down the street."

However, Dunn says the number of truck trips will remain at their limit of 100 per day and not increase. He also outlined some of the other benefits of creating the landfill, including the creation of more space at local MSW landfills and 15 jobs.

"These jobs are the ones needed in this country. These are for the working people really suffering today," said Dunn.

The City of Rensselaer is also expected to benefit financially. Dunn says the company reached an agreement with the city of a tipping fee of $2 per ton. He says, depending on the economy, this could mean anywhere from $400,000 to $800,000.

Those numbers aren't adding up, according to Cristo.

"I don't think that something that's financially lucrative for the city should come at (the cost of the) economic viability of the city. So if it impacts the city negatively, where's the gain?" asked Cristo.

The public comment period ends February 17. To submit a comment, mail it to:
Nancy Baker
NYSDEC Region 4 Headquarters
1130 North Westcott Rd.
Schenectady NY 12306

Or email it to: r4dep@gw.dec.state.ny.us

The full plan/application is available at the following locations:
- Rensselaer City Hall
- Rensselaer Public Library
- North Greenbush Town Hall
- North Greenbush Public Library
- NYS DEC Region 4 Office (address listed above)

To view the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, go to www.ctmale.com/node/218.