[Announce] Vacation~Spills and ills~Questions~Bad Behavior~and Research~

Fri Jul 13 09:19:08 MDT 2007

To all,

  Well, it seems we were all being lied to when we were told the Jason Gorman of CHA was on vacation.

   According to Lynne Lyons, she called the landfill odor complaint hotline the after "secret' meeting Wednesday evening after discovering putrid odors emanating from the landfill on Rapp Road in the area that the stables are located. 

  She claims that it was Mr. Gorman himself who answered the phone and admitted to her that he sat directly behind her at the meeting.

  If they lied about something as non-issue as Mr. Gorman's attendance, what other substantive things did they lie to us about?

  Can any of the others who after the meeting also experienced the awful smell and called the hotline to complain about the odors verify this? 

  I hope everyone who calls the hotline to complain about the offensive odors asks the person who answers the telephone for their name.

  Jim

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metoyou <completethisform at yahoo.com> wrote:
    Jim,
  Yes.  That is correct.  He said the odor was most likely from the wells they were putting in and that he would check it (I assumed he meant he was going to check it then).  He said on the phone he was at the meeting and sat behind me.  It was hard to turn around to those directly behind me as I hurt my side when I fell on my daughter's 16th birthday at the Cook Park Sharon Pavilion where we were.  The kids had some water balloons, and the floor was wet and must have been slippery...unlike their other pavilion last year where the kids not only had water balloons, but we had torrential rains and the pavilion leaked too.
  It was not bad until I picked up my brief case for the meeting.  It's too heavy carrying around all the foil papers.  I must have pulled something in the pre-injured area. 
  I am going to sort out the papers, index what I have, and give it back.  I feel now we should do an online data source to refer to with a password.  I just thought of that.  I'll have to send this to Bert and Lynne.  Anyhow, to make a long story long,  that is why I couldn't turn around to see who was behind me.  
  I don't know why they said he was on vacation if he was there~someone was mistaken, or they canceled it~which reminds me...I just read something about a law for not having a landfill within five miles of an airport, but I believe that was not New York State...have to do more research...and I forget why.  I'll find out.
  Also, I just wrote a huge letter to Megan that I was going to send you all.  I wrote the background to my few questions I asked and wrote some comments.  It seems Sandra Fox told a friend of mine that my "questions were stupid".  I told my friend my questions were well researched and not stupid at all.  My one question was based upon a DEC violation written to the City to test for emissions in the flare, and the other about testing for radiation was based upon the Pottstown Pa. Landfill tests that came up with high levels of radiation there...not to mention the site here down the street from me where they had extremely high levels of radiation...so many sued because of that...they had cancer etc. and won.  I also heard an "Oh my God" comment in a derogatory manner when Bert's wife, who is a sweet person, made the statement about hoping everyone would still remain an activist when things seem better.  I was shocked at that behavior, and the comment by Fox.  I told my
 friend Fox could have only felt that way because the questions were way over her head....  I just don't expect that type of behavior and those type of comments from adults....  
  Lynne

James Travers <jatrav at yahoo.com> wrote:
    Lynne,

  Please verify if I understand your message correctly, are you telling me that Jason Gorman of CHA, who we all were told was on vacation and was not able to attend the Wednesday evening meeting, the same man who called you and invited you to the meeting, answered the phone when you called that evening and complained about the "odor" emanating from the landfill?

  Jim

metoyou <completethisform at yahoo.com> wrote:
    Hi Jim,
  That's him.  I'm glad he was suspicious about it and tested it!!!  He should be commended for doing so!!  Kids love anything in those gum machines they have for trinkets.  I think people were told by the news to throw them out in the trash~  I don't remember anyone giving instructions for special disposal....
  We all smelled the landfill upon leaving the meeting.  The hotline was called about the stink then.  Mr. Gorman said he thought it was the wells they are installing.  The landfill stunk outside last night at my house too (around 11:30).  It was really bad.  A friend noticed it right away when we arrived on the property here.  Did they say when the wells would be finished?  
  Lynne L.  

James Travers <jatrav at yahoo.com> wrote:
    Lynne L.

  I believe the person was the child's father and was none other than NYSDEC Wildlife Pathologist Dr. Ward Stone, a close and longtime friend who was long ago introduced to me by Tom Ellis, another close and long time friend, who I continually annoy for failing to hold my tongue at public meetings.

  He drafted me into joining him on one of his recent efforts hunting for the poisoned toy jewelry after having lunch with him not that long ago.

  Jim Travers

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metoyou <completethisform at yahoo.com> wrote:
    Dear Jim,
  It does not surprise me to hear about things coming here from China with lead in them.  Remember the jewlery in the gum machines....  If not for the grandfather of a child who had these trinkets, and the fact that he was a scientist who had connections, and tested these things sold everywhere to children, we would not know they were lead based and dangerous.  I believe people were told to throw these lead based items out in their trash if they had them....
  Lynne

James Travers <jatrav at yahoo.com> wrote:

  Study Finds High Percentage Toxic Heavy Metals in Packaging

  Date: July 10, 2007

  Source: Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse

  Toxic Heavy Metals Found in Packaging in Violation of State Laws

  Packaging of Imported Products are Most Likely to Contain the Regulated Metals

  Sixteen percent of retail packaging failed a screening test for toxic heavy metals and are likely in violation of state laws, according to the first comprehensive report on heavy metals in packaging, just released by the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH).
  Packaging of products imported from China and other Asian countries were most likely to contain these toxic metals, including lead and cadmium, known environmental and health hazards.

  With grant support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the TPCH screened 355 packages for the presence of four restricted metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium) between October 2005 and February 2006 using a portable x-ray fluorescence analyzer. Aluminum, glass, paper, plastic, and steel packaging materials were tested.

  Flexible plastic bags made of polyvinylchloride (PVC) were among the packaging types most likely to contain lead and cadmium.

  Historically, these metals were used as inexpensive stabilizers to retard the degradation of plastics exposed to heat and ultraviolet light. The study found that over 60% of this packaging type did not comply with state toxics in packaging laws. Almost all of the flexible PVC samples were from products imported from Asia, according to the product label. This "heavy-duty" plastic is frequently used to package home furnishings, cosmetics, inexpensive toys, and pet supplies.

  Inks and colorants used on plastic shopping and mailing bags were the other packaging materials with frequently detected heavy metals. Lead was most often found in the shopping bags that failed the screening test, but mercury and chromium were also detected in some samples.

  Test results for one package, a plastic mail order bag, indicated that the package was almost 1% lead by weight. The elevated levels of the restricted metals again appear to be largely from packaging of imported products, where solvent-based inks that contain these heavy metals are still used.

  "We're concerned about the high incidence of violations of state toxics in packaging laws," said Peter Pettit of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and Chairman of the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse. "The results of this study make it clear that toxic metals are still entering our solid waste and recycling streams through discarded packaging almost 15 years after 19 U.S. states, including New York, passed laws prohibiting these substances in packaging in order to protect the environment and public health."

  These state laws prohibit the sale or distribution of packaging containing intentionally added cadmium, lead, mercury, and hexavalent chromium, and set limits on the incidental concentration of these materials in packaging.

  Companies selling or distributing packaging that failed the screening test were notified of the test results and requested to certify compliance with state toxics in packaging laws, or to notify TPCH of non-compliant packaging and discontinue the sale and distribution of the packaging.

  Some companies acknowledged that state toxics in packaging requirements had "fallen off the radar screen" over the years with dwindling state attention to the issue and increasing pressure to reduce costs to remain competitive. The study also found some companies that thought they were taking all necessary steps to ensure the quality of packaging supplies, only to find out that their packaging was indeed tainted with heavy metals and in violation of state laws.

  "States like New Hampshire entered into enforcement mode only in cases where companies were unresponsive," said Sharon Yergeau of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. "We were willing to educate companies about the laws, but not willing to be ignored, which is an administrative violation of the law. 

  Companies are required to respond to state's requests for Certificates of Compliance within 60 days."

  "The Clearinghouse plans to undertake additional compliance screening projects, and companies can expect more aggressive enforcement of state toxics in packaging laws in the future," said David Westcott of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

  Penalties for non-compliance vary by state. In New York, for example, the penalties for violations of the Hazardous Packaging Act are up to $10,000 for the first violation and up to $25,000 per violation for each violation thereafter, and each package on the shelf constitutes a separate and distinct violation. Similarly, in Connecticut, a violation could result in a penalty of $10,000 per day per violation.

  The full report, An Assessment of Heavy Metals in Packaging, is available for download from the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse website at www.toxicsinpackaging.org. The Clearinghouse was created to support states and help coordinate the implementation of individual states' toxics in packaging laws. The TPCH serves as a central location for processing information requests from external constituencies and promoting compliance with the laws.

  Of the 19 states with toxics in packaging laws, eight states -- California, Connecticut, Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island -- collaborated on this study.
  For more information, contact:

Patricia Dillon
Program Manager
Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse
Tel: (802) 254-8911

Email: info at toxicsinpackaging.org.

www.toxicsinpackaging.org.

  http://www.wastebusinessjournal.com/news/wbj20070711C.htm

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