State confirms

landfill as

source of foul odor

By BARBARA O'BRIEN
News Southtowns Bureau
9/28/2004
There was so much hydrogen sulfide gas coming out of a vent at the
Schultz Landfill earlier this month that the amount was off the meter
state officials use to measure it.

After receiving many complaints of a "rotten egg" odor from those living
near the landfill, representatives from the state Department of
Environmental Conservation and the Department of Health took a gas
detection meter to the landfill in Cheektowaga.

The meter had an automatic shut off when it reached a level of 50 parts
per million. When they tested a vent pipe on the north slope of the
landfill, the "meter read off the scale," according to the DEC's
regional solid materials engineer. Mark J. Hans wrote a letter to the
site's owner, Integrated Waste Schultz Landfill, describing the testing.

"The meter shut down and had to be regenerated," he wrote in the Sept.
13 letter, adding that no more gas vent pipes were tested. "It is
apparent to us that gas discharges from the vent pipes are contributing
to the odor problem in the neighborhood."

Residents living near the landfill have complained of noxious odors for
more than a year, but say it got worse this summer. Some complained to
the town that the stench was in their furniture, and forced them to
close their windows. The odor seems particularly bad after a rain.

Schultz Landfill stands high above Cayuga Creek, which runs behind the
homes on Rowley Hollow.

The landfill, which accepted construction and demolition debris, is in
the process of being capped and formally shut down. The closing includes
the installation of an impermeable membrane over the entire landfill,
covered by about 12 inches of soil.

The DEC has ordered the landfill owner to hire an environmental
consultant to investigate the hydrogen sulfide odors, propose and
implement a permanent solution. The DEC also wants the landfill to
determine how much methane gas is being released.

September 30, 2004

Schultz (Cassella) IWS Landfill located on Indian rd in Cheektowaga/Depew New York.

Is it not amazing that it has taken the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation nearly 1 year to respond to resident complaints about noxious odors omitting from this site.

Through the Spring and Summer of 2004 the Bellevue and surrounding communities have been plagued by this stench and only now in late September has the department looked into the matter.

This is just one more example of "our tax dollars" not working for us!

The DEC found the amount of Hydrogen Sulfide released from the pipes at the Schultz Landfill to be in direct violation with NYS standards. In fact as stated in the Buffalo News article found on our home page, the amounts were OFF THE CHARTS! . For the past year the residents have been breathing this most dangerous chemical which is known to cause a multitude of health effects including ASTHMA. Children and the Elderly are placed at a significant risk when exposed to this chemical.

Has the department addressed this issue? We think not. As usual the health of our young is at the back of the priority list.

Are we to sit back and  wait for answers? We say NO,  not when OUR children are at stake. We need immediate action and answers to our questions.

We are in posession of the letter mentioned in the Buffalo news article. This letter was written by Mark Hans of the DEC and addressed to Mr James Williams of Integrated Waste Schultz Landfill Inc. 333 Ganson Street Buffalo, NY 14203.

This letter states that the vent pipe #3 on the North slope of the landfill was tested and the meter read "OFF THE SCALE" The meter "SHUT DOWN" and had to be regenerated. Mr Hans also states "It is apparent to us that gas discharges from the vent are contributing to the odor problem in the neighborhood"

"The conclusion and recommendation of the inspectors (DEC and DOH) is that IWS needs tohire an environmental consultant to investigate the HYDROGEN SULFIDE odors coming from the landfill (gas vents and landfill surface) and then propose and implement a permanent solution to the HYDROGEN SULFIDE odors. In addition, IWS must conduct an EXPLOSIVE GAS survey to determine if METHANE gas is leaving the site (subsurface) at concentrations exceeding the lower explosive limit."

"A work plan to investigate and better define the source of the odors must be submitted by October 15, 2004."