Just as we were hoping to stop the TRIM Intermodal... it looks like another waste hauler has been trying to fly this in under the radar... they want to build a 1000 ton per day construction and demolition waste processing plant on Commack road around where PC Richards is located. Same crap... trying to avoid local regulation by operating under RR rules (Surface Transportation Board or STB).  C&D waste can contain lead paint, broken concrete and associated dust, asphalt, and these also can be contaminated... and of course "incidental" asbestos that is below certain concentrations... along with the many dilapidated trucks used to haul the stuff around. There will also be lots of old dried out lumber... a fire hazard as well. Then, they'll park it over DP Avenue just to improve the views.

They would add a second rail siding to the one already there. Just when we got rid of 2 junkyards too. Another thing to fight against in 2008.

DB

The town is trying to put a stop to it, and the state and county may get involved depending on how effective they can be...but it could be difficult if the trash company can get away with hiding behind the Federal STB Railroad statutes. It depends on just how long ago they began to disguise themselves as a legal RR company. What they seem to try to do most times is set up a "short line railroad" which may only own a hundred feet or so of track, and maybe one locomotive, then call themselves a RR and try to claim exemption from local zoning control, and often even county or state environmental rules.

We are usually in tune with such things, but did not learn of it until now. A lot of people in government also never heard of it until recently, and it does seem the actions of this company were deliberately secretive.

The town did support Tanger though, mainly due to the tax revenues it could bring in. You'd think Tanger themselves would not want this across the street.

DB

I'm asking you all for a little help on this project:

If you are still a NYS resident, in any way or form, or know people who would be interested who live in NYS:

Here is something everyone should consider doing if you want to help stop them from building another facility that would bring in about 600 or so more trucks a day, and who knows what sort of materials parked along the DP portion of the LIRR sidings. The freight lines do not have to even listen to local rules, for the most part they operate under the surface transportation board (STB) regulations and only the federal government can make changes. Anything that interferes with commerce is usually not even considered.

So why would we want to let them build this huge facility just east of the town line in Brentwood? One a RR takes over as a site operator, anything goes! If they choose to ship in chemicals, and ship out garbage, there won't be much we can do about it then.

The NYS Senate bill S6728 and NY Assembly Bill A09870 would stop this facility by enforcing the laws of 1987, which clearly state that this land should be transferred to the Edgewood Preserve. It is our best hope at stopping this project. Already, you can see the private RR operator parking the empty freight cars right over DP Avenue. This will certainly increase as they start using every old siding they can find to make this TRIM project work. And that does not even consider all the woodlands that will be bulldozed to make room for the facility.

All you have to do is click on the below link and print out the letter twice, Fill in your name and address with a pen and sign them. Mail one to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and one to the CC address at the bottom which is our PO box. I would really appreciate some help with this! Thanks for hearing it out and I hope to see some letters soon. We are getting there, but this needs to be done first!

http://www.deerparkschools.org/alumni/friends/BillEndorsementLtr.pdf

Dennis,

I took the liberty of cut and pasting your appeal for more letters and placing it in my blog. You can find it at

http://localism.com/article/412227/A-CALL-TO-ACTION

Good Luck

Greg

For what it is worth, we had a meeting at a "public forum" held at Republic airport last night. Did anyone hear of it? Didn't think so! They did very little outreach because they really did not want to hear you, or me, or any of the public, but had to go through the motions. The public is always the last to get up and speak, and more than half the panel simply got up and walked out after the last official spoke. This is your government at work! And this was better than last year when only the stenographer and the mediator stayed in the room... all the bureaucrats were outside chatting or having a smoke, 

The mediator last night was cutting the time of people who had an agenda, but never cut off those who "Shared the Vision" 

Looks like the Senate and Assembly bills are our last hope for common sense to prevail.

And so, as it must...the fight goes on!

DB