Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The Orangetown Planning Board is going to make a final site review determination for the Anellotech expansion this Wednesday, March 11th, 2015.
The Anellotech expansion will be a manufacturing plant that will produce the extremely dangerous carcinogenic chemicals Benzene, Toluene and Xylenes ("BTX"). We believe that the mis-labeling of the facility to “Research Facility” and/or “Test Facility” is Anellotech’s misleading attempt to circumvent federal, state, and local environmental and safety standards. Extensive research has been done that shows that Anellotech has planned for years to build a “Demonstration Manufacturing Facility” capable of producing “Large Development Lots” of BTX for potential customers.
The NYS DEC and the Rockland Dept of Health will not provide protection to our community
- The Rockland County air quality program and monitor was gutted from the budget in 2013 – now the County must rely on the NYS DEC.
- The NYS DEC has somehow concluded that the Anellotech “Pilot Plant” is a “Research Facility” and is “exempt from Air permitting requirements”.Furthermore, the DEC is currently refusing to disclose to the public, “Emission Quantities”, and the list of specific emissions chemicals, that will be released into the air and our community. This refusal comes despite a current FOIL appeal and an internal DEC investigation.
Air Emissions are only one of many concerns residents should have regarding this facility. What happens if there is an explosion or fire? What happens if there is a chemical spill?
What will experimental company Anellotech be “Learning” how to produce in three to five years from now? If they start producing something other than BTX, will we really know? (they would likely still be exempt from Air permitting requirements)
I am asking that you all become informed and involved in this very important issue. Specifically, we need you to:
1) Forward this email on to everyone that you know in Rockland County.
2) Sign the online petition.
https://www.change.org/p/ed-day-rockland-county-executive-do-not-allow-anellotech-to-build-a-smokestack-and-emit-petrochemicals-such-as-benzene-and-btx-into-the-residential-area-of-pearl-river-nanuet?utm_campaign=friend_inviter_chat&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=permissions_dialog_true&share_id=NLmvSDdkHW
3) Show up at the Town Board meeting on Tuesday March 10th, 2015 and the Planning Board meeting on Wednesday March 11th, 2015 to voice your concerns.
4) Write letters or emails in opposition to the Planning Board and Town Board before March 8.
a. Cheryl Coopersmith, Chief Clerk Boards and Commissions - ccoope...@orangetown.com
b. Supervisor Andy Stewart - aste...@orangetown.com
c. Denis Troy - dt...@orangetown.com
d. Tom Morr - TM...@orangetown.com
e. Thomas Diviny - tdi...@orangetown.com
f. Paul Valentine - pvale...@orangetown.com
Allowing this Chemical Manufacturing Plant to be built in the middle of Rockland County will be the biggest failure of our local government in recent memory, and the biggest mistake of our lives.
We can and must stop this plant from being built (and our locally elected officials must know that we expect them to protect our community)
Thanks and Best Regards,
Tom Sullivan – Member - Stop Anellotech
