GENESEO — Fireworks are expected at tonight's public hearing with The New York State Department of Conservation and AlphaGeoscience, the company that AkzoNobel hired to conduct geological studies, as they meet with the public to discuss the desalination plant operating in Leicester and it's likely shut down. The desalination plant operates as a result of the 1994 AkzoNobel salt mine collapse, which created a cavern underground that is … [Read more...]
Public Hearing Set for Desalination Plant Shut Down
LIVINGSTON COUNTY — The New York State Department of Conservation and AlphaGeoscience, the company that AkzoNobel hired to conduct geological studies, will meet with the public to discuss the desalination plant operating in Leicester. Leicester Town Supervisor Lisa Semmel says she spoke with representatives of the DEC ,who informed her that the plant consent order, which expired Oct 15th, has been extended an additional … [Read more...]
State Officials Ignore Local Leaders Over Akzo Desalination Plant Concerns
LIVINGSTON COUNTY — Local elected officials are uniting in their demands of an open Public Hearing in regards to the potential shut down of the desalination plant that is operating at the site of the 1994 AkzoNobel Salt Mine collapse. Over two weeks ago, the County requested a response from the New York State Attorney General's Office to establish a hearing, and have yet to hear a response. Several agencies have submitted FOIL … [Read more...]
Email to the Editor: The Akzo Nobel Public Response
Akzo Nobel has responded to local media articles regarding its “negotiations with New York State” relative to Akzo’s plans to discontinue the brine pumping and thereby sacrifice the lower aquifer. Let’s take a look! Paragraph 1 indicates this is the company’s statement on the matter, yet it goes on to say that, “as we are still negotiating with the State, I unfortunately can’t provide you any further details.” A statement on this matter … [Read more...]
AkzoNobel Responds to Brine Plant Closing and Environmental Impact
LIVINGSTON COUNTY — Representatives from AkzoNobel have confirmed that they are in negotiations with New York State for a lump settlement to shut down the desalination plant on Oct. 15 with the belief that there will be no adverse affects on the environment. In the detailed email addressed to Josh Williams, Publisher of the GeneseeSun.com, from Jeroen Pul, Communications Manager for AkzoNobel North America, the plant operates pursuant to a … [Read more...]
State Officials a No-show After County Requests Public Forum on Deslalination Plant
LIVINGSTON COUNTY — At a meeting of the Livingston County Board of Supervisors today, County Administrator Ian Coyle stated that he has reached out to the State of New York requesting to have a public forum and not a private session to address concerns about the potential closure of the Azko desalination plant. The Cuylerville Road facility is currently treating brine produced as a result of the collapse of the Akzo salt mine in … [Read more...]
EXCLUSIVE: Akzo Desalination Plant to Shut Down
LIVINGSTON COUNTY — According to sources, the Akzo desalination plant on Cuylerville road is scheduled to be shut down on Oct 15. A source with close knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the GeneseeSun.com that employees were notified of the shutdown on Thursday. The plant is in operation as a result of the 1994 Akzo Salt Mine collapse where it desalinates water and dumps it into local creeks. Sources … [Read more...]
Local Leaders Concerned Over Brine Facilty and Fracking Link
AVON — The Town of Avon passed a resolution Thursday evening to resume action on a 12-month moratorium on natural gas exploration and extraction, or hydrofracking. The development came after representatives from the New York State Attorney General's Office and the New York State Department of Conservation office (DEC) approached local leaders with a proposal to shut down the brine processing plant currently operating in Leicester. The … [Read more...]