Residents pushback against Tully Environmental facility
– By Josh Durso
A major turnout is expected at Monday’s meeting of the Butler Town Board, as it considers an application from Tully Environmental to construct a sewage sludge processing facility in its community on State Route 89.
Over the weekend, Seneca Lake Guardian, the group that lobbied against Crestwood Midstream’s expansion at the southern end of Seneca Lake, as well as the construction of an incinerator in Romulus, came out opposed.
Tully will be giving a presentation at Monday’s meeting. “They will then hear from several residents as they consider whether or not to allow the project to move on to the next step in the approval process,” SLG said in a statement.
“The project would bring human waste via truck through many neighboring towns, counties and villages, and would be sited next to Wolcott Creek, a tributary that feeds directly into Lake Ontario. Of the highest concern is the fact that the old gravel mining pit, where the sludge facility would be located, is a poor location considering its history and proximity to the water table,” the statement continues.
They say concerned residents of the region hope to have questions answered at the session. They also plan to urge the Board to listen to constituents who are ‘widely opposed’ to the proposal.
“It is imperative that everyone concerned about this project come to the meeting next Monday night,” said Kristina Mastrangelo-Gasowski, co-founder of Butler and Beyond for Sludge-Free Backyards. “The Town Board needs to know that we do not want this project in our community. The number of risks and the cost to the town far outweigh any financial elements that could be presented. Ultimately, it is their responsibility to listen to the voters when it comes to making decisions that impact their community, to do their own research rather than relying solely on a company that stands to gain significantly from this project, and to assure the residents that they can have faith in the people making this decision.”
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Butler Town Hall, which is located at 4576 Butler Center Road.
Josh is the publisher of FingerLakes1.com. Have a question? Send them to [email protected].