A state appellate court has upheld a ruling that invalidates a Seneca Falls law aimed at closing the Seneca Meadows landfill.
The Appellate Division, Fourth Department affirmed a lower court decision finding the town failed to meet environmental review requirements.
The case centers on Local Law No. 3 of 2016, which would have prohibited operation of the landfill after its permits expire.
Seneca Meadows, Inc., which operates the landfill, challenged the law under the State Environmental Quality Review Act.
The court found the Town Board did not properly evaluate environmental impacts before adopting the law.
Judges determined the board failed to identify key environmental concerns, take a required “hard look,” or provide a reasoned explanation for its conclusions.
The decision also highlighted concerns about potential increases in greenhouse gas emissions if waste had to be transported farther distances after closure.
The ruling follows a series of appeals, including a decision by the state’s highest court that allowed Seneca Meadows to challenge the law as a property owner.
In a statement shared following the decision, a representative for the company said:
“We are gratified by today’s Supreme Court ruling on the question of the Seneca Falls Town Board’s local law 3 2016. Now that this costly drawn-out question is resolved, we look forward to focusing on our permit modification and Valley Infill plan with NYSDEC. We are confident the NYSDEC’s thorough 6+ year review of our Valley Infill permit modification will allow our essential team to continue our critical work properly handling the waste streams we all generate that must be properly environmentally managed per NYSDEC and USEPA regulations and making renewable energy with our renewable energy partner right here in the heart of New York State.”
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].