DEC directs new actions to improve Dunn Landfill

RENSSELAER, N.Y. » New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ( DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos recently announced that at DEC’s direction, SA Dunn & Company is undertaking new actions to improve operations and reduce impacts on the surrounding community.

These comprehensive actions, including enhanced odor control measures and deployment of DEC monitoring equipment to analyze odors and hydrogen sulfide ( H2S), building on the state’s ongoing, rigorous monitoring of this landfill operation to ensure the community is protected, according to a news release from DEC.

In addition, DEC announced that $225,000 resulting from penalties will go to new projects to benefit the Rensselaer community. The $225,000 Environmental Benefit Projects are the result of DEC’s aggressive enforcement of violations at the Dunn facility in 2018.

“We take seriously our responsibility to ensure landfill operations like Dunn are not adversely impacting the surrounding community and DEC’s rigorous oversight and enforcement of violations at Dunn Landfill resulted in a comprehensive Consent Order requiring this facility to operate safely, legally, and with minimal local impacts. Today, we’re announcing new DEC- directed actions to reduce odors and the start of work on penalty-funded projects to benefit local residents. The $225,000 Environmental Benefit Projects will enhance quality of life for Rensselaer residents and reinforce DEC’s con- tinued commitment to holding this facility accountable for its

FILE PHOTO. A look at the landfill located on Partition Street Extension in the city of Rensselaer.

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