Residents Speak Out on Waste Facility

Eagle Times Staff
CLAREMONT, NH — In support of local control, A Better Claremont (ABC) submitted a letter to the Claremont City Council and the Department of Environmental Services on Monday, Oct. 9, about Acuity Management Inc.’s proposed waste transfer station that is on the city council agenda for discussion at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 11.

Residents have been before the council opposing Acuity’s plan to truck hundreds of tons of construction and demolition waste (C&D) into the city daily for transfer onto trucks and train cars for processing or disposal elsewhere.

Impacts on air quality in the vicinity of Claremont Junction and neighborhoods along Maple Avenue are concerning as the small scrap yard and recycling operation on Acuity’s property is already a concern for area residents.

ABC supports the city sending a letter to DES opposing Acuity’s permit application, as Claremont’s City Code does not allow a waste transfer operation in Industrial District 1. Expanding a local recycling facility — originally permitted to accept scrap metal and recyclable materials such as cans, bottles and cardboard into a major waste consolidation and shipping operation — does not meet City land-use requirements, the group said.

On Aug. 17, Acuity filed a permit application with DES in an attempt to maneuver around the city’s local authority. ABC contends that Acuity’s proposal is not a modification of existing permits but a major change of use that would transform a small recycling center and scrap metal facility into one of the largest waste transfer operations in the state.

Citizens expect DES to respect Claremont’s land-use regulations and city code. On its part, Acuity has filed a lawsuit to overturn Claremont’s decision.

According to Acuity’s estimation, the facility will receive 77 trucks daily loaded with an estimated 500 tons of toxic construction and other waste. Toxics contained in this waste are threats to public health and the environment, including PFAS, mercury, lead and formaldehyde.

The facility would be within 1,000-feet of an elementary school and a half mile of hundreds of homes. It has been determined there is no safe level of lead in the blood, and there is mounting evidence there may be no safe level for PFAS exposure. Mercury, present in such waste, is a toxic element that lasts forever.

Lead, mercury and PFAS are among several toxic chemicals that contribute to various cancers, threaten a child’s growth and development and cause harm to the endocrine, immune and reproductive systems.

“The issue is not about the modification of an existing permit; this is a major shift in size and purpose,” Rebecca MacKenzie, a founding member of ABC, said.

MacKenzie wants DES to respect Claremont’s land-use decisions and regulations.

“DES should suspend consideration and reject Acuity’s permit application,” she said. “Citizens have the right to protect their health and environment and need to be heard.”

“Acuity’s plan to import 130,000-tons of potentially contaminated waste into Claremont each year is simply wrong,” former Public Nurse Katie Lajoie said. “A major concern is wood containing lead-based paint. Claremont has made significant progress in reducing the risk of lead exposure among its population. If approved, Acuity’s operation will increase the risk, and that is unacceptable.”