After the release of the recent report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) regarding the future of the Huntley Coal Plant in the Town of Tonawanda, Clean Air held a series of community assemblies in the city and town of Tonawanda, Grand Island, and Riverside to vision a “just” transition away from the plant.

The idea of a “just” transition was first promoted by Tony Mazzocchi, the founder of the workplace health and safety movement, and suggests that when plants dangerous to our health and the environment retire, there should be resources invested in making sure working men and women and local communities can not only survive, but prosper. And so, at these Just Transition Assemblies throughout the month of March, nearly 100 impacted residents, workers, and climate change activists came together to vision a resilient future for our region if the NRG Huntley coal plant were to retire.

Participants were asked to consider several questions—who do we need to take care of, how can we take care of them, and in a perfect world, what would we do with the land Huntley currently sits on. The number one concern at all four assemblies was the impact on the Huntley workers and their families.  Some of the ideas generated for how to take care of them included job retraining, severance packets, and lateral transfers. Other concerns included the impact on the school district and on town and county services. Participants argued that in order to ensure the success of the region, the burden couldn’t fall on the taxpayers of Tonawanda and Erie County. Possible sources of revenue included federal or state government aid, funding from other sources such as NYPA or RGGI, and making sure NRG (Huntley’s parent company) was held accountable in the process.  When asked to vision a limitless future for the Huntley space, participants generated hundreds of ideas for economic development, renewable energy, job creation and reconnecting with our waterfront—everything from turning Huntley into a nature preserve to creating an amusement park off the existing Huntley infrastructure.

The next step is our Just Transition delegate meeting  which is tomorrow, Thursday, March 27^th, at 6PM at the American Legion-Brounshidle Post #2!

One thing that was clear after the assemblies was that there were still many questions left unanswered. How contaminated is the site? If the plant shuts down, who is responsible for the space and cleanup? What is NRG’s response to the report? Are there other options besides shutting down the plant? 

It was clear that the community wanted answers and we needed experts to answer them. And so as a follow-up to these assemblies, we will be holding a Just Transition Conference on Saturday, June 7th, at the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) WNY office located at 270 Essjay Road, Williamsville NY 14221. Panels and workshops will be led by leaders from communities who are facing similar challenges, labor leaders, new economy visionaries, brownfield redevelopment experts, and other local community leaders.

Please help us make this conference a reality and become a sustaining member of the Clean Air Coalition to help us keep going. With your generous membership gift of $25, $35 or $60 we can continue to be a force for environmental justice in our region.

–  Melanie Prasad

NOI Climate Fellow

Join us for a Toxic Tour on April 9th!

Toxic Tours are guided van tours through Tonawanda and Buffalo’s West Side that will stop at a few of the many major pollution and environmental justice landmarks in our region.

• Join the grassroots leaders who are fighting back against corporate polluters and negligent government agencies on a tour of their neighborhoods.
• See Tonawanda Coke; the US’s third largest land port; petroleum terminals; and other plants that are some of Erie County’s largest polluters.
• Learn what’s really in the air in Buffalo and what our grassroots movement is doing to fight back.

Wednesday, April 9th 2014 8AM

Meet and Park at the Boys and Girls Club at 54 Riverdale Ave. Buffalo NY 14207

Parking at back of building on Edgar Ave.

RSVP to Rachel at 852-3813 or rachel@cacwny.org

Space is limited so reserve your seat today!

Hundreds of trucks rumbling over a dusty dirt road spewing carcinogenic diesel exhaust. Clouds of dust from the crushing of concrete. The dumping of demolition materials from before sunrise until after sunset.

“I can’t open my windows because of all the dust from the rock crushing. It is hard for my kids to play outside because there are so many trucks up and down the street. My kids are always getting bloody noses all day long.”

This is what residents on Peabody Street in Seneca Babcock are living with. Our newest members Jack, Diane, and their neighbors are organizing to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood. This February, the Clean Air board of directors voted to join their efforts.

Battaglia Inc. has operated in the neighborhood for less than ten years. In that time, the company has been cited numerous times by the Department of Environmental Conservation for violation of its permit. The DEC also found traces of silica dust on the window sills of residents. Crystalline silica has been classified as a human lung carcinogen, its dust can cause silicosis, which can be disabling or in some cases, fatal. When the dust enters the lungs it forms into scar tissue which reduces the lung’s ability to take in oxygen.

Clean Air is working to support the organizing of residents to reduce their exposure to silica dust and take back their neighborhood. We need to raise $5,000 this spring to support this work. We appreciate your previous contributions and thought you would be interested in supporting this neighborhood.  Can you help us by making a contribution? We’ll be posting thank yous and updates throughout the week on our social media keeping you up to date on our progress!

US District Attorney in Tonawanda Coke Criminal Case to Meet with Public

 Clean Air continues efforts to keep potential fines local 

Aaron J. Mango, Assistant U.S. Attorney on the landmark case against Tonawanda Coke Corporation will provide a sentencing update to the public.  Residents and workers who have or potentially have been impacted by the company are encouraged to attend. This is an important meeting in order to continue the fight to keep potential fines local and controlled by impacted communities.

 Nearly a year ago, the Tonawanda Coke Corporation was found guilty of violating the Clean Air Act and Resource Conversation and Recovery Act. This landmark verdict is only the second time in US history that a company has been indicted under the Clean Air Act, and will set precedent for future cases. The company could face up to $200 million in fines.

Last summer, Clean Air led a campaign to keep the potential criminal fines local and used to fund community controlled projects in the most impacted neighborhoods.  Nearly 600 residents cast votes for how they think the funds should be used. This work resulted in the Department of Justice recommending $12,794,182 go towards community service projects. The ultimate decision resides with the Judge.

Sentencing for both Tonawanda Coke Corporation and Mark Kamholz is scheduled for March 19, 2014 at 10:00 AM before U.S. District Court Chief Judge William Skretny in theFederal Courthouse at 2 Niagara Square (9th floor), Buffalo, NY

WHEN: Monday, March 10^th from 6-8pm

WHERE: River Road Fire Hall, 39 Kaufman Ave. Tonawanda 14150

This Wednesday the Clean Air Board of Directors vote unanimously to join with residents on Peabody St. in the Seneca Babcock neighborhood to stand up against Battaglia Inc.

Battaglia Inc. is located at 1037 Seneca St. Buffalo, NY. The company’s property line comes up against the property of homeowners and renters on Peabody St., a densely populated community  in South Buffalo. The company is a demolition transfer site, which temporary stores debris from housing demolition. Battaglia also engages in concrete crushing on site. Due to the activities of the company, there are a high number of trucks coming in and out of the facility, loading and unloading trash and debris.

The company has been in operation for less than 10 years. In this timeframe Battaglia has been cited numerous times by the Department of Environmental Conservation for violation of its 360 Waste Transfer Permit.

Clean Air became aware of the issue after our office has received numerous complaints from residents living near the company. Examples of complaints we have received as follows:

“The kids always have headaches from all the dust from the rock crushing, photos falling off of the wall from the house shaking because of all the trucks up and down the street.”

“I can’t open my windows because of all the dust from the rock crushing. It is hard for my kids to play outside because there are so many trucks up and down the street… My kids are always getting bloody noses and all I hear all day long is the beeping from the trucks.”

We are excited to work with the dedicated and courageous Peabody St. residents. Stay tuned to see this campaign progress…

Huntley, located in the Town of Tonawanda, is Erie County’s last coal-burning power plant.  A recent report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis  stated Huntley is “experiencing average annual pre-tax earnings of a negative $1 million and does not appear to be financially viable”. The report estimates that as recently as 2005, the plant was making $110 million a year and that the plant lost $1 million per year between 2009 and 2012.  The report goes on to call on community and corporate leadership.

According to the IEEFA’s press release, former First Deputy New York State Comptroller Tom Sanzillo, report co-author and director of finance, IEEFA, said:  “The challenges posed by the Huntley plant can be handled by the region if planning starts now. We estimate there are less than 70 employees who may be affected by a coal plant retirement. The goal of our plan is to provide every employee with opportunities for a stable, long term income. The weak financial condition of the Huntley plant creates a revenue risk for the Town of Tonawanda, its Highway Department, Erie County and the Ken-Ton School District. By far the largest and most important NRG payment is to the Ken-Ton School District. As the plant’s financing deteriorates, tax payments to the district will become smaller. The actual budget for 2012 for the district was $135 million. Payments from the Huntley plant constitute 5.9 percent of actual district expenditures for 2012. With adequate planning, the loss of revenue from the Huntley plant need not result in a sudden jolt to the school district budget.”  

We must make sure that if the plant retires, that workers at the plant and residents who live near the plant are protected. We must make sure that new revenue is secured for our schools and local governments, and for a clean up of the waterfront property.

Join us for a Just Transition Assembly where we will:

• Share the financial report about Huntley
• Brainstorm what residents, workers, and local governments will need in the future
• Identify community priorities

SATURDAY, March 1st 3pm: Boys and Girls Club at 54 Riverdale Rd in the Town of Tonawanda

MONDAY, March 3rd,  6pm: Grand Island Memorial Library 1715 Bedell Rd. Grand Island

THURSDAY, March 6th 6pm: Northwest Community Center at 155 Lawn Ave in Buffalo

THURSDAY, March 13th at 6pm Tonawanda City Hall, 200 Niagara St. in the City of Tonawanda

#EnviroJusticeNow!

“I was so happy to see that officials in Washington have acknowledged our air quality problems, and for the opportunity to start a conversation about what my neighbors and I need to breathe” said Tangia Delk, a west side resident and Clean Air member.

“We welcome the resources from Washington to help us on tackle the West Side’s asthma epidemic, but environmental justice requires that impacted residents must be in the drivers seat.  West Side residents and Clean Air members have been talking about solutions for years and we want an open an honest conversation led by affected residents on how to combat the poor air quality in the neighborhood” says Natasha Soto.

“We need a comprehensive plan for the Peace Bridge. We have the solutions to our air quality problems and we want the chance to see them implemented”, said Clean Air member Nicole Roberts who lives behind the Peace Bridge Plaza.

Members believe strongly that expanding the truck plaza further into this environmental justice neighborhood and continuing to build out trucking infrastructure will exacerbate the asthma crisis on the west side. This is a long-term fight that the Coalition is committed to. However, the community has several common-sense solutions that could be funded by the City of Buffalo, New York State, and the Federal Government today that would help make the west side a healthier neighborhood.

Common-Sense Solutions to the Air Quality Problems on the West Side

  Developed by the members of Clean Air: Organizing for Health and Justice who live, work and play on the lower west side of Buffalo.

The members believe strongly that expanding a truck plaza further into this environmental justice neighborhood and continuing to build trucking infrastructure will exacerbate the asthma crisis on the west side. This is a long-term fight that the Coalition is committed to. However, the community has several common-sense solutions that could be funded by the City of Buffalo, New York State, and the Federal Government today that would help make the west side a healthier neighborhood. Our public officials should:

1. Monitor for the chemicals we are most concerned about, in the places we are most concerned about. Extend the air monitoring project to the summer months, add more monitors, test for ultrafine particulates and let us have some control over the study design.
2. Invest in green buffers in high-traffic locations. Fund a pilot project for a green wall between us and high-traffic locations to buffer us from noise, diesel fumes and bright lights. We’d like to see the pilot take place in a high-traffic area in our neighborhood like the ramp off Virginia Street or the truck ramp that borders Front Park. This has been done in California very successfully.
3. Enforce anti-idling laws. The NYS DEC should make our neighborhood a priority and assign officers to spend more time in our neighborhood to prevent idling on side streets. The Peace Bridge Authority should increase enforcement on the plaza.
4. Plant trees. Work with us to identify the best locations and then fund tree plantings that are more than decorative and act as buffers.
5. Hire more customs agents.  Senator Schumer noted just a few months ago this wasn’t an infrastructure problem; this is a staffing problem.
6. Fund health clinics and asthma screenings. We don’t have enough doctors in our neighborhood. Invest in our health clinics and health care providers.
7. Fund air filtration systems for our community centers, churches and schools.
8. Treat us as equals. Stop talking about us and around us. Invite us to the table to talk about solutions, and make sure you all show up at the table. We mean all of you: Fed. Highway, NYS DOT, the PBA, the DEC, and our local elected officials like Councilman Rivera and Pridgen, Congressman Higgins, Assemblyman Ryan, and Senators Grisanti and Kennedy.
9. Make public meetings PUBLIC. We are proud of our neighborhood’s racial and linguistic diversity. Hold meetings in the languages we speak, and work with us to develop meetings that facilitate meaningful community input.
10. Invest in our neighborhoods ‘streets. Our streets and sidewalks are in bad shape from the 18-wheelers that run through our neighborhood daily. This makes walking to church and the grocery store dangerous for the many seniors who live in our community. And it makes it less likely our young people will play outside and receive the kind of exercise we need to be healthy. We need our roads paved, curbs fixed and better lighting in our neighborhood.
11. 

Clean Air is extremely concerned about the explosion today at the Tonawanda Coke Plant in the Town of Tonawanda. We understand the company stated this was a minor explosion and a small fire but past self reporting from the company has been inaccurate and has put workers and residents at risk.

Great news!

We did it! After numerous letters from residents and organizations living and working on the West Side, the Dept. of Transportation has extended the comment period for the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) until January 28^th!

This gives us all a little more time to tell the DOT how we feel about the NY Gateway Project, and what improvements we want made. Don’t know where to start? Then join us for a workshop on how to write a comment letter, what alternatives can be included, and the different types of mitigation we can demand from the DOT and Federal Highway.

Join us because the West Side is your neighborhood and the DOT should not get to tell you how it should look or feel like.

What: Comment Writing Workshop

When: Thursday, January 23^rd at 5:30 PM

Where: Niagara Branch Library (280 Porter Avenue)

Call us if you need a ride! 716.852.3813.

! Noticia buena!

! Los hicimos! Residentes y organizaciones que viven y trabajan en el West Side mandaron muchas cartas para que el Depto. De Transportaciones extendieran el ultimo día que están aceptando comentarios para el Borrador de Declaración de Impacto Ambiental ¡y ganamos!

El último día para someter comentarios es el 28º de enero dándonos más tiempo para someter comentarios al proyecto NY Gateway. ¿No sabes cómo empezar? Bueno, vamos a tener un taller ensenado como escribir comentarios, que alternativas podemos pedir, y que tipos de mitigación necesitamos.

Adjúntate con nosotros porque el West Side es tu vecindario y el DOT no tiene el derecho diciéndote como deber ser.

Que: Taller para aprender a Someter Comentarios Federales

Cuando: jueves, 23 de enero a las 5:30 PM

Adonde: Biblioteca Niagara (280 Avenida Porter)

Llamen si necesitas que te recojan.

Clean Air: Organizing for Health and Justice was  founded by residents in Tonawanda, NY who suspected that their health problems were linked to the 53 industrial plants in their neighborhood. Residents conducted their own research,  joined together with their neighbors to build the power of their community, and forced enforcement agencies and decision makers to take action.

Since then our work has grown. Our fight has expanded to work not only to reduce toxics in the Tonwandas, but also to address the asthma epidemic on Buffalo’s west side. Fighting for justice can be difficult, overwhelming, and never ending. This is why remembering and celebrating community wins is not only meaningful, but necessary.

“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all.”

Martin Luther King Jr.

On January 15th, Clean Air members will share their stories of hope and how their experience fighting for justice led them to become agents for change. We hope you join us!

Wednesday, January 15th * 7pm

St. Timothys Church

1453 Staley Rd, Grand Island, NY 14072