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DEC issues new air quality violations against Norlite

Feb 11, 2021 1:15 pm

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued six new air quality violations against Norlite, a producer of material for road building and construction located in the city of Cohoes. According to a statement released Wed., Feb. 10, the violations came to light during the department's ongoing oversight of the facility's compliance with permit conditions and Environmental Conservation Law. DEC cited six air quality violations and took immediate action to mitigate or prevent off-site dust migration, according to the statement. On Feb. 3 and Feb. 8, DEC inspectors discovered the violations. The department expects to take additional action after ongoing air, soil and water investigations, as well as increased facility oversight, are completed. And once the DEC’s air monitoring equipment is installed at the nearby Saratoga Sites apartment complex additional information concerning the potential off-site impacts of Norlite's burning practices will become available to help guide the decision-making about the facility and its operations, according to the department. DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a written statement, “The violations issued today are just one piece of DEC’s comprehensive effort to increase accountability at the facility, respond to community concerns, penalize this repeat violator, and provide a comprehensive path forward to addressing and preventing non-compliance.” Read the full story at the DEC website.