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Officials outraged by Dewey Loeffel settlement
Sep 25, 2014 7:48 am
Barbara Reina is reporting in the Register Star some local officials are troubled by what they are calling a lack of disclosure by state and federal regulators around a half-million dollar settlement over inaccurate testing at the Dewey Loeffel Superfund site in Nassau, Rensselaer Co. The settlement was reached between the state Department of Health and the current owners of Northeast Analytical Inc. in June. Inefficient water testing by the Schenectady-based private lab may have resulted in an under-reporting of the samples analyzed, according to court filings. U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson said he is demanding answers on why the test results and the state's settlement with the lab were never made public. He also continues to call for a comprehensive public health study of the site. According to the settlement, nearly half of the total fine is earmarked for the lab site in Schenectady Co., where the tests were conducted. Nassau Town Supervisor David Fleming said he was outraged that none of the information related to the testing issues was shared with the communities directly involved. He was also angry that a large portion of the settlement money was headed to another county. Fleming said he will be seeking legal counsel on the matter. From 1952 until 1968, the Dewey Loeffel site was used for the disposal of an estimated 46,000 tons of waste materials generated by several companies including General Electric, Bendix Corporation and Schenectady Chemicals, according to the EPA. Read the full story in the Register Star.