Waste Management violated air testing.

How can we trust Waste Management to conduct proper air monitoring at Alliance Landfill when the EPA is reporting the following:

News Releases - Air

Waste Management fined for West Hawaii Landfill violations, to implement fire controls at closed Kona landfill

Release date: 10/01/2008

Contact Information: Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov

Settles air violations at West Hawaii Landfill, will spend over $180,000 for environmental project

(10/01/08) HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a settlement with Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc. and the County of Hawaii for $33,500 in fines and at least $184,400 for a beneficial environmental project after violating the Clean Air Act at the West Hawaii Landfill at Waikaloa.

The supplemental environmental project will address the ongoing smoldering conditions at the closed Kona Landfill by conducting heat mapping of the site for a future landfill-wide fire suppression program. The project will also test the effectiveness of proven landfill fire suppression techniques using fire-retardant foam that could be used at the Kona site. Finally, air monitoring will be done around the Kona landfill to assess any potential impacts from the smoldering landfill.

"We're pleased that, in resolving the West Hawaii Landfill violations, the combustion issues at the closed Kona Landfill will also be addressed," said Deborah Jordan, director for the EPA Pacific Southwest region’s Air Division. "This settlement will help to protect community residents from this potential health hazard."

Since 2001, Waste Management and the County of Hawaii have violated air testing and monitoring reporting requirements for hazardous air pollutants and volatile organics at the West Hawaii Landfill.

The West Hawaii Landfill at Waikaloa on the Big Island is owned by the County of Hawaii and run and operated for the county by Waste Management of Hawaii, Inc. Staff from the Hawaii Department of Health’s Clean Air Branch and Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch provided assistance to the EPA’s investigators. In addition, staff from the California Integrated Waste Management Board assisted in the development of the environmental project.

Nonmethane landfill gas contains volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants that can result in adverse effects to the respiratory system, cancer, and damage to the nervous system. Methane emissions contribute to global climate change and can result in fires or explosions when they accumulate in structures on or off the landfill site.

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To view the actual report click on the bold blue text above!

Definitive Proxy Statement

The following question has often been asked in our community...

Can Waste Management afford to pay for the permanent Air Monitoring of Alliance Landfill?

The Alliance Landfill Task Force in our opinion beleives the answer to that question is YES 100%. Many residents have asked how can you draw that conclusion. We say its very simple just take a look at Waste Management's proxy statement.

Click on the Waste Management proxy statement to the left and just have a look at what the corporation's top leaders are bringing in for compensation. David Steiner, Waste Management's Chief Executive Officer according to the proxy statement is bringing in over $6 million dollars alone for 2007.

Perhaps Mr. Steiner could purchase a few air monitors for our community for permanent placement around Alliance Landfill....now that would be a "Good Neighbor" gesture.

Waste Management can afford to place permanent air monitoring around our community in the task force's opinion. It's time for Waste Management to stop with the games and to do right by the communities around Alliance Landfill.

Taylor residents begin receiving Pennsylvania Department of Health / Fact Sheets

Taylor Residents began receiving the Pennsylvania Department of Health fact sheets regarding the monitoring plan for Alliance Landfill this week. The four page fact gives information about certain parts of the plan

Page 1. Overview / About the Landfill
Page 2. Air Monitoring
Page 3. Sampling Plan
Page 4. Contact Information / Air Pollution and Your Health / What's Next?

If you are a resident who has not yet received a fact sheet and would like a copy contact our group by e-mailing us at info@alliancelandfilltaskforce.com or by calling us at (570) 815-3468.

Government seeks information about Waste Management bid for Republic Services - 2nd Request

Government seeks information about WM bid for Republic Aug. 27 -- The federal government wants more information regarding Waste Management Inc.´s efforts to buy shares of Republic Services Inc.
The Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has sent a second request for details about Waste Management´s proposal to buy stock in Republic.
Republic Services has previously rejected two offers from Waste Management to buy the company. Instead, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based waste management company is continuing with plans to merge with Allied Waste Industries Inc.
"The Company intents to respond promptly to the second request and will continue to cooperate with the DOJ as it conducts its review," Waste Management said.
(Source: Waste News)

Waste Management Protest/Rally - TAMPA BAY, FL

Pennsylvania, Texas and Oregon residents are now planning a Waste Management protest/rally for Tampa Bay, Fl scheduled for the dates of October 21st thru October 23rd.

If your are an area resident seeking information on this protest/rally and details on trip information please e-mail:

Bob Folger or Peter Furiciomo at info@alliancelandfilltaskforce.com

Rumor radioactive waste headed to Alliance Landfill too!

"There's no reason for us not to take it," Dancy said. "We have an agreement to accept this material. We have permission from the DEP." - James Dancy / Pennsylvania Area Vice President for Waste Management (Source: couriertimesNOW.com - 8/8/2008)


Waste Management was given permission by the PaDEP to import "low active radation" waste in to its Falls Landfill. Waste Management plans to import 750 ton of sludge from a Waste Water Treatment plant. The radation came from laundry that washed the uniforms of nuclear plant workers.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission and DEP officials state that at worst the material poses a low risk to residents living around the landfill.

To view the article click the link below:
http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/news/bcct/landfill-to-accept-low-activity-radiation-monday/#comment-2551

Rumors are being reported to the Alliance Landfill Task Force that this material is also being discussed for intake at Alliance Landfill too. The Alliance Landfill Task Force is currently investigating this rumor. Please check back to the blog for more detailed information.

Rep. Wansacz's Home Page

State Representative James Wansacz's Home Page is now showing a News Release containing comments by State Rep Wansacz on the recent PaDEP decision to extend Alliance Landfill's operating permit. To view State Rep Wansacz's news release click the link below:

http://www.pahouse.com/PR/114073008.asp

There have also been rumors floating throughout the communities that State Rep. Wansacz has submitted a letter to the Scranton Times for publishing stating his opinion on the recent decision of the PaDEP to extend Alliance Landfill's operating permit. The Alliance Landfill Task Force does not have any verification as to whether this rumor is true.

The Alliance Landfill Task Force will be submitting a letter to both State Rep. James Wansacz and the Scranton Times for verification on the rumor of the letter.

The Alliance Landfill Task Force would hope that in NEPA corporate influence would not effect any type of media reporting (newspaper, radio, television, ect). The Alliance Landfill Task Force would hope that all sides would be given equal chance to express their opinions.

We will keep you posted on the responses we receive back!

WasteByRail - Is it coming to Alliance Landfill?

Just imagine for a moment not being able to sleep at night because of the loud noise of a train horn blasting as the train hurtles down the track hauling waste into Alliance Landfill. Never though about that one...huh!

Federal law requires trains approaching street level crossings to sound their horns for 15 to 20 seconds between 96 to 110 decibels (about as loud as a jackhammer next to your ear) according to the Federal Railroad Administration rules.

In an effort to improve the quality of life for people living near landfills accepting waste by rail residents all across America have begun to seek federal designation for train horn quite zones.

Take a look and listen for yourself at waste by rail below:



The Alliance landfill Task Force has recently been contacted by a group that claims to have information for our community on the waste industries plans to bring waste into our area by rail through the restoration of the Lackawanna Cutoff. We will be meeting with this group shortly and we will keep the community informed of any information we obtain.

WASTE MANAGEMENT and LOBBYING

Waste Management does have lobbying connections which try to greatly influence legislation and decisions. Lobbyist are paid big money by corporations such as Waste Management.

Attached below are two links which will bring you to two stories showing proof that Waste Management does use lobbying.

Please take a moment and read the following two stories concerning Lobbyist Bill Bobrick.
* Please read both articles in full.

Top lobbyist admits scheme
Influence money funneled to Rep. Tom Anderson, Bobrick testifies
By LISA DEMERAnchorage Daily News
Published: May 17, 2007 Last Modified: July 31, 2007 at 06:07 PM
http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/story/8892691p-8791703c.html

Who did Bill Bobrick work for?
Published: May 17, 2007 Last Modified: July 31, 2007 at 06:07 PM
http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/story/8892691p-8791702c.html

Congressman Paul Kanjorski - response 7/23/08

The Alliance Landfill Task Force has received a written signed response from Congressman Paul Kanjorski. The response letter that the Alliance Landfill Task Force received also was addressed to Alliance Against Alliance/President Bill Toman. However, when the Alliance Landfill Task Force met with the staff of Congressman Paul Kanjorski; Mr Toman was not present at the meeting. The Alliance Landfill Task Force met with Congressman Kanjorski's staff in his Wilkes-Barre office. Present at the meeting were representing the Congressman / Tom Williams and Fred Ney ----representing Alliance Landfill Task Force / Bob Folger and Frank Scavo.

While the Alliance Landfill Task Force is happy to see that Congressman Kanjorsk has responded to us, we are somewhat disappointed in his style of response. Mr. Williams and Mr. Ney who represented the Congressman Kanjorski were presented a letter addresed to Congressman Kanjorski requesting PaDEP documentation records on Alliance Landfill. The Alliance Landfill Task Force letter also asked for Congressman Kanjorski to call for an investigation into the PaDEP and its current operations. The Congressman's response letter makes no reference to these points. Also, to date the Alliance Landfill Task Force has not received the requested documentation asked for in our letter presented to Congressman Kanjorski's staff.

To view Congressman Kanjorski's response click on the letter.

Environmental Injustice

Environmental Injustice is defined as the following:

"Environmental Injustice":
An environmental injustice exists when members of disadvantaged, ethnic, minority or other groups suffer disproportionately at the local, regional (sub-national), or national levels from environmental risks or hazards, and/or disproportionately from violations of fundamental human rights as a result of environmental factors, and/or denied access to environmental investments, benefits, and/or natural resources, and/or are denied access to information; and/or participation in decision making; and or access to justice in environmental-related matters."

The following YouTube video was forwarded to the Alliance Landfill Task Force from an Environmental Justice group based in New York, NY. We ask that you watch the video in entirety by clicking on it. Please value the importance of how the women is fighting for her " human rights". Please listen carefully to the comments on cancer rates, community health and family death.




Now ask yourself the following questions....

How could this happen in America?

Who allowed this chemical to be dumped in this landfill, so close to these homes?

Where was the EPA?

Now ask yourself these questions...

Could something like this be happening at Alliance Landfill?

How can the PaDEP issue another permit to Alliance Landfill on inconclusive testing?

Why is Michael D. Bedrin(PaDEP -NE/Regional Director) not asking the Alliance Landfill Task Force to be involved in environmental participation that effects our community?

Why is Senator Robert Mellow and Representative James Wansacz not introducing legislation for mandatory landfill monitoring (example:mandatory 2.5 community based ambient air monitoring) for all state landfills?

IS THERE ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES?

Teamster.org - In Harm's Way: How WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC. Endangers the Sanitation Workers Who Protect the Public's Health

Waste Management's unionized work force recently was spoken for by their leadership group the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Waste Management's unionized work force spoke of horrible work conditions. The unionized work force speaking up allowed testimony to be heard by the US Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety - which showed Waste Management's OSHA violations rising by 28% between 2003 and 2007.

The National Commission of Inquiry into the Worker Health and Safety Crisis in the Solid Waste Industry issued a reported titled - "In Harms Way". You will be shocked to read what Waste Management's own employees are saying about their company. Click the link below to read "In Harms Way".

http://www.teamster.org/divisions/SolidWaste/PDFs/Waste_In_Harms_Way.pdf

One has to wonder after reading "In Harms Way" do the Waste Management "non-union" employees of Alliance landfill feel the same as their fellow unionized Waste Management employees represented by the Teamsters. Do Waste Management corporate officials or Alliance Landfill management hold a power over them?

WE ASK ALLIANCE LANDFILL EMPLOYEES....WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU WORK, LIVE, AND RAISE YOUR FAMILIES? WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT PERMANENT MANDATORY PM2.5 COMMUNITY BASED AIR MONITORING?

One can only continue to wonder why.....unless of course you don't live in Taylor, Old Forge or Ransom; like some of Alliance Landfills executives.

Unions Urge Senate: Act Now on Safety Crisis at Trash Giant Waste Management

WASHINGTON, April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety heard testimony today from unions in the Change to Win partnership on the need for greater oversight by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of companies with a history of serious, ongoing safety violations -- including waste hauling giant Waste Management, Inc.

To Read The Full Article Click The Link Below:

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/printarticle.aspx?feed=PR&date=20080401&id=8418617

Teamsters President Jim Hoffa made the following statement before the Senate Subcommittee:

"We've all seen the commercials where those gleaming WMI trucks drive through green landscapes. But the truth belies WMI's marketing. Nearly 60% of the WMI workers surveyed rated WMI's truck maintenance as fair, poor or a failure," Hoffa said. "So how safe are workers in these trucks, and how safe are the other drivers on the road with these trucks?"

In Harms Way, a report released by the National Commission of Inquiry into the Worker Health and Safety Crisis in the Solid Waste Industry sums up Waste Management as "playing a risky game with workers' lives and public safety."

Alliance Landfill Task Force meets with Congressman Paul Kanjorski staff

The Alliance Landfill Task Force was recently invited to Congressman Paul Kanjorski's office in Wilkes-Barre to discuss Alliance Sanitary Landfill, its owner and operating company Waste Management Incorporated. However, Congressman Kanjorski himself did not attend the meeting! We were received by Mr. Tom Williams (District Projects Director) and Mr. Fred Ney (District Director) who both represented Congressman Kanjorski.

The discussion of the meeting focused on asking how Congressman Kanjorski could help the residents of our communities. The Alliance Landfill Task Force presented documentation from several federal and state sources to Mr. Williams for review. The Alliance Landfill Task Force also presented a two page letter to Congressman Kanjorski (C/O Mr.Williams) asking for immediate assistance in obtaining documentation from the PaDEP regarding Alliance Sanitary Landfill. The letter also ask for Congressman Kanjorski to support our efforts on mandatory PM2.5 Community Based Air Monitoring for Alliance Sanitary Landfill. However, with the upcoming election we asked Congressman Kanjorski to please respond with his political views on landfills.

The Alliance Landfill Task Force respectfully requested that Congressman Kanjorski please respond in writing to our request by July 11th, 2008.

Today is July 16th, 2008 and the Alliance Landfill Task Force still has not received a response from Congressman Paul Kanjorski.

It looks like the time that the Alliance Landfill Task Force met with Congressman Kanjorski's staff was "trashed" (pun-intended).

Remember, Congressman Kanjorski's response at election time!!

Pa Department Of Health - Response received 6-27-08

The Alliance Landfill Task Force has recently received a response from the Pa Department of Health in regards to our groups request for a grant for community based air monitoring.

To view the response received from the Pa Department of Health, click on the letter to the left of the text.

PaDEP - Northeast Regional Office 6/30/08 Response

The Alliance Landfill Task Force on June 30th, 2008 received a response from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regarding our concerns for additional air monitoring data.

To read the response from the PaDEP regarding our concerns click on the picture of the PaDEP letter to the left of the text. The PaDEP response letter will then appear for you to read.

Please post all comments to the response letter below:

Bear supports community on landfill issues

The Black Bear of NEPA was quoted this week saying "GRRRR...ROAR....GRRRR" and demonstrated his community support this week for the Alliance Landfill Task Force. When translated the Black Bear stated " I support the Alliance Landfill Task Force and I will no longer eat from Waste Management dumpsters".

Wildlife and bear expert Curry Oates has confirmed the translation.

Well.....have a great weekend everyone and our battle for the community resumes on Monday.

I can't hear you (hands on ears)

The Alliance Landfill Task Force for the past year has been trying to make contact with several of our local state and federal legislators to discuss several issues concerning Alliance Landfill.

It seems that a few of our elected legislative representatives have decided to remove their hands from their ears and respond to our group. The Alliance Landfill Task Force has been invited to sit and meet with both state and federal legislative officials. One meeting has been confirmed and the other meeting is waiting confirmation.

Please continue to view the blog for updates...Thank You!

Environmental Protection Agency - An Important Statement To Remember!

Does the absence of violations mean a facility is in full compliance with the law?The ECHO Web site presents what is known to the government based upon the most recently available information for more than 800,000 regulated facilities. EPA and states inspect a percentage of facilities each year, but many facilities, particularly smaller ones, may not have received a recent inspection. It is possible that facilities do have violations that have not yet been discovered, thus are shown as compliant in the system. EPA cannot positively state that facilities without violations shown in ECHO are necessarily fully compliant with environmental laws. Additionally, some violations at smaller facilities do not need to be reported from the states to EPA. If ECHO shows a recent inspection and the facility is shown with no violations, users of the ECHO site can be more confident that the facility is in compliance with the programs included in this Web site. The compliance status of smaller facilities that have not had recent inspections or review by EPA or the states may be unknown or only available via state data systems.

Please click on the EPA Echo under website links to view the current information on Alliance Landfill.

Congressman Paul Kanjorski Scandal

Congressman Paul Kanjorski was elected to office to help the residents of Northeastern PA.

Congressman Paul Kanjorski is well aware of our communities needs for proper ambient air monitoring. However, Congressman Paul Kanjorski has done nothing to help the Alliance Landfill Task Force in our efforts to have the recommended ambient air montoring suggested by the ATSDR for our communities.

Please view the "YouTube-Video" to the right of the screen and watch the FoxNews Report on Congressman Paul Kanjorski.

To view the the "YouTube-Video" simply click on the video and it will automatically begin playing.

Waste Management Garbage Truck and Train Crash

In Jackson, Mississippi a Waste Management garbage truck crashed with an Amtrack train this week on Tuesday, May 27. According to reports in Mississippi, The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating the incident.

Deputy Sheriff Tony Hemphill stated "Its possible that once the investigation is completed, that a citation could be issued for the party at fault".

Spread the word...No Landfill Expansion!

In an effort to stop Waste Management from continuing to expand landfills across the United States of America our group has begun to sell the baseball cap shown to the left.

The baseball caps can be purchased at a price of $12.99 each. Four dollars of the sale from each cap will be used towards the advertising of a campaign to point out the negatives in landfilling. The remaining funds will be used for the production of the cap.

To order your cap please send a check payable to:

Alliance Landfill Task Force

Alliance Landfill Task Force

P.O. Box 301

Taylor, PA. 18517

*Please allow 7 business days for your cap to arrive.

The ATSDR has categorized the Alliance Landfill (which is owned and operated by Waste Management) as an Indeterminate Public Health Hazard. Waste Management for the past four years still has not agreed to a community air monitoring plan.

INDETERMINATE PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD

According to the Agency For Toxic Substances And Disease Registry...

Alliance Sanitary Landfill is a "INDETERMINATE PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD".

An "INDETERMINATE PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD" is the category used in the ATSDR's public health assessment documents when a professional judgment about the level of a health hazard cannot be made because information critical to such a decision is lacking.

Do you feel safe as a resident living near a facility that the federal government feels needs more critical information in order to determine whether it is safe for public health?

The ATSDR and the PA DOH have be calling on Waste Management and Alliance Landfill to do more air monitoring for over four years.

Why is Alliance Landfill not meeting the request of the ATSDR to increase air monitoring in our communities? Is their a problem with Alliance Landfill and the gases that go in to the air we breathe daily?

We have a right to clean air, We demand full enforcement of Pennsylvania Department of Health and the ATSDR's recommendations for air monitoring at ALLIANCE LANDFILL in TAYLOR, PA.


Show your support for this enforcement by writing to:

Kathleen A. McGinty, Secretary

PA Department of Environmental Protection

Rachel Carson State Office Building

400 Market Street

Harrisburg, PA. 17105

Alliance Against Alliance

Alliance Against Alliance - will be meeting this Wednesday, May 7 at 7 PM.

The meeting will take place at the Old Forge Borough Building.

Senator Mellow and Waste Management $$$$

Since August of 2004, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has been recommending to Alliance Landfill and the PA Department of Environmental Protection Agency that three or four community-based air monitoring stations or sampling locations be established in our communities. When the Alliance Landfill Task Force was made aware of the need for monitoring our group wrote to Senator Mellow for help.

It's been quite awhile since our first letter to Senator Mellow and we still have not received a response to date. When our group started to wonder why, we investigated a bit further and found out that Senator Mellow receives quite a bit of money in campaign contributions from various Waste Management sources. One such source is the Waste Management Pac.

To view the contributions go to the weblink at the right of the screen and click:

PA Dept. 0f State - Campaign Finance Reporting

* Be sure to add Waste Management Pac as the Contributer. Mellow as the Filer (Recipient). Begin Date: 1/1/2004
End Date: 4/28/2008 Then hit Search

Senator Mellow is a senior legislator who should be ashamed of his actions. It is the Alliance Landfill Task Force opinion that Senator Mellow has chosen to put the dollar before the safety of the people he took an oath to represent. If Senator Mellow is not going to live up to the oath of representing the people in a respectful manner than Senator Mellow should resign immediately.

The residents residing around Alliance Landfill have the right to know if the air they are breathing is safe. Senator Robert Mellow should be helping the residents to get that answer. Senator Robert Mellow should not be protecting and accepting the money of the corporate giant of trash that could be harming residents.

Oscar says he has been hearing rumors the last few weeks floating about in Old Forge. Oscar says he hears that the corporate giant of trash and the borough are on speaking terms again....

If you're a resident of Old Forge and want landfilling to stay out of your borough...make sure you get to the Old Forge Council Meeting. Voice your opinion on the landfill to council.

The Blog has been created!

Well everyone it's time to talk about the issue at hand...ALLIANCE LANDFILL. We are hoping that this is a method that many residents in the community will respond to in discussing Alliance Landfill. Access to a computer is very common for most residents today.

The Blog has been created to talk about Alliance Landfill. Our group the Alliance Landfill Task Force welcomes all views on Alliance Landfill to this Blog. Please feel free to visit our website by clicking our website link. Also, should you need to e-mail us for any reason that can be easily done by clicking on the e-mail link. Both links can been found easily on the main Blog screen.

We just ask one favor of everyone who will take part in using this Blog. That favor is please use respect when writing comments. We all know that young children have access to home computers and the use of inappropriate language will not be tolerated in writings on this Blog. Any such writings will be reported to the proper authorities.

So start blogging about the landfill...
The Alliance Landfill blog will be updated daily.