Residents in and around the town of Nassau have lived under a toxic shadow created by the dumping of pollutants on Mead Road. The area, known as the Dewey Loeffel landfill, includes more toxic waste than the infamous Love Canal site. Yet efforts to correct this environmental tragedy have fallen far short.
The toxic waste site, when capped in the early 1980s, was not lined on the bottom. By the late 1980s, Nassau Lake and the Valatie Kill were found to have toxic contamination. Nassau Lake remains under a "no-eat" order for fish today.
The contamination and ineffective capping raise the question of toxic contamination on residents. Many around the Loeffel site have story after story about cancer in family and friends. Information on occurrences of cancer is considerable and deserves examination.
For years, a health study of cancer rates in the area around the Loeffel site has been sought. On Nov. 1, state and federal agencies declined to conduct one. The decision was met with heavy criticism from residents and environmental advocates. The Times Union editorial, "Poor answers from EPA," Dec. 5, notes the need for a health study of an area deemed serious enough for inclusion on the Superfund list.
My Rensselaer County Legislature colleagues, Chairman Martin Reid and Legislator Judith Breselor, and I share the concerns of residents and elected officials and believe a study is needed to ensure their health.
Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have spoken in favor of the need for a study. The coming weeks will show if words are turned into action and a study is commissioned.
Alex Shannon is a resident of Schodack and a county legislator representing District 4 — Schodack, Sand Lake and Nassau.
