Norlite Timeline

As Norlite submits renewal application to the state, 70 families forced to move over hazardous air pollution.

In a letter to Norlite executive, Cohoes Mayor William Keeler made it clear: "the ONLY reason I have been advocating for the relocation of 70 families from their homes in Saratoga Sites is because of Norlite's uncontrolled fugitive dush, and chronic violations of regulations governing the company's incineration of hazardous waste adjacent to this much needed housing." (original emphasis)

Norlite is a hazardous waste incinerator and a serial violator of environmental law. The facility just submitted its application to renew hazardous waste and Title V air toxics permits.

Lights Out Norlite applauds Mayor Keeler's letter. While moving the residents of Saratoga Sites away from Norlite's toxic pollution will provide much needed relief, there are still 50,000 people in Cohoes and Troy immediately downwind of this plant.

It's time for the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation to deny Norlite's permits!

Cohoes Housing Authority Votes to Sell Saratoga Sites

70 families living next to Norlite will see relief from toxic air emissions if the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development accepts the Cohoes Housing Authority's application to relocate them.

The Housing Authority voted to sell the property to the City of Cohoes, even though Norlite was the higher bidder.

Photo: Times Union

NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation order Norlite to cease and desist off-site dust impace

Assemblymember McDonald, Lights Out Norlite Urge Action on Toxic Fly Ash

For decades, Norlite has mixed toxic fly ash from its pollution controls into a construction product called block mix. Norlite had been allowed to do this under an exemption to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act called the Bevill Amendment.

Effective April 19, 2020, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation repealed Norlite's exemption under the Bevill Amendment, meaning the company can no longer mix toxic ash into its products. However, the Acting DEC Regional Director Anthony Luisi wrote in a letter on June 4th, 2021 that DEC will not enforce this change until Norlite's permits are renewed. Norlite's permits expired more than a year ago.

In the meantime, Norlite continues to store toxic ash in open air piles in Cohoes. The ash contains some of the most dangerous pollutants from burning hazardous waste.

Lights Out Norlite held a press conference at the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation where they were joined by NYS Assemblymember John McDonald.

Norlite's Permits Expired for One Year

Since December 31st, 2021, Norlite has been operating with expired permits under administrative extension by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

122 Organizations Call on NY DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos to Reject Norlite Incinerator Pollution Permits

Lights Out Norlite delivered a letter to NYS Dept. of Environmental conservation sigend by 122 community organizations, including the League of Women Voters of NYS, the NYS Council of Churches, NAACP Troy, Riverkeeper, Food & Water Watch, Troy Central Little League, TAP, and Soul Fire Farm.

Read the letter and coverage from WNYT.

Residents Announce Class Action Lawsuit

For decades community residents have been suffering the ill affects of silica dust containing damaging particles that according to the DEC come from the Norlite hazardous waste incinerator in Cohoes, just 100 feet where people live. Citizens have been complaining for decades, but enforcement actions levied by the DEC against Norlite have failed to stop the danger.

Researchers and Community Members Respond to DEC Soil and Water Study

After analyzing the NYS DEC's 449-page report on the results of soil and water sampling around Norlite, researchers and community leaders wrote a letter to DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos strongly disagreeing with the study's conclusions. The DEC study concluded "no clear link to Norlite's operations, no indication of human health risk" as a result of Norlite burning millions of pounds of PFAS-containing AFFF fire fighting foam.

NYS DEC Release Soil and Water Survey Results

The 449-page report was delivered to the community and officials 5 months after the study was announced. The press release from the DEC reads, "DEC's Comprehensive Study of PFAS and Metals Finds No Clear Link to Norlite's Operations, No Indication of Human Health Risk."

Independent Tests Show Razor-Sharp Glass in Fugitive Dust from Norlite

Dr. Dave Walker, PhD Geologist retired from Columbia University, examined dust samples taken from Saratoga Sites and the attic of Ed Sokol, who lives across the street. The samples resembled volcanic glass and matched a sample of Norlite aggregate. Volcanic glass is known to cause silicosis, a progressive and deadly lung disease. Norlite's Material Safety Data Sheet shows that Norlite's aggregate product can cause serious respiratory disease.

Fire at Norlite

A plume of black smoke could be seen from 787 after a fire broke out at the Norlite hazardous waste incinerator in Cohoes on Monday. Hours after the fire had been contained, a heavy, noxious chemical smell, described as something like a dry-erase marker or paint, lingered in the air at Saratoga Sites. This is the second fire at Norlite in under a year, since another fire occurred in February of 2020.

Norlite's state permits officially expired

Norlite's state permits officially expired, but they are allowed to continue burning via "Administrative Extension" through the State Administrative Procedure Act.

Cohoes City Council votes unanimously to impose a tax on Norlite's income from hazardous waste

The measure, proposed by Mayor Bill Keeler, imposes a 4% tax on Norlite's receipts for accepting hazardous waste. It is not yet clear what that amount will be. The first tax payment will be made in March of 2020. Community members at the meeting called for a local law to ban the burning of hazardous waste in Cohoes.

Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler proposes a tax on Norlite incinerator’s hazardous waste revenue

Cohoes Mayor Bill Keeler proposes a Local Law to tax the income received by Norlite LLC for its treatment and disposal of hazardous waste. Norlite makes annual property, water, and sewer tax payments to the City of Cohoes. In addition, beginning in 2012, Norlite had paid a monthly voluntary contribution totaling $100,000 annually to the City of Cohoes. Norlite stopped making those payments in March 2020, having paid a total of $16,667 in 2020. Mayor Keeler said that the proposed tax wouldn't affect his decision on the potential for a local law to ban the burning of hazardous waste in Cohoes.

DEC releases Norlite's Enforcement History since 1990

This document details 30 years DEC's enforcement actions against Norlite starting June 21, 1990. The actions total $826,000, $727,000 in penalties and $99,000 in "environmental benefit projects."

Cuomo administration working behind the scenes to gut the Norlite Bill

The NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation is working to gut the McDonald-Breslin bill by making it a statewide moratorium. To the normal person that might sound great. But it actually means it gives the DEC the authority to regulate the toxin which is something that we cannot trust. 

Residents of Cohoes learned in February that a hazardous waste incinerator owned by Norlite LLC, had been burning shipments of toxic firefighting foam. In response to public concern about the health risks, a bill banning the incineration of the foam in Cohoes passed the Senate and Assembly unanimously in June. (DEC's) on-site monitor said that he was aware that the foam was being burned in 2018. But DEC said it was not aware the foam was being burned until “late 2019.”

Joe Ritchie, E.D, of Saratoga Sites Against Norlite Emissions (SSANE) warns NY DEC is gutting the Norlite Bill

"The state DEC wants to gut the McDonald-Breslin bill by making it a statewide moratorium. To the normal person that might sound great. But it actually means it gives the DEC the authority to regulate the toxin which is something that we cannot trust."

DEC To Conduct Soil, Water Testing Near Norlite Plant in Cohoes

More than 100 environmental and community leaders call on Governor Cuomo to sign bill banning the burning of toxic firefighting foam (AFF) at Norlite

Saratoga Sites residents file intent to sue against Norlite

Covered by The Albany Times Union in "Neighbors plan on taking Norlite to federal court"

Navy halts PFAs shipment to Norlite after media coverage

Covered by The Albany Times Union in "Navy says it will halt all PFAS shipments to Cohoes' burn plant"

Department of Defense cancels contract with Norlite

Covered by The Albany Times Union in "State tells Norlite no foam incineration, as federal contract done"

Bennington College study finds elevated levels of PFOAS in areas surrounding Norlite, suggesting that burning these chemicals does not incinerate them

Covered by The Albany Times Union in "Study finds PFAS contamination in Cohoes around Norlite incinerator"

Bill banning the burning of firefighting foam passes the NY Senate

Covered by wnyt.com in "Bill passed prohibiting burning of firefighting foam at Cohoes facility"

Earthjustice files a lawsuit against Norlite for burning of PFOAs

Covered by The Albany Times Union in "Activists file lawsuit over Cohoes Norlite plant burning, storing PFOA for Defense Department"

Covered by The Troy Record in "Norlite facility in Cohoes accused of burning firefighting foam for DOD"

Official EPA complaint is filed against Norlite

Norlite’s Title V Air Permit is renewed until December 31, 2020

Norlite operation plans are released

Norlite fails dioxin test

Covered by The Albany Times Union in "Norlite failed dioxin test"

Department of Environmental Conservation fines Norlite for 90k in violations

Covered by The Daily Gazette in "State fines Cohoes company $90K for hazardous waste violations"

Norlite exceeds federal emissions limit 43 times in 4 months

Covered by The Albany Times Union in "A foul mix into our air"

Local organizing group called Citizens Halting Risks of Norlite Industrial Contaminants (CHRONIC) is founded

Covered by The Troy Record in "Meeting sheds little 'lite"

Department of Environmental Conservation fines Norlite for over 30 violations

Covered by The Troy Record in "State cites Norlite Corp. for more violations"

Norlite pleads guilty to environmental crimes that occurred between 1999 and 2000

Covered by the New York State Office of the Attorney General in "Cohoes Company Pleads Guilty To Environmental Crimes"

Norlite starts burning hazardous waste

Norlite is founded