Norlite Timeline
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."
Read the DEC Report Here March 9, 2021Independent 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.
December 31st, 2020Cohoes 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.
Read about the tax in the Times Union December 31st, 2020Cohoes 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.
Hear HMM's interview with Mayor Keeler on the proposed tax December 31st, 2020DEC 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."
Read about why Norlite incurred decades' worth of penalties. November 24 2020Cuomo 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."
Read more October 2020Saratoga Sites residents file intent to sue against Norlite
Covered by The Albany Times Union in "Neighbors plan on taking Norlite to federal court"
Read the Intent to Sue June 2020Navy 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"
May 2020
Department of Defense cancels contract with Norlite
Covered by The Albany Times Union in "State tells Norlite no foam incineration, as federal contract done"
May 2020
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"
See the Bill February 2020Earthjustice 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"
February 2020Official EPA complaint is filed against Norlite
January 2020Department of Environmental Conservation fines Norlite for 90k in violations
Covered by The Daily Gazette in "State fines Cohoes company $90K for hazardous waste violations"
2010Norlite exceeds federal emissions limit 43 times in 4 months
Covered by The Albany Times Union in "A foul mix into our air"
2009Local organizing group called Citizens Halting Risks of Norlite Industrial Contaminants (CHRONIC) is founded
Covered by The Troy Record in "Meeting sheds little 'lite"
2003Department of Environmental Conservation fines Norlite for over 30 violations
Covered by The Troy Record in "State cites Norlite Corp. for more violations"
December 2002Norlite 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"
May 2002Norlite starts burning hazardous waste
1977Norlite is founded
1956Norlite'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.
December 31st, 2020Cohoes 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.
Read about the tax in the Times Union December 31st, 2020Cohoes 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.
Hear HMM's interview with Mayor Keeler on the proposed tax December 31st, 2020DEC 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."
Read about why Norlite incurred decades' worth of penalties. November 24 2020Cuomo 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."
Read more October 2020Saratoga Sites residents file intent to sue against Norlite
Covered by The Albany Times Union in "Neighbors plan on taking Norlite to federal court"
Read the Intent to Sue June 2020Navy 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"
May 2020
Department of Defense cancels contract with Norlite
Covered by The Albany Times Union in "State tells Norlite no foam incineration, as federal contract done"
May 2020
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"
See the Bill February 2020Earthjustice 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"
February 2020Official EPA complaint is filed against Norlite
January 2020Department of Environmental Conservation fines Norlite for 90k in violations
Covered by The Daily Gazette in "State fines Cohoes company $90K for hazardous waste violations"
2010Norlite exceeds federal emissions limit 43 times in 4 months
Covered by The Albany Times Union in "A foul mix into our air"
2009Local organizing group called Citizens Halting Risks of Norlite Industrial Contaminants (CHRONIC) is founded
Covered by The Troy Record in "Meeting sheds little 'lite"
2003Department of Environmental Conservation fines Norlite for over 30 violations
Covered by The Troy Record in "State cites Norlite Corp. for more violations"
December 2002Norlite 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"
May 2002Norlite starts burning hazardous waste
1977Norlite is founded
1956DEC 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."
Read about why Norlite incurred decades' worth of penalties. November 24 2020Cuomo 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."
Read more October 2020Saratoga Sites residents file intent to sue against Norlite
Covered by The Albany Times Union in "Neighbors plan on taking Norlite to federal court"
Read the Intent to Sue June 2020Navy 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"
May 2020
Department of Defense cancels contract with Norlite
Covered by The Albany Times Union in "State tells Norlite no foam incineration, as federal contract done"
May 2020
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"
See the Bill February 2020Earthjustice 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"
February 2020Official EPA complaint is filed against Norlite
January 2020Department of Environmental Conservation fines Norlite for 90k in violations
Covered by The Daily Gazette in "State fines Cohoes company $90K for hazardous waste violations"
2010Norlite exceeds federal emissions limit 43 times in 4 months
Covered by The Albany Times Union in "A foul mix into our air"
2009Local organizing group called Citizens Halting Risks of Norlite Industrial Contaminants (CHRONIC) is founded
Covered by The Troy Record in "Meeting sheds little 'lite"
2003Department of Environmental Conservation fines Norlite for over 30 violations
Covered by The Troy Record in "State cites Norlite Corp. for more violations"
December 2002Norlite 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"
May 2002