Let them breathe. The Redfern Houses Resident Council and its civic ally, Rockaways Neighbors Helping Neighbors (RNHN), are asking residents across Rockaway to help their “Let Us Breathe” campaign by providing public comment on the Inwood Materials Terminal (IMT). IMT applied for a solid waste management permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The comment period ends on Friday, September 18.
For years, residents in Far Rockaway have been complaining that industrial dust created at the IMT endangers their health and quality of life. The terminal, owned by Haugland Group, is directly across the street from Redfern on Sheridan Blvd. It recycles construction and demolition debris that is shipped in by barge and, after processing, IMT distributes several types of aggregate. Large piles of the grinded and in-process materials are visible on the IMT site. They include unprocessed soil, concrete and brick as well as mixed asphalt loads. Jaw and impactor equipment pulverizes these materials.
Due to changes to NYS environmental regulations, Haugland applied for the solid waste management permit. On Tuesday, August 18, Haugland received a notice of complete application from DEC, setting the clock in motion for the 30-day public comment period.
“Won’t you please send your comments to DEC before September 18,” Joanne Murray, President of the NAACP Far Rockaway Branch, said. “Let them know that treating our community with disdain is unacceptable. Air pollution is real, and the IMT facility is spewing pollutants in the air. Let them know that you care for your neighbors.”
Public comments must be submitted in writing to the Regional Permit Administrator (Sherri Aicher), NYSDEC Region 1 Headquarters, 50 Circle Road, Stony Brook, NY 11790-3409. Comments must reference application ID 1-2820-01433/00008. To make it easier for neighbors to submit comments, RNHN set up a webpage via Action Network. Scan the QR code to access that page.
As part of its application, Haugland committed to investing in specific actions to mitigate the amount of dust that leaves its facilities. These include funding an independent monitor to be employed by DEC for as long as the facility is operating, limiting piles to 15 feet tall, and extending the 23-foot-high wall along the Sheridan Boulevard side of the facility by 125 feet.
Haugland declined to estimate how much these measures will reduce the amount of dust that spreads to neighboring residential communities but did provide a statement to The Rockaway Times: “As the review process continues, IMT will perform all DEC-required activities at the site and follow the measures outlined in the public participation plan. IMT takes concerns raised by residents and community organizations seriously. We remain committed to responsible operations, full regulatory compliance and continued engagement with the community throughout this process.”
Since the permit application does not include a significant change in operations, a State Environmental Quality Review is not required. The location is also not subject to coastal management regulations, despite abutting Jamaica Bay. It is subject to DEC Environmental Justice and Permitting policies due to its proximity to low-income neighborhoods.
