Lights Out Norlite is calling on Governor Hochul to direct the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation to deny Norlite's air toxics and hazardous waste permits.

Will you make a quick phone call to Governor Hochul to tell her it's time to stop burning hazardous waste in Cohoes?

1. Dial Governor Hochul's office at 877-844-5384

2. Press 1 to leave a voicemail or 2 to speak to an agent. When someone answers or if you're instructed to leave a voicemail, you can use your own words or the script below:

Hi, my name is _YOUR NAME_ and I'm calling from _YOUR TOWN/CITY_ to urge Governor Hochul to direct DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos to deny Norlite's Title V and RCRA Part 373 permit renewal applications.

We acknowledge the urgent need to deal with hazardous waste. However, burning hazardous waste as fuel, creates toxic air and water emissions. Norlite has shown clearly that they are either incapable or unable to fulfill their permit requirements, as evidenced by 30 years of violations, most recently a notice of violation from DEC on March 9th, 2022.

Instead of incinerating waste through an aggregate facility, we should focus on legislation to reduce waste production and green chemistry solutions for manufacturing that generate less toxic products.

I'm urging We urge Governor Hochul to deny Norlite's Title V and RCRA Part 373 permits. Thank you.

3. Thank the staffer for taking your call.

4. Then please take 5 seconds to fill out the form on the right to let us know how your call went. It is so helpful for us to know what you're hearing.

Thanks for taking a few minutes out of your busy day to help protect our right to clean air and a healthful environment.

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Background

Norlite Aggregate LLC burns hazardous waste to fire its aggregate kilns under Title V permit under the Clean Air Act, concerning air toxics, and RCRA Part 373 Permit concerning hazardous waste. These permits expired on December 31, 2021. Norlite is located in a densely populated area and directly next to the Saratoga Sites public housing complex, home to 70 families.

While Norlite is regulated by its permits and the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, it has a long track record of violating its permits by exceeding its emission limits. Lights Out Norlite believes that Norlite is the single largest mercury polluter in the state. For a timeline of Norlite's history, click here.

Aggregate is a construction material made of expanded shale, which Norlite mines onsight. The aggregate is stored in piles at Norlite's facility reaching more than two stories high. The piles contribute to a chronic burden of toxic dust emissions into the surrounding neighborhood. The dust contains silica and razor-sharp glass particles which can cause lung disease when inhaled.

For a timeline of Norlite's enforcement history, visit lightsoutnorlite.org