Attorney outlines benefits of waste-to-energy plant at former Depot
An attorney representing the group hoping to build a trash-burning incinerator at the former Seneca Army Depot is certain the project will be a boon for Seneca County.
“This is a green project, great for the environment and local economy,” said Alan Knauf, a partner with Rochester-based Knauf Shaw LLC, a firm specializing in environmental law. “It is a comprehensive recycling program that is so much better than landfilling. The state’s own solid-waste plan ranks waste-to-energy projects before landfilling.”
The proposal from Circular EnerG LLC calls for the facility to be built on a 48-acre parcel in the middle of the former Seneca Army Depot. It would produce electricity by burning up to 2,600 tons of trash a day.
Household trash would be brought to the plant in sealed containers by truck and railroad.
The electricity created would be available to provide power to any new businesses or industries interested in building at the former depot in Romulus and Varick.
Knauf noted that many European countries are doing this type of waste-to-energy conversion successfully, as is Japan.
“We envision a green energy center at this site,” Knauf said. “It removes tons of trash from being landfilled, creates electricity, creates steam that can be used by other industries, adds electricity to the grid, and saves 168,985 tons of carbon dioxide vs. landfilling.”
Knauf explained that the ash residue from incinerating trash contains metals that can be removed and recycled. He said the area where the plant is proposed is a federal Superfund site from the time it was a munitions-burning site.
“We feel we will meet air-emission standards, and the amount of leachate the trash generates before it is burned will be minimal,” Knauf said. “The trash will be stored inside, keeping it away from rain and snow, which generates the leachate.”
He said odor should not be a problem because all trash will be inside. The incinerator will be ignited with natural gas, but the furnaces self-generate fire to the proper temperature.
“We have met with (state Department of Environmental Conservation) officials to discuss the project and what they are looking for,” Knauf said. “We haven’t filed an application for state permits yet — maybe by the end of the year.”
Knauf said the depot used water from Seneca Lake when it was operating as a military facility. The piping system needs to be rebuilt, he added.
“The rail system is in good shape leading to the depot and within the depot,” Knauf continued. “There is a company operating there that refurbishes railcars, so the track are here. Plus, Finger Lakes Railway stores cars there.”
Knauf said Circular EnerG LLC has filed with its plans with the town of Romulus and started the State Environmental Quality Review Act process. He added that a small wetland area would be affected and require mitigation.
“A true environmentalist should support this,” he stated.
The Army closed the Depot in 2000, at which time it was turned over to the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency.
The IDA has sold portions of the 10,700 acres to developers. The 48-acre site where the incinerator is proposed is owned by Flaum Management Co. of Rochester. The parcel is zoned for industrial and warehouse uses.
Romulus Supervisor David Kaiser said he is withholding his opinion on the proposed facility at this time.
“I want the Planning Board to do its vetting of the project first,” Kaiser said. “I have no opinion to offer now, but I will at the right time.”
Kaiser noted the Town Board plays no decision-making role in the matter.
“The Planning Board will decide if it complies with zoning requirements and if it merits a special-use permit,” Kaiser said. “If the Planning Board says no, the sponsor can apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
“The county Planning Board will also do a review, but they are advisory only.”
Circular EnerG LLC will outline its plans to the town of Romulus Planning Board Dec. 4.
The DEC also will have a major say in the project as it moves through the review process, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be involved too.
Kaiser said Flaum Management owns about 1,100 acres at the former depot in the old warehouse area. Flaum and Neil Sherman have formed a partnership to create Seneca Depot LLC to manage the property. Michael Palumbo is president of Seneca Depot LLC.
Sherman has a business that refurbishes restaurant equipment at the former depot. Kaiser said it’s the only business on Flaum-owned property now.
The waste-to-energy plant closest to our area is believed to be in Onondaga County, near Syracuse.
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