This week, the State Department of Environmental Conservation made public its plans to add more stringent monitoring and water pollution standards to the permit held by CWM Chemical Services, the Northeast's only commercial hazardous waste landfill.

CWM Chemical Services environmental monitors collect water samples for testing. (Courtesy Buffalo News)Located in northwestern Niagara County, the facility discharges stormwater into tributaries of Fourmile and Twelvemile creeks and treated wastewater into the Niagara River.

The requested changes are part of a standard 10-year permit review and call for five new sites for stormwater and wastewater monitoring and a mercury level limit 1/40^th of the current one. 

The DEC says new sampling points are designed to help pinpoint the source of contamination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) previously found on the site, "due to known upgradient contaminated soils, past violations and the concern for their migration to stormwater." The tightened standards also are aimed at preventing dilution, which would effectively "mask the presence" of contaminants.

CWM opposes some of the agency's changes, arguing, in part, it should determine where exactly stormwater samples should be taken.

In addition, CWM asked the federal government last year to clean up radiological contamination found in water discharges from a part of its property where it plans to build a new landfill. (Radiation is not a testing criteria covered by the state permit).

Public comments on the proposed permit changes will be accepted by the state through April 30.

For additional coverage, check out the Buffalo News.