Judge hears lawsuits against Romulus

WATERLOO--In a packed courtroom, the Hon. Judge Doyle heard two Article 78 proceedings filed against the town of Romulus by garbage incinerator applicant Circular enerG.
The first suit was filed by the corporation in objection to the town's decision to disavow the code enforcement officer's letters indicating that a trash burning plant was permissible within the town's zoning laws. The second suit was in objection to the town's recently revised zoning laws, which further clarify the town's original zoning law's intentions prohibiting any large scale handling of municipal solid waste. Judge Doyle reserved decision on all motions, including a decision on whether or not to grant Seneca Lake Guardian (SLG) intervenor status.
"We are hopeful that we'll have a decision on our request for intervenor status within a week," said Joseph Campbell, president of Seneca Lake Guardian. "The judge was no nonsense, so we may get decisions on all of the motions relatively soon. These cases should clearly be dismissed. Circular enerG's attempt to bully the town into submission with these frivolous suits just goes to show you how important it is to stop predatory companies swiftly. We hope that Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle is watching, and that he sees this as the perfect reason to work with Speaker Heastie and Governor Cuomo to reconvene the Assembly and pass A11214, which would prohibit incinerators in the Finger Lakes watershed. Otherwise, the community faces a very costly, lengthy battle with this Goliath."
Seneca Lake Guardian was formed by the leaders of Gas Free Seneca, the grassroots group that won an eight-year-long battle against a proposed gas storage and transport hub on Seneca Lake earlier this year. SLG would be represented by the environmental law firm Earthjustice should they be granted intervenor status.
"Although Seneca Lake Guardian (SLG) appreciates that the town of Romulus is vigorously defending its interests in this lawsuit, Seneca Lake Guardian represents regional interests that are broader than the town's in this matter," said Mary Anne Kowalski, Seneca Lake Guardian's research director. "In its motion to intervene, SLG seeks to ensure that those broad interests are protected now and into the future, even if respondents are unable to maintain their defense over the long term because of costs of litigation, changes in board composition, or for other reasons."