Waste dump in Porter is costing us millions
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The CWM toxic waste dump in Porter is an economic albatross, not an “engine.” Waste Management is the owner but not operator of this facility, which regularly creates spills, leaks and fires.
CWM pays 20 times less per acre in school tax than most area businesses, and 10 times less than most residents. In 2008, the underpayment was $4 million. Our school district opposes CWM expansion.
Most remedial cleanups in New York have nothing to do with CWM. But CWM has made them more expensive by helping to drive companies out of business that treat waste on-site and destroy it. And CWM doesn’t admit that out-of-state facilities are often less expensive.
CWM’s largest “investment” has been cleaning up its own contamination. Under this approach, we should site nuclear reactors within a mile of every school, let them leak, and generate tax revenue from the cleanup.
Compare economic development in Niagara-On-The-Lake to the Town of Porter. CWM has cost us hundreds of millions of dollars. Our taxes are higher because of CWM, not lower. While health and safety issues are most important, the economic reasons to oppose CWM expansion are the most compelling.
Niagara County can be a world-class tourist destination and first-class home, not a second-class dump for the nation.
Amy Witryol
Lewiston
Published: November 04, 2009, 12:30 am