Misstatements by Endicott’s Mayor Linda Jackson on the proposed
Lithium-ion Battery Recycling/Incineration facility
THE MAYOR ON RESTRICTIONS: “This meeting on Monday night is to add restrictions to our existing zoning code.” (Ref: Mayor’s email to [name withheld] May 1st)
FACT: There are two restrictions in the proposed Zoning change: “temporary storage” and “single category of pre-sorted recyclable object.”
THE MAYOR ON RESTRICTIONS: “If we do not add these restrictions, we are opening up the Village to a garbage incinerator like the one in Germany that Dr. Connettt is talking about.” (Ref: Mayor’s email to [name withheld] May 1).
FACT: The proposed Zoning code change allows “processing” which is not defined. This word legally permits the Sungeel facility to use incineration in its processes. It would also allow any other battery recycling operations that use incineration in its processes to come to Endicott.
THE MAYOR ON RESTRICTIONS: “Jackson also emphasizes that Monday’s meeting is to put restrictions into the code so that companies that do create a greater risk for the community cannot move here.” (Ref: Fox 40, April 30).
FACT: See above response.
THE MAYOR ON EMISSIONS: WATER VAPOR & DIOXINS: “Jackson says ultimately their recycling process only allows water vapor and trace amounts of dioxins which compare to that of starting a car to be released into the air.” (Ref: Fox 40, April 29).
FACT: With all its faults even the Air Permit issued by the NY Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) makes it clear that more than water vapor will come out. The permit states that these known human carcinogens will be emitted: 2,3,7,8-dioxin, Chromium(VI), Beryllium and Formaldehyde.
For the calculation on dioxin the Mayor is relying on Sungeel’s grossly inadequate dioxin emission data. Cars were only a significant source of dioxin when they were using leaded gasoline which needed ethylene dichloride or ethylene dibromide to get lead out of the engine.
THE MAYOR ON EMISSIONS: STEAM & SODIUM: “The emissions from the smoke stacks will be steam and sodium.” (Ref: Mayor’s email [name withheld], May 2).
FACT: If that is case, there would be an explosion every few seconds since the metal sodium reacts violently with water to produce hydrogen.
THE MAYOR ON THE PERMIT: “The DEC on April 10th gave them their second permit confirming it’s environmental viability.” (Ref: Fox 40, April 30).
FACT: The NYS DEC have only given one permit to the facility. They issued the Air Permit on March 30, 2020.
THE MAYOR “NOT AN INCINERATOR”: “Jackson says she come to find out that the plant will not be operated as an incinerator, as there will be no open flame or burning.” (Ref: NC34, April 3)
FACT: The facility will use incineration for processing. The process involves a high temperature kiln which produces gases (largely from the plastics and fillers in the batteries) which are then burned.
In a July 16, 2019, letter from Robert Buettner, EPA’s Chief of the Air Compliance Branch, Region 2, to the President of the facility: “From the process description you provided, we believe that the rotary dryer is operating at temperatures higher than ignition temperatures of some of the materials being treated in the dryer. This leads us to believe that the SMCC rotary kiln dryer meets the definition of a CISWI unit. Because the unit used for the purpose of recovering metals, it meets the 40C.F.R.§ 60.2020(g) exemption’s requirement that materials recovery units combust waste primarily to recover metals.” CISWI stands for Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration unit.
The DEC’s Air Permit uses the same terms as they use when permitting an incinerator, such as: “combustion flue gases”; “combustion chamber”; “emissions” (52 mentions); “Malfunctions and start-up/shutdown activities” [when the most emissions are released, and we can expect start-ups and shutdowns to happen every day].
THE MAYOR: FACILITY ONLY GOING TO USE HYDRO PROCESS: “They are only doing phase one here, and it is the hydro process.” (Ref: Mayor’s email to Paul, May 2). And another email: “Good news. I found out the process this battery company is using is the hydro process.” (Ref: Mayor’s email to [name withheld] , May 1)
FACT: If indeed this is a hydro process, as the Mayor now claims, then their whole permit application is inaccurate and should be revoked because their air permit application describes a pyro process. See section 2.0 of their air permit application
THE MAYOR: IT’S A DONE DEAL: “the current Mayor says the project is a done deal.” (Ref: NC 34 article, April 29); and “Jackson says the company is already setting up and it has been a done deal since December, which is before she took office.” (Ref: Fox40, April 30). Also see emails in #1 below.
FACT: The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) gave them an air quality permit on March 30, 2020. They gave nothing more. The DEC have zero authority over Endicott’s zoning laws or over what decisions the Village code office decides.
THE MAYOR: THE COMPANY HAS PERMISSION TO COME. “This company has permission from the DEC. When I found I could not stop it, I looked for what I could do. I can put in restrictions to have control of future business.” (Ref: The Mayor’s email to [name withheld], May 3). In another email: “They were already given permission by the DC [sic] in December.” (Ref: The Mayors email to [name withheld] May 1)
FACT: The NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) gave them an air quality permit on March 30, 2020. They gave nothing more. The DEC have zero authority over Endicott’s zoning laws or over what decisions the Village code office decides.
Reference1.
— “This vote Monday is not to allow or dis allow this company to come her. They are already here.” (Ref: Mayor’s email to [name withheld], May 1);
— “This company has permission from the DEC. When I found I could not stop it, I looked for what I could do. I can put in restrictions to have control of future business.” (Ref: The Mayor’s email to [name withheld], May 3)
— “They were already given permission by the DC [sic] in December.” (Ref: The Mayor’s email to [name withheld] May 1)
NoBurnBroome 