Residents in Camillus got to hear firsthand tonight why the EPA says Drudging in Onondaga Lake is safe.
Concerned citizens listened to New York Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Environmental Conservation officials explain the plan to transport waste from the lake to a sight known as Wastebed 13 on Airport Road.
It's all in an effort to clean up Onondaga Lake. The plan calls for the waste to be pumped from the lake through a pipeline that extends to Wastebed 13. From there the wasted is sealed in containers kept within the wastebed.
Some residents were not convinced by the presentation that the dredging is safe.
Dawn Personte of Camillus says people should look at what's happening with the BP oil spill to see not all plans are fool proof.
"I have to liken it to what's going on in the gulf with BP," Personte says. "They were told everything was going to be safe down there, there wouldn't be any harm ever to their environment, and you see in the news what's going on there."
Other resident's message is to look at the facts. Rick Hevier believes the dredging poses no risk to Camillus.
"We knew there was a strong vocal minority in Camillus that no matter what the answer was, they still wouldn't accept it," Hevier says. "So those people probably want more studies and more studies and the answer is going to be the same."
EPA officials say they understand residents concern, but urge them to take a harder look at their report released last month.
The report says the waste pumped from the lake through the pipeline has such low levels of contamination that it doesn't pose a risk to people in Camillus.
The DEC says they plan to have the facility operational by May of 2012.
Anyone interested in touring the sight on July 14th and 15th can call 315-552-9784. RSVP by July 12th.
