News Release – Northampton, Massachusetts – Eleven residents of Northampton have today (Oct. 31, 2008) brought a civil complaint in Hampshire Superior Court against the City of Northampton requesting injunctive relief against the City of Northampton Regional Sanitary Landfill’s continued contamination of Hannum Brook and nearby wetlands south of the landfill.
The plaintiffs allege in their court action that the City of Northampton has never applied for, or received, the necessary wetlands and stormwater discharge permits required under the Wetlands Protection Act, the Massachusetts Clean Waters Act, and regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Two of the plaintiffs, Michael and Lillian Fedora who live next to the landfill on Glendale Road, have invited the Northampton Conservation Commission to visit their property to review the damages to their wetlands, but so far none of the commissioners have come to view the obvious damages to the wetlands. Last week Mr. Fedora requested the assistance of DEP in getting the Conservation Commission to take appropriate action, but DEP has not responded to this request. Mr. Fedora stated that “the City wants to turn a blind eye to the contamination that they have caused. If this contamination was caused by a business or homeowner, the City would call them on the carpet for this. It is inexcusable that the City allows its own landfill to violate the law.”
The plaintiff’s attorney has given notice of these violations to City of Northampton Mayor Clare Higgins, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, and to DEP Commissioner Laurie Burt.
The litigation is being brought on behalf of the residents by Boston Environmental Attorney Peter L. Koff.
Thank you,
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Citizens United for a Healthy Future
Northampton/Easthampton
SAVE THE AQUIFER
Protect our drinking water
Stop the Northampton landfill expansion
