October 19, 2008: Click here for the latest update.
Bates Troy Dry Cleaners in Binghamton, NY Has Used Cancer Causing Solvents in the Past
Bates Troy is an industrial dry cleaner. And according to the Department of Environmental Conservation's Spill Incidents Database, on February 2nd, 1993 at 5:00AM Bates Troy deliberately spilled an unknown quantity of solvents into the sewer. This is the sewer flows directly into our rivers. The troubling problem with this spill is that the solvents Bates Troy used in 1993 were cancer causing. Therefore, it is a known fact that Bates Troy has released a quantity of cancer causing chemicals into our community in the past.
The solvent used by Bates Troy in 1993 is called Tetrachloroethylene (aka PERC). If this name sounds familiar to you, it is most likely because the same chemical is behind IBM's toxic plume that Endicott residents are still dealing with. Perc is a known cancer causing solvent. According to rtk.net, Bates Troy produced 3.2 tons of toxic waste in 1999 (not all of which was Perc). Fortunately, Bates Troy stopped using Perc a decade ago. But as we known from the clean up attempt related to IBM, Perc stays in the ground for many years and must be dealt with by professionals. We want Bates Troy to be forthright with the community: are there any toxics in our ground?
The Broome County Health Department has reason to believe there may be toxics in our soil. In a letter dated February 22, 2007 the Senior Health Engineer at the Broome County Health Department - Environmental Health Services wrote to the Planning Commissioner regarding Bates Troy's planned expansion and said, "The adjacent Bates Troy plant uses and stores dry cleaning chemicals. Excavation contractors should be aware of the possibility of historic accidental spills so that proper notifications can be made if a problem is encountered." (source) We are aware of one deliberate spill. How many accidental spills have there been?
We ask for a full investigation into the environmental impact of Bates Troy's dry cleaning plant. How could a known generator of tons of toxic materials be allowed to expand their operations into a residential area?
Bates Troy Dirty Neighbor is an ad hoc organization of concerned families living around the pollution produced by the Bates Troy Dry Cleaning Plant located at 151 Laurel Ave, Binghamton, NY 13905. We demand that Bates Troy comply with the laws of the State of New York. We may not have lawyers, money or high-ranking political allies. But we have something far more important: the truth is on our side.
"It is the public policy of the City that every person is entitled to ambient noise levels that are not detrimental to life, health, and enjoyment of his or her property."
-City of Binghamton Noise Control Ordinance