To the Editor:

Concerned citizens from the town of Bethlehem gathered again before the town board to address the unmitigated and ongoing public health calamity ensuing at Beacon Island. However, the group’s message this week had gained stark significance.

Now with the full backing of the federal government following the Environmental Protection Agency’s April 25 release of its final changes to the existing coal ash regulations for inactive coal refuse landfills, the group made a plea to the town board to stop impeding, and join the community to mitigate the public-health risks associated with the unregulated Beacon Island coal refuse landfill in Glenmont.

Within its ruling, the EPA paid specific legislative attention to the definition and management of a new categorization of legacy or inactive coal ash refuse dumps. These sites, now referred to as “Coal Combustion Residual Management Unit (CCRMUs),” pose a unique and profound risk to the public due in most cases to the complete absence of monitoring, mitigation, or containment of the toxic byproducts created from burning coal.

Relative to time, coal refuse releases increasing quantities and concentrations of highly toxic heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium while also emitting radioactive gamma radiation and radon gas into the atmosphere.

In October 2023, the EPA conducted a Risk Assessment of Coal Combustion Residual Legacy Impounds, and CCRMUs. According to the EPA, even small “piles” of coal refuse, containing as little as 1,000 tons, are found to leach arsenic and other heavy metals, leading to contamination that can spread over millions of gallons of groundwater and persist for centuries or longer.

Beacon Island, on River Road in Glenmont, served as the coal refuse dumping site for the Albany Steam and Pump Station between 1950 and 1976. Bordered by the Normanskill and the Hudson River, Beacon Island is estimated to hold approximately 2 million tons of coal ash over 82 acres and poses unique and significant environmental and health risks due to its immense quantity, depth (as much as 27 feet in places), and the general extent of its distribution.

Beacon Island was listed as third on the EPA’s list of CCRMUs and is further identified as unregulated — entirely lacking mitigation and containment.

With the EPA ruling, all sites, like Beacon Island, will be legally required to implement comprehensive monitoring, corrective action protocols, closure procedures, and implement meticulous reporting mechanisms to assure persistent and robust action to this significant public health imperative

 Known to present risk to the public within a 3-mile radius, it is imperative for the town of Bethlehem to prioritize environmental stewardship and public health in response to both resident concerns and EPA directives.

By adhering to these mandates, we can ensure the safety and well-being of our community and environment.

I urge our local publication to amplify awareness of the risks posed to public health by Beacon Island’s persistence as an unregulated CCRMU. Through advocacy and proactive measures, we can collectively work towards a safer and healthier future for our community

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your support in addressing this pressing concern.

Kellin and Sylvia Rowlands

Glenmont

Editor’s note: Kellin Rowlands ran for Bethlehem Town Board last November.

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