Citizens' BION Forum

Abstract:

With over 150 opponents questioning Bion's proposed ethanol and beef cattle project, St. Lawrence County legislators passed a watered down resolution offering "tentative" support for the project by a 14 to two vote. Last night's county legislature meeting was moved from the board's regular meeting room to the state Supreme Court chambers to make room for over 150 people, most of whom questioned the project.

Full Text:

CANTON - With over 150 opponents questioning Bion's proposed ethanol and
beef cattle project, St. Lawrence County legislators passed a watered down
resolution offering "tentative" support for the project by a 14 to two vote.

Last night's county legislature meeting was moved from the board's regular
meeting room to the state Supreme Court chambers to make room for over 150
people, most of whom questioned the project.

Despite the overwhelming opposition from the audience and a 45-minute public
comment period in which more than 20 people raised objections or urged
opposition to the project, legislators said they were voting for the
resolution to create a task force to give Bion an opportunity to have their
project reviewed by local, state and federal regulators that will examine
the project's impact on the county's environment.

Legislature Chair Patrick Turbett (D-Potsdam) and Vice Chair Tedra Cobb
(D-Canton) voted against the project.

Legislator Laura Perry (D-Hopkinton) was absent for the vote.

Legislator Peter FitzRandolph (D-Canton) offered the compromise resolution
that removed a paragraph from the original resolution that had directed a
task force appointed by the county to:

- Identify requirements and planning needs

-Interface with county, regional and state agencies with regard to siting,
permitting and infrastructure requirements

- Support for securing necessary economic development assistance from state
and federal agencies appropriate for the project

- Evaluate and monitor environmental impacts issues that arise through the
project

FitzRandolph urged the board to remove the paragraph, arguing it wasn't the
county's role to serve as the "nanny" or the "advisor" to a private
company's project.

The county should not create a "special group to shepherd this project," he
said. "We don't do it for everyone else."

But FitzRandolph said a lot of the people who oppose Bion "disagree with
large agriculture."

"I disagree with that," he said, "I don't mind giving lukewarm tentative
support."

FitzRandolph said the agencies like the Environmental Management Council,
the Soil and Water District and other local, state and federal agencies
should be allowed the opportunity to review the project and to insure that
Bion meets all state, local and federal requirements.

Cobb said she was opposing the resolution because Bion has not yet
identified an operator for the ethanol plant or the slaughterhouse operation
which she referred to as the "kill plant."

Cobb said that until the county knows more about the other partners in the
project, it's premature for the county legislature to be getting involved in
the project.

Turbett said he personally does not see why the county legislature is
getting involved when local towns will have to review any projects inside
their own municipalities.

"What happens after the task force reports?" he asked.

Turbett said that he does not see why the county legislature needs to even
say it is offering "tentative support" for the project.

"We should take a slower approach," he said.

But Legislator Thomas Nichols (R-Oswegatchie) questioned his colleagues
whether they would have supported General Motors, Alcoa, Reynolds, Corning
and other industries that have that posed environmental problems 50 to 100
years ago.

"I can't help but wonder what would have happened" if those companies had
had to ask the county if they could come to St. Lawrence County what some of
today's legislators would have said, Nichols said..

"Are there questions? Yes," he said.

But with GM closing, which will throw 500 people out of work and will cost
2,000 others their jobs, Nichols asked "how many other businesses will have
to close" before the county legislature sees the need to support new
businesses.

Sally Brothers (D-Norwood) said times have changed since the days when GM
and Alcoa came to St. Lawrence County.

"People today are more concerned about the environment," she said.

Nichols said the Bion project may raise questions, but it could also help
local farms manage their manure, provide new markets to local farmers, and
provide new jobs for county residents.

Nichols said Bion will have to meet Department of Environmental Conservation
regulations and obtain a CAFO permit before it can open,

Nichols said existing regulatory agencies will be scrutinizing the project.