Aluf: EPA, NYSDEC, Town Tests Show Company Not Source of VOCs in Neighborhood

ORANGEBURG, NY — Three sets of recent environmental tests indicate no relevant release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) coming from Aluf Plastics, Inc., company officials said. The tests were conducted by the EPA, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Town of Orangetown.

“Aluf Plastics is pleased to now be able to announce that we have results from the EPA, New York State and the Town of Orangetown that show results that are significantly below standard regulatory threshold levels,” said David Anderson, Vice President for Operations at Aluf, in a public statement about the findings.

It's not the first time Aluf Plastics, which manufactures a range of plastic products at a 500,000 square foot facility with 70 extruders on Route 303, has insisted that it isn't the source of the smells neighbors have complained vociferously about. Neighbors are concerned about the health implications of the emissions. They also say because of the plastic-chemical odors, they can't use their yards and have to keep their windows closed.

Company officials said the EPA performed an unannounced visit to Aluf on Nov. 8, 2016, and in a preliminary report to Aluf stated that it “did not see any conditions that warranted immediate attention.” The EPA assessed the entire inside of the building as well as the entire outside the building on the Aluf property. The EPA used both a specially calibrated FLIR camera, which detects VOCs in the air, and performed air sampling with other hand held instruments.

Also, company officials said, an independent NYSDEC study took measurements of VOCs at multiple canister test sites on Sept. 2, 8 and 11, 2016. Those sites included one location inside the facility, two locations on the Joseph B. Clarke Rail Trail near the facility and one at Cottage Lane Elementary School. The test showed air quality inside Aluf to be within safe guidelines. Air quality at the other test sites was also deemed within NYSDEC threshold guidelines.

Slightly elevated compound levels – commonly associated with vehicle emissions and dry cleaning operations – at one site were not attributed to Aluf by the NYSDEC.

Plus, n Dec.19, 2016, and Jan. 19 and 20, the Town of Orangetown-hired engineering consultant – Langan Engineering, Environmental, Surveying and Landscape Architecture – performed a visual assessment as well as air monitoring with canister testing at four locations, on Glenshaw Road, Moison Road, Cottage Lane School and Orangeburg High School, company officials said. Two other locations – on the Joseph B. Clarke Rail Trail – were visually assessed on Dec. 19.

All results of the town's testing fell significantly below standard regulatory threshold levels, company officials said, and the firm reported that it “did not identify air quality issues on the days outlined in this report.”

Aluf officials asked concerned neighbors to send their issues to the company at neighbors@alufplastics.com.

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