Smells Near Aluf Plastics May Have Another Source, Company Says before Zoning Board Meeting

With the Zoning Board meeting coming up Wednesday and Clean Air for Orangetown planning a rally beforehand, Aluf Plastics has issued a statement about the work it's been doing to identify the odors so irritating residents.

The company, which has been in Orangetown for 30 years, says that studies that were undertaken by the DEC have not revealed any releases of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air that are attributable to Aluf.

"In fact, multiple complaints have been logged and noted at times when Aluf operations were closed," the company said.

Aluf Plastics, Inc. appreciates the concerns from the surrounding neighborhood. Aluf is working actively in concert with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) both to investigate odor reports in the neighborhood and to specifically assess Aluf’s air handling and filtering systems to ensure they are efficient and effective.

The DEC is also looking at other potential sources of odors in the area. The surrounding area is congested with other manufacturing operations, two sewer plants as well as small businesses.

Aluf is investigating the air emission controls at its Orangetown facility in accordance with a scope of work that has been formulated with the input of the DEC and approved by the DEC.

The company hired an independent environmental health and safety consulting firm to assess the conditions at the facility in accordance with the approved scope of work and to confirm that Best Management Practices are being followed.

To date, the engineers have reported to Aluf the following preliminary findings:

· The carbon filtration for odor elimination is being operated as designed.
· Measurements of air flows and pressures have been made and an analysis is being undertaken. The results of the analysis will enable engineers to determine whether the filtration configuration is optimal.
· All internal ductwork has been inspected as part of the study. During such inspections, the few components discovered to be in need of repair or replacement were addressed.
· The air management systems are being maintained and records kept as required.

Simultaneously with the engineering study, Aluf set up an email account to receive input from the community concerning complaints of unacceptable odors. The system allows for and intends the correlation of odor complaints in the community with Aluf's activities at the time of the complaint. Several odor complaints have been logged through the email server. In fact, multiple complaints have been logged and noted at times when Aluf operations were closed. At the time of each complaint, Aluf dispatches personnel to:

· Identify the operations at the facility and to assess whether such operations are likely to contribute to the complaint,
· Tour the property to determine if the odors referenced in the complaint originate from the facility, and
· Tour the neighborhood to ascertain whether detectible odors may be emanating from sources other than Aluf.

To date, Aluf has revealed minimal correlation between odor complaints in the community and emissions from the Aluf facility. It has, however, identified other sources in the Town and the industrial area surrounding Aluf that better correlate with odor complaints in the community. We have communicated these findings to the DEC.

Aluf has requested from the DEC and it has agreed to provide to Aluf the results of studies conducted by the DEC so that Aluf may have as much information as possible to be accurate and thorough in its own assessments. It’s been communicated to Aluf that these studies that were undertaken by the DEC have not revealed any releases of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air that are attributable to Aluf.

At Aluf, we take our responsibility as a good corporate citizen very seriously and we are very responsive to odor issues. We have been a part of the Orangeburg, Orangetown and Rockland County communities for 30 years and we welcome working with residents to resolve these odor issues as we want to continue to be a good neighbor.

Meanwhile, Clean Air for Orangetown, an activist organization concerned about emissions from the town's large industrial base, is planning a rally before the Zoning Board meeting.