Much has been written and discussed lately about the State University Construction Fund (SUCF) incinerator project at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell. In the various exchanges that have taken place, claims have been made that the public has not had an opportunity to comment on this matter.
As dean of the college since last September, I have reviewed the records carefully and I want to take this opportunity to set the record straight. First, while it is true that SUCF, a state agency, is not subject to local reviews, Cornell University officials urged SUCF to conduct a public meeting and make a full presentation. That presentation was in the Town of Ithaca hall, in October 1992. According to various reports, it was well attended and allowed local officials and residents an opportunity to comment on the SUCF project to provide a cleaner, safer, more efficient incinerator. Following that meeting, SUCF followed the environmental assessment and review procedures of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Information on that process has been available to the public through SUCF and DEC upon request. In addition, representatives of the Veterinary College and the university have responded to inquiries from Forest Home residents, as well as local and state officials, over the last four years. Just three months ago, Dr. Larry Thompson, director of biosafety at the college, met with leaders from campus area neighborhood groups, including Forest Home. These efforts to keep the community in the loop have been made by the university, even though Cornell has no direct control over this SUCF project.
Even more recently, Cornell President Hunter Rawlings asked Dr. Thompson to provide background on the project and to respond to questions raised by the community. That report on the need for an upgraded incinerator, technical aspects of the project, regulations of state and federal agencies, the operating guidelines and definitions established by DEC, and the options considered was sent in mid-May, along with a letter from Cornell's president, to Ruth Mahr, president of the Forest Home Improvement Association. Copies of Dr. Thompson's report also are available from my office in the college.
In his letter to Ms. Mahr, President Rawlings said he was asking Cornell staff to arrange for another informational meeting on the incinerator project. I am pleased to report that the community will have yet another opportunity to discuss this project on June 24. Representatives of both the State University Construction Fund and the Department of Environmental Conservation have agreed to Cornell's request for the meeting, which will also include consultants on the project and representatives of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. in Room 146 in Morrison Hall, which is at the intersection of Tower Road and Judd Falls Road. Parking is available in nearby lots.
It seems to me that the university has made good-faith efforts to respond to community concerns and to ensure that the SUCF project follows all the necessary review and permitting procedures. This latest informational meeting is another example of how President Rawlings, myself and others at Cornell are trying to include the community and the media in the process.
Franklin M. Loew is dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.